Beretta APX 9mm Ammo Recommendations: Best 9mm Ammo for All Occasions

Looking for the best ammo for the Beretta APX 9mm? You're not the only one. This superb family of pistols has been making waves in recent years. It's fair to say Beretta has a certified hit on their hands with their first polymer-framed, striker-fired pistol.

If you've embraced the Beretta APX, then you should theoretically be able to fire any 9mm ammo on the market. But let's be real. It's common for some guns prefer certain types of ammo over others, and the APX is no exception.

That's why we did some testing. It was a selfless effort to try and find the best 9mm ammo for the APX. (It was also a tax-deductable excuse to go to the range.)

Our top overall pick is Blazer 115 grain FMJ, but there are plenty of other options out there that may work better. Here are our top picks broken down by application:

Top 3 Ammo Choices for Beretta APX 9mm

1. Blazer 115 Grain FMJ
2. Speer Gold Dot +P 124 Grain JHP
3. Federal American Eagle 124 Grain TMJ

We're going to take a close look at each of these rounds and explain why we chose them. Then we'll take a look at the APX itself, and explain how to select the perfect bullet type and weight to get the best performance out of it.

Best 9mm Ammo For Beretta APX: Blazer 115 Grain FMJ - Overall Pick

Specs

Blazer Brass 9mm Ammo - 50 Rounds of 115 Grain FMJ Ammunition

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• Bullet Type: Full Metal Jacket (FMJ)
• Bullet Weight: 115 grains
• Muzzle Velocity: 1145 fps
• Muzzle Energy: 323 ft-lbs
• Case: Brass

Pros

• Affordable
• Feeds well in most platforms (including the APX and APX A1)
• Light recoil
• Cycles reliably

Cons

• Light projectile
• Not suitable for self-defense

Why We Chose It

The vast majority of what we do with our handguns is target shooting: training, plinking, competition, what have you. Even if you are one day forced to defend yourself with your pistol, that should be a drop in the bucket compared to all the other times you've fired it.

For that reason, Blazer Brass 115 grain FMJ is our top pick overall. It's an affordable option that boasts consistent accuracy, mild recoil, and reliable feeding. Its accuacy isn't so honed as to qualify as match grade, which only means it's suitable for all but the fiercest competitions.

Blazer's cases are strong, uniform, and great for reloading. Blazer is a sub-brand of CCI, which manufactures famously reliable primers (and which Blazer loads). Not bad for "budget amm" by any means!

Best APX 9mm Ammo For Specific Uses

Speer Gold Dot +P 124 Grain JHP - Self-Defense

Specs

Speer Gold Dot 9mm Ammo - 20 Rounds of 124 Grain +P JHP Ammunition

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$31.99

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• Bullet Type: Gold Dot Jacketed Hollow Point (GDHP; JHP)
• Bullet Weight: 124 grains
• Muzzle Velocity: 1220 fps
• Muzzle Energy: 410ft-lbs
• Case: Nickel-Plated Brass

Pros

• The best ammo for Beretta APX Carry 9mm
• Proven Gold Dot bonded hollow points
• Nickel-plated brass cases for more reliable functionality

Cons

• Expensive

Why We Chose It

Speer Gold Dot is one of the most popular defensive handgun ammo options among civilian and LEO shooters alike. These rounds' bullets are designed to exhibit controlled expansion while passing through soft tissue, and can widen to nearly twice their initial diameter.

The Gold Dot JHP is engineered to anchor itself within whichever human-sized threat it strikes. That reduces the risk of over-penetration which could harm innocent bystanders – a major reason why law enforcement officers prefer Gold Dot (and JHP ammo in general).

Speer Gold Dot ammo has a proven track record. It's also relatively to find, as Speer produces tons of it for law enforcement agencies and the commercial market alike. In short, if you adopt Gold Dot as your regular carry ammo, you will rest assured you'll be able to find it on a continuing basis.

