This week we focus on five classic metal-framed 9mm pistols. These five world-class handguns all shoot the 9mm Luger (9x19mm) cartridge. Most have been used by military and police forces as well as used by civilians for sport-shooting and defense. This Editor has shot all five pistol types and owned three. I can recommend all of them. Metal-framed pistols typically have a lower center of gravity and weigh more than Glocks and other polymer-framed handguns. Consequently, they tend to have less muzzle flip, and less perceived recoil than polymer-framed handguns.
SIG Sauer P226
The SIG Sauer P226 is a high-quality, ultra reliable single-action/double action handgun with a proud Swiss/German heritage. It has a very ergonomic grip that fits most hands very well. Standard P226s do NOT have a manual safety, but the P226 has a decocking lever drops the hammer safely. This Editor has trained new shooters with a Sig P226 and Glock 17. For 80% of my trainees the Sig P226 pointed better due to the superior grip design. This meant that the sight picture was better, and the trainees achieved better results with the P226 vs. the Glock 17. The P226 is also a very reliable firearm. I have over 6000 rounds through my P226 with not one single jam. That’s impressive. The first video, reviewing the SIG P226, has over 1.4 million YouTube views, indicating it is very popular with pistoleros.
HK P7 Series (PSP, P7m8, P7m13)
This Editor has shot a P7m8 extensively. It is superbly accurate. With a very low bore axis, it has much less muzzle flip than most 9mm pistols. And with a fixed barrel, the slide moves straight back during cycling. The HK P7 blowback-operated semi-automatic pistol was designed and manufactured by German gun-maker Heckler & Koch (H&K) from 1978 to 2008. It is thin, superbly accurate, with a precise trigger that shames the Glock. The P7m8 features a unique gas-delayed blowback system, which uses gas from the cartridge to retard the rearward motion of the slide. This works via a barrel port and a piston inside a cylinder under the barrel. The signature feature of the P7 series is the “squeeze cocker” on the front of the grip. Squeezing the cocking lever cocks the firing pin. When the front of the grip is released, the weapon is fully de-cocked, making it safe with a round in the chamber.
Browning Hi-Power
The Browning Hi-Power is a single-action, semi-automatic handgun with a legendary heritage. This handsome all-metal pistol was based on a design by American John Moses Browning, and completed by Dieudonné Saive at Fabrique Nationale (FN) of Herstal, Belgium. J.M. Browning died in 1926, several years before the design was finalized. FN Herstal initially named the design the “High Power”, which alludes to the 13-round magazine capacity, almost twice that of other designs such as the Luger or Colt M1911. The name was later shorted to “Hi-Power”. The Browning Hi-Power has served military forces and police in many countries throughout the world. It is a very well-balanced pistol, with a nice, crisp trigger. After 82 years of continuous production, FN Herstal announced that the Hi-Power would be discontinued in 2018. However, in 2022 FN resumed Hi-Power production, so this classic lives on.
CZ 75
The CZ 75 is the flagship pistol of CZ-USA and has been a staple among 9x19mm fans for over 45 years. Originally introduced in 1975, hence the name, the CZ 75 remains viable as a defensive pistol. CZ claims the CZ 75 is “used by more governments, militaries, police, and security agencies than any other pistol in the world”. The CZ 75 is very reliable and works well for both defense and IDPA competitions. The ergonomics are good, controls are intuitive, and the trigger is very nice. Over the years, CZ has made numerous variations of the CZ 75 pistol, but the original is still an excellent handgun.
Beretta 92FS and Military M9
For Americans, the Beretta 92 series of pistols is best known as the official sidearm of the American military for 30+ years. The United States military replaced the .45 ACP M1911A1 pistol in 1985 with the Beretta 92FS, designated as the “M9″. The M9 and the civilian models 92/92FS have a distinctive, recognizable feature — the cut-away slide which exposes most of the 9mm barrel. The metal frame also has an attractive grip design. The 92FS pistols we’ve shot were accurate and reliability was good. There have been various modifications and upgrades over the years. However the M9 was replaced in 2017 by the new polymer-framed SIG Sauer P320, adopted as the military’s M17/M18 modular pistols.
This Hickok 45 video review of the Beretta 92FS has over 2.5 million views:
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In January, much to the surprise of the shooting world, Henry introduced its first-ever semi-automatic firearm, a compact 9mm rifle dubbed the “Homesteader”. Unveiled at the 2023 SHOT Show Industry Day at the Range, this new rifle impressed those who tried it. It is easy to handle, has good ergonomics, was reliable, and fun to shoot (particularly with an optic and suppressor). The Homesteader features a black-finished anodized aluminum receiver and sealed walnut buttstock and forearm. We include five Homesteader test videos below, two from the debut at Industry Range day.
