9mm BUG ammo

[rjacobs]

I am in search of some JHP ammo for a newly acquired Keltec PF9. I have read the BUG ammo sticky as well as the duty pistol ammo sticky. I believe there are more 9mm BUG's coming on the market as well such as the Sig 290, Kahr PM9, Walther PPS, Taurus 709slim(although the Walther and the Taurus are not quite as small as the Sig 290, PF9, or PM9).

+p is not recommended in the Keltec and I am not sure on the others.

What 9mm ammo is out there that is acceptable out of a short(3") barrel? Would prefer 115g or 124g as results of the longer 147g bullets feeding in this gun(and presumably other small 9mm guns as well) have not been that great. I have also read that 3" barrels might not be long enough to get the 147g up to speed to provide adequate expansion/penetration.

[Eliakim]

I really don't think you need any special short barreled 9mm ammo for a short barreled BUG. Just pick a load off of the recommended loads shown in this table and carry what shoots reliably out of your particular pistol: https://www.m4carbine.net/showthread.php?t=19887

I doubt if the 147 gr loads would have any velocity problems. If anything the 147 gr loads are probably less fussy about short barrels than lighter bullet weights. I usually carry 147 gr Speer Gold Dot in my Walther PPS 9mm. I never chronographed it but it seems to shoot just fine.

[rjacobs]

I have read that thread.

Not worried about a "short barrel" ammo like the gold dot short barrel loads(as far as I understand the Gold Dot SB load is simply a different bullet with a larger cavity).

Are there any non-+p 124g rounds that provide adequate ballistic performance? Everything in that thread points to +p only in 124g and to get a non-+p rated round you need to step up to 147g, which I have read do not feed well in this particular gun.

[DocGKR]

A standard pressure 124 gr will likely be fine.

[tpd223]

which I have read do not feed well in this particular gun.

Have you tried any?

The 147gr Ranger-T ran fine in my PF9, and is on "the list". I would carry that ammo without any worries, same-same for 147gr HST.

The 124gr +P Gold Dot worked in mine as well.

In standard pressure loads I'd look at the 124gr Gold Dot, and the 124gr HST.

The Critical Defense might not be a bad choice either.

[147 Grain]

147-Gr. Ranger T (RA9T), Federal HST 147-gr. (P9HST2), or the bonded Gold Dot 124-gr. / 147-gr. All should give adequate penetration from a 3" short barrel. The bonded version of Ranger T might also work well too.

[rjacobs]

A standard pressure 124 gr will likely be fine.

So a standard pressure 124g HST or Gold Dot should provide adequate expansion and penetration?

The reason I ask is because all of your 124g loads in the duty pistol ammo sticky are +p rated and I know there has to be a reason behind this.

Also what are your thoughts on running the heavier ammo through a short barrel? Is it best to stick with the lighter stuff or will heavier ammo produce good expansion and penetration?

Have you tried any?

The 147gr Ranger-T ran fine in my PF9, and is on "the list". I would carry that ammo without any worries, same-same for 147gr HST.

The 124gr +P Gold Dot worked in mine as well.

In standard pressure loads I'd look at the 124gr Gold Dot, and the 124gr HST.

The Critical Defense might not be a bad choice either.

I have not tried any 147g loads in the gun, I will admit that. I have read that some guns have issues feeding them and will feed 124g rounds just fine. I have a couple boxes of 147g HST, but I hate to run it when its hard to find(for me at least) and I want to run at least 100 rounds through the gun. I would rather run Gold Dots since they are very easy to find, although I think the HST is a superior round.

I can get the Ranger-T in 147g non+p from a local source, I think they also have the 127g. I may grab a few boxes of each to try.

I think I read that the Critical Defense ammo did not pass some of DocGKR's testing, cant remember what failed.

[WC 2-3]

Keep in mind that the Ranger 127gr load is +P+.

I seem to recall that the 124 GD did make the cut, it just isn't listed.

[DocGKR]

124 GD works OK, the +P is a bit better.

[rjacobs]

Keep in mind that the Ranger 127gr load is +P+.

I seem to recall that the 124 GD did make the cut, it just isn't listed.

Ah ok, the Ranger T 127g load is out then. I will grab some 147g and see how it is.

124 GD works OK, the +P is a bit better.

Good to know, thanks. I will also try some 124g Gold Dots.

I guess the thing that I like about the Gold Dots is I can work up a very similar load to a factory round, reload 250-500 or so and function test them in the gun. Then I can shoot one box of factory through to double check and then carry factory ammo in it without having to spend a fortune on 250-500 factory rounds to verify function in the gun.