So, What ammunition should I use

[chameleon]

I will be heading out in a couple months for a weeks vacation, that's it nothing fancy, but I will be bringing my R-9.(9mm)

I have not yet called the gun stores where I will be traveling to as yet. As I approach my date to leave I will call looking for ammunition.

I will most likely ask for WW Silvertips, beyond that, I don't know what to shoot.
I will also by at a range and test the lot before I carry it.
I would however like a good recommendation of other ammunition in case the Silvertips are not at all available.


Thank you for your help

[Richard S]

Chameleon:

This link may be of interest:

http://www.acbsystems.com/boards/data/R9-ammo-data.htm

Given the condition of the market these days (although it seems to be getting a little better), I would snap up any premium ammunition on the shelves at your destination(s). Without mentioning specific brands, I would pass entirely on some of that foreign "stuff" which seems to be in good supply lately.

Have a great vacation!

[yankee2500]

 The Speer Gold Dot as listed in the link provided by Richard is one of the top carry rounds along with the Silver Tips, and one not listed is the Hornady Critical Defense which works well in my R9s and some others. One thing to watch for is that any Gold Dots you get are not + P rated, most of the Gold Dot line come in standard and + P rating. ere is a place that has 50rd. boxes of Gold Dots
http://www.ammunitiontogo.com/catalog1/product_info.php/cPath/23_61_119/products_id/1186

 Good luck on your search for ammo and have a great vacation

John

[sdlsaginaw]

FWIW the Speer Gold Dots work great in mine, but the Hornady CD have a terrible failure-to-fire rate in it.  Dunno why, others have no problem with the stuff.

Good luck finding Silvertips.  I had an order for some through Cabelas for 4 months which they finally cancelled.

For target practice, the Winchester white box FMJ 115gr works well, is generally available, and is WAY cheaper than the premium JHP stuff.

[chameleon]

Thank you guy for all that info.
I would like to score the WW Silvertips, and I know they are in short supply.

I have read early posts here on the forum when I first ordered and then received my R9. Now without going back to early posts via a search, I can not remember what was recommended then.
 I have at home Silvertips which my R9 loves.

I was on the phone with a dealer friend and he said the same as mentioned above, stay away from that certain foreign ammo.

I have some time yet, but I do need to plan ahead.

Thanks again

[ccw]

My 9 mm silvertip order has been backordered from Cabela's for 3 months with no definite delivery date. The 9 mm law enforcement gold dot ammo from ammunition to go works perfectly in my Rohrbaugh.  And looking over the detailed range testing mentioned earlier, it looks like it has the greatest penetration in the wet newspaper as well as almost the highest foot-pounds of energy delivered.  So, even if I get the silvertips, I think I am going to stick with the 124 gr gold dots.

[kjtrains]

Use what works for you.  If it works, stick with it.  As another member of the forum put it, what's there not to like.

[chameleon]

I won't have the luxury of trying different manufacturers of ammunition while away. I use  Silvertips.

Before I head out on my trip, I will call a couple gun stores to see what they have. If I could take a few boxes of ammo with me, I would not have this problem.

I've had my R-9 since 2005 and can not for the life of me remember what Karl recommended, or what he called his sweetheart load.
Anyway, I hit on the Silvertips and stuck with them, they just may be hard to come across in other states.

[theirishguard]

silver tips 115 gr.   Tom

[musicman]

In my own experiences, i have found these to work flawlessly in my R9

1- Hornady Criticle Defense
[9mm Hornady Critical Defense 115gr HP Ammo (90250)]
2- Speer Gold Dots
[SPE 9mm GOLD DOT-HP    (23614)]    

[M14-68]

FWIW the Speer Gold Dots work great in mine, but the Hornady CD have a terrible failure-to-fire rate in it.  Dunno why, others have no problem with the stuff.

Same issue with mine. Looks like a possible headspace stackup tolerance as I measured OAL of the CD cases and and they are a few 0.000"s shorher than TAP (which works fine in mine). The CD's had to be double and even trippled tap'd to fire which was very disappointing. Look closely at the primers and they are just "kissed" rather than dented. I also had the same issue on a certain lot of Speer GD's last year. All measured "shorter" than the cases that fired first time. So, is it an ammo issue or the pistol? Hummm........

[chameleon]

Tom, you are correct, it was the 115 grain Silvertips.

Thanks everyone else. Still having trouble finding stuff where I'm heading off to.

We have to end this ammo crisis.