

Normally by the 100 or 1,000 round case.Īs such the prices listed are for bulk cases of their respective ammo, so while this might look to be far more expensive than the training ammo it is only because you’re getting a lot more volume. However, they are inexpensive, reliable brands that should be your first choice when selecting ammo for practice or competition.īecause these rounds are not meant for carrying or defensive use, penetration data has been omitted.Īlso, while carry ammo is normally bought in fairly small batches – boxes of 20 and 50 being very common, training/range ammo is bought for value and the best value comes from buying in bulk.

The following rounds are FMJ rounds that are not recommended for self-defense except in cases of dire necessity when nothing better comes to hand.

Speer has earned a reputation for some of the most accurate and consistent loadings with the Gold Dot line, and the 124gr 9mm offering is no exception. Speer Gold Dots are one of the most commonly chosen rounds for law-enforcement and with good reason. Velocity at the muzzle is an average also taken from Lucky Gunner’s data and is from a 5.5” barrel.
Best 9mm ammo self defense full#
You can check out their full results here. While there are a number of great ammo manufacturers making defensive ammo that’s worth a look, these are the best of the best.Īverage Penetration comes from testing conducted by the folks at Lucky Gunner. The following rounds are all from reliable manufacturers with proven track records of performance in difficult situations. Find something that you (and your gun) shoot well, and you’ll be just fine. Most modern ammunition is going to be “good enough” at combat distances (7-10 yards) in the hands of the average shooter that the minor load inconsistencies you get with factory ammo aren’t going to matter.įortunately, high-end defensive ammo is very carefully and consistently manufactured, so you shouldn’t have to worry about it anyway. This is, of course, a concern, but may not be as important as the average shooter thinks. The more consistent the ammo, the better the practical accuracy is. These are the rounds that will maintain velocity the best while maximizing projectile size for the best performance against a living target.Īccuracy is mostly determined by the consistency of the ammo in its manufacturing. For this reason, you’ll want a hollowpoint round, usually in either the 124gr or 147gr range.

The second thing to keep in mind is terminal performance and accuracy. You may also want to try another magazine as sometimes the feed lips, particularly on aftermarket mags, can be slightly off which can cause issues.Ī stove-pipe malfunction can indicate a round that isn’t quite cycling the action firmly enough, meaning a lighter recoil spring can fix things, or you can just step up to a higher-pressure cartridge, or some other load. Polishing the feed ramps of the weapon, particularly in something like a 1911, can sometimes address this issue. The former can indicate a problem with the feed ramps of the weapon not working with the geometry of the bullet. Some things to be especially wary of are rounds not feeding properly, or “stove-piped” cases on ejection. In general, you’ll want to run at least a full 50 rounds of your ammo of choice through your firearm of choice to see if you’re satisfied with the performance. That means testing your chosen ammo fairly extensively to ensure reliability. Many guns can be picky about which bullet shapes they like, and it’s important to know that your gun will perform when you need it to. Choosing 9mm Ammo for Self DefenseĬhoosing a good defensive round is about two things.įirst and foremost, there’s finding a round that works reliably in your chosen firearm. If you’re feeling a little overwhelmed by all the options out there, or just want a better idea of what’s available, this should give you everything you need to know about choosing 9mm ammo. What follows is a (far from exhaustive) list of some of the best 9mm ammo available, with a focus on range and defensive ammo. The number one handgun round by a substantial margin, it should come as no surprise that there are also a wide variety of options for 9mm ammo out there. The 9x19mm cartridge, also called 9mm Luger or just 9mm, is one of the most popular and enduring chamberings in the world.
