Best Ammo for Ruger Security-9: Unstoppable Loads for Your EDC

The Ruger Security-9 9mm handgun is an impressive, affordable concealed carry pistol. Like most firearms, it can be picky about which ammo it eats. Not all ammunition is created equal, so I detailed the best for the Ruger Security-9 in the sections below.

This guide makes the Security-9 ammo buying process more manageable. If you’re in a hurry, the best overall ammunition for the Ruger Security-9 is Speer Gold Dot 124 grain +P JHP..

Ruger Security-9 Recommended Ammo

• Best Overall - Speer Gold Dot 124-Grain +P JHP
• Self-Defense: Hornady Critical Duty +P 124 Grain JHP
• Target Practice: Federal American Eagle 115 Grain FMJ
• Best for Indoor Ranges - Federal Syntech 124 Grain

Best Overall: Speer Gold Dot 124 Grain +P JHP

Specs

Speer Gold Dot 9mm +P Ammo - 1000 Rounds of 124 Grain JHP Ammunition

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$809.99

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

Pros

• Affordable
• High-quality
• Great for reloading
• Accurate
• Easy to find

Cons

• Pricier than FMJ ammo

Why We Chose It

Speer Gold Dot 124 grain +P JHP is the best ammunition for the Ruger Security-9 because it’s reliable, affordable, and versatile. With this ammunition, you can load your conceal carry mags or range bag and effectively stop threats or practice your shot placement without sacrificing affordability or effectiveness.

Speer ammo is made in Idaho and has a long history of reliability and functionality. The company loads high-quality nickel-plated brass cases and clean-burning powder, so you’ll rarely (if ever) experience jams or malfunctions.

Speer Gold Dot is a multi-purpose cartridge that is effective for personal defense. The pressure-formed lead-alloy core has a bonded copper jacket that ensures adequate terminal ballistics. Whether you’re shooting at targets or relying on a bullet to defend your life, this cartridge is a solid choice.

The +P designation means the ammo generates more chamber pressure than standard. While it still won’t have the stopping power of a .357 Magnum, it does increase the kinetic energy transfer to the target, making it even more effective for defense.

Honorable Mention

Fiocchi Defense Dynamics 124-grain JHP is another excellent option, and a bit cheaper at that. I wouldn’t say the quality equivalent Speer, although Fiocchi's cost-efficient and reloadable ammo earns high marks all the same.

Like Speer, Fiocchi’s Defense Dynamics ammo is loaded with JHP bullets that have served me well on the range. I trust them to stop threats.

Best for Personal Defense: Hornady Critical Duty +P 124 Grain JHP

Specs

Hornady Critical Duty 9mm +P Ammo - 250 Rounds of 124 Grain JHP Ammunition

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$279.99

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• Case: Nickel-Plated Brass
• Bullet Type: Jacketed Hollow Point (JHP)
• Weight: 124 grains
• Muzzle Velocity: 1175 fps
• Muzzle Energy: 380 ft-lbs

Pros

• Meets all FBI penetration standards
• +P rating for added stopping power
• Accurate
• Affordable
• Reliable
• Made with high-quality components

Cons

• A tad pricier than some other JHP loads

Why We Chose It

Hornady Critical Duty +P 124 grain JHP is the best self-defense ammo for the Ruger Security-9 because it's designed to penetrate common urban barriers without losing capacity for deep penetration and wide expansion. Hornady makes exquisitely engineered ammunition, and their Critical Duty +P JHP ammo is specifically designed for full-size pistols like the Ruger Security-9.

One of the biggest complaints I’ve heard about the Ruger Security-9 is that it jams too often. Hornady overcomes this issue by using high-quality nickel-plated cases (which generate less metal-on-metal friction than brass), as well as clean-burning powder to keep the feed ramp free of debris.

Terminal performance is critical when choosing your EDC ammo. Standard hollow points can become clogged easily and fail to expand. Hornady overcame this obstacle by filling the nose cavity with a polymer plug. This design also promotes wider expansion after impact.

These cartridges meet FBI standards for penetration, and they’re affordable. You’re really getting everything you need for defense out of one cartridge.

Honorable Mention

Hornady Critical Defense Lite 100 grain 9mm ammo is another great option for everyday carry ammunition. This ammo still has the polymer tip to prevent debris from compacting in the nose cavity. While it's backed by a similar concept as Critical Duty, this ammunition is optimized for firearms with shorter barrels. It’s better for those who have the Ruger Security-9 compact with a 3.42” barrel.

