EDC_Minded
New member
- Joined
- Jun 23, 2025
- Messages
- 1
I'm curious to know what 9mm self-defense ammo everyone feels is the most reliable. I've heard good things about various hollow points, but what has actually worked for you in real situations?
Best 9mm Carry Ammo Recommendations
- Thread starter EDC_Minded
- Start date
VenomBallistics
Member
- Joined
- Jun 30, 2025
- Messages
- 23
You will not find any good information on this subject.
Even within the FBI studies on this topic, often times ammo specific data is unavailable.
Should you find one that's actually been to the circus and seen the elephant, it's not in their interest to talk about it.
The best you can do is study the raw numbers of ballistic testing.
Energy, penetration, permanent cavity and temporary cavity.
Simulated medium is the only legal means to apply the proper scientific method.
the_leper_colony
Member
I guess in some ways, it might depend on what you mean by "most reliable" - reliable function in your firearm(s), or reliable expansion in something that's trying to kill you, or both?
Because anything that won't feed/fire/extract/eject reliably probably isn't ideal for self-defense, I'll mention Remington L9MM1B 115 gr JHP - it's been 100% reliable in every 9mm firearm I've ever tried it in, and I've been shooting it for years (FWIW, my nephew mentioned the last time I saw him that he had one failure to feed in a Colt-pattern 9mm AR). I like it, in part because my personal preference is to practice with the same ammunition I carry, which is a lot easier if the ammo doesn't cost $1 per round, and I got a whole bunch of the L9MM1B when Walmart was selling it for $26 per 100!
How does it expand? I have no experience in "real situations", but found the following on the internet, and there may be other info out there also:
https://bearingarms.com/richard-l-j...n-umc-9mm-good-enough-for-self-defense-n21952
https://www.defensivecarry.com/threads/rem-115gr-standard-pressure-water-denim-test.30604/
As always FWIW, YMMV, IMHO, etc., etc...
