'Ten bullets through one hole” was the philosophy of Joyce Hornady, the founder of Hornady Ammunition. This great idea of accuracy and perfection has continued from the first bullet made by Hornady Ammunition more than half a century ago, right through today. Reviewers, who recreated a bullet ripping through zombie flesh, aren't super impressed with the Z-max bullet in terms of practicality. One man even says that the Z-max ammo has the exact same specifications as the same company's Critical Defense ammo.

I’ve been a handgun enthusiast for a little over a decade now, and I love everything about handguns. I love older pistol designs and all modern designs the same way.I have my preferences as far as handguns designs, i.e. I like hammer-fired handguns better than striker-fired ones, I like handguns with an all-steel frame better than those with a polymer or an alloy frame, and I like and SA/DA far more than I’d ever like any other handgun platform.Likewise for handgun calibers, not counting rounds I consider obscure but slowly gaining popularity (e.g.,.460 Rowland), I have a soft spot for both the and the.357 magnum — which shouldn’t come as a surprise to anyone because like I said, I love 1911s and magnum revolvers.

For me, as far as handgun calibers, these two being on the higher end of the ballistics performance spectrum, no other calibers come close.The.45 acp might be the slowest and heaviest of the “big three” semi-auto handgun calibers, but it makes the biggest holes in soft tissue targets when comparing FMJ vs. FMJ or JHP vs. JHP — its only downsides: terrible solid target penetration (slow and fat bullets have a hard time penetrating even entry level body armors) and lackluster ammo capacity in handguns chambered for it (the typical 1911 magazine can only fit seven to eight of these big fat cartridges).The on the other hand is the complete opposite of the.45 acp. A lighter bullet with a smaller cross sectional circumference propelled to velocities a couple hundred feet per second faster than the speed of sound, this handgun caliber is unrivaled when it comes to penetration, so much so that it will overpenetrate soft tissue targets — but that can easily be mitigated by using soft jacketed hollow point (SJHP) or jacketed soft point (JSP) bullets.Its only downside: lackluster ammo capacity.

Typical small frame revolvers can only hold five rounds, medium frame revolvers can only hold six to seven, and large frame revolvers can only hold up to eight. Not saying that wheelguns are worse than semi-autos, if anything I feel safer knowing that, like in my car or nightstand.So as much as I hate to say it, my two favorite handgun calibers have the same Achilles’ heel: the handguns they’re chambered for can’t carry as many rounds as I’d like. Table of Contents.Why the 9×19 Parabellum is a great optionJust because I said I prefer the I mentioned above doesn’t mean I think the 9mm is no good. In fact, I like it a lot (just not nearly as much as I like the other two). I don’t buy into the whole.45 acp vs. 9mm debate, because I don’t see the point.

Why do I have to choose one over the other when I can have both?The 9mm will not create as big a hole as the.45 acp does, and it will never outrun a speeding.357 magnum bullet fired from a 4-inch-barrel revolver, so as far as ballistics, it will never come close to my two preferred handgun calibers. ​ GET MY DISCOUNTSProductPriceWhere to Buy$$$$$$$$$$As far as I’m concerned, PolyCase ARX Inceptor +P, Buffalo Bore JHP +P+ and Hornady XTP JHP +P are tied for first place. Each bullet is designed differently — Polycase uses a more recent fluted design while Buffalo Bore and Hornady use classic jacketed hollow points.Of these three, I would choose the simply because I just love Buffalo Bore.

While they’re involved in a personal injury case with Glock and Cabela’s right now, I’ve always had a soft spot in my heart for their loads.A small ammunition company (which makes them an underdog) known for offering some of the hottest factory loads on the market, Buffalo Bore has been around for a while (can’t find anything on them thru Google, the first time I heard about them was in 2008 when I read an article about the.460 Rowland) but I believe they were founded by Tim Sundles — a hunter who has a passion for super hot handloads. Like most simple folk, I like rooting for the underdog, and being the gun nut that I am, I just love hot loads.I’m not too sure about. Their bullets have been shown in several tests to penetrate like an FMJ and wound like a JHP and those are made of polymer (blended with copper). I personally don’t care too much for things made of polymer, whether it’s handguns or bullets, but that’s just me.

Then again Glock wouldn’t be the successful company they are now if all handgunners think the same way I do.If you want to try them out, no one’s stopping you. Feel free to share your experience with us by leaving a comment below.The real star of the show is. It ticks all the boxes and is the cheapest of the bunch at just 59¢ a pop. Everyone in the U.S. Likes Hornady, I have yet to hear anyone complaining about their products.

