Best 9mm Ammo to Feed Your Pistol & PCC in 2025

Best 9mm Ammo to Feed Your Pistol & PCC in 2025

The best 9mm ammo depends on your goal, firearm, and personal preferences.

I busted a few of my 9mm pistols out of the safe and tested as many top choices as possible, including my favorites from over the years, to find the best 9mm ammo for just about every situation.

Federal American Eagle 147 grain FMJ is the best 9mm ammo because it performs well for training, plinking, and competition – the primary uses for 9mm ammo among most shooters.

The Best 9mm Ammo on the Market in 2025

Best 9mm Training Ammo – Federal American Eagle 147 Grain FMJ

Best 9mm Self-Defense Ammo – Hornady Critical Duty 135 Grain JHP

Best Target 9mm Ammo – Winchester USA 115 Grain FMJ

Best Subsonic 9mm Ammo – Sellier and Bellot 150 Grain FMJ

Best Bulk 9mm Ammo – Magtech 115 Grain FMJ

The Best 9mm Ammo Options in 2025 Best Training Ammo – Federal 9mm Ammo – 50 Rounds of 147 Grain FMJ Ammunition

Specs

• Bullet Type: Full Metal Jacket (FMJ)
• Bullet Weight: 147 Grains
• Muzzle Velocity: 1,000 fps
• Muzzle Energy: 326 ft-lbs
• Case: Brass

Pros

• Useful for general target shooting or competition

• Inexpensive, especially when purchased in bulk

Cons

• Lower muzzle velocity than lighter alternatives

Why I Chose It

When you’re in a life-or-death situation, and adrenaline has your hands shaking, your recoil control is going to be the worst it’s ever been. That’s why I always recommend training for defense with ammo coming as close to the recoil impulse of your carry ammo as possible

I’ve always found Federal American Eagle 9mm ammo to be dependable and accurate. I selected the version with the heaviest bullet because it has a fairly high recoil, making it a good stand-in for more expensive self-defense ammo (which typically has more recoil, in my experience).

Best 9mm Self-Defense Ammunition – Hornady 9mm Ammo – 25 Rounds of 135 Grain JHP Ammunition

Specs

• Bullet Type: FlexLock Jacketed Hollow Point (JHP)
• Bullet Weight: 135 Grains
• Muzzle Velocity: 1,010 fps
• Muzzle Energy: 306 ft-lbs
• Case: Nickel-Plated Brass

Pros

• Excellent performance in FBI ballistic testing

• Proven Flex Tip technology

• Trusted by local and federal law enforcement agencies

• High-lubricity nickel-plated brass cases

Cons

• Expensive

• FlexLock hollow points struggle with feed ramps in some pre-1970s 9mm pistols

Why I Chose It

Hornady Critical Duty is one of the world’s most successful and prolific home and self-defense ammo lines, and with good reason. Many state and federal law enforcement agencies have turned to Critical Duty for their carry gun ammo.

In FBI ballistic gel tests, the Critical Duty line has consistently demonstrated its ability to penetrate to the ideal depth to stop a threat, as well as minimize the risk of over-penetration. Its Flex Tip polymer insert is designed to prevent the FlexLock bullet’s nose cavity from clogging with fabric and other debris. That preserves the bullet’s ability to initiate terminal expansion, making it more reliable in scenarios in which the threat is shielded by one or more barriers.

The terminal performance of the 135 grain bullet is excellent. When passing through soft tissue, the 9mm projectile expands to over 0.63″ in diameter before coming to a rest, and it does so extremely reliably.

Recoil is a bit sharp out of a subcompact, but that comes with the territory. The 135 grain JHP needs its extra velocity to ensure it reaches its target with sufficient energy for deep penetration.

This round has proven itself repeatedly in law enforcement situations, and performed well in every test we (and the FBI and ATF) can think of. That’s good enough for me.

Best Target Ammo – Winchester 9mm Ammo – 1000 Rounds of 115 Grain FMJ Ammunition

Specs

• Bullet Type: Full Metal Jacket (FMJ)
• Bullet Weight: 115 Grains
• Muzzle Velocity: 1,190 fps
• Muzzle Energy: 362 ft-lbs
• Case: Brass

Pros

• Reliable

• Affordable

• Consistent velocity

Cons

• Higher recoil than many other analogous rounds

Why I Chose It

Winchester USA excels at exactly what it says on the box: “Target & Practice.” If you’re looking for something to take to the range for some training – or a nice factory option to run in IDPA or USPSA – then this is a great choice.

The 115 grain projectile is pretty standard for most pistol and pistol caliber carbine (PCC) competitions, and is a great choice for anyone who needs a reliable performer in large quantities.

Winchester has been making ammo for over 150 years now, and their iconic white boxes are a familiar sight to anyone who spends a lot of time at the range. I especially like the USA line for its price-to-performance ratio and clean-burning powder. The latter won’t foul your gun too terribly, even during day-long range sessions when hundreds of bullets leave the barrel.

All in all, this is a fan favorite for a reason, and I can attest to its quality. For general target shooting, finding better off-the-shelf value for your money is hard.

Best Subsonic 9mm Ammo – Sellier & Bellot Subsonic 9mm Ammo – 50 Rounds of 150 Grain FMJ Ammunition

Specs

• Bullet Type: Full Metal Jacket
• Bullet Weight: 150 grain
• Muzzle Velocity: 1001 fps
• Muzzle Energy: 333 ft-lbs
• Casing Type: Brass

Pros

• Cycles reliably in most suppressed semi-autos

• Heavy 150 grain projectile

• Affordable

Cons

• Not ideal for home defense

• Sometimes difficult to find in stock

Why I Chose It

Sellier & Bellot Subsonic 9mm is an excellent option for anyone running a suppressor on a carbine or handgun. It cycles well in most platforms I’ve personally tried it in, and the wider suppressor community can’t get enough of it. Two representatives from two separate suppressor manufacturers specifically recommended this to me as some of the best subsonic ammo.

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Source: https://freedombunker.com/2025/09/18/best-9mm-ammo/