[Nutrend]

What do people recommend for a 995? From a bit of research a popular choice for self-defense is Federal HST 9mm 147 gr.

What about for practice (I assume you want something cheap that is close to what you actually would use for home defense)?

Also another noob question -- where is the best place to buy ammo? Online? At a gun range? Dealer?

Thanks

 

[Think1st]

What do people recommend for a 995? From a bit of research a popular choice for self-defense is Federal HST 9mm 147 gr.

What about for practice (I assume you want something cheap that is close to what you actually would use for home defense)?

Also another noob question -- where is the best place to buy ammo? Online? At a gun range? Dealer?

Thanks

I have a 4595, so I can't answer your first question, but I can answer the second.

The answer is a bit nuanced because price and availability will dictate the answer. Normally, online prices give the best per-round prices, especially when the site has reasonable shipping rates. Some sites will give free shipping if you order in bulk.

Right now, it is different, and sites vary from obe to the other. I have a few favorites I use, and their prices are definitely higher than they used to be, but they stock 9mm and .45 ACP more frequently than some other sites. These are SG Ammo and Target Sports USA.

Sportsman's Guide, based on another member's experience, gives lower prices, but you will usually have to put the ammo on back order for a couple months. What this means is that you can pay a bit more to get your ammo sooner--when it is in stock--or you can wait to get your back-ordered ammo later.

As for buying locally, that will depend on the prices your local shops charge and how much they keep on hand. Some places might charge pre-crisis prices but limit how much you can buy, while others might charge a lot more without limits. As for price and availability, you will have to compare your local sources to multiple online sources to see how price and availability apply.

Some people here have had great luck getting good prices locally. I have personally never had good luck with local pricing and availability where I have lived.

Go to Ammo Seek to get a comprehensive list of online sites to find pricing and availability. My favorite sites are only a small example of what is available.

 

[Greg B.]

I have a 995 and I have not had any issues with any type of range ammo. I have probably shot more of the Federal 115 grain FMJ's than anything. It was branded as Champion in red boxes of 100 when Walmart had it. The Remington UMC is probably what I've shot second most. I've even shot Winchester White Box with no problems although I think some may have had issues with it.

And honestly, with the extra velocity you get from the extra barrel lenght of a carbine over a pistol any jacketed hollow point is going to do the job. I don't think I would spend a lot on some of the more high tech rounds they make now. With the extra velocity anything is going to perform. I saw a video one time of a guy shooting the Remington 115 grain JHP's that come in the 100 round box that used to be about $29 at Walmart from a 995 and they expanded almost the the size of a quarter. A couple of really small pieces seperated from the main bullet, it pretty much pushed the bullet to it's max.

Where to buy ammo now? That's hard to say. It used to be really cheap for target/range ammo about $0.17 per round. You are lucky to find it for $0.40 per round now. It also seems to still be increasing in price at this point.

 

[moona11]

What do people recommend for a 995? From a bit of research a popular choice for self-defense is Federal HST 9mm 147 gr.

What about for practice (I assume you want something cheap that is close to what you actually would use for home defense)?

Also another noob question -- where is the best place to buy ammo? Online? At a gun range? Dealer?

Thanks

That's easy what ever is cheap and functions in your gun

 

[TNTRAILERTRASH]

What do people recommend for a 995? From a bit of research a popular choice for self-defense is Federal HST 9mm 147 gr.

What about for practice (I assume you want something cheap that is close to what you actually would use for home defense)?

Also another noob question -- where is the best place to buy ammo? Online? At a gun range? Dealer?

Thanks

147 might be too long for some guns. Ball (target) 147 in the round nose sometimes jams. It's in your paperwork with the 995TS. It jams into the roof of the chamber. This isn't round nose. It's a truncated cone. It's training ammo. I did run it in a 995TS it fed fine. Might tumble inside a body if you used it in a SD situation.

I don't like the idea of shooting 147gr JHP's out of pistols as it often doesn't get going fast enough to reach "expansion threshold." In a 16" barrel it should be fine if the OAL (over all length) doesn't cause a jam. 115-124gr will do the job just fine. Probably expand bigger than the 147.

SGammo/Target SportUSA, if you are on Facebook follow Mrgunsandgear as he gets ammo deals that you have to get right away especially in 9mm. I got a deal on some Monarch steel case that ran fine in my Extar9 a couple of months ago.

