Top 5 9mm Defensive Carry Ammo

9mm is the most popular defensive carry caliber due to stopping power, capacity, and cost. When choosing the 9mm ammo you want when protecting yourself or your family, you want to consider ammo that has a proven self-defense track record.

Defense Ammo Bullet Styles

Jacketed Hollow Point – Jacketed Hollow Point bullets offer controlled expansion and devastating results. The combination of penetration, expansion, accuracy, and stopping power make it the most popular option for defense rounds.

Polymer Tipped – Polymer-tipped bullets offer controlled expansion, deep wound cavities, and unparalleled accuracy. These bullets prevent clogging and reliably expand through any sort of barrier.

Flat Nose – Flat nose bullets are built for deep, straight-line penetration. Their design allows them to crush through bone and other barriers. They are a common choice for woodland defense applications.

Fluted – Fluted Bullets provide maximum penetration, accuracy, and wound channels without the added recoil. They are generally lightweight, ranging from 65 to 115 grains, and do not fragment or expand. Get your hands on Fluted 9mm Ammo from brands like Underwood and NovX!

Grain Weights

Grain weights will vary depending on bullet style, personal preference, and intended use. Generally speaking, lighter bullets have less recoil and provide easier follow-up shots. Heavier bullets generally have more recoil but provide more penetration and stopping power.

 To find the top choices in 9mm defensive carry loads, we looked to our Customers. These defensive carry loads are popular with our Customers and, have the perfect blend of reliability and performance, and they are priced for any budget.

1

Hornady Critical Defense 9mm Luger Ammo 115 Grain Hornady FTX Polymer Tip Box of 25

Hornady Critical Defense Ammunition 9mm Luger was purpose built for concealed carry guns and designed to deliver reliable and controlled expansion regardless of target every time.. Critical Defense Ammunition is loaded with Hornady's bullet which has a soft polymer insert that delivers superior controlled expansion and large, deep wound cavities over a wide range of velocities. Each round is loaded with premium low flash propellants that deliver proven performance, even in very short-barreled handguns that will not disrupt your vision. This ammunition was designed by Hornady to expand every single time. This ammunition is new production, non-corrosive, in boxer primed, reloadable brass cases.

Features

  • Unaffected by thick and heavy clothing, including denim and leather
  • Bullet delivers superior controlled expansion and large, deep wound cavities over a wide range of velocities
  • Clean burning and efficient propellants reduce recoil in lightweight handguns, and perform consistently at all temperatures
  • Minimal muzzle flash protect night vision
  • Feeds reliably in pistols
  • Bullets are custom designed for individual loads
  • Effective, consistent, reliable self-defense ammunition


Notice From Hornady: Temporary suspension of nickel plated cartridge cases for Critical Defense Handgun Ammunition 5/25/21

Unfortunately, everyone is faced with production bottlenecks and supply chains are stressed. In particular, the freight system is delayed longer than normal. Our current turnaround time on nickel plating cartridge cases is 4+ weeks. This delay has created a significant bottleneck in the production of ammunition.

Due to these issues, we will suspend nickel plating on all Critical Defense handgun ammunition to help reduce production time. We will resume nickel plating when things return to normal.

 

About Hornady

“Ten bullets through one hole” is the philosophy that brought Hornady® Manufacturing from a two-man operation in 1949, to a world-leading innovator of bullet, ammunition, reloading tool and accessory design and manufacture today. Change is their constant and daily challenge. They outperform their competitors by ensuring the products they make are the ones their customers need right now, and accurately predict what they’ll want in the future. They recognize trends, and respect when to leave well enough alone. Their workforce includes an ample number of hunters and competitive shooters, as well as veterans and former law enforcement officers. At Hornady® Manufacturing, ammunition is more than their livelihood. It’s a major part of their daily life.

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2

Winchester Defense 9mm Luger Ammo 147 Grain Jacketed Hollow Point

Winchester USA ammunition was developed to provide excellent performance at an affordable price for the high volume shooter. Featuring high quality Winchester components, this ammunition delivers outstanding reliability. This ammunition is loaded with a jacketed hollow point bullet which features a rearward weight design to ensure pinpoint accuracy and sure functioning time and time again. This ammunition is new production, non-corrosive, in reloadable brass cases.

About Winchester

Winchester is The American Legend, a brand built on integrity, hard work, and a deep focus on its loyal Customers. Considered one of the world’s leading ammunition and firearms manufacturers, Winchester has built its reputation on delivering innovative products, providing top-shelf Customer service, and demonstrating industry leadership. Along with ammunition and firearms, Winchester offers many gun parts and accessories as well as tools, apparel, safes and storage, air guns, and more. We offer a huge selection of Winchester products, including the Model 70 Rifle, Super-X Ammunition, SX4 Shotgun, and AA Target Ammo. From our research and development efforts to our manufacturing processes, we understand the value of product quality and performance. With a reputation steeped in tradition, we have earned the moniker ‘The American Legend’ by delivering on our commitment to excellence in everything we do.

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3

IMI 9mm Luger Ammo 115 Grain Jacketed Hollow Point

IMI is a defense systems house specializing in the development, integration, manufacturing and life cycle support of modern land, air and naval combat systems and HLS solutions. IMI's world class combat-proven systems are developed by vertically integrated expert teams, working in close cooperation with the customers, the most prominent being the Israel Defense Forces (IDF). IMI's products have been qualified with the IDF, US Military (Air Force, Army and Navy) and NATO nations.

