HappyHoney41

I just bought an LC9. I'm new to guns, and am not sure if I've chosen ammo that'll work well with my pistol. I don't want to damage my pistol by firing the wrong stuff.

For target...
Winchester 9mm luger 115 grain full metal jacket
Winchester 9mm NATO 124 grain full metal jacket

For when the $@*t hits the fan...
Federal Premium 9mm Luger 124 grain hydra shock JHP Personal Defense.

Thanks for your advice in advance,
HappyHoney41

North country gal

Those will work just fine. You can't buy 9mm ammo off the store shelf that will damage your Ruger, so go light and cheap for target practice and save those self-defense rounds for carry. Now, some brands/loads may function in your LC9 better than others, but your LC will tell what it likes. Just get out and shoot and enjoy.

Neon Horse

Good picks. Just feed the LC9 and fire 'em off! Try others as well. I will use all sorts from cheap to expensive, steel cased to brass...

Dawgface

Personally I don't like the 9mm NATO, it seems to have a lot more recoil then other target ammo. The LC9 is rated to shoot +P only now and then so I wonder if the NATO is a little too strong for regular usage. I realize the NATO is not rated +P on the box. :-)

Darkker

Happy,
When the ISH hits the fan, the most important thing is that you can shoot accurately, with the ammo in your gun. Practice, practice, practice!! And do it with what you carry!

Bullet construction/ability means slightly less than squat, if you can't put it where it needs to be.

moakes58

Listen to North county gal, she knows her stuff!
My LC9 pretty much eats anything for practice. I have tried:
American Eagle
Blazer Brass
Remington UMC
Federal Bulk(Walmart)
Magtech
S & B
Herter's Brass
Herter's Total Nylon Jacket.(Herter's is owned by Cabela's)
Personally, I do not like the Russian, steel cased ammo from anybody for my pistols, but that's just me.

The Federal Hydra-Shok is quality personnel defense ammo. Many also like Hornady's Critical Defense or Cor-Bon. My only recommendation is to carry the same load as you practice with. If you practice with 115gr. FMJ & use 147 gr.+P JHP for defense & are not fully used to the difference, it can be a shock.

Good luck with the LC9. Mine has been a very good carry 9mm. Give it a chance to smooth out with range & dry-fire practice & you will be rewarded.

Also, Welcome to the Ruger Forum, many good people here!

Geoff

Welcome from California's High Desert and the Forum.

laidlerj

My LC9 has happily shot every 9mm ammunition I've fed it. Your choices will not - repeat, will not - damage your pistol.

About the only 9mm ammunition I'd shy away from is the type you find in cheap cardboard boxes with Chinese or Cyrillic writing on the label - some of this is corrosive and the quality control can be....spotty. Also, stay away from any 9mm ammo marked +P+ or labeled for use in submachine guns; these rounds are too hot to handle well in a small pistol like the LC9.

Enjoy!

Jim

oldgrunt

I shoot wwb ammo as others. Had ftf with golden saber and corbon pwr ball. Don't really like the recoil of pwr ball. I carry with 124grn speer gold dot +p or winchester xpd1 +p both shoot good out of my lc9.

jsiberians

I've shot several brands of ammo in my ccw LC9. For target I like the Win. 115 FMJ it's not to expensive and it's clean.
For SD I carry Win. Ranger TS 147gr HP.
Ruger says +P but not a steady diet so I do not use it.
All the American made ammo has worked great. There were a lot of complaints about some of the foriegn made ammo. The primers were melting and plugging up the firing pin
resulting in ftf. So stick to the boxer primer ammo. I've had no trouble with any of the American made brands in the LC9.

jlh820

Good choices, all. Personally, I'd avoid any 147g just because it's hard on the gun. Also, I don't use Hydrashock. I feel there are much better SD rounds available, such as Winchester PDX1 and Speer Gold Dot in 124g.

rsfrid

I use exclusively 124gr in mine. I use ball ammo (various brands) for range practice and carry with Gold Dot (124 gr).

v1rot8

My LC9 likes everything I feed her. You have been given excellent advice about practice. Getting competent and comfortable with your new weapon will take time and practice.

HappyHoney41

Thank you all for your help and great advice!

bhefley59

Mine will eat anything but I stay away from +P loads . Mostly shoot 124gr at the range and carry Gold dot 124gr