GrabAGun’s Ammo Guide Part 2: The Best Handgun Ammo
Arguably the most popular category of firearm there is, handguns have dominated the gun industry for decades. Whether you have sub-compact pistols for concealed carry, target pistols for competition shooting, traditionally designed revolvers from days gone by, or a combination of all of them, you can never have enough handgun ammo. Whether you’re hunting, concealed carrying, plinking, or target shooting, we have the ammo for sale you need here at GrabAGun!
When you’re trying to choose the right ammo for your handgun, you’ll quickly find that there are lots of choices regardless of caliber. For one, there are many brands to pick from, such as PMC ammo, Sellier and Bellot, Federal ammo, CCI Ammo, and more. Additionally, there are several different types of bullets that can be purchased, each with a different application in mind. These are the main categories that we’ll cover today:
Ammo Types
• Full Metal Jacket (FMJ ammo) – A lead bullet that’s fully encased in a metal jacket. They can be round or flat-nosed depending on the caliber, and they’re typically used in target and range shooting. They punch a clean hole through a target and are not recommended for defense purposes, as they can continue to travel after impact.
• Jacketed Hollow Point (JHP ammo) – A lead bullet with a hollowed-out point and a jacket on part of the body of the bullet. This jacket helps keep the bullet together and maintains good velocity and trajectory while in flight. The hollowed point of the bullet allows it to expand and stop once it hits a target, making it a great choice for self-defense and hunting applications.
• Jacketed Soft Point (JSP ammo) – Similar to jacketed hollow point rounds, jacketed soft point rounds have a nose made of a soft metal that expands upon impact. This means that maximum damage will be dealt and the bullet will often stop in the target, making it another good choice for self-defense and hunting applications. They’re also popular in areas where JHP ammo isn’t permitted for hunting.
In this post, we’ll explore some of our most popular handgun ammo across many standard calibers. These offerings are from some of the best brands in the ammunition business and will be certain to provide you with the performance you need.
.380 ACP Ammo
A slightly smaller option than the popular 9mm round, 380 ACP is a great round that delivers a punch while producing slightly less recoil. It’s great for defense applications as well as plinking and range use. It’s featured in many smaller pocket pistols because of its compact size and reliable performance. A few of our recommendations for this caliber include:
Winchester USA White Box 380 Ammo Brass 95 Grain FMJ
A solid full metal jacket round for anyone with a .380 pistol, this Winchester ammo delivers premium performance at an affordable price point. With 192 ft-lbs of muzzle energy and a muzzle velocity of 955 fps, this versatile round will easily serve your shooting needs.
Fiocchi Defense Dynamics Brass .380 ACP 90-grain JHP
Our pick for a defensive 380 ACP round, this Fiocchi ammo provides reliable firepower that you can count on in any situation. It delivers good stopping force and has brass casings which make them easy to use and give the option of reuse too.
9mm Ammo
Arguably the most popular caliber ever, 9mm has been the standard for pistols for several decades now. Known for its moderate size and ability to pack a punch, it’s the go-to caliber for many looking to conceal carry. Whether you know it as 9mm Luger, 9mm Parabellum, 9x19mm, or simply 9mm, everyone has heard of this caliber. A few of our recommended 9mm rounds include:
Magtech Sport Shooting 9mm 115 Grain FMJ
- A great choice for target and competition shooting, this Magtech 9mm ammo is engineered to deliver high-performance shooting with every shot. With a bullet weight of 115 grains and a muzzle velocity of 1135 fps, it’s a great round and also won’t break the bank.
CCI Blazer Brass Box 115 Grain FMJ
Another great option for target and competition shooting, this CCI ammo delivers the premium performance the brand is known for. With brass casings, a 115-grain bullet, and 1145 fps muzzle velocity, it’ll help you hit the target every time.
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Winchester White Box Brass 9mm 115 Grain 50 Grain JHP
This jacketed hollow point ammunition is a great 9mm round for self-defense and home defense purposes. These rounds will provide the performance you need when and where you need it.
