Regardless of the cartridge you use, choosing the right kind of ammunition is just as important as choosing an appropriate self defense handgun. After all, your life could depend on it. The good news for everyone who uses a handgun chambered in 9mm Luger is that there are lots of great 9mm self defense ammo choices currently available on the market. However, the bad news is that it’s really tough to pick a single load in particular and label it as the best 9mm self defense ammo.
The last few decades have seen phenomenal advances in ammunition design, testing, and production. This has resulted in an abundance of good quality self defense ammunition in all the major calibers. While this is a good thing overall, the incredible number of choices available can make choosing a self defense load challenging and overwhelming at times. That being said, there are a couple different types of 9mm self defense ammo that consistently rise above the competition.
So without further ado, here are, in alphabetical order, my picks for the best 9mm self defense ammo based on their performance under controlled conditions, their prevalence among major law enforcement agencies, and some subjective input based on my personal experiences with these loads under various conditions.
Barnes 115gr TAC-XPDThe solid copper bullets produced by Barnes are some of the most effective bullets for hunting large, tough species of big game because they can be relied upon for deep penetration and consistent expansion with virtually 100% weight retention. These same characteristics are what make the Barnes TAC-XPD bullets such a great choice for 9mm self defense ammo. At 115gr, these bullets are on the light side for most 9mm self defense bullets. They’re also loaded for slightly lower velocities than comparable 115gr 9mm loads, which makes for mild recoil.
While that’s great for shooters with compact and full sized handguns, this may not be the best 9mm self defense ammo for use in pocket pistols or sub-compact handguns with barrels shorter than 3.5″.
Federal 124gr HSTEven though it’s not a bonded bullet, the Federal HST is still very well constructed and is just as durable as the best bonded (or solid in the case of Barnes) bullets currently in production. Developed over the course of many years specifically to meet FBI and other law enforcement specifications, it’s no surprise that the HST is one of the most popular bullets used by law enforcement agencies in the United States. Federal started selling the HST to the general public a couple of years ago. They quickly gained a great reputation and are widely regarded as one of the best 9mm self defense choices currently available.
The proof is in the pudding: regardless of whether you use a full size or short barreled 9mm handgun, if you want reliable deep penetration, good bullet expansion, and high weight retention, then it’s really tough to go wrong with the 124gr Federal HST.
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