While keeping store shelves stocked with large quantities of assorted ammunition can be challenging, savvy shooting sports retailers boost sales by displaying the most popular and trending brands in the handgun ammunition category — those products designed for self-preservation and hunting. And with all the new flavors of handguns of every imaginable configuration hitting the market, ammunition sales continue to climb at an unprecedented rate. The following are some of the top defensive/hunting handgun ammunition options your customers will want to feed their favorite handguns. Be sure to have a wide selection on hand when patrons come knocking.
406 Ammunition 10mm Bear Load
The 200-grain hard-cast 10mm Bear Load from 406 Ammunition is the premier self-defense cartridge for hunters venturing into dangerous, bear-infested territory. Designed, tested and perfected in the mountains of Montana, this 200-grain hard-cast bullet is tailor-made for optimal performance and penetration on predators and dangerous game, while at the same time functioning flawlessly in semi-automatic pistols, carbines and revolvers. With 406 Ammunition’s 10mm Bear Load, hunters will be able to put 600 ft./lbs. of bear-stopping energy quickly and accurately on target. MSRP: $35/Box of 50.
Armscor 124-grain 9mm JHP
Armscor offers an extensive lineup of competitively priced handgun ammunition, including its popular 124-grain 9mm jacketed hollowpoint (JHP) made in the USA/Philippines that complies with SAAMI, CIP and other military or customer desired standards or requirements. Armscor cartridges and components are widely used by the police, military, gun hobbyists, combat shooters and other shooting enthusiasts due to their high quality and precise and dependable performance. The 124-grain 9mm JHP has a muzzle velocity of 1,068 fps. MSRP: $12.94/Box of 20.
Black Hills 100-Grain HoneyBadger+P
The Black Hills 9mm 100-grain HoneyBadger+P utilizes newly developed projectiles pushed at a muzzle velocity of 1,250 fps, generating 347 ft./lbs. of energy. The result is an accurate, light-recoiling load that significantly outperforms hollowpoints on barriers and ballistic gelatin. Its wound track of over 3 inches in diameter and over 15 inches long outclasses conventional 9mm ammunition in all bullet weights. This fluted copper projectile, which does not rely on expansion to produce the desired terminal effect, is designed so the machined flutes cut and grab as the bullet passes though tissue at high velocity, focusing and accelerating the tissue flow radially from the bullet. MSRP: NA.
Federal HST 30 Super Carry
Federal Premium’s all-new 100-grain HST JHP 30 Super Carry self-defense handgun ammunition bridges the largest performance gap in handgun self defense. Its .312-inch-diameter projectile carries as much muzzle energy as the 9mm Luger, with terminal performance that far exceeds that of the .380 Auto. The proven HST bullet design gets even more from the cartridge, penetrating to critical depths for self-defense situations with increased expansion. The physical dimensions of the 30 Super Carry cartridge allow chambering in handguns with smaller grips and overall size, yet still offers more magazine capacity than the 9mm Luger, making it a great option for concealed carry. It also features a nickel-plated case and high-performance primer. MSRP: $36.99/Box of 20.
Fiocchi 9mm Blue Guardian Reduced Ricochet
Developed for self and home defense and law enforcement personnel, Fiocchi Blue Guardian Reduced Ricochet hollowpoint pistol ammo features lead-free bullets engineered to disintegrate on surfaces harder than these specifically engineered projectiles. The 100-grain 9mm pistol round is ideal for dynamic handgun training as well as providing maximum terminal performance on soft targets with greatly reduced ricochet potential. Its heavy-metal-free primer provides additional safety for use in closed and urban environments where overpenetration and ricochet can be a concern. MSRP: NA.
Fort Scott Munitions 9mm TUI
Fort Scott Munitions 9mm Luger 115-grain match-grade handgun ammunition features the company’s patented tumble upon impact (TUI) design. It ensures more soft tissue trauma and hydrostatic shock from a small-caliber projectile for increased ballistic effectiveness. This fast, powerful round provides superior accuracy and a tactical advantage in any situation, making it suitable for law enforcement and security work, as well as for civilian home protection and self defense. Each bullet is constructed using only the best components, making this ammo a great option when consistent performance is essential. MSRP: $28.34/Box of 20.