We like this new 9mm Homesteader carbine. The main reason is that it can be a fun rifle used at a local range with steel targets. As it shoots a 9x19mm (9mm Luger) pistol round, it can be used at many ranges limited to pistol cartridges. The other big advantage is that you can shoot the same cartridge you use in your handgun — the 9mm Luger (aka 9x19mm). That’s a huge plus if you don’t have time to reload for your rifle. And 9mm Luger ammo is also some of the least expensive centerfire ammo you can find, available for just $0.35 (thirty-five cents) per round or less.*
To top it off, there are versions of the Henry Homesteader that can even use Glock or SIG/S&W pistol mags — so you can literally take a magazine out of your handgun and use it in this handy new Henry 9mm carbine. The stock is also designed to be ambidextrous so it works for both lefties and right-handed shooters plus the charging handle can be installed on either side.
Here’s a good video from Henry that shows all the features of the new Henry Homesteader with closeups of the sights, magwell, charging handle, tang safety, mag release, and buttstock:
With a simple change of the magwell unit, the Homesteader can use Glock mags, SIG mags, and S&W mags as well as 5- and 10-rd Henry mags. Below left is a Glock mag, with factory mags on the right.
PROS of Henry 9mm Homesteader
1. Affordable — $928.00 MSRP basic version; $959.00 with Glock, or SIG/S&W M&P magwells.
2. Uses inexpensive, readily available 9x19mm (9mm Luger) ammunition.
3. Easy to handle at 36″ overall and 6.6 lbs. (before optics).
4. Can be used on same ranges and targets as 9mm pistols.
5. Rail can be installed to mount Red Dots and other optics.
6. The blued barrel is 1/2×28 threaded to allow suppressor use.
7. Charging Handle can be placed on either right side or left side.
8. Good trigger out of the box.
CONS of Henry 9mm Homesteader
1. Only one cartridge choice at this time — 9x19mm (9mm Luger).
2. Aftermarket rail required to fit all optics (receiver has no built-in slots/rails).
3. Length of pull is not adjustable at this time.
4. Rear sight is primitive and blocked if scope rail is fitted (see frame below).
We see Henry’s 9mm Homesteader as mainly a fun plinking rifle for use inside 100 yards. But it certainly could serve for home defense and small varmint chores. Henry boasts: “For home defense, walking the fence line to protect your livestock, in the truck, at the range, or slung across your back on a deep woods excursion, the Homesteader is ready to deliver on all fronts.”
Details of 9mm Homesteader Design and Operation
The Homesteader has a semi-automatic blowback action that uses expanding cartridge gases to cycle the bolt. When the magazine is empty, the bolt will lock back, and you can see through the action port. An ambidextrous bolt release lever is positioned by the trigger guard. The ambidextrous theme continues with a central, top-mounted thumb safety switch, a bottom-mounted magazine release switch, and a movable charging handle for left- or right-handed operation.
The Homesteader is currently available in three different models — a basic model that runs 5-rd and 10-rd Henry magazines. There is second version with a magwell for Glock magazines, and there is a third model that takes SIG Sauer and/or Smith & Wesson M&P magazines. For all versions, Henry 5-round and 10-round magazines are included.
Here GunsAmerica Digest Editor True Pearce tests a Henry 9mm Homesteader fitted with optic and suppressor. Pearce was quite impressed with the new 9mm carbine:
Product Information from Henry:
“The Homesteader 9mm boasts premium materials and an adaptable feature set to provide effortless versatility for various roles, including home defense, protecting livestock from the predators that threaten them, and as a fun, approachable firearm for the shooting range using ammunition both widely available and affordable. To provide compatibility for the most common magazine patterns, the Homesteader 9mm utilizes removable magazine well adapters to accept Glock®, SIG Sauer®, or Smith & Wesson® M&P® style magazines, in addition to the included 5-round and 10-round Henry 9mm magazines.
Other notable features include a threaded barrel for suppressor use to minimize noise for neighbors at the range or at home and thoughtfully laid out, centrally located controls that will appeal to right- and left-handed users. Its compact size and lightweight frame provide maneuverability for close quarters and allow the firearm to be stored where some standard-sized rifles and shotguns may not fit. Intuitive, fast target acquisition is achieved with … reciprocating mass inside the forearm to counteract recoil and non-slip leather-like texturing on the genuine American walnut furniture.
