The Best Ammo for Glock 43x: Five Ideal 9mm Options for Your Glock Mags
Best ammo for Glock 43x explained by Ammo.com. Check out the top 5 recommended ammo for Glock 43x for concealed carry, EDC, target shooting, and plinking.
In this article, I will share my top 5 picks for the best 9mm ammo to feed your Glock 43X.
If you simply cannot wait, the best over 9mm ammo for your Glock 43X is CCI Blazer 115gr FMJ. Keep scrolling for the rest of the list.
The Best Ammo for Glock 43X On The Market in 2024
Best Glock 43x Ammo Overall: CCI Blazer 115 grain FMJ
Best 9mm For Self-Defense: Federal Premium HST 124 gr JHP
Best For Target Shooting: Winchester USA 115 gr FMJ
Best Subsonic Round: Hornady Custom 147 gr XTP JHP
Best Bulk Ammo: Prvi Partizan 124 grain FMJ
Glock 43X Ammo Testing Procedure
In order to provide accurate rankings, I spent several hours researching what worked best for Glock 43X owners. Then, I borrowed a buddy’s Glock 43X and ran several of the recommended rounds through it. Finally, I ranked the ammo based on several factors.
What was it designed for?
Reliability
Accuracy
Price
When buying ammo, it’s critical to understand its intended purpose. Target ammo will be less expensive and perform differently than self-defense ammo, so I kept this in mind while creating this list.
I want all my ammo to be reliable. I sure don’t like spending time at the range clearing jams, and I definitely don’t want a malfunction during a defensive situation.
Some days, my accuracy is just off, but I’ve also found that it can be the ammo, so I prefer to shoot the most accurate round I can afford, whether I’m at the range or carrying for self-defense.
The price of ammo isn’t my biggest concern unless I plan on unloading several hundred rounds at the range, but I still factor it in because it’s easier to convince my wife that I need more ammo when it’s less expensive.
Alright, enough chit-chat! Let’s get to ranking the best rounds for your Glock 43X.
CCI Blazer 115 grain FMJ - Best Ammo For Glock 43X Overall
Specs
Casing: Aluminum
Bullet Type: Full Metal Jacket (FMJ)
Bullet Weight: 115 grains
Muzzle Velocity: 1,145 fps
Muzzle Energy: 335 ft-lbs
Pros
Inexpensive
Great for the range
Reliable
Cons
Berdan primers and aluminum cases are unreloadable
FMJs are not good for personal defense
Why I Chose It
When you’re picking the best ammo for your Glock 43X, you want a round that is inexpensive to shoot, has low recoil, and goes “bang” every time you pull the trigger. While researching and testing I found CCI Blazer 115 grain FMJ ammo fits that bill.
I found the low recoil to be enjoyable to fire, and the low costs made it easier to convince my significant other that I could purchase more ammo without busting our budget. Blazer 115 grain FMJs make for excellent range ammo, so you won’t feel bad about blasting through more than one box at a time!
The only two downsides I found with CCI Blazer is that it uses aluminum cases and Berdan primers, which makes it undesirable for reloading. However, the cost of Blazer ammo is so low that most shooters (myself included) don’t even consider reloading it and view these rounds as a one-time-use ammo.
The other drawback is that FMJ bullets are a poor choice for self-defense because they are often prone to overpenetration, which endangers others nearby.
Overall, Blazer 9mm Luger 115 grain FMJ ammo is perfect for plinking and target practice, which is critical for maintaining your marksmanship skills for concealed carry.
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Federal Premium HST 124 gr JHP - Best Self-Defense Ammo for Glock 43X
Specs
Casing: Nickel-Plated Brass
Bullet Type: HST Jacketed Hollow Point (JHP)
Bullet Weight: 124 grains
Muzzle Velocity: 1,120 fps
Muzzle Energy: 345 ft-lbs
Pros
Proven for self-defense and law enforcement
Incredibly reliable
Excellent terminal ballistics
Cons
Expensive
Cases are not ideal for reloading
Why I Chose It
Picking the best self-defense ammo for a Glock 43X is a tall order, as there are so many good choices. However, I simply could not find a better option than the Federal HST 124 grain JHP ammo for a Glock 43X.
The HST jacketed hollow point provides exceptional terminal ballistics and effectively resists core/jacket separation to ensure deep penetration, even if it has to pierce heavy clothing, drywall, plywood, or two sheets of 20-gauge steel before reaching the threat.
It’s often carried by law enforcement officers and CCW permit holders and has a proven track record in FBI ballistic gel testing and on the streets.
I found this self-defense ammo to be extremely accurate from shot to shot, with a clean powder burn that makes cleanup a breeze.
As with most personal defense ammo, HSTs aren’t cheap by any stretch of the imagination. However, are you really going to worry about spending a few extra bucks on self-defense ammo should the worst happen? I think not.
Nickel-plated brass cases can be somewhat problematic for reloading. However, the smooth feeding, enhanced reliability, and corrosion resistance of the nickel plating provide more than make up for any cases you have to discard for reloading.
When it matters most, reach for what the pros use and load up your EDC Glock 43X with Federal 124 grain HST.
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Winchester USA 115 gr FMJ - Best Range Ammo for Target Shooting
Specs
Casing: Brass
Bullet Type: Full Metal Jacket (FMJ)
Bullet Weight: 115 grains
Muzzle Velocity: 1,190 fps
Muzzle Energy: 362 ft-lbs
Pros
Inexpensive and plentiful
Accurate
Reloadable
Cons
Less than ideal for self-defense
Why I Chose It
Ah, the classic Winchester white box ammo…I can almost remember the smell of the burnt powder from when I got my first Glock pistol oh so many years ago. Winchester has rebranded their classic range ammo into new packaging, but don’t kid yourself; this is the classic white box ammo many of us grew up shooting.
In multiple range trips, I found Winchester Target and Practice 115 gr FMJ to be an excellent choice for punching holes in paper targets. It’s inexpensive, accurate, clean-burning, and has low recoil, making it a perfect choice for your next trip to the shooting range.
The full metal jacket (FMJ) bullet is also exceptional at exploding cheap 2-liter soda bottles, popping tin cans off fence posts, and clanging steel targets with insanely boring regularity. However, it is a poor substitute for jacketed hollow points when it comes to self-defense.
When it comes to practicing with your CCW pistol, Winchester Target and Practice 115 grain FMJ ammo cannot be beaten for its accuracy, value, and reliability from a Glock 43X.
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Hornady Custom 147 gr XTP JHP - Best 9mm Subsonic Ammo for Glock 43X
Specs
Casing: Brass
Bullet Type: XTP Jacketed Hollow Point (JHP)
Bullet Weight: 147 grains
Muzzle Velocity: 975 fps
Muzzle Energy: 310 ft-lbs
Pros
Heavier bullet weight
Designed for subsonic velocities
Perfect for a suppressor
Cons
Arching trajectory
Why I Chose It
If you like running a suppressor on your Glock firearms, you’ll love Hornady Custom 147 gr XTP (eXtreme Terminal Performance) ammo.
Designed specifically by Hornady for suppressor use, their subsonic ammo checks all the boxes: clean shooting to keep your can healthy, extremely accurate, and designed to reciprocate semi-automatic slides while maintaining a subsonic muzzle velocity reliably.
The only downside I found to this subsonic ammo is its trajectory, as it cannot compete with its supersonic brethren. However, this is a small price to pay for the joy of shooting suppressed!
If you can get your hands on it, Hornady Custom 147 gr ammo is my go-to choice when you want Hollywood-levels of suppressed 9mm Luger shooting from your Glock 43X.
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