Federal American Eagle 124 Grain TMJ - Best Range Ammo

Specs

Federal American Eagle 9mm Ammo - 50 Rounds of 124 Grain TMJ Ammunition

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• Bullet Type: Total Metal Jacket (TMJ)
• Bullet Weight: 124 grains
• Muzzle Velocity: 1120 fps
• Muzzle Energy: 345 ft-lbs
• Case: Brass

Pros

• Reduces lead exposure
• Safer for indoor ranges
• Affordable
• Clean-shooting

Cons

• Not suitable for self-defense
• More expensive than conventional FMJ ammo

Why We Chose It

Federal's American Eagle label is a much-beloved and often-celebrated pick among target shooters and competitors who regularly go through a lot of ammo.

This round is loaded with a total metal jacket projectile. Picture a chocolate-coated peanut. It shares similar anatomy to a TMJ, which has a lead core that is totally surrounded by its copper jacket.

The TMJ's core is shielded against the heat of ignition (unlike that of an FMJ, which is laid bare at the base). This enables the TMJ to withstand ignition without producing lead gas, which (A) greatly reduces fouling of the barrel (and suppressor, if present), and (B) greatly reduces the shooter's exposure to lead (noting that primers commonly contain lead styphnate, including those backing TMJ bullets).

Its clean-shooting bullets aside, Federal American Eagle TMJ ammo is just quality stuff that feeds well in the APX (as well as every other gun we've tested it in). This is a great option if you're someone who shoots frequently at the range, indoors or out, and it's relatively affordable to boot.

Sellier & Bellot 1000 Rounds of 124 Grain FMJ - Best Bulk

Specs

Sellier and Bellot 9mm Ammo - 1000 Rounds of 124 Grain FMJ Ammunition

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$249.99

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• Bullet Type: Full Metal Jacket (FMJ)
• Bullet Weight: 124 grains
• Muzzle Velocity: 1181 fps
• Muzzle Energy: 382 ft-lbs
• Case: Brass

Pros

• Affordable
• Available in bulk
• Good training ammo
• Reliable in APX, plus a variety of other handguns we've tested (including Glock, Ruger, Taurus, Walther, Smith & Wesson, and SIG)

Cons

• Not suitable for self-defense

Why We Chose It

S&B is one of my personal go-to choices for bulk training ammo. I naturally wanted to test their stuff in the APX, and lo and behold: Sellier & Bellot 124 Grain FMJ functions flawlessly in it.

We fired half a case of this stuff over the course of an afternoon and experienced precisely one issue. That was with a kit-built MP5 clone that wouldn't cycle with anything but 147 grain spicy loads – not the famously unpicky APX.

Doesn't matter if you're a competitor, a prepper, or just someone who likes to shoot a lot at the range. If you're looking to buy it cheap and stack it deep, then this is great ammo. It's a standard 124 grain FMJ with light recoil, and it runs like a dream despite being one of the cheaper options around.

Honorable Mentions

Hornady Critical Duty 9mm +P 124 Grain JHP: Hornady is a reputable manufacturer with good offerings for almost every type of shooting. We picked their Critical Duty 9mm +P load because it performs well and has a proven track record in self-defense scenarios.

Fiocchi Range Dynamics: Fiocchi offers a great option for anyone looking to shoot on the cheap. It functioned reliably in every handgun we've tested it in.

Winchester USA: Winchester's USA line is another affordable option for those looking for good-quality training ammo;perfect for running self-defense drills or prepping for competition.

APX Ammo Buying Guide and Additional Info

Overview of the Beretta APX: Classic Italian Style, Modern Performance

The Beretta APX was released to the publiuc in 2016. It is Beretta's first polymer-framed, striker-fired pistol. 

Beretta had initially wanted the APX to win the U.S. military's Modular Handgun System (MHS) competition (it didn't). The pistol was designed in partnership with an international team of active-duty and former special forces, as well as Beretta's stellar in-house team – some of whom were around for the development of the legendary double-action Beretta 92 (aka the "M9," which is the very same pistol the MHS competition sought a replacement for).

