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

Looking for the best ammo for the Beretta APX 9mm?

This superb family of pistols has been making waves in recent years, and it's fair to say that Beretta has a certified hit on their hands with their first polymer-framed, striker-fired pistol. We've done some testing to try and find the best 9mm ammo for a Beretta APX.

Our overall pick, if you're short on time, is Blazer 115gr FMJ, but there are plenty of other options out there that may work better, depending on your needs. Here are our top picks broken down by use case:

Top 3 Ammo Choices for Beretta APX 9mm

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

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

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

Specs

• Bullet Type: Full-Metal Jacket
• Bullet Weight: 115gr
• Muzzle Velocity: 1145fps
• Muzzle Energy: 323 ft-lbs
• Casing Type: Brass

Pros

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

Cons

• Very light projectile
• Not suitable for self-defense

Why We Chose It

The vast majority of what we do with our handguns will be target shooting of some variety. Training, plinking, competition, what have you…not running into harm's way or defending hearth and home from attackers.

For that reason, Blazer Brass 115gr FMJ is our top pick overall.

It's an affordable option with very mild recoil thanks to the 115gr projectile, but it still cycles and feeds very reliably. This makes it a great option for any kind of sport shooting, from casual plinking to competition.

The cases are well-manufactured and great for reloading, and the primers are reliable and well-seated, even though this is decidedly a budget-minded ammo choice. For a quick range trip or for stocking up on just in case, it's hard to beat this reliable performer.

Best APX 9mm Ammo For Specific Uses

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

Specs

• Bullet Type: Gold Dot Jacketed Hollow Point
• Bullet Weight: 124gr
• Muzzle Velocity: 1220fps
• Muzzle Energy: 410ft-lbs
• Casing Type: Nickel-Plated Brass

Pros

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

Cons

• Expensive
• Not available in bulk

Why We Chose It

Speer Gold Dot Hollow Points are one of the most popular defensive handgun ammo options out there among civilian and LEO shooters alike. These rounds are carefully designed to exhibit controlled expansion when passing through soft tissue and can open up to nearly twice their initial diameter.

They are also designed specifically to spend all of their energy before exiting (if they exist at all), so there is much less risk of over-penetration, which is one of the reasons they are so beloved by law enforcement agencies in major urban centers.

Gold Dots have a proven track record in the field. They are readily available because Speer has to churn out so many of them to meet all of their state and Federal law enforcement contracts, so you’ll rarely be in a position where you can’t find your favorite carry ammo in stock if you run them.

Federal American Eagle 124gr TMJ - Best Range Ammo

Specs

• Bullet Type: Total Metal Jacket (Indoor Range Safe)
• Bullet Weight: 124gr
• Muzzle Velocity: 1120fps
• Muzzle Energy: 345ft-lbs
• Casing Type: Brass

Pros

• Reduces lead exposure
• Safe and approved for indoor ranges
• Affordable
• Very reliable for both training and competition

Cons

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

Why We Chose It

Federal's American Eagle line is a much-beloved and often-celebrated pick among target shooters and competitors who regularly go through a lot of ammo. This total metal jacket ammo features a lead core projectile completely encased in copper to decrease the shooter's lead exposure.

It also results in less lead deposition in the environment, which is always a good thing. This is a straight-up requirement for an increasing number of indoor ranges looking to cut down on lead exposure, making this perfect for use almost everywhere.

Beyond that, it's just good-quality ammo that feeds well in the APX (as well as every other gun we've ever tested it in). This is a great option if you're someone who shoots frequently at the range, indoors or out, and it's affordable to boot.

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

Specs

• Bullet Type: Full metal jacket
• Bullet Weight: 124gr
• Muzzle Velocity: 1181fps
• Muzzle Energy: 382 ft-lbs
• Casing Type: Brass

Pros

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

Cons

• Not suitable for self-defense
• Hard to find in smaller quantities
• 124gr projectile has more recoil than similarly-loaded 115gr options

Why We Chose It

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

We shot for most of an afternoon with half a case of this stuff and experienced precisely one issue, and that was with a kit-built MP5 clone that wouldn't cycle with anything but 147gr spicy loads, not the APX (which doesn't seem very picky about ammo anyway).

