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Since my last post was so popular regarding first handgun purchase. I figured I was ask yall opinion on what type of ammo would be good for practice and then for carry. Since there are so many types I wouldnt even know where to start. Since I'll be looking for a Beretta the ammo in question would be 9mm.

I know stores dont allow the purchase of a gun and ammo at the same time. Are gun shows the same way most of the time?

Wildscar wrote:I know stores dont allow the purchase of a gun and ammo at the same time. Are gun shows the same way most of the time?

News to me....

I have never had an issue with purchasing both at the sametime. I picked up a Sig Pro2340 in .357SIG and purchased a case of FMJ Ammo and 6 boxes of JHP for it at the same time.

I have walked out with both before. When I picked up my Taurus Tracker at the last gun show here in San Antonio I also got some ammo for my wife's Bond Arms .45 colt.

Wildscar wrote:I know stores dont allow the purchase of a gun and ammo at the same time. Are gun shows the same way most of the time?

There might be a few chain stores with that policy, but I've never run into it. Academy and Gander Mountain don't for sure.

At gun shows, firearms and ammo are usually sold by different vendors.

I use CCI Blazer aluminum 9 mm FMJ for target practice. It's cheap and good quality. I don't see a reason to use brass if I'm not going to reload it. Others will argue against this.

There are so many conflicting opinions on which ammo to carry, I aint going there.

- Jim

I, as well, have purchased only a few handguns, but have purchased ammo for said handguns simultaneously.

as per your question, I feel many will give you options, but I think that reliable ammo is good, and what I suggest is something that feeds well, doesn't kick too much, and you are accurate with.

for me, I like the Federal HydraShocks (sp?) in 124grain. you can get different grain counts, I believe, and that will, of course, affect your recoil and/or accuracy. I feel like the Speer GoldDots are also pretty good, but I don't feel I'm as accurate with them due to a little more recoil.
course, I could prolly load a mag with both ammos, interchangeably, and never tell the difference, but I did attempt to shoot HydraShocks and then GoldDots and tried to compare, and that's what I came up with.

Sorry, I did not answer you main question. For me I use Blazer for the range and the load up with Hydrashock for carry. But then I also shoot a .45 acp, but if I did have a 9mm I think that I would use the same.

For practice just shoot FMJ or ball ammo. It is much cheaper.

For carry ammo I suggest a good, quality hollow point. Don't get caught up in bullet weight, a middle of the road weight is fine.

Whatever you carry, buy an extra box and load them up in all of your magazines, then make sure they shoot and function well in your gun.

I shoot WWB at the range and 124 grain hydroshocks are my carry ammo. WWBs because its cheap and I can get them at either Wallyworld or Acadamy. Hydroshocks because they have a reputation for working, and they do seem to feed properly in my gun. I'm thinking of switching over to some frangible rounds though.

I shoot Winchester USA (also know as Winchester White Box, or WWB) for practice or IDPA competition.

In my BHP, I carry Remington 115 JHP +P . . . in my G26, I carry Speer 115 GDHP +P+ . . . I just got some Winchester Ranger 127 +P+ (the Speer load is getting hard to find) and will be trying them out soon for accuracy, velocity, and reliability.

Personally, for carry I think any name brand (meaning Remington, Winchester, Federal, and Speer) 115 to 124 grain JHP in +P or +P+ persuasion is a good choice, if it's reliable in YOUR pistol; I wouldn't let myself get too hung up over advertising copy or anecdotes about imagined differences in performance.

Thanks for all the great info again. Glad I found this forum. Just one more questions though. As for the grain rating. Larger the number the bigger the bang so to speak right? Is there a limit to it or does it differ from gun to gun?

Grain and Bang are going to be 2 different things.

Grain is the actual size of the bullet ie "The Lead". The "Bang" is going to come from the powder load.

If you want the bigger bang check out the projected muzzle velocity, this info should be on the ammo box.

I know stores dont allow the purchase of a gun and ammo at the same time. Are gun shows the same way most of the time?

I have never had that problem but if I ever do I will go make my purchase at another store.

dpatterson wrote:Grain and Bang are going to be 2 different things.

Grain is the actual size of the bullet ie "The Lead". The "Bang" is going to come from the powder load.

If you want the bigger bang check out the projected muzzle velocity, this info should be on the ammo box.

Stupid Noob Here. I thought the grain had something to do with the power in the round.

glocklvr wrote:

I know stores dont allow the purchase of a gun and ammo at the same time. Are gun shows the same way most of the time?

I have never had that problem but if I ever do I will go make my purchase at another store.

I thought I heard that was the case but since its not then I wont worry about that any more.

You will find that most of the things you "hear" about most any topic tend to be misleading, an honest mistake, or a flat out lie - its no different with firearms. It is actually worse.


I shoot WWB at the range, and carry Wincheters PD hollowpoints - but since I am thinking of changing caliber's that round selection will probably change.

I thought the grain was how many grains of gunpowder!


I have a lot to learn, as well.