And these XTP bullets are literally everywhere, availability will never be an issue.I would not dismiss all the other products here though. Does overpenetrate but I wouldn’t hesitate to carry these super hot loads in an all-steel 9mm EDC piece, simply because we never know when we might need to shoot a bad guy hiding behind some sort of solid barrier. As some Jewish writer I know once said, “Better to have, and not need, than to need, and not have.”, and are some of the more established premium brands. I wouldn’t feel undergunned carrying any of these loads if they’re the only ones available thru my favorite gun dealer. My only real issue with these is being premium brands, they can be a bit too pricey.Another obscure 9mm hot load optionIf you happen to have a Glock 19, you might want to know about a conversion option for it called (I swear I’m not a fan of Johnny Rowland — okay maybe I am, just a little).It’s relatively new, I believe it only came out two years ago. But it’s supposed to mimic true.357 magnum revolver performance in Glock 19 handguns with just a barrel and recoil spring swap.

Johnny’s load boasts of a 115-grain 9mm projectile with velocities of up to 1,600 fps from a 4.25-inch barrel.ConclusionThe 9mm as a handgun caliber is a great option for self defense, and there are literally a ton of good 9mm ammo out there. If you’re interested in a particular brand/design and they were not covered in this article, do your homework. Research on that load’s terminal ballistic performance and find out if they’re available in your area, as availability affects pricing.As with all else in life, choosing good 9mm ammo for self defense is never going to be easy as there are a lot of things to consider.

But whatever you do, whether or not you end up ordering any of the ammo brands in this article, make sure you save some for practice shooting if only to familiarize yourself with how your handgun handles the loads — specifically, how accurate the bullets are and how they recoil.And never make the assumption that you can win every gunfight just because you have your mag loaded with some of the best ammo on the market. Always remember that in gunfights, shot placement is king. Related Reads:. The extreme defender link does not go to an Underwood products page on Cabelas (thought you might want to know). Also the article says “Underwood 9mm Xtreme Defender +P+ (Penetrator)” Underwood Extreme Defender and Underwood Extreme Penetrator are two different products where the Penetrator has tested on MAC as coming in about 21″. The Defender usually comes in about 17″.

What’s really interesting is the similar testing results on the same product by both tnoutdoors and MAC. A side by side review like this article is awesome! Michael, thanks for liking the article.It was the Penetrator bullet whose results we included here. How or why I ended up writing “Defender”, I can’t remember exactly, but my apologies if it caused any confusion. Great catch btw! I’ll get it fixed.Underwood’s Xtreme Defender indeed doesn’t penetrate as deep as their Xtreme Penetrator. The fluting on the Defender tapers a little deeper toward the bullet nose that the “cross” pattern on the nose looks thinner compared to that of the Penetrator’s cross pattern that looks thicker.

Thanks for reading through the article. Regarding what you said, “perhaps a bullet that EXITS may perform by making two open wounds on the attacker and two areas of ‘exsanguination’” — I agree with you on this.

Two channels from which blood comes out means faster blood loss and is almost a guarantee that the bad guy is incapacitated immediately. There is nothing more preferable.The problem lies in bystanders potentially getting hit — and the defender potentially getting sued, not to mention bouts of guilt upon seeing their loved ones in pain. So yeah, I’d rather use a bullet design with controlled penetration.As for the RIP, I’ve heard of it but decided not to include it in the tests. I’ve seen a lot of videos and reviews from gun forum users who actually tried it — the RIP seems all hype. Had I included it in the tests, it wouldn’t have made top 5 because of its poor terminal performance and high cost (cheapest is $1.80 per round which would have made it the most expensive ammo on this list). If the courts in New Zealand are anything like ours, NEVER use handloaded ammo OR ammo with sinister/malacious-sounding names or appearance, like the RIP, Devastators, Zombie Apocalypse or anything that a prosecutor, etc., would use to convince a jury that you’re a particularly blood-thirsty individual that out looking for an excuse to kill someone.Also, unless you live in and never stray from “the middle of nowhere,” over-penetration is NOT your friend and those that were downrange of your still-travelling bullet (or their families) will own you. I would avoid the Inceptor/ARX.

In my testing the bullet, at an aveage velocity of 1,657 fps., produced virtually no damage to the even the first water-filled gallon milk jug in line and showed a tendency for over-penetration. The best performers practically blew the first jug apart, did heavy damage to the second and stopped in the third almost every time. Some did just make it into the fourth, and I consider penetration beyond the fourth to be excessive.

