Handgun Ammo

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. Specialty calibers like 10mm, .44 Magnum, and 5.7x28mm fill specific hunting, woods carry, and performance niches.

FMJ vs. Hollow Point

Full metal jacket (FMJ) loads are the standard for practice and range use—affordable, reliable, and widely available in every caliber. Hollow point loads are designed for defensive carry, expanding on impact to transfer more energy and reduce over-penetration risk. For defensive use, always carry a purpose-designed hollow point rather than FMJ. 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.

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. Most quality defensive loads will function flawlessly out of the box, but the verification step is worth the cost and eliminates uncertainty before you rely on the ammunition.

+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, as some are not rated for sustained +P use. The velocity gain from +P is meaningful for defensive hollow point expansion from short barrels. +P+ is less common and typically only found in 9mm and .38 Special; consult your manufacturer before using +P+ loads in any platform.

Rimfire Handgun Ammo

Rimfire handgun calibers—primarily .22 LR and .22 Magnum—are covered under our rifle ammo section since the ammunition is shared between pistol and rifle platforms. If you’re shopping for .22 LR for a Ruger Mark IV, Browning Buck Mark, or similar rimfire pistol, see our .22 LR ammo page for current stock and load options.

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. In 9mm, Federal HST 124gr and Speer Gold Dot 124gr are the law enforcement standards. In .45 ACP, Federal HST 230gr is the benchmark. All three expand reliably across a wide range of impact velocities and meet FBI terminal performance standards. Carry the same load your local law enforcement uses when possible — it’s been tested extensively for your climate and conditions.

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 firearms are rated for +P — check your owner’s manual before using +P ammunition. Most modern quality pistols from Glock, Sig, S&W, and Springfield handle +P without issue. Older or budget firearms may not be rated for sustained +P use.

How much handgun ammo should I buy?
For practice: 500–1,000 rounds of FMJ per caliber is a reasonable starting reserve. For defensive carry: 100–200 rounds of your chosen hollow point load. Buy practice ammo in bulk (case quantities) for the best per-round price — 9mm FMJ in 500-round or 1,000-round cases consistently offers the lowest cost per round.

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: All Ammunition • 9mm Ammo • .45 ACP Ammo • Self-Defense Ammo • Handguns