The manufacturer’s suggested retail price is $928.00 for the version with a Henry magazine well only and $959.00 for the versions that include an additional magazine well [for Glock, SIG, or S&W magazines].”
MORE RESOURCES — Other Henry 9mm Homesteader Reviews
* This is a typical price for major-brand 9mm brass-cased ammo from a large online vendor. However if you use AmmoSeek.com, you can find 9mm Luger ammo for significantly less. For example, Sentry Ammo is offering 1000 rounds of quality Norma 124gr 9mm bulk pack ammunition for $207.99. That’s just $0.21 (twenty-one cents) per round! Plus you get a FREE ammo can.
Text in this article is Copyright 2023 AccurateShooter.com. NO reproduction on any other site is permitted without advance authorization and licensing fees.
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This week we focus on five classic metal-framed 9mm pistols. These five world-class handguns all shoot the 9mm Luger (9x19mm) cartridge. Most have been used by military and police forces as well as used by civilians for sport-shooting and defense. This Editor has shot all five pistol types and owned three. I can recommend all of them. Metal-framed pistols typically have a lower center of gravity and weigh more than Glocks and other polymer-framed handguns. Consequently, they tend to have less muzzle flip, and less perceived recoil than polymer-framed handguns.
SIG Sauer P226
The SIG Sauer P226 is a high-quality, ultra reliable single-action/double action handgun with a proud Swiss/German heritage. It has a very ergonomic grip that fits most hands very well. Standard P226s do NOT have a manual safety, but the P226 has a decocking lever drops the hammer safely. This Editor has trained new shooters with a Sig P226 and Glock 17. For 80% of my trainees the Sig P226 pointed better due to the superior grip design. This meant that the sight picture was better, and the trainees achieved better results with the P226 vs. the Glock 17. The P226 is also a very reliable firearm. I have over 6000 rounds through my P226 with not one single jam. That’s impressive. The first video, reviewing the SIG P226, has over 1.4 million YouTube views, indicating it is very popular with pistoleros.
HK P7 Series (PSP, P7m8, P7m13)
This Editor has shot a P7m8 extensively. It is superbly accurate. With a very low bore axis, it has much less muzzle flip than most 9mm pistols. And with a fixed barrel, the slide moves straight back during cycling. The HK P7 blowback-operated semi-automatic pistol was designed and manufactured by German gun-maker Heckler & Koch (H&K) from 1978 to 2008. It is thin, superbly accurate, with a precise trigger that shames the Glock. The P7m8 features a unique gas-delayed blowback system, which uses gas from the cartridge to retard the rearward motion of the slide. This works via a barrel port and a piston inside a cylinder under the barrel. The signature feature of the P7 series is the “squeeze cocker” on the front of the grip. Squeezing the cocking lever cocks the firing pin. When the front of the grip is released, the weapon is fully de-cocked, making it safe with a round in the chamber.
Browning Hi-Power
The Browning Hi-Power is a single-action, semi-automatic handgun with a legendary heritage. This handsome all-metal pistol was based on a design by American John Moses Browning, and completed by Dieudonné Saive at Fabrique Nationale (FN) of Herstal, Belgium. J.M. Browning died in 1926, several years before the design was finalized. FN Herstal initially named the design the “High Power”, which alludes to the 13-round magazine capacity, almost twice that of other designs such as the Luger or Colt M1911. The name was later shorted to “Hi-Power”. The Browning Hi-Power has served military forces and police in many countries throughout the world. It is a very well-balanced pistol, with a nice, crisp trigger. After 82 years of continuous production, FN Herstal announced that the Hi-Power would be discontinued in 2018. However, in 2022 FN resumed Hi-Power production, so this classic lives on.
CZ 75
The CZ 75 is the flagship pistol of CZ-USA and has been a staple among 9x19mm fans for over 45 years. Originally introduced in 1975, hence the name, the CZ 75 remains viable as a defensive pistol. CZ claims the CZ 75 is “used by more governments, militaries, police, and security agencies than any other pistol in the world”. The CZ 75 is very reliable and works well for both defense and IDPA competitions. The ergonomics are good, controls are intuitive, and the trigger is very nice. Over the years, CZ has made numerous variations of the CZ 75 pistol, but the original is still an excellent handgun.
