Exotic 9MM Ammo: Explained and Ranked by Experts at Ammo.com

Exotic 9mm ammo is interesting, but is it worth your hard-earned money? Can you trust your life with unconventional bullets such as external hollow points?

Yes – but I don't recommend trusting just any exotic 9mm ammo.

Most exotic ammo should only be used in a controlled environment, such as at the gun range, while other rounds are definitely worth loading into your EDC.

Below you'll find my top three picks for 9mm exotic ammo, followed by my reasoning why you should choose to fire exotic ammo.

Let's get started!

Top 3 Picks for Exotic 9mm Ammo

1. Underwood 9mm +P+ 90 Grain Xtreme Defender - 9/10 - Best Overall
2. G9 Defense 9mm 80 Grain External Hollow Point - 8/10 - Runner-Up
3. Fiocchi 9mm 124 Grain JHP - 7/10 - Best Ammo by a Foreign Company

Best Exotic 9mm Handgun Ammo Overall

Underwood 9mm +P+ 90 Grain Xtreme Defender

Underwood 9mm +P+ Ammo - 20 Rounds of 90 Grain Xtreme Defender Ammunition

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Specs

• Case: Nickel-Plated Brass
• Bullet Type: Xtreme Defender (XD)
• Bullet Weight: 90 grains
• Muzzle Velocity: 1,550 fps
• Muzzle Energy: 480 ft-lbs

Pros

• Hits hard
• Reliable
• Trusted brand

Cons

• Expensive
• Stout recoil
• Accelerated wear and tear on handgun

Why We Chose It

Underwood 9mm +P+ 90 grain XD is the best exotic 9mm ammo overall because it's ridiculously reliable and packs an extraordinary punch. Shooters who aren't afraid of a little extra kick (comparable to a 45 ACP) will quickly fall in love with these exotic rounds.

What makes this round "exotic," precisely? It's the XD bullet, which is machined from solid copper (as opposed to having a lead core and separate metal jacket).

The monolothic XD is a tough bullet, with the ability to retain 100% of its weight after having passed through a barrier. It is also an extremely injurious bullet – even though it does not actually widen out after impact.

The XD's nose profile features four symmetrical radial flutes, which give it the appearance of a Phillips head bit. These channels pressurize and jet outward any soft tissue they encounter, thus enabling the bullet to transfer shocking energy as it inflicts a gaping permanent wound column. The XD lacks a nose cavity, and therefore cannot become too jammed up with debris (e.g. fabric or drywall) to function properly once it has entered its target.

This ammo owes a large part of its dependability to Underwood's nickel-plated brass cases. In addition to protecting against corrosion, smooth nickel minimizes the metal-on-metal friction which can cause feeding and extraction issues.

While you never see the gunpowder, it is one of the most essential aspects of ammo. You need a powder that will light no matter what when the primer goes off, that's precisely what this Underwood +P+ ammo does.

What is 9mm +P+? It is simply 9mm that is loaded hotter than SAAMI specifications allow for. The ammunition manufactuer's intention isn't to destroy your pistol, but take care! Many 9mm firearms aren't designed to safely fire such powerful ammo.

The downsides to the best exotic 9mm ammo are its cost and the increased recoil from the extra power. If you're sensitive to recoil, these are not the rounds for you. The increased recoil can also make a shooter less accurate as they try to anticipate the recoil instead of squeezing the trigger smoothly.

With that said, I would still trust these rounds in a self-defense situation. I'm not afraid to spend a little extra if it means I'm getting a higher-quality product. I want to stop the threat as quickly as possible, so the extra power will help, especially if the threat is wearing thick clothing.

You should test Underwood 9mm +P+ 90gr XD for yourself before you need it and don't have it.

Honorable Mention

If you're looking for a round with a little less kick, there's also Underwood 9mm +P 90 Grain Xtreme Defender. It's basically the same round with a less powerful propellant charge than the +P+ alternative, so it has less recoil. However, that also means it has slightly lower muzzle velocity and energy.

G9 9mm 80 Grain External Hollow Point

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Specs

• Case: Brass
• Bullet Type: External Hollow Point (EHP)
• Bullet Weight: 80 grains
• Muzzle Velocity: 1,480 fps
• Muzzle Energy: 389 ft-lbs

Pros

• High-quality ammo
• No core/jacket separation
• Excellent barrier penetration
• Low recoil

Cons

• Expensive

Why We Chose It

The Underwood 90 grain +P+ ammo only narrowly beat out the G9 Defense 9mm 80 grain EHP due to the latter's high price. However, that should be expected from top-of-the-line ammo that utilizes the latest technologies.

With G9 Defense EHP bullets, you get peace of mind knowing there will be ZERO core/jacket separation and superior barrier penetration, as well as surprisingly little recoil.

The EHP bullet exhibits zero core/jacket separation because it's machined from a solid piece of copper. Copper isn't as dense as lead – hence the EHP's light weight, which enables it to achieve a relatively high muzzle velocity without generating excessive chamber pressure in the process.

The EHP bullet is engineered to penetrate drywall and windshields. While the EHP may be "barrier blind," it's also designed to "slow quickly in tissue to prevent over-penetration" while simultaneously transferring the maximum amount of energy to the target, making it a prime choice for defensive situations.

This ammo's cheif con is its price tag. You'll pay for G9's proprietary defensive projectile, but I promose it's well worth the price.

Overall, I'm blown away by G9 Defense 9mm 80 grain EHP ammo's barrier penetrating abilities, reduced over-penetration, and low recoil. These rounds are perfect for recoil-sensitive shooters who want to carry high-quality exotic 9mm for protection.

