self defense/duty ammo

[GlockTalk9]

Armed Security particularly. My firearm is a Glock 17 (9mm). I been lurking on forums and members seem to love Speer Gold Dot, Federal HST and Winchester Ranger SXT ammo. But I see different types of grain (95 up to 180) and unsure which would be ideal for duty purposes or what they indicate. I'm using Winchester 115gr FMJ (white box) from Walmart for target practice but want hollow points for self defense/duty.
While on the subject of JHP, has there been any legal issues with security in California using JHP claiming they are too deadly to use? Has there ever been a case filed where the "suspect" has became a "victim" that survived a shooting and argued the bullets used were extremely deadly?

[Chief-7700]

What is your employer's policy on ammunition?
Find out what the Local Police Department uses for duty ammo, then use that style of bullet in 9MM.
Any bullet is deadly.

[Cowboy T]

Even if the cops use FMJ RN's? Yes, any bullet is deadly, but you also want some initial knock-down power, which is where the hollow points come in. That's also why .45's are so popular.

[Chief-7700]

Cowboy be nice. The OP has a 9mm and we know that the .45ACP is King.

[SVRider]

...anything on the list is considered "Acceptable" by Doc Roberts (meeting FBI minimum requirements):

http://ammo.ar15.com/project/Self_Defense_Ammo_FAQ/index.htm#9mm

As others have suggested, finding out what your local PD uses is decent advice....

[GlockTalk9]

What are the differences of grain? I've seen as high as 180 at Walmart but then I read an article created by some random person that said anything 147 and over is useless.

http://www.chuckhawks.com/ammo_by_anonymous.htm

[Cowboy T]

Cowboy be nice. The OP has a 9mm and we know that the .45ACP is King.

Well, any caliber beginning with the number "4" is King. :-)

"Mr. Cattle Rustler, why do you carry that .45?"
"Beause, Sir, Mr. Colt doesn't make a .46!"

But that said, the 9mm can certainly put down the BG if decent hollow points are used. It's a good round. I've seen several police precincts use FMJ's, which just zip through tissue and will kill, but you don't get the knock-down power. HP bullets improve that significantly. So, that'd be my recommendation, frankly, in any caliber for self-defense--use HP's or (for guns that are cast boolit-friendly) soft-lead cast boolits.

As for the heavier bullet thing, the 9mm, as I understand it, was designed for bullet weights of 100 to 125 gr. Given that the "gold standard" for man-stoppers is the 125gr .357 Magnum HP, I'd think this applies to 9mm as well.