We get it. Shooters can be brand loyal, especially if you shoot the same round you’ve always shot and trust its reliability, accuracy, or consistency. You might even prefer a round because it doesn’t produce a lot of fouling and leaves your gun cleaner.
But in this new era of constant ammo shortages and price fluctuations, you might need to learn to be just a little bit more flexible. Especially if your handgun is chambered in 9mm.
So is everyone else’s - which means that generally, 9mm is widely available, but also that it is in high demand so being out of stock is common too.
So, if your local shop is out of your go to round and you’re looking for some relief, try one of the following 9mm’s.
Federal American Eagle Indoor Range Training (IRT) 9mm
Who doesn’t love Federal American Eagle 9mm? These rounds are loaded with reliable components including non-toxic, metal-free primers. Consistent, reliable, and accurate, these are the top American Eagle rounds for indoor shooting.
Nice to know/Selling Points: Federal American Eagle IRT 9mm ammo is loaded with reduced lead bullets fully jacketed in copper which minimizes lead exposure, improving safety in handling and indoor shooting. The non-toxic primers are good for IRT, too.
Federal American Eagle Syntech
Much of what applies to Federal American Eagle IRT 9mm also applies to American Eagle Syntech, but these 9mm loads have another trick up their sleeve; they’re loaded with clean-burning powders and Catalysts lead-free primers and are loaded in brass casings.
Nice to know/Selling Points: Federal American Eagle Syntech ammo is loaded with TSJ or “total synthetic jacket” bullets with a polymer coating that prevents metal-on-metal contact between the bullet and bore. This helps eliminate copper and lead fouling and keeps your gun cleaner.
MAXXTech 9mm
MAXXTech 9mm, produced in Bosnia, is affordable, reliable, and loaded with non-corrosive primers. Loaded to military standards, MAXXTech 9mm is a great option for high-volume shooting.
Nice to know/Selling Points: MAXXTech 9mm ammo cases can be reloaded, though they feature stepped casings. This adds a little value to the load.
Sellier & Bellot 9mm Subsonic
Sellier & Bellot 9mm Subsonic loads are a little pricier than the other entries here, but they are heavy, hard-hitting, and reliable. They’re also ideal for hunting. These subsonic rounds are optimized for shooting through suppressed firearms, as they are extremely quiet when suppressed.
Nice to know/Selling Points: Some handguns can be finicky when fed subsonic rounds, but if you’re shooting a handgun like a revolver, it doesn’t matter. Plus, the slow-traveling but hard-hitting bullets are light-kicking and very quiet when suppressed.
Speer Gold Dot 9mm
Speer Gold Dot HP 9mm may be expensive, but it’s a top round for hunting and home defense that delivers exceptional energy transfer and stopping power.
Nice to know/Selling Points: Speer Gold Dot ammo is loaded to extremely precise load specifications and delivers excellent, consistent, shot-to-shot uniformity.
Norma 9mm
Norma, based in Sweden, has been producing ammo for well over 120 years and Norma 9mm is consistent, accurate, affordable, and reliable in a wide range of climatic conditions.
Nice to know/Selling Points: Norma 9mm is loaded with anvil primers that use Sinoxid, a mercury-free priming compound.
CCI Blazer Brass
CCI’s Blazer ammunition line was released about forty years ago with one objective: to deliver high-quality, affordable ammo to shooters that needed low-cost, high-volume friendly loads. It is extremely consistent, reliable, and accurate, and the best part - Blazer Brass can be reloaded.
Nice to know/Selling Points: Everything you love about CCI rimfire ammo is present in CCI Blazer Brass. It is accurate, and reliable, uses clean burning powder and primers, and Blazer Brass can be reloaded.
CCI Blazer Aluminum
All of the above holds true here, except CCI Blazer Aluminum is even cheaper than Blazer Brass. Perfect for high-volume shooters that don’t reload and toss their old shells.
Nice to know/Selling Points: Just be aware that, unlike CCI Blazer Brass, Blazer Aluminum is not reloadable. It is more affordable, though.
TulAmmo
Produced by Tula Cartridge Works in Russia, the largest small arms manufacturer in the world, TulAmmo 9mm offers a lot to love. It’s plagued by rumors of inconsistency (and worse) but the truth is it is both SAAMI and CIP certified, loaded with non-corrosive primers, extremely reliable, and very affordable.
Nice to know/Selling Points: TulAmmo 9mm is loaded in annealed steel casings that will not harm your gun. And, since steel is cheap and can’t be reloaded, you can toss the spent shells, guilt-free.
Venom 9mm
Venom 9mm is affordable and extremely reliable. It’s loaded with new-production brass cases (that can be reloaded) and clean-burning propellant and non-corrosive boxer primers. It’s also highly affordable.
Nice to know/Selling Points: A cool fact about Venom 9mm ammo is that it is completely waterproof as it features a seal around both the primer and casing rim. This makes Venom suitable for use in all conditions.
Try Them: You Have Nothing to Lose
Can’t find your preferred ammo at the local gun shop? Try one of these. You won’t regret it. They are all reliable, consistent, and accurate, and most of them feature some unique selling points too.
To take a look at these and our other brands, just click on the link 9mm ammo.