Grizzly Ammunition 9mm+P
Now it’s easy to add a little extra punch to any +P-rated 9mm personal carry pistol — by loading it with Grizzly Ammunition’s 9mm +P ammo. This load, which utilizes a 124-grain jacketed hollowpoint bullet, is loaded hot in typical +P fashion — which means it is loaded to a higher internal pressure with more gunpowder packed into the same 9mm case — and is to be used only in firearms that are rated for +P ammo. The result is higher velocity and better performance. This added horsepower combined with the JHP bullet make the 9mm an even better choice for personal protection. MSRP: $19.50/Box of 20.
Hornady Handgun Hunter
Handgun Hunter ammunition packs all the hard-hitting performance of Hornady’s rifle rounds into a rough and rugged handgun cartridge. Its MonoFlex projectile is manufactured with a tough copper alloy that achieves deep penetration and 95% weight retention. Bullet expansion across a range of velocities is aided by an elastomer material added to the bullet’s open cavity. Upon impact, the elastomer compresses, then pushes out and causes the bullet to expand faster than a standard hollowpoint design. Premium cases, primers and propellants combine with the MonoFlex bullet to create a cartridge that delivers superior performance in the field. MSRP: $46.99-$65.40.
HSM Pro Pistol Hunter
For those stalking big game with a handgun, precision and terminal performance are paramount when the moment of truth arrives. Now hunters can get the most out of their handguns with HSM’s Pro Pistol Hunter ammunition — available in eight muscle-bound calibers ranging from .357 Mag. to .500 S&W in bullet weights from 158 to 400 grains. Loads are calibrated specifically for each caliber and feature Sierra Sports Master jacketed bullets for uniform expansion, deep penetration, consistent weight retention and devastating energy transfer over a wide range of velocities. MSRP: NA.
Remington 9mm Luger Golden Saber Bonded
Formerly a law enforcement-only product, Remington’s Golden Saber Bonded defensive and tactical handgun ammunition is now available to the public — a marriage of match-grade accuracy and optimal terminal performance. Improving on the trusted Golden Saber ammunition line, Golden Saber Bonded’s reduced bullet nose diameter, optimized jacket thickness and Remington bonded-bullet manufacturing process produce unmatched expansion, weight-retention and barrier-blind performance to keep users safe. The 9mm Luger version has a bullet weight of 147 grains and produces a muzzle velocity of 990 fps. Loaded in the USA, it is also available in .357 Sig., .40 S&W and .45 Auto. MSRP: $38.99/Box of 20.
Sig Sauer 9mm Elite V-Crown 365 JHP
The performance and capability of Sig V-Crown defensive rounds from Sig Sauer have now been optimized for use in short-barrel concealed carry pistols. The same material specifications and fine-tuned design innovations, including a stacked hollowpoint cavity, deliver exceptional on-target energy with maximum weight retention and optimal expansion for ultimate stopping power, engineered to control recoil and delivering even greater performance in the new Sig Sauer P365 micro-compact and all other short-barreled concealed-carry pistols. The Sig V-Crown’s 9mm Luger 115-grain jacketed hollowpoint bullet leaves the barrel at 1,050 fps and generates 282 ft./lbs. of energy. MSRP: $24.95/Box of 20.
Speer Gold Dot 30 Super Carry
Speer’s original Gold Dot line remains a benchmark for both self defense and duty use, and it’s earned the trust of law enforcement officials world-wide. And it is now compatible with firearms chambered in 30 Super. Its 100-grain bullet features a pressure-formed lead core that’s bonded to an extremely uniform jacket a single atom at a time and leaves the barrel at 1,150 fps. This virtually eliminates separation on impact for more retained weight and penetration to crucial depths. Its Gold Dot hollowpoint design expands consistently through the full range of barriers. Ignition and cycling are guaranteed thanks to sealed primers and nickel-plated brass. MSRP: $35.99/Box of 20.