 

This ammunition is a great choice for the shooter looking for a great affordable round for target shooting, training and practice. The Di-Cut bullet ogive was especially designed for consistent feeding and operation, preventing misfeeding in a wide range of 9mm pistols. This ammunition is new production, non-corrosive, in boxer-primed, reloadable brass cases.

 

Quantity Packs:

  • Box of 50 = As pictured
  • Box of 500 = 10 boxes of 50
  • Case of 1000 = 20 boxes of 50

Features

  • Operational use by various Israeli security forces as well as police and law enforcement units around the world
  • Developed by IMI as a personal security round and to meet the needs of modern police forces
  • Excellent stopping power
  • Complies with SAAMI and C.I.P. specifications



About IMI Ammunition

In 1945, a secret factory was built below a small farm community outside Tel-Aviv. Israel was under British occupation at the time, and Jews were prohibited from having arms and ammunition. The workers in the factory made more than 2.5 million copper bullets by hand, ensuring the success of Israeli independence in 1949. The underground factory became Israeli Military Industries, and later on: IMI Systems. To this day, the primary focus is still the safety and security of Israel and it’s allies. While not a NATO member, all IMI ammunition meets all NATO ammunition requirements and provides ammunition to a number of NATO countries. MidwayUSA offers a variety of IMI ammunition, from 5.56x45mm M193, M855, and Razor Core match for AR-15s, to 7.62x51mm M80 and M118LR. Also available is Di-Cut 9mm hollow point pistol ammo. Throughout its history, IMI has always known human lives and freedom are always on the line, so its commitment to quality is evident in its motto: “Shooting with the best!”

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4

Speer Gold Dot 9mm Luger +P Ammo 124 Grain Bonded Jacketed Hollow Point

Speer Gold Dot Ammunition is loaded with bonded core bullets and designed for home defense and personal protection. Bonding the jacket to the core means the elimination of core-jacket separations and superior weight retention. This ammunition is new production, non-corrosive, in boxer primed, reloadable brass cases.

About Speer

Vernon Speer started building bullets in 1943 to provide components to reloaders. Due to World War II, ammo companies were unable to provide bullets to the commercial market. Speer’s first offerings were focused on hunting rifle bullets, but later he made the first mass-produced jacketed handgun bullets for hunting and law enforcement. In the 1960s, the Lawman line of loaded ammunition for self-defense and law enforcement was born. MidwayUSA offers a comprehensive assortment of Speer products including: Gold Dot Self-Defense Ammunition and Lawman Personal Defense Ammunition, Hot-Cor Bullets, Impact Bullets, Gold Dot Bullets, Boat-Tail Bullets, TNT Bullets, Grand Slam Bullets, CPRN Pistol Bullets, Varmint Hollow Point Bullets, and Round Lead Ball muzzleloader bullets.

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5

Federal Premium Personal Defense 9mm Luger Ammo 124 Grain Federal HST Jacketed Hollow Point

Federal Premium Personal Defense HST Ammunition has been specially designed to deliver consistent, tremendous expansion, optimum penetration and superior terminal performance. The specially designed hollow point will not plug while passing through a variety of barriers and the jacket and core hold together providing nearly 100% weight retention! This ammunition was engineered to meet or exceed  ammunition testing protocols; these protocols put bullets through 10% ordinance gelatin, steel, wallboard, plywood, laminated automobile safety glass and gelatin covered in heavy clothing and measure how well the bullets penetrate, expand and hold together.

Extensive testing has shown that the on average the 9mm Luger load will deliver 13.63" of penetration, 0.63" of expansion, 90% weight retention through all FBI barriers when shot through a Glock 17 at 10 feet.

One of the great things about this ammunition are high quality features that make this ammunition perfect choice for self-defense ammunition. Each round of ammunition is loaded into a Federal Premium nickel plated brass case with waterproofing on the case mouth and primer. Every load has a consistent powder charge and reliable primer for consistent ignition. Every HST bullet features a tapered jacket profile for reliable feeding, a cannelure that locks the copper jacket to the lead core, patented co-aligned internal and external skiving and a deep tapered hollow point that will not clog.

About Federal Premium

Federal Cartridge Company, as we know it today, started in 1922 when Charles Horn purchased Federal Cartridge and Machine out of receivership. Federal’s first products were shotshells, followed by rimfire in 1924. In 1976, Federal Premium was launched, combining boutique bullets with premium propellants and nickel-plated brass to create the “best of the best” in centerfire ammunition. Over a century later, MidwayUSA offers a complete spectrum of Federal ammunition, ranging from shotshell offerings like: Top-Gun, High Over All, Game Loads, Gold Medal Grand, and Prairie Storm; and centerfire rifle ammunition such as Fusion, Power-Shok, Gold Medal Match, Meat Eater; to centerfire pistol ammunition: HST, Punch, and American Eagle. Federal continues to manufacture rimfire ammo in the form of AutoMatch, Champion, and Game-shok. Federal supports handloaders with standard: small pistol, small rifle, large pistol, large rifle, 209 shotshell primers, and the Gold Medal-series match primers.

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