Honorable Mention

The Sellier & Bellot XRG Defense 9mm 100 Grain SCHP is also loaded with solid copper bullets. It's priced perfectly for regular practice and carrying it without having to refinance your home. However, the ballistics are not as good as the G9 EHP 9mm Luger rounds, nor does it penetrate through barriers as efficiently.

Fiocchi 9mm 124 Grain JHP

Fiocchi 9mm Ammo - 25 Rounds of 124 Grain JHP Ammunition

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Specs

• Case: Nickel-Plated Brass
• Bullet Type: Jacketed Hollow Point (JHP)
• Bullet Weight: 124 grains
• Muzzle Velocity: 1,100 fps
• Muzzle Energy: 333 ft-lbs

Pros

• Trusted brand
• Ultra reliable
• Dependable bullet design

Cons

• Not as effective as premium alternetives

Why We Chose It

Fiocchi is one of the most trusted ammo brands imported to the U.S. (although many of their products are made at Fiocchi's own factory in Missouri, including this one). They manufacture reliable self-defense ammo.

The jacketed hollow point bullet has been trusted for generations to provide solid accuracy, accentuated damage to the threat, and a reduced risk of over-penetration.

I find this round's velocity and energy a little lacking compared to others. However, this is partly due to the heavier bullet, so we're not comparing apples to apples in that regard. One might think that the heavier bullet would help with stopping power, though.

Fiocchi 9mm 124 Grain JHP can be trusted in a home defense situation to end the threat to yourself and your family because of the low probability of a malfunction and the proven effectiveness of the JHP bullet.

These rounds are priced just right for the quality of the ammo you get when you buy a box or case of Fiocchi 124gr 9mm JHP. Be sure to check how much Fiocchi 124gr 9mm JHP we have in stock today.

Honorable Mention

If you're looking for an exotic round that's made in the USA, then check out CCI 9mm 53 Grain #12 Shot. This cartridge is loaded with multiple shot pellets instead of a single projectile. In a sense, it's shotgun ammo – for your pistol!

I wouldn't recommend using this ammo for home defense. You'd be far better off using shotgun and buckshot for protection. But for vermin, the 9mm shotshell rocks.

Take care that the case is aluminum. Whether it's a Glock, Remington, Ruger, SIG, or Walther, your pistol might not like it and malfunction more than it typically does.

How to Choose the Best Exotic 9x19 Parabellum Handgun Ammunition for Your Situation

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Most of the time, exotic 9mm ammo is used at the range for fun, but some of it is designed for concealed carry purposes. So how do you know which is which?

The best way is to test it and consider your situation seriously.

What is Exotic Ammo?

"Exotic ammo" can be a tricky term to define, as it varies widely. However, after asking many shooting enthusiasts and spending hours researching the term, I've concluded that you can define it in two ways.

The first and most popular is the wacky non-traditional bullets. Projectiles like nails, oddly shaped bullets, two slugs or multiple shot sizes in one shotgun shell, incendiary rounds, frangible bullets, and armor-penetrating rounds can all be classified as "exotic."

The other way is to take the word "exotic" at face value and refer to exotic ammo as any ammo imported into the US. Most gun nuts don't mean this when they use the terms exotic ammo, but I added one to the list above, just in case.

That's why brands like Barnes, Blazer, Federal American Eagle, Hornady, PMC, Speer Gold Dot, and Winchester were omitted.

Intended Use

Whenever you're buying ammo for any gun, whether it's a 357 Magnum handgun, 300 Blackout carbine, or 12 Gauge shotgun, you should always consider how or why you'll be using it, as some ammo is better suited for the range over self-defense.

For instance, CCI 9mm 53 Grain #12 Shot might be fun to try and shoot rats using your pistol. However, it makes a terrible protection round as its miniscule shot pellets are nearly certain not to penetrate the threat deeply enough to neutralize it.

Cost

Exotic 9mm costs more than regular rounds, but it is a speciality item. It's unlikely that you'll need to stock up thousands of exotic rounds as you would with target ammo, so it's okay to splurge a little.

Reloading is often an excellent way to save money on ammo, especially for standard cartridges like 9mm and 380 ACP. That is not the case for exotic ammo, as it's much more difficult to load and, at times, requires special tools. So you're better off just buying factory ammo.

Reliability

If you're using exotic ammo for home or self-defense, you need it to be reliable. Reliable ammo goes bang when you pull the trigger and cleanly ejects while cycling.

If you have a lot of malfunctions while testing your ammo at the range, I recommend continuing your search before using it as your concealed carry ammo.

Frequently Asked Questions

Are there special types of 9mm ammo?

Yes, there are special types of 9mm ammo. There are many different types of bullets, powder configurations, and cases. Each combination has specific benefits that make it best under certain circumstances.

What is the most lethal 9mm round?

The most lethal 9mm round is the one you're most accurate with. Generally, a JHP bullet is precise and lethal.

What 9mm ammo is most powerful?

9mm +P+ ammo is the most powerful.

Parting Shots

Exotic 9mm ammo comes in many forms, so you'll find some that provide a fun day at the range or protection based on your needs and budget.

My top pick for the best exotic 9mm ammo is Underwood 9mm +P+ XD because it's reliable, reasonably priced, and produced by a trusted brand.

Be sure to check out all the 9mm ammo we have in stock at Ammo.com, including our cost-effective bulk 9mm ammo options!

Written by

Wes Littlefield