What is the best load for self defense for 9mm?

I would personally suggest that you stick to the lighter bullets, 124gr or less. Most of the factory loads are Excellent and would be good choices. Stick to a major manufacturer, there are lots of companies making hotter rounds, but for self defense you want a reliable round. Cor-Bon probably makes some of the best. If you have a newer pistol in good conditon, you can run +P loads, but they will have more recoil, so they will be harder on you and the pistol (I don't think the recoil is bad at all).

Try several different rounds before you settle on one. Maybe you gun will have feeding problems with one brand, but not another. Make sure it feeds reliably before you have to rely on it.

AnswerThere are numerous types of rounds depending upon what you want the round to accomplish...

For quick stopping power and to increase internal damage I would suggest the Winchester 147gr Ranger T 9mm when this round hits its target the bullet expands and the sides peel back into the ever famous form of an eagles Talons causing massive internal damage..

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There is the 9mm 147gr Subsonic Red Tracer rounds,these copper jacket rounds use a form of phospherous on the tip that begins burning bright red when they leave the barrel when this round hits its target and enters the body the phospherous continues burning inside causing even more damage,(check local laws and state laws on the use of tracer ammo).

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There is the 9mm Dynamit Nobel 124gr. FMJ rounds,These rounds have a lead core surrounded by a full metal jacket...Lead soft point rounds will either mushroom or shatter in to smaller pieces where as the FMJ rounds will maintain their form giving them exceptional penetration through objects such as solid core doors,interior/exterior walls,and other materials.

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There is also the 9mm 147gr subsonic penetrator rounds these rounds are green tipped,steel core (basically light armor piercing) These rounds give exceptional penetration through hard materials such as interior/exterior steel doors,vehicle doors/engine compartments and many other hard materials.

((check local and state laws on the use of penetrator ammo))