Beretta 92FS and Military M9
For Americans, the Beretta 92 series of pistols is best known as the official sidearm of the American military for 30+ years. The United States military replaced the .45 ACP M1911A1 pistol in 1985 with the Beretta 92FS, designated as the “M9″. The M9 and the civilian models 92/92FS have a distinctive, recognizable feature — the cut-away slide which exposes most of the 9mm barrel. The metal frame also has an attractive grip design. The 92FS pistols we’ve shot were accurate and reliability was good. There have been various modifications and upgrades over the years. However the M9 was replaced in 2017 by the new polymer-framed SIG Sauer P320, adopted as the military’s M17/M18 modular pistols.
This Hickok 45 video review of the Beretta 92FS has over 2.5 million views:
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Sometimes smaller is better — at least when a more compact cartridge than the 9mm Luger (9x19mm) still packs the punch of the larger round.
Brand New Pistol Cartridge for Carry Guns
Federal has just released an all-new pistol cartridge, the 30 Super Carry. Designed expressly for CCW and personal defense applications, this new 30 Super Carry cartridge packs the punch of a 9mm Luger round (9x19mm), with a smaller casing, so you can fit more rounds in a magazine. A pistol that holds 10 rounds of 9mm Luger ammo can hold at least 12 rounds of 9mm Super Carry ammo. That’s a 20% increase in capacity.
In a defensive situation, that extra two rounds could make a difference. But importantly, the 30 Super Carry is not a weak round. You don’t give up stopping power or penetration when compared to the classic 9mm Luger cartridge. In Federal’s tests, penetration through heavy clothing was actually BETTER with the 30 Super Carry than the 9mm Luger (15.5″ vs. 14.5″). NOTE: The actual 30 Super Carry bullet diameter is 0.312″, slightly fatter than a “30 caliber” rifle bullet (0.308″).
Worthy Replacement to 9mm Luger?
Is this a useful alternative to the 9mm Luger? It depends. The new 30 Super Carry is definitely more effective than the .380 ACP so it beats that alternative. And velocity is actually higher than the 9mm Luger mainly because the 30 Super Carry shoots a lighter bullet — 100 grains vs. the typical 115-125 grain 9mm bullet. For many the key appeal of the new cartridge is the ability to carry more rounds OR carry the same number of rounds with a lower overall weight.
Federal’s New 30 Super Carry is 13% smaller than a 9x19mm, with very similar ballistics
Watch video for ballistics information and cartridge diagrams.
30 Super Carry Questions and Answers
How is the 30 Super Carry’s felt recoil compared to the 9mm Luger?
Recoil, flash and sound report provide a very similar shooting experience to 9mm Luger
How do the 30 Super Carry’s velocity and energy compare to 9mm Luger?
They are extremely similar. The 100-grain 30 Super Carry HST carries 347 foot-pounds of energy at the muzzle and has a velocity of 1250 fps; the 124-grain 9mm Luger HST has 364 foot-pounds of energy and a muzzle velocity of 1150 fps.
Do I need a different firearm to shoot the 30 Super Carry?
Yes, you need a firearm chambered for 30 Super Carry. Currently, Smith & Wesson and Nighthawk Custom offer these platforms.
How does the 30 Super Carry differ from older cartridges such as the 7.65×21 Parabellum, 7.65×20mm Longue, 32 Auto and others?
While there might be some coincidental similarities, the 30 Super Carry was fully developed from the ground up with no parent cartridge. Utilizing modern materials and designs, it provides vastly superior performance to seemingly similar historic cartridges.
What kind of accuracy can I expect from the 30 Super Carry?
The cartridge has proven to be an exceptionally accurate round, typically exceeding the accuracy of other popular carry cartridges.
NOTE: These answers are provided by Federal, the ammunition manufacturer.
Currently there are Smith & Wesson and Nighthawk Custom pistols factory-chambered for the new 30 Super Carry cartridge. If this round catches on, expect to see Glock, Ruger, and SIG offer this chambering.
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Everyone should have a 9mm Luger (9x19mm) pistol. The 9mm Luger round feeds/cycles great, recoil is moderate, and a vast array of excellent 9mm handguns are available. Before the Pandemic, quality 9x19mm factory ammo was affordable and widely available. Unfortunately, with the surge in gun buying, and people hoarding ammunition, 9mm ammo is getting hard to find, or has become fairly expensive when you do find a source with ample inventory. To help with that problem, we have located four online vendors who still have 9mm Luger pistol ammo in stock today. You can find other sellers with current, available 9mm inventory on AmmoSeek.com.
