Looking for truth behind Federals HST 124+p

[WillBrink]

Gentlemen:

I own an H&K VP9 and looking for a proven 9mm round for home defense. The round I am considering is Federals HST 124+p! For many years South Bend, Indiana police used Corbons 40 caliber 135gr. with outstanding
results. I have read that South Bend is using Federals 124+9 9mm with similar results as the Corbon 40 cal. 135gr.. Please note that my shooting skills are very good --I just want to have a darn good ammo to up my chances of living another day. Does anyone have any knowledge on police depts. using Federals HST 124+p and the results the police are having with this ammo?

Other ammo suggestions are invited.
Thank-you for your time & attention

SEMPER FI!

I think you're over thinking it. Any of the standard vetted duty loads from the major ammo producers will be similar these days. HST, Gold Dot, etc.

[wahoo95]

Unfortunately there are still departments that issue whatever the chief read about in a gun mag. It's not personal.

Anything cor-bon is a red flag to me, so they either got lucky or changed to real terminal ballistics with the HST.

Are you saying the documented street results using Cor-Bon ammo are false?

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[WillBrink]

Are you saying the documented street results using Cor-Bon ammo are false?

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How were they documented?

[ABNAK]

The Cor Bon 135gr .40 loads were known for fragmenting. So were most of Cor Bon's other well-known offerings like the 115gr +P 9mm (really doing +P+ velocities). "Back in the day" that was the optimal wounding mechanism as bullet technology hadn't advanced to where it is today. All of your modern big-name loads are designed to hold together at more manageable velocities: HST, Gold Dot, PDX, Ranger, etc.

Having said that, the 115gr 9mm BPLE +P+ is still highly thought of (have a few boxes myself) and IMHO some specific loads are just expected to fragment, but it is almost always accompanied by screaming velocities. I'm a firm believer that the 357Sig, originally designed to mimic .357 Magnum terminal ballistics, should fragment. Underwood used to offer a 125gr 357Sig round loaded with the Sierra JHP. It was HOT, doing nearly 1500fps from a 4" barrel. The Sierra JHP is an old-school cup-and-core JHP and is not bonded, so it would fragment at extreme velocities like 1450+ fps. Although I don't have a 357Sig weapon anymore, I do have 2 boxes of the Underwood load stashed in case I pick another one up in the future.

My current go-to 9mm loads are 147gr HST +P. The only .40 handgun I have is loaded with 180gr HST.

[Todd.K]

Are you saying the documented street results using Cor-Bon ammo are false?

To be perfectly blunt, I don't care about ANY "street" results. FBI gel testing has been validated against performance in actual shootings, it gives us a repeatable medium to test and improve bullet performance.

Cor-Bon wows some with velocity and ft-lbs and knock down power, not FBI testing. It's probably why I can't recall seeing any tested, and why I question the people that choose it.

I'll add a nice story about street results. A dept I knew some officers on were involved in a shooting years ago. unobstructed frontal shot, a 5.56 ballistic tip 55gr varmint bullet. Results were good, being unobstructed, but I still think it's a poor ammo choice and it would have gone poorly with even a minor intermediate barrier.

[vicious_cb]

To be perfectly blunt, I don't care about ANY "street" results. FBI gel testing has been validated against performance in actual shootings, it gives us a repeatable medium to test and improve bullet performance.

Cor-Bon wows some with velocity and ft-lbs and knock down power, not FBI testing. It's probably why I can't recall seeing any tested, and why I question the people that choose it.

I'll add a nice story about street results. A dept I knew some officers on were involved in a shooting years ago. unobstructed frontal shot, a 5.56 ballistic tip 55gr varmint bullet. Results were good, being unobstructed, but I still think it's a poor ammo choice and it would have gone poorly with even a minor intermediate barrier.

Pretty much this.

There is nothing you can fire out of service caliber handgun that doesnt do anything more than poke a hole. Pick a round that expands robustly through heavy clothing and that makes it through auto glass all while maintaining the FBI 12" minimum.

[NYH1]

I use Federal HST's in all my carry pistols. Been happy with all the others so far.

9mm's +p 124gr.
40 S&W 165gr.
45 ACP 230gr.

Still gotta get some 357 Sig. 125gr. to try.

If for some reason I can't get HST's, Gold Dot's are my next choice, YMMV.

NYH1.

[Uni-Vibe]

Q4318.

[voiceofreason]

Some dept heads might be remembering the days back when 147 didn't expand or cycle some guns. the 124 +p adds a bit of "oomph" to ensure more reliable cycling at the expense of a bit more recoil.

HST in 124 +p, 147, & 147 +p have all proven reliable over nearly 1000 rounds through a number of different guns for me

Wouldn't hesitate to use any of them. 124 +p would be top choice for shorter barrels while I'd prefer 147 based on expanded round size.

[ABNAK]

Some dept heads might be remembering the days back when 147 didn't expand or cycle some guns. the 124 +p adds a bit of "oomph" to ensure more reliable cycling at the expense of a bit more recoil.

HST in 124 +p, 147, & 147 +p have all proven reliable over nearly 1000 rounds through a number of different guns for me

Wouldn't hesitate to use any of them. 124 +p would be top choice for shorter barrels while I'd prefer 147 based on expanded round size.

Look at some stats. The heavier-for-caliber loads (147gr/9mm, 180gr/.40, 230gr/.45) lose less velocity proportionately as barrels get shorter than do the lighter, zippier ones. That is why I carry the 147gr +P HST's in my Glock 43 and Kahr PM9.