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40 S&W Ammo
Moving on to calibers larger than 9mm, we have 40 S&W. With the greater size and power that these rounds deliver, they’re an excellent choice for self-defense, law enforcement, and hunting applications. We have several picks for .40 S&W, which include:
PMC Ammunition Bronze Brass .40 Sw 165-grain FMJ
This FMJ 40 S&W round is a great choice for those looking to have fun and hone their aim at the range. With the full metal jacket and brass casings from PMC Ammunition, they perform with the consistency and accuracy that you need. When you fire at the target, you can always know that you’ll hit your mark.
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Sig Sauer Elite V-Crown Nickel-Plated Brass .40 S&W 165-Grain JHP
A great defense round for EDC and home defense, these Sig Sauer rounds are ones you can count on. They have sleek nickel-plated brass casings and reliable performance that makes them trustworthy in any shooting situation.
45 ACP Ammo
Another one of the most popular calibers of handgun ammo out there, .45 ACP ammo is often used for defense purposes. In addition to being standard with the U.S. military for decades because of the Colt 1911, the caliber continues to be popular with defense forces around the world despite the wide adoption of the 9mm round. A few of our 45 ACP recommendations are:
CCI Blazer Ammo .45 Acp 230-grain FMJ Aluminum Cases
These rounds from CCI provide affordable full metal jacket rounds that perform well at a reasonable price. They come with aluminum cases and 230 grain bullets, meaning they’ll pack a punch. Additionally, the lower weight of the aluminum makes it easier to transport this ammo to and from the range.
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Winchester Target Ammunition .45 Acp 230 Grain FMJ
A great option for quality bulk ammo, this Winchester white box FMJ 45 ACP ammo contains 100 rounds while remaining affordable in price. It’s great for when you want to stock up on more ammo and have extended time at the range to practice. The bullets are 230 grain and the casings are brass for a traditional look and feel. These deliver the performance you can trust.
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Sig Sauer Elite Performance V-Crown 200 Grain Nickel-Plated Brass JHP
38 Special Ammo
Moving on to our longer rounds of ammo, we have the classic 38 Special ammo. The precursor to the .357 Magnum, these rounds have existed for over a century and are common in lots of historic revolvers. Additionally, all revolvers chambered in .357 Magnum can still fire .38 Special and 38 Special +P ammo, as the 38 Special is a shorter round that produces less pressure than the 357. A few of our recommendations for .38 Special include:
PMC Ammunition Bronze Brass 38 Special 132-Grain FMJ
A great round for range use and target practice, this ammo performs reliably at an affordable price point. It makes it easy to practice with your revolver or have fun with relaxed range shooting.
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Federal Premium Punch .38 Special +P 120 Grain JHP
Our choice for a self-defense round for this category, this Federal ammo is designed with the goal of delivering the knockout blow in a dangerous situation. These 120-grain jacketed hollow point rounds are in nickel-plated brass casings to provide smooth performance.
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.357 Magnum Ammo
Winchester Super-X .357 Magnum 158 Grain JSP
A great round for self-defense, home defense, and some hunting applications, this Winchester .357 Magnum ammo delivers a quality jacketed soft point round that you can rely on when you need it most. They come in nickel-plated brass casings that provide smooth operation you can trust. Since .357 Mag is used primarily as a defense caliber, this jacketed soft point is a great pick for the caliber.
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5.7×28 Ammo
Fiocchi Hyperformance 5.7×28 Ammo 40 Grain Tipped Hollow Point (THP)
- This defense round from Fiocchi is a great choice for those that use 5.7x28mm ammo! With the tipped hollow points, these rounds have excellent ballistic performance. With a muzzle velocity of 1750 fps, you’ll be able to easily hit your mark when it matters most.
Choosing the right handgun ammo for you and your firearm can be a complicated process. Between narrowing down the caliber, brand, and type of bullet for your application, it can take a while. So with that in mind, we hope this handgun ammo overview helped you get a better idea of which ammo is right for you!
Additionally, if you missed it, check out our shotgun ammo guide to learn about the best types of shotgun ammo for you! And keep an eye out for our final guide post which will cover rifle ammo! To browse our full selection of ammo for sale, as well as view our selection of firearms and firearm accessories, visit us at GrabAGun.com!
-Matthew Cornell