When defending your family and home, you need ammo that provides peace of mind because it flawlessly functions, quickly neutralizes a threat, and is unlikely to penetrate your walls.
That’s what the best 9mm home defense ammo, Federal Tactical HST, does.
However, there are many more rounds, which I’ve listed below, that I would trust in a home defense situation, whether I’m shooting my Smith & Wesson Shield or a short-barrel rifle.
Recommended 9mm Home Defense Ammo
| Best Overall | Federal Tactical HST 147 grain JHP |
|---|---|
| Best SBR | Speer LE Gold Dot Short Barrel Duty +P 124 grain JHP |
| Best Carbine | Speer Gold Dot Carbine 135 grain JHP |
| Best Subsonic | Hornady Subsonic 147 grain XTP |
| Best Overpressure | Underwood XTREME Defender +P 90 grain Solid Monolithic |
Federal Tactical HST 147 grain JHP - Best Overall
Specs
| Bullet Type | Jacketed Hollow Point (HST) |
|---|---|
| Bullet Weight | 147 grain |
| Muzzle Velocity | 1,000 fps |
| Muzzle Energy | 326 ft-lbs |
| Casing Type | Nickel-Plated Brass |
| Pros | Cons |
|---|---|
| Trusted brand | Heavy recoil |
| Hard-hitting | |
| Designed for tactical use | |
| Reliable | |
| Accurate |
Why I Chose It
Federal HST 147-grain is the best option for your 9mm home defense firearm because it’s ultra-reliable, accurate, and designed for law enforcement.
Federal Premium Ammunition has been trusted by law enforcement and civilians for decades. Federal continues to produce its ammo in the USA, which is always a bonus!
These defense rounds pass the ballistics gel tests and standards set forth by the FBI, so you know you’re getting a hard-hitting round that’s less likely to over-penetrate.
Whenever you open this box of ammo, you’ll notice the nickel-plated brass casings, which make the case even smoother, allowing for better cycling in full-size pistols like a Glock 19 or a 9mm Carbine like the HiPoint 995 Classic.
All of the Federal Premium line-up, such as Federal Personal Defense 147gr HST JHP, uses high-quality components. So, you know the round will go bang and hit where you were aiming when you pull the trigger.
The biggest drawback to these rounds is the amount of recoil they generate because of the heavy bullet. This doesn’t affect the shooter nearly as much when using a carbine, but when shooting them out of a full-size or compact pistol, you’ll feel it.
Overall, I wouldn’t hesitate to use Federal Law Enforcement HST 147-grain JHP as my carry ammo, especially if I was loading it into a 9mm carbine for home defense.
Speer LE Gold Dot Short Barrel 124 grain JHP - Best 9mm Self-Defense Ammo for a Short Barrel
Specs
| Bullet Type | Jacketed Hollow Point (GDHP) |
|---|---|
| Bullet Weight | 124 grain |
| Muzzle Velocity | 1,150 fps |
| Muzzle Energy | 364 ft-lbs |
| Casing Type | Nickel-Plated Brass |
| Pros | Cons |
|---|---|
| Trusted Brand | Expensive |
| Designed for Law Enforcement | |
| Designed for short barrels | |
| Reliable |
Why I Chose It
Speer LE Gold Dot is the gold standard for self-defense ammo. It is trusted by countless law enforcement officers and agencies to perform when needed most.
Since it’s designed for law enforcement, we expect Speer Gold Dot Short Barrel to use the highest-quality materials, such as the GDHP, dependable primers, and nickel-plated brass. This means you can confidently know the round will fire and cycle in your firearm when needed.
This ammo is also intended to function from short barrels, so you don’t have to worry about getting poor performance just because you’re using a short barrel. Gold Dot bullets reliably expand at reduced velocities from a short barrel.
The biggest drawback is the price of Speer Gold Dot ammo. It’s expensive, but I’m happy to pay because I don’t always buy it. It’s specialty ammo, so I only purchase it to practice or restock my carry ammo supply.
Overall, these rounds are some of the best you’ll find on the market, especially if you’re using a short-barrel firearm.
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