Skip to main content

Federal Punch Defensive Handgun Ammo — New for 2020

Federal Ammunition introduces Punch: it's newest defensive handgun option for personal defenders.

Federal Punch Defensive Handgun Ammo — New for 2020

Federal Ammunition’s new Punch defensive handgun ammo draws from the company's decades of experience designing defensive handgun loads. The bullet’s skived jacket and soft lead core produce great expansion and penetration, while its nickel-plated brass and sealed primer deliver the reliable feeding and ignition needed for powerful personal protection. Now available in the top five, most popular, self-defense chamberings on the market. Shipments of this product have begun to arrive at dealers.

“Simply put, we know more about making duty and defensive bullets than anyone,” Federal Handgun Ammunition Product Manager Chris Laack said. “We used that knowledge and experience to create a product to specifically meet the needs of self-defense with a handgun. The result of that hard work is Punch.”

Rather than developing a single bullet design for all five loads, the team at Federal evaluated each caliber individually and determined which bullet design and weight would work most effectively for each load. Since the bullets weren’t specifically designed to perform in FBI protocol testing, Laack and his team spent time tuning each Punch load to meet the needs of the self-defense shooter—namely reliable expansion and enough penetration.

Federal-Punch-Defensive-Ammo

“We looked at specifications from our Hydra-Shok Deep, HST and other bullet designs, and took what made sense for Punch,” said Laack. “We selected whatever elements worked best for each individual caliber. We then played with thickness of the jacket, skive depth, hollow point geometry and even differences in lead cores to build the recipe for Punch.”

The result is a blend of good overall performance from a Federal Premium bullet that was designed specifically for the most common self-defense applications such as an extra-heavy clothing test using ballistic gel.

“The fact that that we're launching Punch in the top five, most popular, self-defense chamberings on the market—all at once—makes a statement,” said Laack. “Typically, a new self-defense ammunition is launched in only one or two calibers then others are added later. But not Punch, we believe in it and know shooters looking for effective defensive ammunition with its specific features will love it.”

Also, in the build, Federal utilized nickel-plated cases, high quality powders, reliable primers with primer seal. Proven bullet profiles and geometry for reliable feeding.

Part No. / Description / MSRP

PD380P1 / 380 Auto 85-grain Punch JHP, 1,000 fps, 20-count / $15.99
PD38P1 / 38 Special +P, 120 grain Punch JHP, 1,070 fps, 20-count / $19.99
PD9P1 / 9mm Luger, 124 grain Punch JHP, 1,150 fps, 20-count / $15.99
PD40P1 / 40 S&W, 165 grain Punch JHP, 1,130 fps, 20-count / $21.99



Current Magazine Cover

Enjoy articles like this?

Subscribe to the magazine.

Get access to everything Guns & Ammo has to offer.
Subscribe to the Magazine

GET THE NEWSLETTER Join the List and Never Miss a Thing.

Recommended Articles

Recent Videos

Following the 2025 NSSF SHOT Show in Las Vegas, Guns & Ammo's editors reflect on reports from the Range Day, after-dark ...
Handguns

May '25 Issue of Guns & Ammo Magazine

Following the 2025 NSSF SHOT Show in Las Vegas, Guns & Ammo's editors reflect on reports from the Range Day, after-dark ...
Optics

Pulsar Thermal Technology - James Sellers, CEO of Sellmark Corp.

Following the 2025 NSSF SHOT Show in Las Vegas, Guns & Ammo's editors reflect on reports from the Range Day, after-dark ...
Rifles

Building The Legend: Gunmaker D'Arcy Echols

Following the 2025 NSSF SHOT Show in Las Vegas, Guns & Ammo's editors reflect on reports from the Range Day, after-dark ...
Suppressors

SILENCER CENTRAL - BANISH 9K

Following the 2025 NSSF SHOT Show in Las Vegas, Guns & Ammo's editors reflect on reports from the Range Day, after-dark ...
Industry

Guns & Ammo Buzz: The April '25 issue of Guns & Ammo Magazine

Following the 2025 NSSF SHOT Show in Las Vegas, Guns & Ammo's editors reflect on reports from the Range Day, after-dark ...
Handguns

Guns & Ammo Buzz: Hamilton Bowen - Revolver Master

Following the 2025 NSSF SHOT Show in Las Vegas, Guns & Ammo's editors reflect on reports from the Range Day, after-dark ...
Suppressors

2024 Guns & Ammo Suppressor of the Year Award: Silencer Central Banish Speed K

Following the 2025 NSSF SHOT Show in Las Vegas, Guns & Ammo's editors reflect on reports from the Range Day, after-dark ...
Suppressors

Silencer Central Banish 9K

Following the 2025 NSSF SHOT Show in Las Vegas, Guns & Ammo's editors reflect on reports from the Range Day, after-dark ...
Shotguns

Dickinson Plantation SxS Shotguns

Following the 2025 NSSF SHOT Show in Las Vegas, Guns & Ammo's editors reflect on reports from the Range Day, after-dark ...
Videos - News - 2nd Amendment

Guns & Ammo Buzz: Handguns for those Under 21?

Following the 2025 NSSF SHOT Show in Las Vegas, Guns & Ammo's editors reflect on reports from the Range Day, after-dark ...
Other

Guns & Ammo Buzz: Introducing Keith Wood

Following the 2025 NSSF SHOT Show in Las Vegas, Guns & Ammo's editors reflect on reports from the Range Day, after-dark ...
Industry

Guns & Ammo Buzz: BEST OF THE 2025 SHOT SHOW

Guns and Ammo Magazine Covers Print and Tablet Versions

GET THE MAGAZINE Subscribe & Save

Digital Now Included!

SUBSCRIBE NOW

Give a Gift   |   Subscriber Services

PREVIEW THIS MONTH'S ISSUE

Buy Digital Single Issues

Magazine App Logo

Don't miss an issue.
Buy single digital issue for your phone or tablet.

Get the Guns & Ammo App apple store google play store

Other Magazines

See All Other Magazines

Special Interest Magazines

See All Special Interest Magazines

GET THE NEWSLETTER Join the List and Never Miss a Thing.

Get the top Guns & Ammo stories delivered right to your inbox every week.

Phone Icon

Get Digital Access.

All Guns and Ammo subscribers now have digital access to their magazine content. This means you have the option to read your magazine on most popular phones and tablets.

To get started, click the link below to visit mymagnow.com and learn how to access your digital magazine.

Get Digital Access

Not a Subscriber?
Subscribe Now

Enjoying What You're Reading?

Get a Full Year
of Guns & Ammo
& Digital Access.

Offer only for new subscribers.

Subscribe Now

Never Miss a Thing.

Get the Newsletter

Get the top Guns & Ammo stories delivered right to your inbox every week.

By signing up, I acknowledge that my email address is valid, and have read and accept the Terms of Use