The Best .40 S&W Ammo for Self Defense: Stop the Threat

When your life is on the line and seconds count for everything, you don’t have time to wonder if the best 40 S&W ammo for self-defense is loaded in your Sig Sauer P226 or Glock 22. Fortunately, you found this article telling you exactly which self-defense ammo you need to stop a threat.

Below are our top 5 best 40 S&W personal defense ammo picks (plus some honorable mentions) so you know exactly what to load into your CCW mags before you hit the streets.

If you can’t wait, the best 40 SW ammo for self defense is Speer Gold Dot 165 r JHP. Otherwise, continue on to become acqauinted our top 5 picks.

Also, if you’re new to 40 S&W and want to understand why we made the choices we did, make sure to check out our 40 S&W Buyers Guide by clicking HERE.

The Top 5 Best 40 S&W Ammo for Self-Defense

Speer Gold Dot 165gr JHP

Speer 40 cal Ammo - 50 Rounds of 165 Grain JHP Ammunition

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Specs

Bullet Weight:165 grains
Bullet Type: Bonded Jacketed Hollow Point (JHP)
Case: Nickel-Plated Brass
Muzzle Velocity: 1,150 fps
Muzzle Energy: 484 ft-lbs

Pros

Trusted duty ammo
Reasonably priced
Exemplary terminal ballistics

Cons

Nickel-plated casings can be tricky to reload

Why We Chose It

Speer Gold Dot is the one of the most trusted duty ammo labels, and carried by law enforcement agencies across the nation. Satisfying FBI ballistic gel test requirements for expansion and penetration, the Speer Gold Dot jacketed hollow point is the benchmark that all other ammo manufacturers strive for when it comes to terminal performance.

This round's bullet features a structurally plated pressure-formed core, which has been electrochemically bonded to its jacket. The Gold Dot's bonded jacket is highly durable, which (A) prevents the bullet from fragmenting if it must pierce a barrier (such as heavy clothing or sheet metal) en route to the threat, and (B) helps the bullet remain intact enough to penetrate reliably deep. Nothing's foolproof, although the Gold Dot's terminal ballistics are just about as predictable as they come.

Another major selling point for Speer Gold Dot is its budget-friendly price. Gold Dot isn't as cheap as dedicated FMJ target loads, but it does let shooters practice with their self-defense rounds without eviscerating their savings accounts in the process.

If you like to handload, then this ammo's nickel-plated brass cases can be tricky. However, the increased corrosion resistance and reliability of nickel-plated brass cases far outweigh their drawbacks.

Winchester Defender 165gr JHP

Winchester 40 cal Ammo - 20 Rounds of 165 Grain JHP Ammunition

$28.99

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Specs

Bullet Weight: 165 grains
Bullet Type: Bonded Jacketed Hollow Point (JHP)
Case: Nickel-Plated Brass
Muzzle Velocity: 1,140 fps
Muzzle Energy: 476 ft-lbs

Pros

Bonded jacket secures excellent weight retention
Controlled expansion reduces risk of over-penetration

Cons

Expensive

Why We Chose It

Descended from its legendary Ranger line of ammunition, Winchester's Defender label represents the company’s latest advancements in hollow point technology.

This round's bonded bullet features a large, nothced hollow point, which reacts to high-velocity collision by undergoing rapid expansion. The result is a devastating wound channel that will stop a bad guy in their tracks (with proper shot placement), as well as minimize the risk of over-penetration which could jeopardize bystanders.

Engineered for deep penetration that reaches vital organs and fully satisfies FBI gel test protocol, the Defender bullet provides maximum stopping power and represents the ultimate in self-defense technology.

The key downside to Defender is that it's slightly more expensive than Speer Gold Dots. But that’s a small price to pay for such reliable and effective performance.

Hornady Critical Defense 165gr FTX

Hornady 40 cal Ammo - 20 Rounds of 165 Grain JHP Ammunition

$29.99

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Specs

Bullet Weight: 165 grains
Bullet Type: Flex Tip eXpanding (FTX)
Case: Brass
Muzzle Velocity: 1045 fps
Muzzle Energy: 400 ft-lbs

Pros

Reliable expansion
Extremely accurate

Cons

Low availability

Why We Chose It

Hornady Critical Defense FTX offers top-of-the-line performance thanks to features like the patented Flex Tip. In addition to accelerating terminal expansion, the FTX bullet's polymer insert helps prevent the nose cavity from becoming ineffective as a result of jamming up with debris (like fabric or drywall particles).

Hornady Critical Defense bullets sit atop charges of quality propellant which are formulated to reduce recoil and produce consistent velocities under a wide range of temperatures.