NOTE: Inventories change rapidly. If ANY of these entries sell out, check AmmoSeek.com for updates.
9mm Luger (9x19mm) Factory Ammunition — Where to Buy
1. Source: Cabela’s | Product: Remington 9mm Luger Mil 115gr FMJ Brass Case
Cost: $9.99 for 50 rounds ($0.30/round)
Check for availability store by store on 10/20/2020
2. Source: AmmoShop Online | Product: Norma 9mm Luger 115gr FMJ
Cost: $24.39 for 50 rounds ($0.49/round)
In-Stock and available on 10/19/2020
3. Source: Gunslinger Ammo | Product: Belom 9mm Luger 115gr FMJ
Cost: $27.95 for 50 rounds ($0.56/round)
In-Stock and available on 10/19/2020
4. Source: ZincPoint | Product: Venom 9mm Luger 115gr FMJ Steel Case
Cost: $27.50 for 50 rounds ($0.55/round)
In-Stock and available on 10/19/2020
Back in the Good Old Pre-COVID Days…
Yes today’s price of 9mm pistol ammo is high. Consider this — in February 2018 you could get 1000 rounds of CCI 9x19mm PLUS a new Kahr CW9 pistol, all for less than the cost of the ammo alone these days.
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Factory-loaded ammunition has become very hard to find, particularly pistol ammo. Concerns over social unrest, personal security, and the upcoming election have spiked demand for loaded ammo. Everyone is asking “where has all the ammo gone?”
Pistol Ammo Hard to Find
In particular, 9mm pistol ammo flies off the shelves as soon as it arrives, and even major online vendors such as Midsouth Shooters, MidwayUSA, and Natchez have very limited supplies.
Need Ammo? Load Your Own…
One answer to the ammo shortage is to load your own. And if you want to produce a large quantity of ammo in a short amount of time, the progressive press is the answer. There are many progressive press systems, from modest Lee progressives to high-end, automated systems from Mark 7 (Lyman). In this article we feature the “latest and greatest” progressive press from Dillon — the new eight-station RL 1100 Press with Case-Feeder.
Our friend Gavin Gear of UltimateReloader.com got his hands on Dillon’s impressive new RL 1100. In two videos, Gavin shows how to set up the RL 1100 and then he demonstrates how to produce 9mm pistol ammo with this impressive 8-station press.
Gavin says: “My Dillon RL-1100 is cranking out the 9mm, and in this video we bring it up to ‘full tilt’ speed” [with the MR. Bullet Feeder and the Dillon Case-Feeder]. If you watch the video, you’ll see Gavin produce 9mm ammo at a rate of nearly 50 rounds per MINUTE!
Gavin equipped his new RL 1100 with two cool products from Double Alpha Academy (DAA) — the Mr.Bulletfeeder® as well as an advanced, Magnetic Powder Check. When loading ammo you can never be too safe, so we definitely recommend the use of powder-check dies (we use a conventional RCBS powder-check die on our progressives). The DAA bullet feeding system is an important add-on that significantly increases output rates when used in concert with the Dillon Case-Feeder (blue funnel).
RL 1100 Reloading Stations with Powder Check and Bullet Feeder
RL 1100 Stations shown above:
1. Case inserter
2. Sizer/De-Primer
3. Swager (with hold-down)
4. Priming (no die)
5. Powder charge and expansion (expansion for pistol cartridges only)
6. Double Alpha Magnetic Powder Check
7. Mr. Bullet Feeder bullet feed die
8. Bullet seating and Crimping
Note: In order to accommodate the magnetic powder check die AND the bullet feed die, bullet seating and crimping were combined at the last station.
The RL 1100 has some very impressive features that allow faster and easier ammo production. An Eccentric Roller Bearing Drive System reduces friction. The RL 1100’s heavier frame provides greater rigidity for more efficient cranking. The RL 1100 also boasts an improved shellplate indexing system. Priming is enhanced through a spring-loaded Priming Station Locator and Upgraded Primer Pocket Swager.
Dillon RL-1100 Set-Up Video:
Loading with the “Turbocharged” Dillon RL-1100
Gavin was very impressed with his RL-1100: “This reloading setup is [great]. Every crank of the lever yields a completed cartridge, and the attainable speeds are AMAZING. The case feeder and bullet feeder had no trouble keeping up with my quick pace using this setup. And it is great to know that every powder charge is being checked.
This press is very reliable and smooth, bridging the gap between lower cost home set-ups and six-figure commercial loading equipment packages. What’s next? I’ll be performing a caliber changeover to .308 Winchester.”
