by Luke C. | The Firearm Blog
Ever since the dawn of the pistol, we’ve always sought to optimize the projectiles we shoot at those who are threatening us. Throughout history, we’ve seen the simple round ball shot evolve into all sorts of shapes, and eventually into the sleek, high ballistic coefficient, and complex expanding bullet designs meant for the greatest terminal effect out of the shortest barrels. With such a long history of developing ammunition, humanity has a long laundry list of even just 9mm cartridges that many people would consider carrying for self-defense. How do you sort through all of that? Today I’m going to give you what I and a lot of the TFB staff agree are the best available 9mm carry ammo.
Factors to Consider When Choosing 9mm Carry Ammo
Picking the right carry ammo is an important decision, but it doesn’t have to be a hard one. We can use a simple set of criteria to filter out ammo that isn’t great for concealed carry. While some of this filtering can be done by just doing our own research (for example, steel-cased FMJ 9mm wouldn’t be a good fit), a lot of the filtering will still have to be done at the range with the actual gun you’re planning to shoot with the ammo. So what should we look for?
Your carry ammo must consistently feed, fire, and eject without malfunctions, as any failure during a critical moment could be not just catastrophic but deadly. Testing the ammunition in your carry firearm is probably the most important step you can take to ensure you’re picking a 9mm carry ammo that is right for you. Terminal ballistics – how the bullet behaves upon impact – is vital for self-defense and should also be a major deciding factor. You want ammunition that penetrates deep enough and expands reliably to create a larger wound channel and effectively transfer energy to stop an attacker.
Recoil management and muzzle flash are also factors that you should consider as part of the whole package. Lighter recoil allows for quicker, more accurate follow-up shots, especially in high-stress situations, and can be a boon to those who have to carry pistols with longer or stiffer triggers. Conversely, lighter recoiling cartridges might not work at all in some guns, and unreliably at best in others. Long story short, there is a balance to be had, and the answer isn’t always going to be the same ammo for every gun, that’s why we have a top 5.
Top 9mm Carry Ammo Options
Here are our top 5 9mm carry ammo options. For the data below we used a combination of manufacturer website descriptions, and pricing, along with ballistic data from both Lucky Gunner Labs and Ammunition To Go. We’ll combine that with my personal experiences for each ammo to give you guys a well-rounded bird’s eye view of what each type offers.
Federal HST 9mm is a favorite among law enforcement and civilians alike. It’s known for its consistent expansion and deep penetration and is often the first choice for myself and the rest of the TFB staff in our 9mm carry guns.
Terminal Performance: Federal HST typically penetrates between 12 to 18 inches in ballistic gel, with expansion diameters around 0.60 inches or more depending on clothing/barriers.
Pros:
- Reliable Expansion
- Deep Penetration
- Consistent Performance
Cons:
- Higher recoil impulse and greater muzzle flip compared to other options
- High price per round
- Major availability issues during periods of ammo shortage/panic buying
Part of what makes HSTs so popular is their pedigree and namesake. Released in 2002, Federal HST is essentially a modernized version of Federal’s highly popular Hydra-Shok ammunition. The HST line features non-bonded hollow point rounds specifically designed to deliver maximum expansion. It was popular back when it was released, and that popularity carries over to today for good reason. Number one on the list for a reason!