These 40 S&W rounds are some of the most accurate on the market. We tested them in multiple Glock, Smith & Wesson, and Sig Sauer semi-auto pistols and observed zero flaws in performance

The only gripe we have with Hornady Critical Defense 165gr FTX is that it's often tricky to find. If you do manage to track it down, make sure to stock up on such exceptional 40 S&W ammo.

Remington Golden Saber Bonded 180gr BJHP

Remington Golden Saber Bonded 40 S&W Ammo - 20 Rounds of 180 Grain BJHP Ammunition

$30.75

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Specs

Bullet Weight: 180 grains
Bullet Type: Brass Jacketed Hollow Point (BJHP)
Case: Nickel-Plated Brass
Muzzle Velocity: 1015 fps
Muzzle Energy: 412 ft-lbs

Pros

Long track record of proven performance
Bonded jacket increases weight retention

Cons

Expensive

Why We Chose It

Loaded with a true “meat and potatoes” hollow point, Remington Golden Saber is one of the top self-defense ammo choices among law enforcement professionals and civilians alike.

The Golden Saber bullet's jacket isn't just bonded. It is also relatively rigid, spiral notched, and designed to penetrate a short distance into flesh before undergoing wide (and highly injurious) expansion.

If you’re looking for self-defense ammunition that works every time, look no further than 180 grain JHP Golden Saber. You’d also serve yourself well by purchasing some full metal jacket ammo for practice, as this particular offering by Remington is the most expensive entry on our top 5 list.

Sellier & Bellot XRG Defense 130gr SCHP

Sellier & Bellot XRG Defense 40 S&W Ammo - 25 Rounds of 130 Grain SCHP Ammunition

$18.99

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Specs

Bullet Weight: 130 grains
Bullet Type: Solid Copper Hollow Point (SCHP)
Case: Brass
Muzzle Velocity: 1,247 fps
Muzzle Energy: 449 ft-lbs

Pros

Low recoil
Budget-friendly
Clean-shooting solid copper bullet

Cons

Low bullet weight

Why We Chose It

Rounding out our list of top 5 best .40 S&W ammo for self-defense is Sellier & Bellot (S&B) XRG Defense 130gr solid copper hollow point.

Copper isn't nearly as dense as lead – hence this round's extremely light 130 grain bullet and relatively high (supersonic!) muzzle veloicty. Copper also conserves accuracy by eliminating lead fouling, and promotes deeper penetration by resisting fragmentation during penetration of a barrier or soft tissue.

The SCHP isn't just clean-shooting, accurate and tough. It's also designed to undergo the quick, broad expansion which neutralizes a threat more effectively.

The best grain for .40 S&W is not always the heaviest one. You may not necessarily notice less recoil while firing this ammo, though you may appreciate its extremely flat trajectory at close range. This ammo can also make a loaded pistol around 1.5 ounces lighter – not a huge difference, but a welcome one all the same

This ammo is the lowest-priced on this list. It makes training with your self-defense loads a little more palatable.

Honorable Mentions

The self-defense rounds mentioned above are all loaded with exceptional hollow points that can protect your life should the need ever arise. We couldn’t fit all of our favorites into our top 5 list, though, so please take a moment to dig on these excellent alternatives.

Federal HST 165gr JHP – Federal HST ammo is a mainstay in the self-defense shooting community. These rounds' hollow points deliver exceptional accuracy, deep penetration, and massive expansion. They are the go-to duty ammo for many law enforcement agencies, and a great choice for concealed carry or home defense.

Underwood 180gr XTP JHP – Ever wonder what a 357 Magnum fired out of a semi-auto feels like? Grab some Underwood Ammo and find out! These 40 S&W defensive rounds are loaded hot with massive 180 grain eXtreme Terminal Performance (XTP) jacketed hollow points. They pack a massive punch in terms of stopping power.

Barnes VOR-TX 140gr XPB – The Barnes XPB solid copper hollow point features a wide and deep hollow point cavity. It exhibits reliable diameter-doubling expansion, thus maximizing trauma to the threat whilst simultaneously minimizing the risk of over-penetration.

Federal Hydra-Shok 165gr JHP – Federal's Hydra-Shok bullet is the predecessor to the HST. Although it might be a little long on the tooth, the Hydra-Shok still has enough bite to stop the bad guy. Hydra-Shok ammo's older design means it is less expensive than modern self-defense rounds.

Winchester Ranger T-Series 165gr JHP – If you want police-grade hollow point .40 S&W ammo by Winchester, you want Ranger T-Series. Formerly known as “Black Talon” (renamed due to a negative market image), Ranger T-Series hollow point bullet is designed to inflict maximum damage to the target. The hollow point expands out into six razor-sharp talons that rip through flesh, bone, and organs to excavate a gaping, debilitating wound channel. Most of this fine ammo never leaves the law enforcement agencies it's normally shipped to, so don't hesitate to buy heaps of it.