Maybe there is a website called "ammoseek?" Never tried that.

 

[OldOutlaw]

147 might be too long for some guns. Ball (target) 147 in the round nose sometimes jams. It's in your paperwork with the 995TS. It jams into the roof of the chamber. This isn't round nose. It's a truncated cone. It's training ammo. I did run it in a 995TS it fed fine. Might tumble inside a body if you used it in a SD situation.

I don't like the idea of shooting 147gr JHP's out of pistols as it often doesn't get going fast enough to reach "expansion threshold." In a 16" barrel it should be fine if the OAL (over all length) doesn't cause a jam. 115-124gr will do the job just fine. Probably expand bigger than the 147.

SGammo/Target SportUSA, if you are on Facebook follow Mrgunsandgear as he gets ammo deals that you have to get right away especially in 9mm. I got a deal on some Monarch steel case that ran fine in my Extar9 a couple of months ago.

Maybe there is a website called "ammoseek?" Never tried that.

AMMOSEEK GOOD Trashman!

 

[shepherd321]

OPA brand
(other people's ammo)

 

[greg_r]

I shoot 125 truncated cone hard cast in mine. Yes, reloads. I shoot the same for social work as I do for practice.

I have 2 bullets that I prefer. My own cast bullets, as the .358 125 grain TC as cast by Blue Boy bullets. I do have to run the blue boy bullets through a .356 sizer, not for my 995TS, but for my tight chambered Ruger American Pistol Compact. It is tight chambered and the .358 will lock that one up.



Hmmm, just thinking. I have the new barrel on my RAP compact.The retrofitbthat Ruger offered. Wonder if .358 will will work in it? Works in all my other 9mm’s, including other Rugers. Hmmm.

 

[Think1st]

I shoot 125 truncated cone hard cast in mine. Yes, reloads. I shoot the same for social work as I do for practice.

I have 2 bullets that I prefer. My own cast bullets, as the .358 125 grain TC as cast by Blue Boy bullets. I do have to run the blue boy bullets through a .356 sizer, not for my 995TS, but for my tight chambered Ruger American Pistol Compact. It is tight chambered and the .358 will lock that one up.

Hmmm, just thinking. I have the new barrel on my RAP compact.The retrofitbthat Ruger offered. Wonder if .358 will will work in it? Works in all my other 9mm's, including other Rugers. Hmmm.

I've only used cast ammo in my weapons twice, and both uses were very disappointing. The first time, I bought some reloaded ammo from a gun store, and the leading in my first 1911 was so bad, it took about four hours to get the lead cleaned out. The second time, I used some .38 Special cast hollow points in my GP100 to introduce a newer shooter to revolvers, and the leading in the forcing cone was atrocious. It also to a long time to get rid of the lead.

What is your technique for getting rid of lead? I use CLP and smaller bore brushes to break it up and then push it out with patches. After the patches start coming out with less gunk on them, I relube the bore and go at it with the brushes and repeat the process. It takes forever!

 

[greg_r]

I size and cast an alloy to match the application. A shotgun slug will get pure lead for example, a 170 grain slug for my 30-30 will have antimony added and a gas check. Undersized bullets will lead. I find .002 over is about right. Not saying I have never had a leading problem, but when I do, I adjust and the problem goes away.

Also if the velocity starts exceedingb2000o FPS, I don’t use lead, I stick with jacketed.

 

[Think1st]

I size and cast an alloy to match the application. A shotgun slug will get pure lead for example, a 170 grain slug for my 30-30 will have antimony added and a gas check. Undersized bullets will lead. I find .002 over is about right. Not saying I have never had a leading problem, but when I do, I adjust and the problem goes away.

Also if the velocity starts exceedingb2000o FPS, I don't use lead, I stick with jacketed.

So the key is not to buy cast lead ammo--only use cast lead ammo you've made yourself. I was afraid you'd say that.

 

[TNTRAILERTRASH]

So the key is not to buy cast lead ammo--only use cast lead ammo you've made yourself. I was afraid you'd say that.

Buy plated bullets.

 

[Think1st]

Buy plated bullets.

When I start reloading, I'll do that. For now, though, I'm pretty much going to have to stick to FMC or FMJ ammo selling at any halfway decent prices.

