Handgun Ammo
Find the right handgun ammunition by browsing by caliber below. Each page covers in-stock loads for that cartridge—FMJ practice ammo, hollow point defensive rounds, and specialty loads—along with ballistics, compatible platforms, and guidance on choosing the right load for your use case. Whether you shoot a 9mm carry pistol, a .45 ACP 1911, a .357 Magnum revolver, or something more specialized, use the caliber pages below to get straight to what you need.
Read our full Handgun Ammunition Buying Guide ↓
Choosing a Caliber
For most shooters, caliber is determined by the pistol or revolver they already own. If you’re choosing a new platform, 9mm is the right starting point for the vast majority of uses—best capacity, lowest recoil, most affordable to shoot. .45 ACP and .40 S&W offer more energy per round at the cost of capacity and recoil. .38 Special and .357 Magnum are the revolver standards, with .357 offering significantly more power in the same platform.
Defensive Hollow Point Loads
Federal HST, Speer Gold Dot, Hornady Critical Defense, and Remington Golden Saber all have extensive published performance data and proven track records across all common handgun calibers. In 9mm, Federal HST 124gr and Speer Gold Dot 124gr are the law enforcement standards. In .45 ACP, Federal HST 230gr is the benchmark. Carry the same load your local law enforcement uses when possible — it has been tested extensively for your climate and conditions.
Practice Ammo Strategy
Buy FMJ in bulk for practice and carry dedicated hollow points for defensive loading. This approach maximizes training volume at minimum cost. Before trusting a defensive load for carry, run at least 50–100 rounds through your specific pistol to confirm reliable function and verify any point-of-impact difference between your FMJ and hollow point loads.
+P and +P+ Loads
Many handgun calibers are available in +P (overpressure) variants that generate higher velocity than standard loads. +P loads are safe in any pistol rated for them — check your owner’s manual before using +P ammunition in older or compact pistols. +P+ (double overpressure) is generally restricted to law enforcement use and is not recommended for standard carry guns.
Frequently Asked Questions: Handgun Ammunition
What is the best handgun ammo for self-defense?
Federal HST, Speer Gold Dot, and Hornady Critical Defense are the three most widely recommended defensive handgun loads across all calibers. All three expand reliably across a wide range of impact velocities and meet FBI terminal performance standards.
What is +P ammunition?
+P (overpressure) ammunition is loaded to higher chamber pressure than standard specifications — typically 10% higher. +P loads produce higher velocity and more consistent hollow point expansion, particularly from shorter carry gun barrels. Not all pistols are rated for sustained +P use — verify your pistol’s rating before carrying +P ammunition regularly.
Does caliber matter for self-defense?
Modern 9mm, .40 S&W, and .45 ACP hollow point loads all meet FBI terminal performance standards. The FBI and most major law enforcement agencies have transitioned to 9mm because modern 9mm loads match the terminal performance of larger calibers with less recoil, more capacity, and lower cost for training. For most buyers, 9mm with quality hollow point ammunition is the correct choice.
See Also: 9mm Ammo • .45 ACP Ammo • .357 Magnum • .38 Special • Rimfire Ammo • Handguns