No Comments Whether you’re gearing up for range day or loading your pistol for self defense, you want to be sure you’re using the best 9mm ammo. Luckily, 9mm ammo is widely available with many options to choose from.
From competition to self defense, let’s take a look at our picks for the best 9mm ammo.
Best 9mm Ammo – Top Picks
Our top picks for the best 9mm ammo based on use case are:
- Self Defense – Federal Premium LE 147gr. HST JHP
- Range Shooting – Magtech Target 115gr. FMJ
- Competition – Federal Syntech 150gr. TSJ
- Pistol Caliber Carbine – Federal Syntech PCC 130gr. TSJ
- Budget – Magtech 115gr. FMJ Steel Cases
We dive into each of these choices, and some extra picks, below.
Best 9mm Ammo for Self Defense
When carrying for self defense, you want to ensure your gun is loaded with the best ammo for the job. Our top picks for 9mm self defense ammo are:
- Federal Premium Law Enforcement 147gr. HST JHP
- Federal Premium Law Enforcement 124gr. HST JHP
- Speer Gold Dot LE 124gr. JHP
- Speer Gold Dot LE 115gr. JHP
These rounds have a track record of good ballistic performance out of all sizes of pistols.
Whichever defensive round you choose, you should ensure that it runs well in your gun. Some guns are picky with different ammo types, so it is important to run at minimum a couple of magazines of your chosen round. This way, you can ensure that the ammo reliably cycles in your gun and you can see how accurate the rounds are. You may need to sight adjust your point of aim or zero your optic for certain defensive rounds.
Now, let’s take a closer look at each of these rounds.
Federal Premium Law Enforcement 147gr. HST JHP
Why it’s our #1 pick: The Federal Premium LE 147gr. HST JHP has reliable ballistic performance in both short barreled and full size handguns with moderate recoil.
Our top choice for 9mm self defense ammo is the Federal Premium LE 147gr. HST JHP. The round performs well in ballistic tests and real-world scenarios. That’s why it’s chosen by law enforcement agencies across the country.
Federal designed the HST bullet to meet the unique needs of the FBI and law enforcement. These agencies needed a round that expanded significantly upon impact without sacrificing penetration. They also needed a round that expanded reliably when passing through common barriers and multiple layers of fabric. The bullet’s unique design allows for this consistent and reliable expansion.
The reason the 147gr. HST is so popular (besides its ballistic performance) is because it tends to be agnostic to barrel length. This means it performs well in both short barrel and full size pistols.
Using a Glock 48 with a 4.17-inch barrel, we put five rounds of the 147gr. HST through a chronograph and ballistic gel to see its ballistic performance. Here’s how it stacked up:
- Average Penetration: 16.6 inches
- Average Expansion: .623 inches.
- Average Muzzle Velocity: 933 fps
- Average Muzzle Energy: 285 ft-lbs
Keep in mind, ballistic gel tests can give us an idea of how the round might perform in the real world, but should not be the sole deciding factor in selecting a round.
Federal Premium Law Enforcement 124gr. HST JHP
The Federal Premium LE 124gr. HST JHP is also a solid choice for self defense in place of the 147gr. HSTs.
The 124gr. HST round has the same bullet design as the 147gr. HST, only in a lighter bullet moving at a faster speed. The round has great ballistic performance and consistently meets penetration and expansion markers in ballistic tests. It is also known to perform well in both short barrel and full size handguns.
Because of its higher velocities, the 124gr. version of the HST round may have snappier felt recoil than the 147gr. HSTs. Despite this, it is still a very manageable round to shoot.
Using a Glock 48 with a 4.17-inch barrel, we put five rounds of the 124gr. HST through a chronograph and ballistic gel to see its ballistic performance. Here’s how it stacked up:
- Average Penetration: 16.6 inches
- Average Expansion: .598 inches
- Average Muzzle Velocity: 1149 fps
- Average Muzzle Energy: 364 ft-lbs
Keep in mind, ballistic gel tests can give us an idea of how the round might perform in the real world, but should not be the sole deciding factor in selecting a round.
Speer Gold Dot LE 124gr. JHP
Our next pick for a 9mm self defense load is the Speer Gold Dot LE 124gr. JHP. Used by both concealed carriers and police departments, the Speer Gold Dot has a reputation for its excellent ballistic performance in testing and real-world shootings.
Our pick from the Gold Dot line consistently performs well in FBI ballistic gel tests, meeting penetration and expansion markers. Speer loads the round using bonded-core bullets which give better performance against intermediate barriers like drywall or heavy clothing. This standard pressure round performs well in both subcompact handguns and gives only moderate recoil to the shooter.
Using a Glock 48 with a 4.17-inch barrel, we put five rounds of the 124gr. Gold Dot through a chronograph and ballistic gel to see its ballistic performance. Here’s how it stacked up:
- Average Penetration: 17.63 inches
- Average Expansion: .497 inches
- Average Muzzle Velocity: 1068 fps
- Average Muzzle Energy: 315 ft-lbs
Keep in mind, ballistic gel tests can give us an idea of how the round might perform in the real world, but should not be the sole deciding factor in selecting a round.
Speer Gold Dot 115gr. JHP
In the case that the 124gr. Gold Dots are not available, the Speer Gold Dot 115gr. JHP are an excellent substitute. The 115gr. Gold Dots feature a slightly lighter, but faster, bullet than the 124gr. Gold Dots. The round performs well in ballistic tests and against intermediate barriers.
