We only recommend the following 9mm defensive ammo for their strong expansion while meeting the FBI standard of 12-18 inches of penetration.
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We also recommend Underwood Xtreme Defender 65gr or 90gr (+P or +P+ optional), ARX Inceptors, and similar rounds.
Why? They perform at the same level or better as the best hollow points, they have much greater effect when hitting vitals (heart, head, liver, etc.),
and they stay effective when there are barriers or heavy clothing in the way.
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For more info, see our Defensive Ammo Guide.
And for your convenience, here are the best in-stock prices online for on those rounds:
It can, but compared with defense ammo like hollow points, it wont' stop threats as fast and it risks over-penetrating targets and hitting bystanders.
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Is 9mm a good self defense round? Will it stop an intruder?
Absolutely. 9mm defense rounds have been developed to perform about as well as most .40 S&W and .45 ACP defense rounds, while offering less recoil,Recoil is how much the gun kicks when you shoot it. Less recoil = easier to shoot.more ammo capacity, and (usually) less cost.
What 9mm ammo do cops use? Do police use FMJ or hollow point?
Police use hollow point ammo, as it stops threats faster and has less risk of over-penetrating targets.
Will a 9mm hollow point go through a person?
In most cases, no. All defense ammo is designed around the FBI standard of 12-18 inches of penetration in a human-like target.
That's just enough to reliably hit vitals, while not over-penetrating and endangering bystanders.
If by deadly, you mean "stops threats the fastest",
then the absolute best is the Underwood Xtreme Defender 65gr or 90gr (+P or +P+ optional).
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If you can't get them, these hollow point rounds are the runners-up for meeting the FBI standard of 12-18 inches of penetration, while also expanding around 2x the size of a standard 9mm:
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Steel-cased ammo is usually cheaper than brass-cased ammo, but causes jams occasionally.
Only use it at for range practice. For more info, see our Practice Ammo Guide.
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Bullet The tip of a round of ammo. It's what's launched out the pistol's muzzle when fired.
Casing What holds the ammunition together. Casings are ejected out the side of the pistol when you fire.
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Training Ammo (Brass-cased)
Brass-cased ammo usually costs more than steel-cased ammo, but is more reliable.
Training classes often require brass-cased ammo.
Disclaimer: I get a small commission on purchases through the price links above, at no extra cost to you.
Bulk 9mm Ammo FAQ
Can FMJ ammo kill?
Absolutely. The 9mm bulk ammo you use for range practice or training is the same kind used by modern militaries today. The specific kind they use is 9x19mm NATO.
FMJ ammo won't stop threats as fast as defensive ammo, though.
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Is FMJ bad for your gun?
If it's copper FMJ, it's much better than exposed lead bullets.
Non-jacketed lead bullets foul up your barrel and require you to clean it, while copper FMJ does not.
If it's bi-metal FMJ, it will wear out your barrel faster than copper, but we're talking replacing your barrel after 50,000 rounds instead of 100,000.
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How many rounds do you shoot a year? Unless you're a professional shooter, you won't ever tell the difference.
What is the most accurate 9mm ammo?
Look for "match-grade" ammo. It's made to higher quality standards, and is more consistent in how fast it exits the barrel. Consistent ammo is more accurate.
Beyond that, you'll have to try different types and see what works best for your pistol, due to differences in barrel harmonics.
Barrels vibrate when shot. One brand of match-grade ammo may consistently exit the barrel around the node, or midpoint of the vibration.
That's where the vibration causes the least movement. Another brand of match-grade ammo may consistently exit around the peak of a vibration, where there's the most movement.
The only way to find the most accurate ammo for your pistol is to test match grade ammo in different bullet weights and powder loads.
What grain 9mm should I shoot?
For most people, any grain works fine. 115gr is often the cheapest and easiest to find, so start there.
For max accuracy, test 115gr, 124gr, and 147gr and test which one your pistol shoots best with using a bench rest.
One weight of bullet will cause it to exit the barrel closer to a node of vibration than the others, but you won't know which until you test it.
What grain 9mm has less recoil?
Short answer: Heavier bullets tend to recoil less.
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Long answer: It depends on the total energy of the bullet when fired.
Kinetic energy = 1/2 x (Mass x Velocity2)
What adds energy? More bullet mass, more gunpowder, and faster burning gunpowder.
Energy from more gunpowder is squared, while energy from heavier bullets is not.
Heavier bullets take up more space in the casing, so there's less room for gunpowder.
Heavier bullets also add more pressure to the chamber when fired.
There's an upper limit to safe chamber pressure, so usually more bullet weight = less gunpowder = less total energy.
But that's not always the case. To know for sure, check the manufacturer's listed muzzle energy for their ammo. It's listed in foot-pounds (ft⋅lbf), or joules (J).
More energy = more recoil.
Bryan Hill 
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