The Best 9mm Subsonic Ammo: Shooting Suppressed Never Sounded So Good!

The 9mm is one of the best calibers for self-defense and target shooting. Combining the enjoyable shooting experience with the best 9mm subsonic ammo and a suppressor exponentially increases the fun.

Winchester Super Suppressed 147 Grain FMJ Encapsulated is my top choice because it’s designed to be fired with a suppressor, produced by a trusted brand, and is safer for indoor shooting.

Don’t worry if these aren’t the rounds for you! There are many other subsonic 9mm rounds on the market that I will discuss in this article, so let’s keep going!

Our Top 3 9mm Subsonic Ammo Picks

Testing Procedure: Choosing 9mm Subsonic Ammo

I spent hours researching the following 9mm subsonic rounds, as well as reading about other shooters’ firsthand experience with them. I also fired them at the gun range with my Ruger handgun and Smith & Wesson M&P Shield, as well as my dad’s Hi-Point 9mm carbine.

When choosing my top subsonic rounds, I looked for one that shoots clean and quiet, and also functions well in my semi-automatics. The price, brand, intended purpose, and ballistics all played a pivotal role in the subsonic 9mm ammo I chose.

Best Subsonic 9mm Ammo in 2024

Winchester Super Suppressed 147 Grain FMJ Encapsulated - Best Overall Subsonic 9mm

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Winchester Super Suppressed 9mm Ammo - 50 Rounds of 147 Grain FMJ Encapsulated Ammunition

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• Casing: Brass
• Bullet Type: Full Metal Jacket (FMJ) Encapsulated
• Bullet Weight: 147 grain
• Muzzle Velocity: 990 fps
• Muzzle Energy: 320 ft-lbs

Pros

• Manufactured by a trusted brand
• Designed for suppressed shooting
• Reliable
• Clean(er) shooting
• Reasonably priced

Cons

• Less than ideal for self-defense
• Not the quietest rounds on the market

Why I Chose It

Winchester Super Suppressed 147 Grain FMJ Encapsulated is perfect for your suppressed 9mm pistol because it is made by a reputable ammo maker, reliable, reasonably priced, and designed to be fired through a suppressor.

I’ve rarely had malfunctions with Winchester ammo at the range, and I expect the same from these subsonic loads. The encapsulated full metal jacket means your barrel and suppressor will exhibit minimal fouling. It’s also safer to fire indoors, as the bullet’s enclosed base significantly reduces the shooter’s exposure to aerosolized lead.

I’m most impressed with the price of these rounds. When buying specialty ammo, I expect to pay a higher price. However, this ammo sits about the middle of the road compared to the cost of other rounds.

The biggest downside is that Winchester Super Suppressed are a poor choice for home defense because FMJs are more likely than JHPs to over-penetrate human-sized targets. JHPs also maximize trauma to the threat, helping to end it ASAP. These are also not the quietest 9mm rounds I found, so if you’re looking for a super quiet round, you should keep reading.

Despite the slight drawbacks, Winchester Super Suppressed 147 Grain FMJ Encapsulated is the best 9mm subsonic ammo on the market as of this writing. Don’t hesitate to grab a couple of boxes today!

Speer Gold Dot 147 Grain JHP - Best Self-Defense 9mm Subsonic Ammo

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Speer 9mm Ammo - 50 Rounds of 147 Grain JHP Ammunition

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$39.99

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• Casing: Nickel-Plated Brass
• Bullet Type: Gold Dot Jacketed Hollow Point (GDHP)
• Bullet Weight: 147 grain
• Muzzle Velocity: 990 fps
• Muzzle Energy: 320 ft-lbs

Pros

• Beloved brand
• Excellent terminal ballistics
• Reliable
• Accurate
• Reasonably priced

Cons

• Not specifically designed for suppressed shooting

Why I Chose It

Many shooters and self-defense enthusiasts love Speer Gold Dot 147 Grain JHP because it’s reliable, reasonably priced, and effective when needed.

Many law enforcement officers use Speer Lawman and Gold Dot in the line of duty because they’ve proven extremely reliable. As a civilian, there’s no reason you should hesitate to load these rounds into your mags.