The DAA Magnetic Powder Check can be used on a variety of Progressive Presses.
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Fort Scott Munitions produces 9mm Luger ammo with lead-free solid copper bullets. Shown here is specialized subsonic ammo designed to be used with a suppressor. See FortScottMunitions.com.
The 9mm Luger, aka 9x19mm, is the most popular ammunition type for semi-automatic handguns. As such, with panic buying caused by the Coronavirus pandemic, 9mm ammo is becoming harder to find — or the ammo vendors have jacked up their prices. We found most of the bulk 9mm FMJ out of stock. However, you can still find defensive hollowpoint ammo.
Thankfully, many large vendors such as Brownells, Natchez, and MidwayUSA still have 9mm pistol ammo in stock at reasonable prices. If you can’t find what you need from these vendors, you can source many other ammo retailers via AmmoSeek.com. In addition, Sportsman’s Warehouse has limited 9mm ammo for in-store pick-up in some stores (search online for particular store availablity).
Here are three leading sources for 9mm Luger (9x19mm pistol) ammo. Natchez still has bulk, lower cost lead-core FMJ ammo. Elsewhere cheap 9mm FMJ is mostly sold out, but you can still get 20- or 25-round boxes of defensive ammunition. This stuff is expensive for target practice, to be sure, but at least it can be found.
1. MidwayUSA 9mm Ammo in Stock
Midway USA has quite a bit of hollow-point 9mm luger defensive ammo Available. CLICK HERE to see items in stock, or go to the Midway USA home page and search for “9mm Luger Ammunition”.
2. Natchez Shooters Supplies 9mm Ammo in Stock
As of the time of publication, Natchez Shooters Supplies still has large 1000-round boxes of 9mm FMJ ammunition from CCI and Fiocchi. If you want big quanities of target practice ammo — grab these while you can. In addition, Natchez has NovX defensive ammo.
3. Brownells 9mm Ammo in Stock
Brownells still has a limited selection of 9mm Luger ammunition in stock. Most of the cheaper bulk 9mm is sold out, but here are a few of the brands available on April 10, 2020 at time of publication.
Need a 9mm Pistol? Consider the Walther Creed — Great Value
Need a 9mm carry pistol? The Walther Creed offers excellent ergonomics, good accuracy, and well-designed controls at a killer price — $269.99 at CDNN Sports. This gun, designed to be a value-leader, emulates Walther’s more expensive PPQ model (MSRP $649.00) at a much lower price. The Creed’s frame size and shape is the same as the PPQ, but the Creed lacks interchangeable backstraps. Slide and trigger are very similar. The Creed features a snag-free bobbed hammer. Testers have praised the new Creed, saying that, despite the bargain price, it “sacrifices little to nothing in… ergonomics, accuracy, and reliability.”
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Everyone should have a 9mm Luger (9x19mm) pistol. The 9mm Luger round feeds/cycles great, recoil is moderate, and a vast array of excellent 9mm handguns are available. And, perhaps most importantly, quality factory ammo is affordable. In fact because 9x19mm ammo is produced in such quantity, it is some of the cheapest centerfire pistol ammo you can buy. Today we’ve found some great 9mm Luger ammo deals for you, with big-name factory stuff for under 18 cents per round.
At that price, it may not be worth reloading. Consider this — typical 9mm component costs easily approach fifteen cents per round even with free brass: Bullet ($0.08 – $0.10), Powder ($0.02), and Primer ($0.04). Given the costs of bullets, powder, and primers, it may not be worth reloading 9mm Luger, especially if you value your precious time!
Should You Reload 9mm Ammo? Run the Numbers, Then Decide…
While this Editor reloads almost all his .45 ACP and .44 Magnum ammo, I generally shoot factory ammo in my 9mm Luger pistols. Why? When you give some reasonable value to the time you spend setting-up and operating your reloading press, it is hard to beat factory ammo at around $10 per 50-count box (i.e. $0.20/round). While once-fired 9mm brass is plentiful (and cheap), you can easily spend 15-16 cents per round just on bullet, powder, and primer. So reloading may only save you 4 or 5 cents per round. Hence if you load 200 rounds per hour (including set-up time), you only recoup $8 to $10 per hour (at best) for all your effort. You may decide, as I did, that my time was worth more than that.
