Handguns are preferred for self-defense because of their compact size. However, not all handguns are suitable for a concealed carry. When selecting a handgun for a concealed carry, you need to consider the best ammunition.
Take time and test different ammunition on your firearm to have a clear understanding of how they perform. There is no better way to know you’ve selected the best ammunition until you put in some rounds. Concealed carry guns and holsters are among the most thrilling things in the gun industry. While most people tend to focus on the gun, they tend to forget about the ammo part.
Stopping threats doesn’t require just a great concealed carry gun. You need to have the best ammunition inside the concealed carry guns. You need to put a lot of consideration when choosing your handgun ammo as you do with your gun.
The Best Ammo for a Concealed Carry
You need ammunition that will stop attacks as quickly as possible. The ideal ammunition must also be safe to handle. When picking the right concealed carry ammo, you need to consider the ammunition weight, expansion, and penetration. Below is the top ammunition for a concealed carry.
9mm
The 9mm is widely accepted as the best self-defense ammo and for a concealed carry. There are also many rounds to choose from when selecting 9mm ammunition. For a long time, the 9mm was a great choice for law enforcement officers. Take for example the Gold Dot 9mm 115-grain with an average penetration of 16.4 inches. The ammo also features an expansion of 55” and an average velocity of 1143 feet per second.
Most 9mm ammunition are preferred because of their compact size and higher capacity magazine load. Most offer excellent penetration and expansion making them quite deadly for self-defense. The Federal HST 9mm 147-grain is another excellent 9mm ammunition, especially when shooting at an impulse. It has a good bullet velocity and delivers excellent penetration and front bullet expansion.
There are several choices of 9mm to consider making it a great choice for a concealed carry. The ammo is also safe to handle offering very minimal recoils.
The .45 ACP
The .45 ACP (Action Colt Pistol) is slow-moving ammunition but one with high stopping power. The popular adage around the .45 ACP is that the 9mm will kill the body while the .45 ACP will kill the soul. The adage itself goes to show the great power in the ammo.
The .45 ACP is a big fat round that will do some serious damage. .45 ACP is one of the oldest self-defense ammunition on the market. Take for example the Federal .45 ACP 230 gr HST with a penetration depth of 12-18 inches. It has great expansion on all 5 rounds and good velocities for short barrel pistols. This makes it a great choice for a concealed carry gun. The different .45 ACP ammunition might have varying features but penetration is generally great for a powerful shot.
.357 MAGNUM
The .357 Magnum is by far one of the best ammunition calibers for a concealed carry. It is a versatile ammunition caliber that can be used for self-defense, home defense, small game hunting, animal defense, and medium game hunting. It is an effective, versatile, and hard-hitting caliber. This is by far the most versatile cartridge. However, you need proper load selection to avoid performance problems.
Take for example; a lightweight fast-opening bullet might not kill a big game due to penetration issues. However, the bullet caliber can be effective for self-defense and a great choice for a concealed carry. The .357 bullets of 110-grain to 125-grain JHP bullets are the best picks for a concealed carry. With speeds of 1300-1400 fps, the bullets expand quickly and fragments produce large wound channels. They are pretty accurate and usually produce very low recoil.
.38 SPECIAL
The .38 Special is not the most powerful ammunition for self-defense but is still a great choice for a concealed carry. It is small and compact ammo ideal for snub nose revolvers. Just like most ammunition, there are different types of .38 Special ammo. You need to stick to the standard 12-18 inches selection when choosing suitable ammo.
The best thing about the .38 Special is the moderate recoil that makes it pretty easy to handle. You can make quick shots without compromising safety. Most people that use the .38 Special ammunition are people with small guns looking for concealment. It is a great choice when the primary aim is to get rounds on a target.
Final Thoughts
In conclusion, these are the best ammunition for a concealed carry. The ammunition is great for self-defense when you need to carry your firearm with you. Most are small-sized and compact offering firearm owners a high magazine capacity. They also offer excellent velocities, penetration, and expansion to stop threats quickly. The recoil of the ammunition is also moderate making the firearms easy and safe to shoot.