Honorable Mention

Federal HST 124 grain JHP is another phenomenal self-defense option for the Ruger Security-9. Similar to Hornady Critical Duty, Federal HST ammo is designed to pierce durable barriers without losing its capacity for broad terminal expansion. Federal skives the JHP's jacket to program it for wider expansion following lower-velocity impact. These high-quality rounds chamber well, have high-quality powder, and are reloadable.

Best for Target Practice: Federal American Eagle 115 Grain FMJ

Specs

Federal 9mm Ammo - 1000 Rounds of 115 Grain FMJ Ammunition

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$268.99

$243.99

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• Case: Brass
• Bullet Type: Full Metal Jacket (FMJ)
• Weight: 115 grains
• Muzzle Velocity: 1180 fps
• Muzzle Energy: 356 ft lbs

Pros

• High-quality
• Affordable
• Ignites clean
• Feeds reliably

Cons

• Not ideal for home defense

Why We Chose It

Federal American Eagle 115 grain FMJ is the best for target practice because it’s affordable and shoots clean. As far as cheap 9mm ammo goes, Federal American Eagle is some of the best stuff on the market. The brass cases and clean-burning powder keep your firearm cleaner than other FMJ cartridges. You can shoot through box after box without worrying about jams or other malfunctions.

Federal’s 115 grain FMJ rounds are a bit snappier than subsonic alternatives. They’re perfect for target practice because you’ll get to experience the full recoil of your Ruger Security-9, which is helpful when you’re learning to realign your front sights and rear sights between shots.

Federal American Eagle is reliable and chambers well. Even after hours of shooting, I’ve never had a problem with it in my Ruger Security-9. You can get familiar with the Ruger Security-9’s adjustable rear sights without breaking the bank.

Honorable Mention

Remington 124 grain FMJ is a great option if you want something a bit heavier and slower than Federal American Eagle 115 grain. Although the Remington option has a higher bullet weight, it is similar in price and function. Reliable feeding. Low-residue ignition. Repeated reloadability. it's all there.

Best for Indoor Ranges: Federal Syntech 124 Grain TSJ

Specs

Federal Syntech 9mm Ammo - 500 Rounds of 124 Grain Total Synthetic Jacket FN Ammunition

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• Case: Brass
• Bullet Type: Total Synthetic Jacket (TSJ)
• Weight: 124-Grain
• Muzzle Velocity: 1110 fps
• Muzzle Energy: 339 ft lbs

Pros

• Shoots cleaner than FMJ ammo
• Accurate
• Reliable
• Great for indoor ranges
• Affordable
• Available

Cons

• Not ideal for self-defense

Why We Chose It

Federal Syntech 124 grain TSJ ammo is the best option for indoor range shooting. When you open a box of Syntech ammo, you’ll quickly realize they’re unlike anything you’ve ever seen before (at least I did).

These rounds' bullets are really cool because they have polymer jackets. The jacket reduces friction against the barrel, all but eliminates lead fouling, and even reduces the risk of splash-back following collision with a hard surface.

I was initially skeptical about Federal Syntech. However, it performs really well, and Federal isn't lying about it keeping firearms clean. Another concern I had was feeding issues in my Ruger Security-9 because they are a flat-nose round. Upon cycling through multiple magazines, I realized that my apprehensions were unfounded.

Parting Shots

Choosing 9mm ammo isn’t always easy, especially when you’re trying to match it to your firearm. The semi-auto Ruger Security-9 is a great handgun, and all the cartridges I’ve listed above cycle well, shoot straight and keep the chamber as clean as possible.

If you want to check out more of our 9mm ammo stock, click HERE. Otherwise, continue on to our Buyer’s Guide to learn how to choose 9mm ammo for your firearms.

Buyer’s Guide: Understanding the Best 9mm Ammo

Choosing ammunition isn’t as simple as checking the caliber and price. There’s a lot that goes into getting the right box for your firearm.

Not all semi-auto pistols like every bullet weight and design. For example, some Taurus handguns and my Glock 19 doesn’t always like Blazer Brass, but my Ruger Security-9 does just fine with it.Read the following sections to understand better how to choose 9mm Luger cartridges.

How to Choose Ammo For Ruger Security-9

The right ammunition for your firearm shoots straight, cycles well (not really an issue for revolvers), and gets the job done (whatever that job may be). Scroll to the section that aligns with your needs or read them all to ensure you’re choosing the right box of ammunition.