Great Deals on 9mm Luger (9x19mm) Factory Ammunition
Looking for bulk ammo for your pistol or rifle? Right now Federal Ammunition is running a “Black Pack” promotion, just in time for the Black Friday/Cyber Monday Weekend. With this deal you get a direct Federal factory rebate up to $100.00 on Federal, Blazer Brass, or American Eagle Black Pack Ammo. The Rebate program is good through December 2, 2018. Combine this Factory Rebate with special Black Friday Weekend pricing from Brownells, and you can get reliable, brand-name USA-made ammo at bargain basement prices.
Here are some Federal Black Pack deals right now at Brownells (partial sample):
NOTE: These aren’t everything!! There are also Black Pack Rebates for .22 LR, 9mm, .40 SW, 12 gauge shells, and other ammo types. Just look for for Federal, Blazer, and American Eagle with Black Labels!
SPECIAL BONUS SAVINGS at BROWNELLS:
NOTE: If you purchase at least $200 before 11/25/2018 at 11:59 PM, you can get an additional $20 Off your order with Brownell’s Code FN2, or 10% Off your order over $300 with Code FN3! Remember though — this deal ends Sunday 11/25 at midnight!
How the Federal Black Pack Rebate Works:
Purchase ONE (1) case of Federal, Blazer® Brass or American Eagle® BLACK PACK bulk case or can ammunition and receive $20 back. Limited to FIVE (5) cases/cans or $100 per household. Valid manufacturer product numbers limited to: 5202BF350, 5200BF500, 5220BF350, 5230BF300, AE223BF300, 788BF and BF127 00AC1. Product must be purchased between 11/16/2018 through 12/2/2018. DEADLINE for mail-in or online submission 1/2/2019. See Terms and Conditions.
Everyone should have a 9mm Luger (9x19mm) pistol. The 9mm Luger round feeds/cycles great, recoil is moderate, and a vast array of excellent 9mm handguns are available. And, perhaps most importantly, quality factory ammo is affordable. In fact because 9x19mm ammo is produced in such quantity, it is some of the cheapest centerfire pistol ammo you can buy. Today we’ve found some great 9mm Luger ammo deals for you, with big-name factory stuff for under 20 cents per round.
Should You Reload 9mm Ammo? Run the Numbers, Then Decide…
While this Editor reloads almost all his .45 ACP and .44 Magnum ammo, I generally shoot factory ammo in my 9mm Luger pistols. Why? When you give some reasonable value to the time you spend setting-up and operating your reloading press, it is hard to beat factory ammo at around $10 per 50-count box (i.e. $0.20/round). While once-fired 9mm brass is plentiful (and cheap), you can easily spend 14-15 cents per round just on bullet, powder, and primer*. So reloading may only save you 5-6 cents per round. Hence if you load 200 rounds per hour (including set-up time), you only recoup $10 to $12 per hour (at best) for all your effort. You may decide, as I did, that my time was worth more than that.
Great Deals on 9mm Luger (9x19mm) Factory Ammunition
* Typical 9mm component costs easily approach fifteen cents per round even with free brass: Bullet ($0.08 – $0.10), Powder ($0.02), and Primer ($0.035). If you value your time, it may not be worth reloading 9mm Luger.
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It’s a buyer’s market these days for polymer-framed handguns. There was a time you’d have to pay close to $600 for a Glock 17. Now you can choose from a variety of excellent 9mm pistols all under $400.00, and some under $300.00. While the Glock has legendary reliability, some of these Top Five Budget-Priced Pistols have better ergonomics, better controls, and better sights. Here are our Top Five 9mm Pistols under $350.00. We selected these based on a variety of factors, including quality, reliability, shootability, and value. Speaking of value, four of these five are under $300!
Should you pay more for a pistol? That’s debatable. We’ve owned Glocks, Sigs, Steyrs, and HKs some of which cost over $800.00 new. We love our metal-framed Sigs, but among polymer-frame guns, we think any of these five will give the more expensive guns a run for their money. The Walther Creed, for example, is basically a “no-frills” version of the Walther PPQ which has a $649.00 MSRP.
Here are our Top Five, Value-Priced (Under $350) Full-Size 9mm Pistols, listed in order of price, low to high:
1. Walther Creed, $269.99 (CDNN Sports)
The Walther Creed offers excellent ergonomics, good accuracy, and well-designed controls at a killer price — $269.99 at CDNN Sports. This gun, designed to be a value-leader, emulates Walther’s more expensive PPQ model (MSRP $649.00) at a much lower price. The Creed’s frame size and shape is the same as the PPQ, but the Creed lacks interchangeable backstraps. Slide and trigger are very similar. The Creed features a snag-free bobbed hammer. Testers have praised the new Creed, some calling it the “best value on the market”. Here is a recent video review. The tester gave the Creed high marks, saying that it “sacrifices little to nothing in… ergonomics, accuracy, and reliability.”
