Ammo Recommendations
Lots of people visit GunsGunsGuns.net to do some research before they identify which handgun they want to purchase for personal protection. The research shouldn’t stop there, however, unless you think it doesn’t matter what ammunition you load into that handgun. As our tech editor Paul Markel says,
“Folks, if you are genuinely serious about saving your life or that of those you love with a firearm, now is not the time to go bargain shopping, at least not where personal defense ammunition is concerned. Yes, bargain shop for practice ammunition, but when that pistol goes into the holster or on the nightstand, it should carry the highest quality ammo you can afford.”
Zillions of ammo choices exist for all the major calibers, with wide ranging loads, bullet weights and bullet types available. Where to begin?
First, identify what ammo your handgun is designed to fire. Can it handle hot +P rounds, for example, or even hotter +P+? Your owner’s manual should lay out some basic parameters.
You also should consider how you will likely use your handgun, according to our tech editor Mike Boyle:
“It’s very difficult to suggest a best load for any one caliber. In what capacity will you use the handgun? A uniformed policeman may have to engage threats behind intermediate barriers such as car doors or glass, making a bonded bullet the logical choice. Non-bonded bullets often expand to slightly greater diameter, making this type of bullet in a lighter bullet weight may be the better choice for the responsible citizen interested in personal defense.”
We asked three of our tech editors—Paul Markel, Mike Boyle and Dave Spaulding—to submit their specific recommendations for self-defense ammo for each of five popular self-defense calibers: i.e., .38 Special, .380 ACP, 9mm, .40 SW and .45 ACP. (To see each of these self-defense experts’ bios, scroll down to the bottom.) Check out their picks listed below (in alphabetical order), plus the links to online stores selling each cartridge.
.38 Special Ammunition Recommendations
- CorBon DPX 110-grain solid copper hollow point
- Remington 158-grain all-lead hollow point
- Speer Gold Dot 135-grain hollow point (bonded)
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Speer Gold Dot 135-grain .38 Special +p Hollow Point 20 Rounds (Brownells) |
 $20.19 
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.380 ACP Ammunition Recommendations
- CorBon DPX 80-grain solid copper hollow point
- CorBon Pow’R Ball 70-grain jacketed hollow point
- Hornady Critical Defense 90-grain FTX
- Remington Golden Saber 102-grain jacketed hollow point
- Winchester Silvertip 85-grain hollow point
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Corbon Dpx 80-grain .380 Acp Hollow Point 25 Rounds (Impact Guns) |
 $36.99
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Hornady Critical Defense 90-grain .380 Acp Ftx 25 Rounds (Impact Guns) |
$19.99
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Remington Golden Saber 102-grain .380 Acp Jacketed Hollow Point 25 Rounds (Brownells) |
$25.49
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Winchester Silvertip 85-grain .380 Acp Hollow Point 50 Rounds (Brownells) |
$31.79
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9mm Ammunition Recommendations
- CorBon DPX +P 115-grain solid copper hollow point
- Federal HST 124-grain jacketed hollow point (standard pressure)
- Federal HST +P 124-grain jacketed hollow point
- Federal HST +P 147-grain jacketed hollow point
- Federal BPLE +P+ 115-grain jacketed hollow point
- Federal Guard Dog 105-grain expanding full metal jacket
- Remington Golden Saber +P 124-grain jacketed hollow point
- Speer Gold Dot 124-grain jacketed hollow point (standard pressure, bonded)
- Speer Gold Dot +P 124-grain jacketed hollow point (bonded)
- Winchester Ranger SXT +P+ 127-grain (bonded)
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Corbon Dpx +p 115-grain 9mm Hollow Point 20 Rounds (Cabelas) |
 $29.99
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Federal Hst +p 147-grain 9mm Jacketed Hollow Point 50 Rounds (Kyles Gun Shop) |
 $28.99
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Remington Golden Saber +p 124-grain 9mm Jacketed Hollow Point 25 Rounds (Brownells) |
$27.99
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Speer Gold Dot 124-grain 9mm Jacketed Hollow Point Standard Pressure 20 Rounds (Brownells) |
$19.99
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Winchester Ranger Sxt +p+ 9mm 127-grain Jacketed Hollow Point 50 Rounds (Tactical Defense Solutions) |
 $33.00
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.40 SW Ammunition Recommendations
- CorBon DPX 140-grain solid copper hollow point
- Federal HST 165-grain jacketed hollow point
- Federal HST 180-grain jacketed hollow point
- Federal Hydra-Shok 155-grain jacketed hollow point
- Federal Guard Dog 135-grain expanding full metal jacket
