Selecting the Best Home Defense Ammunition: A Complete Guide

Selecting the Best Home Defense Ammunition: A Complete Guide

Posted by Liberty Tactical Munitions - Protect What Matters Most on Jan 26th 2026

Selecting ammunition for home defense is fundamentally different from choosing ammo for target shooting. The bullet characteristics need to be different because the desired outcome is different. Your defensive ammunition must stop a threat quickly while minimizing the risk to innocent bystanders and family members behind walls. 

The FBI's Performance Standards

The Federal Bureau of Investigation has established rigorous testing protocols for defensive ammunition. The FBI looks for penetration between 12 and 18 inches in ballistic gelatin, with expansion to the largest diameter possible. These standards ensure the ammunition can penetrate clothing and reach vital organs while minimizing the risk of over-penetration. 

The FBI testing protocol includes penetration tests through bare ballistic gelatin, heavy denim, steel, wallboard, plywood, and safety glass. Ammunition that performs well across all these barriers offers the best real-world performance. 

Key Factors in Defensive Ammunition Selection 

  1. Reliable Expansion: Quality hollow points must expand consistently. Some lower-quality hollow points expand inconsistently or not at all, making them only marginally better than ball ammunition. Invest in proven, quality brands. 
  1. Adequate Penetration: The bullet must penetrate deeply enough to reach vital organs (12-18 inches in ballistic gel). Too little penetration means ineffective stopping power. 
  1. Reduced Over-Penetration: Unlike target ammo, defensive ammo should ideally stop within the target, transferring all energy to the threat rather than passing through and potentially hitting someone behind. 
  1. Reliable Feeding: The ammunition must cycle reliably in your specific firearm. Always test your chosen defensive ammo (50-200 rounds) in your defensive firearm before relying on it. 

Top Recommended Home Defense Ammunition 

Federal Premium HST: Trusted by law enforcement agencies nationwide. Features non-bonded hollow point bullets with deeply skived jackets for consistent, rapid expansion. Demonstrated resistance to plugging when passing through fabric barriers. Available in 115gr, 124gr, and 147gr options. 

Speer Gold Dot: Used by over 3,000 law enforcement agencies. Features UniCore bonded construction that prevents core-jacket separation. The Gold Dot Short Barrel variant is optimized for compact carry guns with reliable expansion at reduced velocities. 

Hornady Critical Defense: Features the patented FTX bullet with a polymer tip that initiates expansion and prevents clogging when passing through fabric. Lower recoil than some competitors, making it easier to shoot accurately. 

Hornady Critical Duty: Designed for law enforcement use with optimized barrier penetration. FlexLock bullet uses a polymer tip and InterLock band to ensure consistent expansion through barriers. 

Testing Your Defensive Ammunition

Before trusting any ammunition for home defense: Fire 100-200 rounds through your defensive firearm to verify reliable feeding. Check point of aim vs. point of impact at various distances (7, 10, 15, and 25 yards). Confirm the ammunition cycles reliably with all magazines you intend to use. Replace your loaded defensive ammunition annually by shooting it at the range and loading fresh rounds. 

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