G9 Defense 9mm External Hollow Point (EHP) Personal Defense Ammo offers a powerful self-defense round in a standard pressure loading (1480 FPS), or in a more powerful +P loading (1520 FPS).
The flutes on the outside of the solid copper bullet create cavitation in liquids and soft tissue, thus transferring energy laterally upon impact. They do not create cavitation in solids, thus allowing the bullet to effectively penetrate barriers like drywall, glass, or sheet metal with minimal deflection or projectile deformation.
At the time of this writing a 20-round box of either load cost $36.99 from www.g9defense.com . That is comparable in price to other high-quality personal defense ammo. G9 ammo is made in the USA.
Background
My go-to defensive handgun is a Rock Island Armory MAPP. I like it because I can shoot it more accurately than any other 9mm handgun that I have ever used. The down side is that the MAPP can only handle standard pressure loads, and most self-defense ammo is rated +P.
I recently received a press release about G9 Defense 9mm External Hollow Point Personal Defense Ammunition. I was interested to note that the ammo is available in standard pressure loadings, as well as +P. I asked G9 Defense for a sample of the standard pressure ammo for testing and evaluation. They were kind enough to agree to provide me with two 20-round boxes. Three days later, a small shipping box arrived on my porch via UPS Ground.
First Impressions
The words printed on the sides of the 2 boxes of ammo announced that it the ammo is “Proudly Made in the USA.” The cartridges appeared to be well made, and arrived in good condition.
The shipping box also contained a business card with the web address for G9 Defense, a G9 Defense sticker, and a card with information about Warriors Heart, a private treatment center for substance abuse and PTSD especially designed for those who formerly served in the military.
The packing list revealed that G9 Defense is a brand owned by Mahnke Solutions, LLC. G9 Defense is located in Post Falls, Idaho. Manke Solutions is registered in Lakewood, Colorado, where they have an FFL.
G9 also provided some interesting data regarding the theory behind solid metal fluid transfer (smft) bullet design. The independent report from Viper Weapons Testing for the National Sheriff’s Association was especially impressive. Viper followed FBI protocols in their testing in ballistic gelatin for 32 different duty loads. The G9 loads racked up some highly impressive stats. But the proof of the pudding is in the eating, and the proof of the ammo is in the shooting. So when the opportunity presented itself, I took the G9 ammo out to the range for some testing.
My Testing
It was a beautiful early afternoon in mid-April. The sun was shining brightly, the temperature was 49 degrees Fahrenheit, and there was a light and variable breeze swirling around the points of the compass, most often from the northwest.
I set up a target stand in front of the backstop on the improvised range behind my pole barn, and then set up a table 15 yards away.
I loaded 5 rounds of the G9 ammo into the magazine of a Stoeger STR-9F that I was testing. I fired all 5 rounds while stabilizing the STR on an MTM Caseguard pistol rest on the table. As was typical for my shooting that day, 4 of the shots clustered in a 1.65 inch group, while 1 flyer expanded the total size of the group to 3.4 inches. This was very similar to the group produced that day by the Remington UMC 115 grain JHP ammo that I typically depended upon for self defense in my MAPP. The flyers in these groups indicate that I need to spend more time at the range and in dry fire practice. Muscle memory deteriorates.
Next, I wanted to get a sense of how the G9 ammo compared with the Remington UMC ammo in terms of transferring energy to the target and in terms of penetration. The 80 grain bullet of the G9 ammo is rated to deliver a muzzle energy of 389 foot pounds with a muzzle velocity of 1480 feet per second. The 115 grain bullet of the Remington UMC ammo is rated to deliver a muzzle energy of 329 foot pounds with a muzzle velocity of 1145 feet per second.
I turned 2 five gallon pails upside down on the ground in front of the backstop. I then placed an old deck board that was approximately 6 feet long on top of the pails. Next, I lined up 6 gallon milk jugs filled with water along the top of the old deck board.
Then I paced off 5 yards, placed another pail upside down on the ground, put a board on top of that pail, and placed the pistol rest on top of the board. I then loaded a single round of the Remington UMC ammo into my MAPP, aimed at the center of the nearest jug, and fired.
The first jug in the line exploded from the energy transmitted by the impact of the bullet. The second jug in line split but did not explode. The third jug in line was penetrated by the bullet, but stopped the bullet before it could leave the jug. I was able to recover the nicely mushroomed bullet from that third jug.
I then replaced the 3 destroyed jugs with fresh jugs, loaded a single round of the G9 ammo into the MAPP, and fired at the center of the nearest jug.
The first 2 jugs in line exploded. The bullet penetrated through both sides of the third jug in line. The bullet passed below the fourth jug in the line, creasing a leaking line across the bottom of the jug and becoming trapped in between the deck board and the bottom of the tub. I had aimed a little too low, and on a downward trajectory. I repeated the test by replacing the 4 damaged jugs with fresh jugs and firing a single round of the G9 ammo at a higher point on the first jug.
Once again, the first 2 jugs in line exploded. The bullet penetrated through both sides of the third jug in line, penetrated into the fourth jug, dimpled but did not exit the back wall of the fourth jug, and was captured within the fourth jug, from which I was able to recover the bullet. Other than the rifling marks, there was little evidence that the bullet had been fired.
Based upon these results, I concluded that the G9 ammo transferred more energy to the target and penetrated further than the Remington UMC ammo. The G9 ammo transferred enough energy to cause 2 jugs to explode rather than just one. It penetrated into the fourth jug rather than just the third.
I will remain alert to the accumulation of further data as others use G9 ammo in real-life situations. In the meantime, I am now using the G9 ammo as my primary self-defense round rather than the Remington UMC ammo. It seems better adapted to my needs based on the best information that is available to me today.
About G9 Defense
G9 Defense was founded by Joshua Mahnke to manufacture and market his new bullet designs. Joshua’s interest in bullet design began when he was placed in charge of his church’s security team. After extensive research on existing bullet designs, he began looking for something more effective using copper and brass solids. He tested his early designs on the end of an arrow from a compound bow in his backyard. His research ultimately lead to 51 newly patented bullet designs.
Conclusions
Based upon my limited experience, G9 Defense 9mm External Hallow Point Personal Defense Ammo seems to deliver more energy on target and penetrate better than the Remington UMC Jacketed Hollow Point Ammo that I was previously using. I have decided to make it my primary self-defense ammo.
If someone lives in a densely populated urban area, the superior penetration characteristics of the G9 ammo might be a drawback rather than an advantage. The potential user should evaluate whether he wants his rounds to penetrate multiple layers of drywall, sheet metal, or other materials before it finally comes to rest after missing a target.
In my less densely populated rural setting, I have decided that the extra penetration may be an advantage if I need to engage an attacker who has unwisely sought concealment rather than cover.
If you use a handgun for protection against bear, moose, wild hog, or other animal threats, you may want to consider the G9 Woodsman loads in 10mm or 44 Magnum. The Woodsman rounds are designed to penetrate thick hides and heavy bone. Since it penetrates so deeply, G9 Defense does not recommend the use of Woodsman loads in everyday carry situations.
Disclaimer
G9 Defense provided me with a sample of their 9mm External Hollow Point Personal Defense Ammo for testing and evaluation. Rock Island Armory had previously loaned me a sample of their MAPP-FS for a previous review. I subsequently purchased that handgun. Stoeger loaned me a sample of their STR-9F for a recent review. I tried not to allow the kindness of these vendors to interfere with my objectivity, and I believe that I have succeeded. I did not receive any other financial or other inducement to mention any vendor, product, or service in this article.