9mm Luger Ammo

The 9mm Luger/9x19 Parabellum is one of the most popular handgun cartridges in the US thanks to the rise of concealed carry. Pistols chambered in this caliber can be both compact and controllable, resulting in a discreet carry piece that can be relied upon in a self-defense emergency. 9mm Parabellum ammo offers an excellent balance of low recoil, good terminal performance, and high magazine capacity; in addition, due to its popularity, it is one of the most affordable calibers to shoot when it comes to ammo cost, especially if you buy in bulk.

Introduced in 1902 in Germany, the 9mm Luger is actually much older than many of the calibers it has supplanted in the defensive market. It was first used as a military round in the P08 and P38 pistols. The "nine mil" got its big break in the US in the 1980s, riding the semiautomatic pistol boom all the way to the present day.

Typical 9mm Luger ammo fires 115, 124, and 147 grain bullets with muzzle velocities of around 1,000-1,200 feet per second. For those looking to increase the power of their handgun without changing cartridges, +P loads are a good choice. The 9mm is not often used for sporting or hunting purposes, so most available ammo tends to be of the inexpensive FMJ (full metal jacket) training or JHP (jacketed hollow point) defensive varieties.