The Gold Dot JHP is uniquely created by the Uni-Cor method, electrochemically bonding the jacket to the lead core. This and the engineered nose cavity give it incredible expansion and excellent straight-line penetration. You won’t have to worry about over-penetration nearly as much, but you still maintain plenty of stopping power to end a threat quickly.

While Speer Gold Dot 147 Grain JHP is subsonic because its velocity is below the speed of sound (1,100 fps), that doesn’t mean it will perform perfectly through your suppressor.

I’ve also found Speer Gold Dot reasonably priced compared to other 9mm defense ammo, such as Hornady XTP and Federal HST.

Speer Gold Dot 147 Grain JHP is the best self-defense 9mm subsonic ammo, so don’t delay picking up a couple of boxes for your Glock!

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Fiocchi 158 Grain FMJ - Quietest 9mm Subsonic Ammo

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Fiocchi 9mm Ammo - 50 Rounds of 158 Grain FMJ Ammunition

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• Casing: Brass
• Bullet Type: Full Metal Jacket (FMJ)
• Bullet Weight: 158 grain
• Muzzle Velocity: 850 fps
• Muzzle Energy: 253 ft-lbs

Pros

• High-quality components
• Ultra quiet
• Reasonably Priced

Cons

• Not designed for a silencer
• Less than ideal as defense ammo (FMJ bullet)

Why I Chose It

Fiocchi 158 Grain FMJ is consistently recommended as the quietest 9mm subsonic ammo available.

I’ve always found Fiocchi reliable in an SBR or semi-auto pistol because it uses high-quality components to make its ammo.

This 9mm Luger load is super quiet because it uses 158 grain projectiles, which allows it to remain well under the sound barrier when fired from a handgun.

The price of this subsonic ammunition is also tough to beat. Along with Magtech and PMC, Fiocchi is often one of the ammunition brands that are inexpensive without sacrificing quality. Same thing applies whether you're firing subsonic or supersonic ammo!

Since Fiocchi 158 Grain FMJ is the quietest subsonic 9mm load, many shooters enjoy firing these rounds, so grab a few boxes today!

Sellier & Bellot 140 Grain FMJ Subsonic - Honorable Mention

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Sellier and Bellot 9mm Ammo - 50 Rounds of 140 Grain FMJ Subsonic Ammunition

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• Casing: Brass
• Bullet Type: Full Metal Jacket (FMJ)
• Bullet Weight: 140 grain
• Muzzle Velocity: 1,001 fps
• Muzzle Energy: 309 ft-lbs

Pros

• Quality components
• Reasonable price
• Quiet

Cons

• Less than ideal for home defense

Why I Chose It

Sellier and Bellot 140 Grain FMJ Subsonic is worth mentioning because it’s appropriately priced, quiet, and reliable.

I enjoy firing Sellier & Bellot FMJs through my 9mm handguns. They go bang when I pull the trigger, and I’ve always found them to be accurate.

It’s also nice that I don’t have to take out a second mortgage to purchase a few rounds for a day at the range!

Many suppressed shooters have claimed that these are some of the quietest rounds they’ve used despite having lighter bullets that inch closer to the sound barrier.

I wouldn’t recommend using these FMJs for self-defense, but they make good target shooting and training ammo.

Frequently Asked Questions

The team at Ammo.com has gathered and answered some of the most commonly asked questions regarding the best 9mm subsonic ammo.

What Grain Of 9mm Is Subsonic?

147 grain is commonly subsonic. However, 135 grain 9mm bullets can be subsonic.

What Is The Most Popular Subsonic Round?

The 300 Blackout is the most popular subsonic round because it was designed for subsonic shooting with the AR-15 platform.

Is Subsonic 9mm Effective?

Yes, subsonic 9mm is effective for home defense and target shooting.

Can You Shoot 9mm Subsonic Without a Suppressor?

Yes, you can shoot 9mm subsonic without a suppressor.

Parting Shots: Best 9mm Subsonic Ammo

Now that you know the best 9mm subsonic ammo is Winchester Super Suppressed 147 Grain FMJ Encapsulated, it’s time to order a few boxes and head to the range to see how it performs in your gun.

Don’t worry if these rounds won’t work for you. Check out my other top picks!

Written by

Wes Littlefield