(BTW, the DRTs that I’ve tested have been a big yawn as well.). I’ll be the one to break the trend then.

I have had multiple fire arms in multiple calibers that wont eat hornady ammo, or have had other problems. I personally avoid hornady like plague.I have personally shot a keltec p32 that stove pipied on every other round of hornady critical defence.32acp JHP.

My personal mossberg 590 had a problem with the brass rim of some hornady 00 buck. I had to disassemble it, and pull the spring and follower out so I could dump the ammunition out, because the shell rims had flattened out and wouldn’t exit the magazine into the lifter. I’ve also seen a double stack.38 super that failed to eject several times in the same magazine. The owner of that firearm was so horrified he sold the auto and now exclusively owns and carrys wheel guns. I have personally bought only 5 rds of hornady 00 buck that malfunctioned, but have seen multiple guns in multiple calibers in my hands and others filled with hornady ammo, not work right. I will never give them another cent. I laugh at those who carry loaded with that.

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It's important to use good quality ammunition if you plan on carrying a handgun for self-defense. These are our choices for the best 9mm self-defense ammo.

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.

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Barnes 115gr TAC-XPD

The solid copper bullets produced by Barnes are some of the most effective 9mm rounds 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 HST

Even 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. Mighty gunvolt burst boss theme.

Hornady Critical Defense 115gr

Unlike many of the other choices on this list of the best 9mm self defense ammo, Hornady designed their Critical Defense lineup of ammunition from the ground up for use in short barreled handguns during self defense situations. The bullet features a polymer tip that initiates expansion at low velocities and prevents debris (like clothing) from clogging the hollow point and adversely impacting expansion. This ensures reliable penetration and expansion at low velocities regardless of what barriers the bullet passes through first. Since Critical Defense ammunition is optimized for short barreled pistols, it also has very manageable recoil and is easier to shoot in very small handguns.

Hornady also produces a 'Lite' version of the Critical Defense for those who are extremely recoil shy, and a similar 'Critical Duty' lineup of ammunition designed for those shooting full-sized handguns who need even better barrier-penetrating capability (like law enforcement officers).

Speer Gold Dot 124gr

Speer jumped way out in front of the competitors in the 1990s when they introduced the Gold Dot lineup on ammunition. The Gold Dot was one of the very first (if not the first) bonded handgun bullets developed for law enforcement use and quickly became the gold standard of well designed handgun ammunition. Those bonded bullets are virtually immune to core-jacket separation and have earned an excellent reputation for high weight retention, deep penetration, and reliable expansion even after penetrating through a tough barrier. Not surprisingly, Gold Dots are one of the preferred types of ammunition for law enforcement agencies all over the world and are an excellent choice for 9mm self defense ammo. Even though the standard 124gr Gold Dot ammo is best in medium or long barreled handguns, Speer also produces a 'Short Barrel' variant of the Gold Dot which is a great choice if you have a handgun with 3.5' or shorter barrel.

Winchester PDX Defender 124gr +P

The Winchester PDX1 Defender is another bonded bullet like the Speer Gold Dot. Similar to the Gold Dot, it also performs very well under a variety of demanding conditions. In fact, the FBI was so impressed with the overall performance of the bullet that the Bureau adopted the PDX1 Defender as its primary handgun ammunition. Featuring good penetration, weight retention, and expansion, the PDX1 Defender is another really good choice for 9mm self defense rounds, particularly for those carrying medium to large sized handguns.

Final Thoughts

Pick a couple of the best 9mm ammo loads and shoot several hundred rounds of each in the handgun you plan on using for defense to test their accuracy and reliability in your particular handgun. Different firearms often prefer different loads and the only way to know for sure is to spend some serious time at the range and determine what your handgun shoots well. If the time ever comes that you need to use your handgun in self defense, you don't want that to be the first time you've shot your handgun with the self defense ammunition you're carrying.

Additionally, make sure that whatever self defense load you choose is legal where you live. Certain states and local jurisdictions (like New Jersey and San Francisco) have onerous laws regarding the use of hollow point or 'Law Enforcement Only' types of ammunition, and you don't want to inadvertently run afoul of your local gun laws if at all possible.

Finally, invest the time, money, and energy into becoming proficient with your chosen self defense gun. A great handgun shooting the absolute best quality ammunition is useless if you cannot hit your target when it counts.

Like what you see here? You can read more great articles by John McAdams on his hunting blog. Follow him on Facebook The Big Game Hunting Blog or Twitter @TheBigGameHunt.

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