9mm
The most popular defensive pistol cartridge — carry guns, ammo, and 9mm questions from the community.
About 9mm
9mm Luger (9×19mm) is the most popular handgun cartridge in the world, and for good reason. It offers an excellent balance of manageable recoil, high magazine capacity, and — with modern jacketed hollow points — terminal performance that meets the same FBI penetration and expansion standards as larger calibers. That combination is why the majority of U.S. police agencies and militaries have standardized on it.
For most shooters, 9mm is the right default for concealed carry, home defense, and the range. It's the cheapest centerfire defensive caliber to practice with, recoils softly enough for fast, accurate follow-up shots, and is available in everything from micro-compacts like the SIG P365 to full-size duty pistols and carbines. If you're buying your first handgun, 9mm is almost always the smart starting point.