Using a Glock 48 with a 4.17-inch barrel, we put five rounds of the 115gr. Gold Dot through a chronograph and ballistic gel to see its ballistic performance. Keep in mind, ballistic gel tests can give us an idea of how the round might perform in the real world, but should not be the sole deciding factor in selecting a round. Here’s how it stacked up:
- Average Penetration: 17.6 inches
- Average Expansion: .525 inches
- Average Muzzle Velocity: 1152 fps
- Average Muzzle Energy: 339 ft-lbs
Keep in mind, ballistic gel tests can give us an idea of how the round might perform in the real world, but should not be the sole deciding factor in selecting a round.
Best 9mm Ammo for the Range
If you’re just looking for a reliable 9mm round for fun or training at the range, you’re in luck. Many ammo manufacturers produce 9mm bulk ammo, so there are many options to choose from.
For range training, the most popular (and cost-effective) rounds will use full metal jacket (FMJ) bullets. These are bullets that have a soft core (usually lead), surrounded by a casing of harder metal.
Let’s take a look at our top picks for 9mm range ammo.
Magtech Target 9mm 115gr. FMJ
Why it’s our #1 pick: The Magtech Target 115gr. FMJ is an affordable range round that runs reliably in most 9mm pistols.
The Magtech Target 9mm 115gr. FMJ is an excellent choice for range training. Magtech loads its ammo in Brazil using a major defense contractor that loads its own brass, bullets, and propellants.
This Magtech Target ammo balances reliability with cost, making it a great choice for shooters who value performance and budget.
Federal American Eagle 115gr. FMJ
Whether you’re at the range for fun or taking a training class, you can’t go wrong with the Federal American Eagle 115gr. FMJ. Federal designed this American-made 9mm ammo to have similar performance to their premium line of ammo, but without the premium price tag.
The American Eagle 115gr. rounds provide reliable performance for both subcompact and full size pistols. Plus, you can feel good about supporting a company that makes ammo right here in the USA!
PMC Bronze 124gr. FMJ
Another great option for range training is the PMC Bronze 124gr. FMJ. While most of our 9mm ammo picks for range training have been 115gr., this PMC ammo uses a 124gr. bullet. The primary difference between 115gr. vs. 124gr. ammo, other than bullet weight, is the pressure that the rounds are loaded to. Generally, 124gr. bullets travel slower than 115gr. bullets. Some shooters note that 124gr. rounds produce less snappy recoil than 115gr. rounds.
PMC is a South Korean ammo manufacturer known for its quality control. Because the company’s supplier produces all of the components needed, PMC is able to offer extreme control and consistency among its ammo production.
Best 9mm Ammo for Competition Shooting
Many competitive shooters want to compete in matches but don’t want the hassle of loading their own ammo. Luckily there are some great options to stay competitive while shooting 9mm.
Federal Syntech Action Pistol 150gr. TSJ
Why it’s our #1 pick: Federal Syntech Action Pistol is designed specifically for competition shooters, meets power factor, and reduces fouling in your barrel.
The Federal Syntech Action Pistol 150gr. TSJ is the ultimate 9mm competition round for USPSA, IDPA, and other shooting sports. Federal Syntech is the official round of USPSA and loaded to meet power factor at USPSA matches. It’s even on the organization’s Certified Ammunition List.
The round’s Total Synthetic Jacket projectile uses a lead core surrounded by a copper coating, differing from the traditional copper. This synthetic jacket material resists heat and reduces friction, leading to less barrel heat and reduced barrel fouling. The bullet’s polymer jacket also reduces splash back on steel targets.
Blazer Brass 124gr. FMJ
The Blazer Brass 124gr. FMJ is an excellent choice for newer competition shooters that want a high-performing round at a good price. Although it’s not on USPSA’s Certified Ammunition List, it easily meets power factor for USPSA and IDPA matches. The recoil of the Blazer Brass 124gr. rounds feels more like a “push” than a “snap,” something many competition shooters like on match day.
Best Budget 9mm Ammo
Finally, let’s look at a budget-friendly 9mm option.
Magtech 115gr. FMJ Steel Case
If you’re looking to get more bang for your buck, the Magtech 115gr. FMJ Steel Case is where I would start. A newer offering from Magtech, this round uses a more economic steel casing as opposed to brass casings. So long as you’re not interested in reloading the cases, this round will go easier on your wallet.
Despite the reputation steel cased ammo gets, this round from Magtech performs reliably in a wide variety of guns and has excellent accuracy to boot.
Best 9mm Ammo for PCC
If you’re shooting a pistol caliber carbine, you’ll get the best performance using rounds loaded specifically for PCCs.
Federal Syntech PCC 130gr. TSJ
Federal has optimized every aspect of their Federal Syntech PCC 130gr. TSJ for premium performance in pistol caliber carbines. Everything from muzzle velocity, accuracy, and the bullet’s flat nose profile has been designed and loaded for carbines.
While Federal loaded this round with competition shooters in mind, it’s features can be appreciated by all types of shooters. For example, the round’s Total Synthetic Jacket projectile uses a polymer coating that protects your PCC’s barrel, reducing fouling and lengthening the barrel’s lifespan.
Spraying steel targets with a PCC is loads of fun, but the splashback from steel targets isn’t. Luckily, you won’t have this problem thanks to the TSJ’s polymer coat and flat nose profile.
Final Thoughts: Best 9mm Ammo
The great thing about the 9mm caliber is that there are tons of ammo options. If we didn’t cover your favorite 9mm round, don’t worry — there are many worthy 9mm rounds, these are just our top picks!
Whichever 9mm round you pick, take the time to check that it functions well in your gun and practice as much as you can!