- Remington Golden Saber 165-grain jacketed hollow point
- Remington Golden Saber 180-grain jacketed hollow point
- Speer Gold Dot 165-grain jacketed hollow point (bonded)
- Speer Gold Dot 180-grain jacketed hollow point (bonded)
- Winchester Ranger SXT 165-grain (bonded)
- Winchester Ranger SXT 180-grain (bonded)
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Federal Hydra Shok 155-grain 40sw Jacketed Hollow Point 20 Rounds (Brownells) |
$23.99
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Federal Guard Dog 40sw 135-grain 20 Rounds (Gander Mountain) |
 $29.99
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Remington Golden Saber 165-grain 40sw Jacketed Hollow Point 25 Rounds (Brownells) |
$33.99
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Remington Golden Saber 180-grain 40sw Jacketed Hollow Point 25 Rounds (Brownells) |
$33.99
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Speer Gold Dot 165-grain 40sw Hollow Point 50 Rounds (Ammunition Depot) |
 $38.97
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Speer Gold Dot 165-grain 40sw Hollow Point 1000 Rounds (Lucky Gunner) |
 $780.00
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Speer Gold Dot 180-grain 40sw Hollow Point 20 Rounds (Brownells) |
$24.99
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Winchester Ranger Sxt 40sw 165-grain Jacketed Hollow Point 50 Rounds (Tactical Defense Solutions) |
$37.00
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Winchester Ranger Sxt 40sw 180-grain Jacketed Hollow Point 50 Rounds (Tactical Defense Solutions) |
$48.00
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.45 ACP Ammunition Recommendations
- Black Hills 185-grain jacketed hollow point
- CorBon DPX 160-grain solid copper hollow point
- Federal HST 230-grain jacketed hollow point
- Federal Hydra-Shok 230-grain jacketed hollow point
- Federal Guard Dog 165-grain expanding full metal jacket
- Remington Golden Saber 185-grain jacketed hollow point
- Remington Golden Saber 230-grain jacketed hollow point
- Speer Gold Dot 185-grain jacketed hollow point (bonded)
- Speer Gold Dot 230-grain jacketed hollow point (bonded)
- Winchester SXT 230-grain (bonded)
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Corbon Dpx 160-grain 45acp Hollow Point 20 Rounds (Cabelas) |
$29.99
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Federal Hst 230-grain +p 45acp Jacketed Hollow Point 50 Rounds (Ammunition Depot) |
$39.57
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Federal Hydra Shok 230-grain 45acp Jacketed Hollow Point 20 Rounds (Brownells) |
$23.99
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Remington Golden Saber 185-grain 45acp Jacketed Hollow Point 25 Rounds (Brownells) |
$36.49
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Remington Golden Saber 185-grain 45acp Jacketed Hollow Point 25 Rounds (Lucky Gunner) |
$21.00
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Remington Golden Saber 230-grain 45acp Jacketed Hollow Point 25 Rounds (Brownells) |
$33.99
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Remington Golden Saber 230-grain 45acp Jacketed Hollow Point 25 Rounds (Lucky Gunner) |
$26.00
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Speer Gold Dot 230-grain 45acp Hollow Point 20 Rounds (Brownells) |
$24.99
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Winchester Ranger Sxt T-series 45acp 230-grain Jacketed Hollow Point 50 Rounds (Ammunition Depot) |
$39.97
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Tech Editor Bios
Mike Boyle served as a captain with the New Jersey Division of Fish & Wildlife Bureau of Law Enforcement and recently retired after 27 years of service. Mike remains active, teaching recruit, in-service and instructor level classes at the police academy. He’s also on the board of directors of the International Association of Law Enforcement Firearms Instructors.
Dave Spaulding is a 28-year law-enforcement veteran, retiring at the rank of lieutenant. He’s worked in all facets of law enforcement—corrections, communications, patrol, evidence collection, investigations, undercover operations, training and SWAT. He currently operates Handgun Combatives, a handgun-combat training program, and he’s authored more than 800 articles for various firearm and law enforcement periodicals. In 2010 Spaulding received the Law Officer Trainer of the Year award, and he’s also the author of the best-selling books Defensive Living and Handgun Combatives.
Paul G. Markel became a United States Marine in 1987 and served his nation honorably during peace time and at war. Among the many hats he has worn in his career, Markel has been a police officer, professional bodyguard, firearms instructor and gun writer. Markel is the creative director and host of “Student of the Gun,” a weekly television show airing on the Sportsman Channel (www.studentofthegun.com). Visit his Web site at www.paulmarkel.com, and check out his Student of the Gun ebook here.
