Before you stock up on 9mm ammo boxes online, know what you’re getting. This short guide should help with that.
Casing Material
One of the prime considerations you should make before buying more ammo is what the casing is made from.
Most 9mm ammo is loaded into brass casings. This is what some shooters look for, as brass ammo casings are tough yet flexible and can be reloaded several times.
However, brass-cased ammo is more expensive. Some shooters prefer aluminum-cased ammo (like Blazer Aluminum) or steel-cased ammo (like TulAmmo) because it is more affordable.
Be that as it may, aluminum and steel casings cannot be reloaded, so be aware of that before buying.
Primer Chemistry (Non-Corrosive)
Another (very) important thing to know about 9mm ammo is how it is primed. Most manufacturers don’t dispense with the actual chemistry of their primers, but most will let you know if they are corrosive or not.
In the past, some ammo was primed with potassium chlorate or sodium perchlorate, which, when fired and left in the bore, will deposit hygroscopic salts that will accelerate corrosion.
That is, if you shoot ammo with corrosive primers, your gun will need to be thoroughly cleaned after every trip to the range.
Or you could just shoot non-corrosive ammo. All you really need to look for is “non-corrosive” in the ammo description, though.
Type of Bullet (FMJ vs. Hollow Point)
You also want to know what sorts of bullets you’ll be getting. Hollow point bullets are designed for maximum disruption (expansion) on impact with a soft target, delivering optimal penetration and stopping power.
By contrast, FMJ, or full metal jacket bullets, are designed for stability, accuracy, consistency, and penetration. These are ideal for competition, target practice, and high-volume shooting disciplines.
High-performance defensive ammo like hollow points are usually more expensive than FMJ ammo, so save the FMJ for target practice and competition and the hollow points for defensive use.
(However, it’s also valuable to train with hollow points, if you use them, simply so you know how they will behave in your gun.)
Other Considerations
Other than what’s been mentioned here so far, there are a few other things you can look for in ammo.
Some manufacturers, like Venom, produce 9mm ammo with a special crimp around the casing and primer that makes them entirely waterproof.
Others, like Federal American Eagle, produce ammo with a synthetic jacket, which helps minimize the incidence of copper fouling in barrels.
Others make factory ammo with special propellant and primer chemistry that produce fewer toxic compounds when burned, making them better for indoor range training.
These are all things to consider when buying ammo. Let your intended purpose for a 9mm ammo box dictate the decision.
Looking for a 9mm Ammo Box Online?
You may be able to get your ammo online. Visit Bucking Horse Outpost. They carry 9mm ammo from a wide range of manufacturers, including but not limited to Federal, Speer, Magtech, TulAmmo, CCI, Remington, Norma, and Venom.
They also offer competitive prices and a variety of shooting accessories. Visit their website and stock up today.