Parting Shots

Practicing with your self-defense ammo is critical to developing the muscle memory and marksmanship skills you'd need to stop a threat quickly and decisively. That's why the best ammo for your favorite 40 S&W pistol centers around what works best for your budget.

Make an effort to practice with your chosen self-defense ammo at least once per month. Any extra practice with less expensive ammo can only help solidify your shooting skills. It's all in service of defending yourself and your own: a worthy cause, if not the worthiest.

Buyer’s Guide

So you got yourself a 40 Smith & Wesson handgun. Bra-vo. The 40 S&W is a powerful handgun round, surpassing the 9mm Luger in terms of kinetic energy, and beating the 45 ACP in terms of magazine capacity while it's at it.

After its release in 1990, the 40 S&W cartridge became popular among law enforcement agencies that had been looking for something more powerful than 9mm and more modern than 45 ACP or 357 Magnum. The 40 S&W's popularity has steadily waned during recent years. But as of 2025, it still ranks fairly high among Americans' preferred semi-automatic cartridges.

With so many different ammo varieties available, it can be hard to know which self-defense ammunition is best for your specific handgun.

In this Buyer’s Guide we will discuss several factors that can help you select the best ammo for your 40 S&W pistol. Click the link at the end of the Buyer’s Guide to go back to our Top 5 list – it's like website magic.

Bullet Weight

The majority of 40 S&W ammo comes with one of two bullets: 165 grains, or 180 grains. Loads lighter than 165 grains exist, but they aren't exactly flooding sporting goods stores.

Most shooters agree that 165 grain bullets are better for personal defense, and 180 grain bullets are better for target shooting. The reasoning is that the 165 grain projectiles exhibit higher muzzle velocity and deeper penetration with slightly less accompanying recoil.

In contrast, 180 grain bullets have slightly higher recoil, lower penetration, and increased kinetic energy.

Recoil

Let’s not kid ourselves about this: The 40 S&W cartridge is a very snappy round, with a lot of recoil for its size.

Developed from Lt. Col. Jeff Cooper’s 10mm Auto, the 40 S&W is a high pressure round that delivers a lot of punishment to some shooters’ wrists. Although not as snappy as a 357 Magnum, many inexperienced and/or smaller-framed shooters encounter difficulty handling the 40's higher recoil.

The 40's zesty kick has casued many law enforcement agencies to move back to 9mm.

If you are sensitive to recoil, then you'll find 9mm or 380 ACP easier to handle. But if you insist on the 40 S&W for personal defense, then you'd do well to curb recoil by choosing a lighter bullet. In general, 165 grain bullets generate less free recoil than 180 grain factory loads.

For recoil sensitive shooters we would recommend cartridges like the Barnes VOR-TX 140gr XPB or Sellier & Bellot XRG 130gr SCHP.

Cost

If the ammunition you choose doesn't fit your budget, you are less likely to get the essential practice you need. Always choose self-defense ammo you can afford to shoot through a box or two occasionally so you can stay in practice.

It’s always good to practice with your personal protection ammo, but most shooters prefer firing cheap FMJ ammo when they hit the range. Some of the most affordable (yet reliable) 40 S&W practice ammo comes from Magtech, PMC, and Blazer Brass.

Note that full metal jacket (FMJ) bullets are great for target practice, but they are not ideal for self-defense. FMJ bullets do not expand when they encounter soft tissue the way hollow points do. That's why FMJ bullets are more likely over-penetrate a bad guy and strike whatever is behind them.

One good way to keep your supply of FMJ ammo full is to buy bulk 40 S&W ammo. This keeps your cost per round as low as possible while ensuring you always have a supply of cartridges for practice.

For practice, use FMJ ammo and run at least one box of self-defense rounds through your CCW or home defense handgun each trip to the range.

For personal defense, make sure your mags are always loaded with the best JHP ammo that functions in your firearm.

Compatibility With Your Firearm

Each firearm has its own ammo preferences. Like a picky toddler who only accepts dinosaur-shaped chicken nuggets for dinner, some handguns are selective about the ammo they like to be fed.

Choosing a factory load that will reliably cycle your pistol is paramount.

The best thing to do is try out a few different factory loads and find out what your handgun likes. That way you can ensure your handgun likes what you’re feeding it before you put in a bulk 40 S&W order.

Now that you’ve got a better idea about what your shiny new 40 S&W needs, let’s get back to the top 5 list by clicking HERE.