9mm ammo is the most commonly used caliber today in self-defense handguns. Mostly it is because of magazine capacity. The smaller cartridge lets you put more shells in the small amount of space that the magazine resides in. Also, you can carry more ammo when you carry lighter and smaller cartridges.
Consider 9mm Ammo For Your Bug Out Bag
This is something you should consider if you are building a bug out bag. You are going to want to pack some extra ammo in it.
I know that one of the first things that people are going to tell you is that the 9mm just doesn’t have the knockdown power of a .45 caliber weapon or even a .40 caliber, and this is true. However, a .45 caliber handgun can usually only hold about 8 rounds whereas a 9mm can hold up to 18 rounds. (Assuming a magazine that is flush with the butt of the gun). In a survival or self-defense situation, you may not hit your target where you want to with one shot. It may take more than one, and with a 9mm you have plenty of chances. It may not have the knockdown power, but it will do the job.
I intend to break down some of the lesser expensive bulk ammo, why you may or may not want it, and where you can get it in this article.
The 9mm Ammo Cartridge
9mm ammo is actually a 9 x 19mm cartridge. It is known by many different names such as the 9mm Luger, the 9mm Parabellum, and the 9mm NATO. But they are all the same cartridge.
9mm Luger came about because the 9 x 19mm cartridge was actually developed by a man named George Luger in 1902. I’m not sure who coined the term parabellum, but it comes from the latin, ‘Si vis pacem, para bellum’ which means ‘If you seek peace, prepare for war’.
9mm NATO is the official term for the 9mm cartridge used by NATO countries because it is a higher pressure cartridge.
9mm Ammo Ballistics And Practice
The most common 9mm bullet used for civilian self defense is the 115 grain jacketed hollow point. You can expect about 1155 fps and around 340 ft. lbs. of muzzle energy out of this bullet. Its trajectory shows a mid-range rise of about .9 inches at 50 yds. and 3.9 inches over 100 yds.
It is always a good idea to practice with the same kind of ammo that you are going to carry for defense. In other words, if you plan on carrying 115 grain hollow point bullets, you may want to practice with 115 grain metal cased (or full metal jacketed) bullets. That way the weights are the same and the shooting and recoil should be similar. The only reason I don’t say practice with jacketed hollow points is because they are more expensive.
Comparing 9mm Ammo
Well, there are a few things to consider when purchasing ammo. Number one is obviously price. This can be determined by a few things: Are you buying in bulk? Do you plan to reload it? How dirty of a gun are you willing to put up with when done shooting? All of these things can factor in. I am going to break down some of the best deals I have found on ammo online and tell you what I think about them.
Wolf Bulk 9mm Ammo
First up is Wolf Bulk 9mm ammo. Wolf is a pretty well sought after brand when looking for bulk ammo. It is especially purchased in 7.62 x 39mm for AK-47 and SKS rifles. That is mainly because those weapons can go through ammo really fast.
When looking for 9mm ammo, Wolf is the least expensive that I have found. In bulk, it comes in at about 7 to 8 cents cheaper per round than the next cheapest ammo. However, Wolf ammo is also very dirty to shoot and you will be doing quite a bit of cleaning. It also comes in a polymer coated steel case so it can’t be reloaded.
But if lots of rounds for the least amount of money is what you are after, then check this out..
Winchester Bulk 9mm Ammo (White Box)
Personally, this is the ammo I would recommend for practicing. Winchester 115 grain Full Metal Jacket is a few cents more per round than Wolf, but you get a clean shooting, reloadable brass cased cartridge.
Plus, reports are really good about this ammunition not jamming. As far as Wolf is concerned in regards to jamming, I haven’t heard anything bad about the polymer coating in 9mm, but I have heard that when it gets really hot it can jam up an AK-47.
So if you are wanting a clean shooting, reliable, brass cased ammunition that is inexpensive, have a look at Winchester white box ammo.
UMC Jacketed Hollow Point
Now, just in case you are looking for 115 grain Jacketed Hollow Point ammo in bulk, I have found some that is not too expensive. It is made by the Union Metallic Cartridge Company and they have been making American-made quality ammunition for over 140 years.
So for a clean shooting self defense round that you can stock up on, read about this ammo here.
