The 9mm is one of the best calibers for self-defense and target shooting. Combining the enjoyable shooting experience with the best 9mm subsonic ammo and a suppressor exponentially increases the fun.
Winchester Super Suppressed 147 Grain FMJ Encapsulated is my top choice because it’s designed to be fired with a suppressor, produced by a trusted brand, and is safer for indoor shooting.
Don’t worry if these aren’t the rounds for you! There are many other subsonic 9mm rounds on the market that I will discuss in this article, so let’s keep going!
Our Top 3 9mm Subsonic Ammo Picks
| Best Overall | Winchester Super Suppressed 147 Grain FMJ Encapsulated |
|---|---|
| Best For Self-Defense | Speer Gold Dot 147 Grain JHP |
| Quietest | Fiocchi 158 Grain FMJ |
Testing Procedure: Choosing 9mm Subsonic Ammo
I spent hours researching the following 9mm subsonic rounds, as well as reading about other shooters’ firsthand experience with them. I also fired them at the gun range with my Ruger handgun and Smith & Wesson M&P Shield, as well as my dad’s Hi-Point 9mm carbine.
When choosing my top subsonic rounds, I looked for one that shoots clean and quiet, and also functions well in my semi-automatics. The price, brand, intended purpose, and ballistics all played a pivotal role in the subsonic 9mm ammo I chose.
Best Subsonic 9mm Ammo in 2024
Winchester Super Suppressed 147 Grain FMJ Encapsulated - Best Overall Subsonic 9mm
Specs
- Casing: Brass
- Bullet Type: Full Metal Jacket (FMJ) Encapsulated
- Bullet Weight: 147 grain
- Muzzle Velocity: 990 fps
- Muzzle Energy: 320 ft-lbs
Pros
- Manufactured by a trusted brand
- Designed for suppressed shooting
- Reliable
- Clean(er) shooting
- Reasonably priced
Cons
- Less than ideal for self-defense
- Not the quietest rounds on the market
Why I Chose It
Winchester Super Suppressed 147 Grain FMJ Encapsulated is perfect for your suppressed 9mm pistol because it is made by a reputable ammo maker, reliable, reasonably priced, and designed to be fired through a suppressor.
I’ve rarely had malfunctions with Winchester ammo at the range, and I expect the same from these subsonic loads. The encapsulated full metal jacket means your barrel and suppressor will exhibit minimal fouling. It’s also safer to fire indoors, as the bullet’s enclosed base significantly reduces the shooter’s exposure to aerosolized lead.
I’m most impressed with the price of these rounds. When buying specialty ammo, I expect to pay a higher price. However, this ammo sits about the middle of the road compared to the cost of other rounds.
The biggest downside is that Winchester Super Suppressed are a poor choice for home defense because FMJs are more likely than JHPs to over-penetrate human-sized targets. JHPs also maximize trauma to the threat, helping to end it ASAP. These are also not the quietest 9mm rounds I found, so if you’re looking for a super quiet round, you should keep reading.
Despite the slight drawbacks, Winchester Super Suppressed 147 Grain FMJ Encapsulated is the best 9mm subsonic ammo on the market as of this writing. Don’t hesitate to grab a couple of boxes today!
Speer Gold Dot 147 Grain JHP - Best Self-Defense 9mm Subsonic Ammo
Specs
- Casing: Nickel-Plated Brass
- Bullet Type: Gold Dot Jacketed Hollow Point (GDHP)
- Bullet Weight: 147 grain
- Muzzle Velocity: 990 fps
- Muzzle Energy: 320 ft-lbs
Pros
- Beloved brand
- Excellent terminal ballistics
- Reliable
- Accurate
- Reasonably priced
Cons
- Not specifically designed for suppressed shooting
Why I Chose It
Many shooters and self-defense enthusiasts love Speer Gold Dot 147 Grain JHP because it’s reliable, reasonably priced, and effective when needed.
Many law enforcement officers use Speer Lawman and Gold Dot in the line of duty because they’ve proven extremely reliable. As a civilian, there’s no reason you should hesitate to load these rounds into your mags.
The Gold Dot JHP is uniquely created by the Uni-Cor method, electrochemically bonding the jacket to the lead core. This and the engineered nose cavity give it incredible expansion and excellent straight-line penetration. You won’t have to worry about over-penetration nearly as much, but you still maintain plenty of stopping power to end a threat quickly.
While Speer Gold Dot 147 Grain JHP is subsonic because its velocity is below the speed of sound (1,100 fps), that doesn’t mean it will perform perfectly through your suppressor.
I’ve also found Speer Gold Dot reasonably priced compared to other 9mm defense ammo, such as Hornady XTP and Federal HST.
Speer Gold Dot 147 Grain JHP is the best self-defense 9mm subsonic ammo, so don’t delay picking up a couple of boxes for your Glock!
Continue reading The Best 9mm Subsonic Ammo: Shooting Suppressed Never Sounded So Good! on Ammo.com
