Is a 9mm potent WITHOUT hollowpoints?

Question

I live in a state that doesn't allow you to purchase hollow point ammo legally. I carry a 9mm Glock and I've been told repeatedly that a 9 is only effective enough for self defense IF you use JHP bullets, and that you shouldn't trust your life with 9mm ball point ammo. I'm thinking about making the switch to a .40 or a .357 sig, but I am much more accurate with the G19. Does a 9mm really need hollowpoints to have effective stopping power?
If you don't feel the 9mm is a decent weapon what do you recommend instead?

Answer 1

Man, that is a stupid law. I bet the criminals have hollow points. I bet its not against the law to have hollow points, I bet its you just cant buy them. If that is the case, I would just travel outside the state and buy hollow points. Other that that, I wouldnt want a 9mm without JHPs. I have both the .357 sig and the .40. I like them both. But honestly, I wouldnt like those without JHPs either. My concieled carry gun is actually a 9x18 makarov with JHPs,( small, light and easy to carry) Quite honestly, I would take that over a .40 or 357sig without JHP. If you absolutely cant have JHPs by law in your state, I would personally go with a 45 or perhaps a stubbie 357 mag

Answer 2

I wouldn't want to be shot by one, but time and again the 9mm and similar rounds have been found less than satisfactory. This harkens back to the US Army's experience in the Philippines, where the troops shed their 38 Long Colt revolvers in favor of the old 45 single actions whenever they could. That cartridge had a heavier bullet at lower velocity than the 9x19, but the point is there that a 45 is much more effective, if you can shoot it. It's also been why the military have been unhappy since 1985 when politics took precedence over military necessity and the troops had Berettas forced on them.

Answer 3

Even hollowppoints aren't all that effective. In the infamous 1980's FBI shootout in Miami Fla, the two criminals were hit numerous times with Winchester Silvertip hollowpoints fired from S&W Model 459 pistols, Later it was determined that some of the hits were non survivorable for the crooks, but they were not incapactated enough to stop the confrontation before many other agents were shot to pieces. That is why the FBI experimented with the 10mm round and the S&W Mod. 1006, then much later adopted the .40 S&W round, and used the Glock Mod. 22.

Answer 4

Yes, a 9mm is effective without hollowpoints. A .22 is effective...it's all about shot placement. Another option you may want to pursue is a special ammunition if your state allows. It is called RBCD. While this ammo is fairly expensive it does the job. It doesn't overpenetrate like ball or hollowpoint. It reacts to water based objects. If you would like to see a demonstration go to www.donnellsshootingsupply.com

go to the tab that says RBCD ammo. This stuff has the knock down power you're looking for, as long as your state will permit it.

Answer 5

Soft point ammo is fairly effective for a 9mm and is something that you could test, but if i was you, i would get a .40, it has a lot more knockdown than a 9. Try shooting at a couple of watermelons with some different ammo to see how well they preform. Watermelons have about the same consistency as a human head, and it would give you a good test to compare rounds with

Answer 6

the nice thing about a Glock is number of rounds down range. Even with ball ammo, gun control is a steady hand, not a government regulation.

Ball ammo may not rip someone wide open like a JHP but it's just as deadly if your marksmanship is good. Ball ammo take out a kneecap, or a medulla just as easily as a JHP.

Answer 7

It doesn't matter what size round you use if you can't hit your target. It is vastly more important to be able to do that than to worry about what ammo to use. A nine mm round is just as lethal with a non-HP as long as you hit a critical area. I know I sure wouldn't want to get hit by a 9 mm round with a ball end - it would probably knock most people off their feet. Concentrate on your aim, and don't worry about the hollow points. Also, ball end ammo tends to "feed" better, so it might be more reliable, which is something that is rather important is self-defense shooting!

Answer 8

Unless the law prohibits it, the use of Glaser Safety Slugs in your 9mm would bring it up to .357 lethality levels. Glasers are now marketed by Cor-Bon. They are a round-ball design, but contain tiny pellets which disperse on impact, distributing the force into the target, without over-penetration. Very safe for crowded areas. (Except for the person they hit!)

http://www.dakotaammo.net/products/glaser/glaser.htm

Answer 9

i recommend being accurate an accurate shot from a .22 will stop a man in his tracks trust me a 9mm will drop any one with any ammo. but if you want Major bullet expansion / stopping power use UN jacketed lead bullets.

Answer 10

W ehad 9's in Iraq, and yeah, you need more power to stop anything or anyone. I would recommend going with either the 40 or the 45. Glock makes an awesome 45, you should go to your local range and rnet one to give it a try. Good luck!