Beretta eventually expanded the APX family of handguns to include a variant for just about every purpose. It now includes everything from compact carry models to full-size, red dot-ready competition guns with extended controls and aggressive slide serrations.

The newest model, the APX A1, has a 4.25" barrel, 17-round standard magazine, swappable/ambidextrous mag release, serrated trigger guard, crisp 6-lb trigger pull, and two replaceable backstraps for customization. It has excellent ergonomics, as well as the extended magazine release and takedown lever we've come to expect on competition-ready models. The optics-ready APX comes stock with a white dot front sight and serrated rear sight.

Whether you're looking for a concealed carry gun, a home defense powerhouse, or something that will tear up the range, you will find an ideal APX pistol for the job.

I have tested the Beretta APX Carry, which has a subcompact frame and 6+1 capacity, and found it to be a really great option.

Choosing the Right Bullet Type

As with any firearm, it's important to choose the right bullet for whichever type of shooting you're doing. You don't want to fire expensive hollow points at paper targets, just like you don't want to fire non-expanding projectiles at an attacker.

Here's a quick rundown on the most common bullet types you'll find, what they're best used for, and what all those acronyms mean (FMJ, TMJ, JHP).

Full Metal Jacket (FMJ): Lead core, with a harder metal jacket encompassing all but the bullet's base. The simplest projectile a semi-automatic can fire. Ideal for target shooting. Not ideal for defense (despite what its widespread implementation during warfare suggests).

Total Metal Jacket (TMJ): Similar to FMJ, but with a copper jacket that encapsulates 100% of its lead core. Eliminates lead aerosolization during ignition, which promotes a cleaner barrel and lungs.

Jacketed Hollow Point (JHP): Features a lead core, metal jacket, and nose cavity. In addition to deep penetration, the JHP is engineered to undergo terminal expansion which (A) maximizes trauma to the target and (B) reduces the risk of over-penetration.

Choosing the Right Bullet Weight

Once you've chosen your bullet type, you have to choose a weight. Lighter projectiles don't necessarily produce less felt recoil, but they do achieve a higher muzzle velocity (and follow a flatter trajectory because of it). Conversely, heavier bullets exhibit lower muzzle velocities and steeper drop; on the plus side, they tend to penetrate body mass deeper (thus improving the odds of striking a vital organ). Subsonic muzzle velocities are also accompanied by a softer report (a consideration if you are firing through a suppressor).

The 115 grain bullet is the lightest you'll usually find in a factory-loaded 9mm cartridge. It contains relatively less lead and copper, thus making it cheaper to manufacture and transport. Heavier 124 and 147 grain projectiles are typically preferred for self-defense because they penetrate barriers more effectively and conserve more momentum with which to harm the target.

Frequently Asked Questions

What ammo does a Beretta APX use?

The Beretta APX fires 9mm ammo.

Is it OK to dry-fire a Beretta APX?

No, it is not OK to dry fire a Beretta APX. You can damage the firing pin that way.

Is Beretta APX a good carry gun?

Yes, the Beretta APX is a good carry gun. The Beretta APX A1 Carry is specifically designed for concealed carry.

How many rounds does a Beretta APX 9mm hold?

The standard magazine capacity for the Beretta APX 9mm is 21 rounds. Different magazines are available for the pistol.

Parting Shots

wWhether you're going to the range to have some fun, loading up for competition, or looking to defend hearth and home, you should now be armed with all the info you need to pick up the best ammo for your Beretta APX 9mm.

If you just can't choose – or if this is one of your first handguns – pick up a bunch of different rounds and get to the range for some fun and experimentation. You'll quickly find out what works for you and what doesn't.

For an economical way to try different types, consider exploring our bulk 9mm ammo page to find various options at a better value.

If you want more 9mm goodness, you can check out our complete rundown on the best 9mm ammo on the market, or you can look at our comparisons of 9mm vs .45 vs .40 S&W to see how these popular carry rounds stack up.

Written by

Matt Collins