 

[CowboyBob]

I stick to commercially available and reasonably priced. I would try to keep grain and manufacturers same for consistency, but if you shoot alot it may not matter. I do keep bullet weight the same at 115 grain.
I shoot all different stuff, and know how it will react to some degree. Enough to be comfortable.

 

[greg_r]

So the key is not to buy cast lead ammo--only use cast lead ammo you've made yourself. I was afraid you'd say that.

Not necessarily. Many of the commercial casters will size bullets the way you want them. Or you can do it yourself. For example I like the Blue Boy 125 grain TC in my 9mm. The bullet is designed for the 38 spl cartridge and comes .358. My Ruger American doesn't like them as cast, but through a .356 sizer and it likes them just fine.

 

[greg_r]

When I start reloading, I'll do that. For now, though, I'm pretty much going to have to stick to FMC or FMJ ammo selling at any halfway decent prices.

Plated bullets come with their own caveats. You might not be able to push them as fast as you want. And I don't use them for any cartridge that use a roll crimp. Taper crimp only. The plating is thin and easily scored when crimping. It can cause a plating failure, causing the plating to separate. Bad if it stays in the barrel. I treat plated bullets like cast lead bullets.

 

[TNTRAILERTRASH]

Plated bullets come with their own caveats. You might not be able to push them as fast as you want. And I don't use them for any cartridge that use a roll crimp. Taper crimp only. The plating is thin and easily scored when crimping. It can cause a plating failure, causing the plating to separate. Bad if it stays in the barrel. I treat plated bullets like cast lead bullets.

My brother loads thousands of rounds every year of plated bullets. Him and his wife shoot a lot. Always competing. Mostly 9mm in 147gr. He loads them to the required power factor as doing home rolled he has to have it tested with a chrono before the match starts. Berry's is a brand he uses.

Seriously how often do you see the plating come off? I have shot Perfecta that ripped the brass jacket off and dropped it on the table in front of me multiple times.

Have you ever loaded the Bayou blue polymer dipped bullets?

 

[lklawson]

What do people recommend for a 995? From a bit of research a popular choice for self-defense is Federal HST 9mm 147 gr.

What about for practice (I assume you want something cheap that is close to what you actually would use for home defense)?

Also another noob question -- where is the best place to buy ammo? Online? At a gun range? Dealer?

Thanks

For self defense: Whatever runs reliably in your gun and will expand reliably at the velocities your gun is spitting out. Preferably, it should be "barrier blind." If you don't want to go through a lot of personal testing, then I like Hornady's Critical Defense and Critical Duty lines.

For practice: whatever is inexpensive, reliable in your gun, and pretty closely mimics the Point of Impact for your self defense ammo. Probably it will be Full Metal Jacket (FMJ, "ball," "hardball," etc.) in the same grain weight as your SD ammo.

Where to buy? Right now? In this seller's market? Pft. Anywhere you can find it. Good luck.

Peace favor your sword,
Kirk

 

[greg_r]

My brother loads thousands of rounds every year of plated bullets. Him and his wife shoot a lot. Always competing. Mostly 9mm in 147gr. He loads them to the required power factor as doing home rolled he has to have it tested with a chrono before the match starts. Berry's is a brand he uses.

Seriously how often do you see the plating come off? I have shot Perfecta that ripped the brass jacket off and dropped it on the table in front of me multiple times.

Have you ever loaded the Bayou blue polymer dipped bullets?

It's not a question of how many, but if. Yes, I have seen plated bullets fail. Those that have been roll crimped and those that have been loaded to exceed the recommended velocity. And I have seen a bulged barrel from a plated bullet jacket failure too.

The jacket on a plated bullet is only a few thousands of an inch. Not a good idea to put a crease in one.

 

[missiledefender]

What do people recommend for a 995? From a bit of research a popular choice for self-defense is Federal HST 9mm 147 gr.

What about for practice (I assume you want something cheap that is close to what you actually would use for home defense)?

Also another noob question -- where is the best place to buy ammo? Online? At a gun range? Dealer?

Thanks

I prefer shooting 147s, when possible/available in a hollow point. I want something that is going to expand and penetrate (that's what she said..ba da BING).

Back from High School

It also depends on what your pistol/rifle likes to shoot. Some weapons don't like the longer nose of 147s. I find that most weapons are more accurate with them because there is a longer bullet surface touching the lands and grooves. I also find that there is a "push" when the weapon fires.