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Choosing The Best Ammuntion For Your Shooting Situation

21 June 2022

Jacey Martin

If you own a handgun and are looking for 9mm ammo for it, there are many options to choose from, and you may need something specific to your situation. Ammunition type is not always suited to every situation, and understanding the difference can be challenging if you are new to firearms and shooting.

General Shooting

For many people, firing their gun at the range is the priority, and using an inexpensive 9mm readily available ammunition can be the best option. Most ammo companies produce 9mm ammunition with a lead bullet jacketed with copper. Often you will hear this called ball ammo or jacketed ammunition.

The copper jacket on the bullet is there to help the bullet feed through the firearm and fly smooth and accurately through the barrel and to the target. While this is great on the range, it can reduce the stopping power of the 9mm ammo if you need to use the firearm for self-defense. The jacket can also lessen the splintering of the lead bullet, so it does less damage to the target.

Concealed Carry

If your 9mm handgun is intended to be a concealed firearm for protection, you may want to look at a different 9mm ammunition for that situation. The 9mm round is fast and light, so the standard ball ammo lacks some ability to transfer its energy to the target.

The best way to stop an assailant with a firearm is to use a round that knocks them down and stops the advance. Killing them is not the priority, but stopping them is. 9mm ammo that uses a semi-jacketed bullet with a hollow point tip is far more effective at delivering that punch needed to knock the assailant off their feet quickly.

Bullet manufacturers offer many different hollow point designs; some are more aggressive and effective than basic rounds. The type of round you choose for your firearm is often a personal preference, but it is essential to check the ammo in the weapon to ensure it feeds through it smoothly.

You should also check the local laws to ensure that the 9mm ammo you are considering is legal for your situation. Some states limit the kind of hollow points the general public can use, but the ammo supplier should know what they can sell you if you are unsure.

Less Lethal

A less lethal 9mm ammo is available on the market for gun owners looking for a defense round intended to stop an assailant in their home. These rounds are often less powerful and may use a plastic bullet, so they hurt when hitting someone but are less likely to inflict deadly force.

Less lethal rounds also are less likely to penetrate walls in your home, so if you take a shot at an intruder and miss, there is a lower risk of the round generating the wall and hurting someone in another room. If you are interested, talk to your ammunition dealer to see what is available for your firearm.

Contact a local company like The Armory for more info.

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