If you're looking to "buy it cheap and stack it deep," whether you're a competitor, a prepper, or just someone who likes to shoot a lot at the range, this is great ammo. It's a standard 124gr 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 reliable manufacturer with good offerings for almost every type of shooting. We've picked their Critical Duty 9mm +P 124gr because it performs well and has a proven record in self-defense scenarios.

Fiocchi Range Dynamics: Fiocchi's range dynamics line is a great option for anyone looking to shoot on the cheap, and it has functioned reliably in every handgun we've tested it in.

Winchester Target & Practice: Winchester's Target & Practice line is another affordable option for those looking for good-quality training ammo to get in some range time with. This is 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 in 2016 and was targeted primarily at winning the US Military's Modular Handgun System competition that also spawned the SIG Sauer P320, the "X" variant of the Glock 19, and other great handguns. It is Beretta's first polymer-framed, striker-fired pistol. 

Beretta designed the APX with input from 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 (the pistol the MHS competition was meant to find a replacement for).

The basic line features a replaceable grip frame allowing the end user to take the gun from a subcompact carry piece to a full-size duty gun in mere minutes.

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

The newest model, the APX A1, has a barrel length of 4.25", a magazine capacity of 17, a swappable/ambidextrous mag release, a serrated trigger guard, crisp 6lb trigger pull, and two replaceable backstraps for customization.

 It has the extended magazine release and takedown lever we've come to expect on these competition-ready models and features excellent ergonomics. It is optics-ready and features a white-dot front sight and serrated rear sight.

You can get an APX pistol that will fill almost any role, whether you're looking for a concealed carry gun, a home-defense powerhouse, or something to tear up the competition with at the range. 

I personally have tested the Beretta APX Carry with its subcompact frame and 6+1 capacity and found it a really great option for me.

Choosing the Right Bullet Type

As with any gun, it's important to choose the right bullet type for the type of shooting you're doing. You don't want to be shooting expensive hollow points at paper targets, and you don't want to be shooting low-recoil, non-expanding projectiles at an attacker.

Here's a quick rundown on the common bullet types you'll find, what they're best used for, and what all those acronyms mean (FMJ, TMJ, JHP, SCHP, FBI, ATF, M-O-U-S-E, etc.).

The three most common options are:

Full-Metal Jacket (FMJ): Lead-core projectile with the exposed portion of the projectile wrapped in a harder copper jacket. Great for target shooting, competition, and training.

Total-Metal Jacket (TMJ): Similar to FMJ, but in this case, the entire lead core of the projectile is covered with the jacketing material. This lowers lead exposure, which is better for the health of the shooter and the environment. Required in an increasing number of indoor ranges.

Jacketed Hollow Point (JHP): Lead-core projectile with a copper jacket and a hollow nose. These rounds are designed to expand when passing through soft tissue and create a wound channel nearly double the starting diameter of the round (a 9mm projectile can easily leave a 15mm wound channel). Ideal for self-defense.

Choosing the Right Bullet Weight

Once you've chosen your bullet type, you have choices to make about weight. At a base level, heavier projectiles will be a bit slower but transfer a larger percentage of their energy to the target, while a lighter projectile will have lower recoil and be easier to shoot.

As a general rule, 115gr projectiles are most often used for target shooting and competition because of the lighter recoil and faster velocities.

124gr and 147gr projectiles are typically the choice for self-defense because their increased mass means more energy transfer to the target and greater structural strength to keep the round from coming apart when passing through a barrier or through dense organic material like bone.

Frequently Asked Questions

What ammo does a Beretta APX use?

The Beretta APX uses 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 if you dry-fire a gun.

Is Beretta APX a good carry gun?

Yes, the Beretta APX is a good carry gun. The Beretta APX A1 Carry FDE was designed as a self-defense pistol.

How many rounds does a Beretta APX 9mm hold?

The Beretta APX 9mm can hold up to 21 rounds. However, the size of the magazine you're using will ultimately determine the number of rounds it will hold.

Parting Shots

The Beretta APX is a great gun that deserves great ammo. You should now be armed (pun intended) with all the info you need to pick up the best ammo for your Beretta APX 9mm whether you're at the range to have some fun, loading up for competition, or looking to defend hearth and home.

And if you just can't choose or if this is one of your first handguns, pick up a bunch of them and just go out shooting. 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 learned something, or you just 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 calibers stack up.