However, you have to differentiate between the 9mm ammunition intended for defensive purposes and the practice ammo that you would use for the range. That same lower cost also encourages handgun owners to practice more for less money. In the world of personal defense, the 9mm has become the most popular concealed carry caliber due to the solid ballistics, wide selection of self-defense ammunition, lower recoil, and affordability.īut in a gunfight, the guy who wins is the one who can place well-aimed shots at the right time and we recognize that training and practice are mandatory to every handgun owner.Ĭompared to other high-powered handgun cartridges, 9mm ammunition is less expensive, especially when purchased in bulk. The 9mm caliber is having something of a renaissance these days because people are more interested than ever in concealed carry compact pistols purpose-built for constant wear and reactive use. However, recent technological developments in bullet and propellant design have contributed to the 9mm's skyrocketing popularity. It is precisely the firepower factor that has led many American police departments, as well as sporting shooters worldwide, to prefer the 9mm. Its modest dimensions permit the use of high capacity, double-column magazines in pistols. While many harbor well-founded doubts about the 9mm's terminal effectiveness, actually, the 9mm Parabellum`s virtues in the last century were largely logistical. the bullet has to stay in one single piece while it penetrates light or heavy clothing and travels through the soft tissue. All well-made defense rounds should demonstrate excellent weight retention i.e. Weight RetentionĪ heavier bullet penetrates barriers better and causes more damage if it remains in one piece.

This type of projectile designed for expansion is usually a JHP, as the opening in the bullet’s exposed, soft nose will enhance expansion once the bullet hits the target, creating a larger wound channel. ExpansionĪnother notable 9mm ammo feature is a bullet’s ability to enter a target and expand to create as large of a wound cavity as possible. The perfect 9mm self-defense load for sidearms, according to the FBI, must provide penetration depths of 12 inches minimum and 18 inches maximum when fired in 10% ballistic gel. A 9mm bullet has to achieve adequate penetration to disrupt the vital organs, stop the bad guy, and not cause any collateral damage.

Best 9mm ammo brands