Your weekly digest of ammunition reviews, reloading gear, and ammo legislation from The Truth About Guns.
Reviews & Field Tests
Liberty Ammunition’s 9mm Overwatch Load: 72-Grain Bullet, Max Velocity
March 3, 2026 · By Mike Hardesty
Liberty Ammunition’s Overwatch 9mm takes the light-and-fast philosophy to an extreme: a 72-grain machined copper bullet pushed to velocities that leave conventional defensive loads well behind. TTAG’s Mike Hardesty put it through its paces, testing accuracy, penetration, and real-world defensive performance. The review digs into the two competing schools of thought on defensive ammo design—heavy-and-slow vs. light-and-fast—and where the Overwatch fits in. Liberty, based in Bradenton, Florida, holds 15 patents and supplies a 5.56mm armor-piercing load to the military, so they know a thing or two about terminal performance.
What 9mm Ammo Does the FBI Use — And Why It Matters to You
March 1, 2026 · By Scott Witner
The FBI’s current issued duty load is widely reported to be the Hornady Critical Duty 9mm +P 135gr FlexLock—but Scott Witner argues that’s just the headline. The real story is the rigorous testing protocol the Bureau developed after the catastrophic 1986 Miami shootout, which exposed projectile performance—not caliber—as the critical variable in officer survival. The FBI’s six-event barrier test (clothing, steel, drywall, plywood, auto glass, and bare gel) remains the gold standard for duty ammo evaluation today, and the 12–18 inch penetration window it demands explains why modern 9mm hollow points have made the caliber debates of the 1980s largely obsolete. Required reading for anyone serious about defensive ammunition selection.
Reloading
Frankford Arsenal’s X-10 Proves They’re Serious About Reloading
March 2, 2026 · By Mike Hardesty
Frankford Arsenal may not be the first name that comes to mind when you think of reloading equipment, but their lineup is deeper than most shooters realize. Mike Hardesty takes a deep look at the X-10, the brand’s 10-stage progressive press—one of only a handful on the market—alongside FA’s vibratory tumbler/media separator kit and Vibra Prime hand primer. FA also offers co-axial and single-stage presses, a turret press, powder measures, digital scales, case prep tools, and more, all backed by a limited lifetime warranty. For high-volume reloaders looking beyond the usual suspects, Frankford Arsenal is worth a serious look.
Legislation & Policy
Democrats Reintroduce Bill To Require Background Checks For Ammo Purchases
February 26, 2026 · By Mark Chesnut
Sen. Richard Blumenthal (D-CT) and Rep. Debbie Wasserman Schultz (D-FL) have reintroduced Jaime’s Law, which would require buyers to pass an FBI NICS background check before every ammunition purchase. Supporters frame it as closing a loophole; critics point out that, like firearm background checks, it would burden only law-abiding citizens—not criminals who obtain ammunition through illegal channels. The bill has been introduced in previous sessions without advancing, and with the current congressional makeup it faces long odds, but gun owners should keep an eye on it.
That’s your ammo digest for the week. Keep checking TTAG for ongoing reviews, reloading guides, and coverage of any ammo-related legislation moving through Congress or state legislatures.