2. Remington RP9, $269.99 (CDNN Sports)
Here’s a great deal on a modern, full-size 9mm pistol. The striker-fired Remington RP9 is similar to Smith & Wesson’s popular M&P9, but we prefer the Remington’s grip, and the RP9 is considerably less expensive. The RP9 comes with three (3) grip inserts and two (2) 18-round magazines. CDNN’s sale price is $269.99. That’s a heck of a bargain for a nicely-designed, American-made pistol. We’ve shot this Remington RP9 pistol and definitely prefer its ergonomics/controls over those of the 9mm Glock 17.
The Canik TP9 SA has been on the market for a couple years now and has really started to find favor, even among Glock fans. This striker-fired pistol has a decent trigger, and for many shooter the frame is more comfortable than the Glock. The Canik ships with polymer holster, interchangeable backstraps, and is backed by a lifetime warranty through Century Arms. If you are not familiar with this pistol, watch a few YouTube reviews. This gun has earned good marks from most testers, many of whom say it’s a better gun than the Glock, for hundreds less. For example in a head-to-head comparison test with the Glock 17, Reload Hawaii declared: “Fit and finish is fine, reliability is great, accuracy is great [plus] you get more stuff with it — I give the edge to the Canik”. Here’s a pretty throrough review including a torture test. The reviewer gave the Canik “two thumbs up”.
4. Kahr CT9 SS, $299.99 (CDNN)
This pistol is an excellent carry gun. Some might call it a “mid-sized” pistol, as it is only 6.5″ overall. The gun is thin and the controls are well recessed so this Kahr is great for discrete carry — it “prints” less than most of the other guns featured here. The striker-fired Kahr has a nice trigger pull. Take-up is pretty long, but the engagement is smooth without the hitches/spikes you feel on a Glock trigger pull. Many shooters find they can shoot the Kahr more accurately that a similar-sized Glock due to the smoother trigger. Shown above is the Kahr CT9 Night Sight version with stainless steel slide. We like the contrasting slide, but this gun is also available with a black Cerakote slide. The Kahr CT9 is on sale now at CDNN Sports for just $299.99.
5. S&W M&P 9mm, $399.99/$324.99 after Rebate (DeGuns.Net)
Just to be honest, the price of this gun is $399.99 but a current S&W rebate can drop the net cost to $324.99. That’s a great deal on a very reliable, accurate full-size 9x19mm pistol — the Smith & Wesson M&P 9mm 2.0. The M&P is a quality gun with good ergonomics. It has been selected by many LEO organizations as their duty pistol. Right now this 9mm pistol is on sale for $399.99. To sweeten the deal, this handgun qualifies for a Smith & Wesson Rebate — either $75.00 or $180 worth of ammo, mags, and mag-loader. Act soon — the Smith & Wesson Rebate offer expires September 30, 2017.
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The Sig Sauer P226 Elite is one of our favorite 9x19mm pistols. Now you can feed your Sig, Glock, HK, or Ruger on the cheap. Monmouth Reloading is offering 6000 9mm cases for just $135.60.
Here’s just what you need for the Zombie Apocalypse, or, for those less doomsday-minded, here’s enough brass to let you shoot 100 rounds a week for an entire year. Monmouth Reloading is offering 6000 once-fired 9mm cases for just $135.60. That’s just two cents per case! (You can also get 3000 cases for $68.99.) CLICK HERE to order.
Just about everyone has a 9mm pistol. With modest recoil, and inexpensive ammo, the 9mm Luger (aka 9x19mm) is probably the most popular centerfire handgun cartridge. Now you can get six thousand (6,000) once-fired 9mm cartridge cases for just $135.60, with free cleaning (a $15.00 value). Find a friend with a Dillon 650 and you could load up enough to last a decade.
Lesser Quantities of 9mm Brass at Great Prices Also
If you don’t don’t really need 6000 pieces of 9mm brass, you can also get 3000 for $68.99, or 1000 for just $23.50. Whatever quantity you choose, that’s a serious bargain. Like the larger quantities, Monmouth is offering free tumble cleaning in corn/walnut media for a limited time. ORDER HERE.
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Pistol Ammo Hard to Find