Self-Defense

Self-defense cartridges are the most important you’ll ever carry. The ones you choose can spell the difference between becoming a victim or a survivor. Fortunately, selecting the right ammo is pretty simple once you understand which bullet you need.

Self-defense cartridges must deliver expansion after impact to maximize damage to the threat. Look for anything with a JHP, SCHP, or XTP designation. All of these bullets are designed to expand, so they’re a great starting place.

Some firearms (like the Taurus G3c) struggle to cycle hollow-point bullets. You can choose higher-quality ammunition to overcome this issue. Also, it’s a good idea to buy a few boxes of defense ammunition and see which you like better.

Some shooters will check the price of their defensive ammunition, but this has always been a non-issue for me. If I have 20 or 40 cartridges that I know perform well and I trust with my life, they’re worth the price.

Training

Whether you’re training yourself to get used to your Ruger Security-9, introducing a new shooter to firearms, preparing for competitions, or training for law enforcement qualifications, the ammo you choose can spell the difference between success and failure.

Training ammunition needs to be accurate and clean. You’re likely going through several magazines in a short time. Low-friction case materials like brass or nickel-plated brass will cycle better than steel.

Federal Syntech and Speer Lawman are both great options for training because they cause less lead exposure, they’re accurate, and they perform cleaner than standard FMJ loads.

Competition/Target Shooting

Casual target shooting gives you a lot more leeway when it comes to ammo selection. When I go to the range for plinking or target shooting, I take whichever FMJ loads are cheap and feed well.

Back when I was shooting competitively, I loved factory loads that made reloading easy. Factory ammunition is a great option for those who are just getting started, but eventually, you’ll need to upgrade your cartridges and match them to your firearm. This is another selling point for high-quality cases and Boxer primers.

When choosing competition ammunition, you’ll want high-quality rounds that shoot clean and are accurate in your hands.

Suppressed Shooting

Choosing rounds for suppressed shooting is pretty easy because it only adds one element to the decision-making process: velocity. While you must still choose JHP bullets for self-defense, the key to suppressed ammunition is velocity.

Suppressed ammo is designed with a muzzle velocity lower than the speed of sound (~1,125 fps). Any bullet with a velocity of around 950-980 fps isn’t going to produce a sharp crack on ignition.

After narrowing the selection down to cartridges with a subsonic muzzle velocity, consider how they perform when they hit the target. If you want suppressed bullets for hunting or self-defense, choose a round like Hornady Subsonic 147 grain or Winchester 147 grain JHP.

You can quickly narrow down the selection of 9mm ammo by looking at heavier bullets. Heavier bullets move slower than lighter ones. Keep your eyes peeled for 147 grain bullets, which are necessarily subsonic out of a 9mm pistol.

FAQ

Is the Ruger Security-9 good for concealed carry?

Yes. Whether you live in a state requiring a CCW permit or are free to carry Constitutionally, the full-size Ruger Security-9 has a barrel length of only 4 inches, making it perfect for concealed carry.

Which 9mm ammo is good for home defense?

Any of the personal defense ammunition above has adequate expansion and can serve as home defense ammo.

Is the Ruger Security-9 a full-size handgun?

The Ruger Security-9 comes in compact and full-size options. The barrel length options are 3.42” or 4” with 10- or 15-round magazines, respectively.

Is a Ruger Security-9 a good gun?

It’s a great everyday carry gun. Ruger produces high-quality firearms similar to Colt and SIG Sauer's single-action semi-auto striker-fired handguns, but the Security-9 is more affordable.

What’s the difference between Hornady Critical Defense and Critical Duty?

Hornady Critical Duty is optimized for full-size firearms, and Critical Defense works great in firearms with a shorter barrel length. Both have excellent terminal ballistics, but considering whether you have a compact or full-size firearm is recommended.

What happened to the Ruger Security-Six?

Perhaps you’re still shopping around, and you’ve found that Ruger’s .357 Magnum (compatible with .38 Special) double-action, hammer-fired revolver, the Security-Six, was discontinued. There’s no official word as to why Ruger discontinued it, but the general consensus is that the Security-Six was more expensive to make than newer models.

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Now that you know how to choose your next favorite box of 9mm ammo, click HERE to go back to the top and order a box.

Written by

Cassandra McBride