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The 115-grain loads tend to be higher velocity and the 147s somewhat slower, even subsonic.Ī good compromise is a 124-grain bullet, this is also super popular with the police and military.

Bullet weightĬommon 9mm bullet weights normally available at most stores are 115, 124, and 147 grain. You might solve the issue by using a hollow point round that is designed for penetration in addition to expansion (such as any of the options from Hornady that feature a polymer tip). There is one path of thinking where FMJ bullets might be the answer for those of you living in the really cold areas where bullets need a lot of penetration.

Winter might make it easier for you to conceal carry, but it also means a lot more layers to poke through. If you live in an area where shorts and T-shirts are pretty much worn year-round, you can get by with bullets that may not penetrate as far.Ĭonversely, if you are having to defend yourself in a cold climate where the bullet must get through a heavy coat or more, penetration becomes the deciding factor in what you buy. If you’re using something shorter than 4″, you might want to double-check and see if there are some ballistic gel tests with your chosen ammo. Until then though, it’s okay to just trust the manufacturer. If you get into reloading, you’ll want to learn more about powder. CartridgeĪs partially explained above, a cartridge consists of a case, a bullet, some powder, and a primer.įor factory ammo, it is rare to know what exactly kind of powder is in each cartridge type, but the bullet weight and design should be readily available. I have see dozens of independent tests proving the effectiveness of JHP and HP bullets. Personally, I haven’t seen reliable third-party testing that proves these concepts out. Other – there are a few newer bullet designs out that weren’t there a couple of decades ago. This goes a long way in preventing overpenetration. Once expanded, the bullet is commonly almost double the size and can do a lot more damage.Īn added benefit is that it takes a lot of energy to do this and thus greatly slows the bullet in the target. To keep it simple, we’ll just say that the opening is there to enhance expansion once the bullet hits the target.Įngineered so that the bullet will split open and to allow “petals” to expand. There are many different types and brands of JHP cartridges, more than we can list here. JHP (Jacketed Hollow Point) – this bullet consists of a lead or other core covered by a copper jacket with a carefully engineered and tested opening in the bullet’s exposed, soft nose. Depending on the manufacturer your FMJ might have a different color than most.įMJ bullets are great for practice, competition, or as less expensive ammo in order to save costs. The important point is that only copper touches the barrel’s rifling, unlike a cast lead bullet that has no metal coating. 4 of the best 9mm ammo types (and a battery for scale) from left to right: AAA battery, Full-Metal Jacket, another FMJ, Federal HST Jacketed Hollow Point, and Hornady Critical Defense FTX Polymer Tipped Jacketed Hollow PointįMJ (Full-Metal Jacket) – A copper “jacket” encases a lead core. While any part of the cartridge can change the performance characteristics, the bullet design will have the most impact on the target since it is what literally impacts the target.

While you’ll often hear people use “bullet” as slang for the entire cartridge, technically speaking a bullet is just one part of the cartridge. Hopefully, we all know what a bullet is – that’s the projectile that exits the barrel (at least that’s the plan). Bullets The basic elements of a 9mm cartridge (left to right) primer, case, powder, and bullet.