Selecting Handgun Ammunition

Among all the emotionally charged topics discussed amongst firearms owners, little generates as much controversy as ammunition selection. This is by no means an exhaustive study on the subject. Rather, it is intended to provide the reader with a decent baseline from which to make informed decisions. Before we begin, let me provide context for the article – that the reader is choosing jacketed hollow point (JHP) ammunition for a semi-auto in a modern service caliber. We will visit the subject of ammunition selection for revolvers and pocket autos in .25 ACP, .32 ACP, .380 ACP and the like in another article, though some of the basic principles of ammunition selection will still hold true.

Why is ammunition selection important? Because while needing to use deadly force is a statistical outlier, when planning for those incidents, you want to stack the deck in your favor as much as possible to ensure the threat is stopped as quickly as possible. Before discussing ammunition selection further, we need to dispel the notion that there are any major differences between the service calibers in terms of terminal ballistics. 9mm NATO, .40S&W, .45 ACP, etc. are all equally inefficient at physiologically stopping threats. Handguns are weapons of compromise – we carry them because they are convenient, not because they are effective. Because they are weapons of compromise, it makes ammunition selection more important than with something like an AR15. When selecting a carry round, there are three main factors one should consider as a starting point – reliability, accuracy, and terminal effectiveness.

Reliability: this is at the top of the list for obvious reasons. If the round you chose does not feed in your weapon, it could be a lightning bolt from Mount Olympus thrown by Zeus himself, and it will do you no good. I would personally avoid the use of remanufactured or reloaded ammunition and stick to factory loadings from reputable manufacturers. Speer, Federal, Winchester, Hornady, etc. These companies all have major contracts with law enforcement and probably have submitted their products to the FBI’s rigorous ammunition testing protocols. Once you select a round, I would shoot at least a box of 50 through your handgun to ensure it functions reliably. These rounds may cost a bit more, but remember this isn’t ammunition for general practice, you won’t be blasting through cases of it. You’re relying on it to save your life, or the life of those around you. The cost of one box to ensure reliable function, and another set aside for carry are minor in the grand scheme of things.

Accuracy: This requirement is self-explanatory. Thankfully, modern handgun ammunition from a reputable manufacturer can almost always be counted on to be reasonably accurate. In my experience, any accuracy issues with a quality handgun with quality ammunition can usually be traced back to a lack of training by the user.

Terminal ballistics: This is where things get a bit more complicated. Reams and reams of studies have been generated on what bullet is best. This is where you must do your research. There is a lot of snake oil out there. Remember, ultra-light bullets shot into a side of meat may look impressive, but those rounds rarely measure up in the FBI’s ballistic testing standards. If it seems to be too good to be true, it is. Physics applies to bullets the same as everything else. I would search the manufacturer’s website for information on weight retained after firing, penetration in gel after passing through barriers, expansion, etc. This is all from the FBI testing, and if a company does not have this information available on their website, I would be suspicious. As a final resource, don’t hesitate to contact your local police department, and ask them what kind of handgun rounds they carry. This is not foolproof, as police departments are not immune from making uninformed decisions when it comes to ammunition selection, but it can help you when making your decision.

They say the first rule of a gunfight is to have a gun, so the second rule should be to have ammunition. What gun and what ammunition are up to you, but it should be based on objective research and training, rather than what looks cool in a (likely sponsored) YouTube review. Don’t get too drawn into the minutiae of it all though, as it is not equipment that will make or break you, it is training. Once you have a quality firearm with quality magazines and quality ammunition, seek out professional instruction. 8 hours on the range will yield far better results than 8 hours on the internet.

Thanks for reading,

Flynn