TESTED: Fiocchi’s New CovertX CCW Ammunition

Our evaluator puts Fiocchi’s all-new CovertX handgun ammo, developed specifically for concealed carry handguns, through a battery of accuracy, penetration, and expansion testing. The results…good to go!

by Bob Campbell

By necessity and by common sense, our standards must be high regarding personal defense ammunition. Absolute reliability comes first. No perceived advantage in wound ballistics is worth compromising reliability. Most handguns feed and function in a certain range of velocity with the total power factor of velocity and bullet weight producing the proper function. A full powder burn is important. The less unburned powder burning outside the barrel the less muzzle flash and blast. This full powder burn results in reduced powder ash in the action.

An important part of the whole picture is accuracy. I probably demand greater accuracy than most shooters. That said, I have never been disappointed by Fiocchi pistol ammunition in terms of external ballistics. Fiocchi has addressed the need for greater wound potential in some situations with a new product.

Fiocchi’s CovertX defensive ammunition meets my criteria for reliability, function, a full powder burn, and accuracy. This is the primary lookout in service grade ammunition. But there is more to the story, and that is wound ballistics. I could never recommend a defense load I have not personally tested, and the following is a personal test of the Fiocchi CovertX.

For some time, Fiocchi has manufactured several lines of ammunition using outsourced bullets. The Fiocchi Extrema loading using the Hornady XTP bullet has always done well in my personal testing. Accuracy is match-grade. That isn’t an idle boast but based on thousands of rounds of Fiocchi ammunition expended over the previous decade. There are standouts, and I have my favorites. Now, Fiocchi has taken the step of developing their own defensive bullet. The new loadings are named CovertX. These loads are oriented more toward personal defense than service use.

Fiocchi Says…

Let’s look at Fiocchi’s recent press release:

Fiocchi, a global leader in premium ammunition for defense, sport shooting, and hunting, is proud to announce the launch of CovertX—a groundbreaking new ammunition series tailored for concealed carry practitioners and defense professionals. This revolutionary product raises the bar in performance, reliability, and innovation.

Building on nearly 150 years of ammunition expertise and a reputation for delivering the highest quality of products, Fiocchi engineered CovertX to meet the unique demands of modern CCW users. Designed from the ground up, CovertX offers unmatched terminal performance by optimizing bullet design and powder selection for compact and micro-compact handguns, without sacrificing the power of full-sized platforms.

At the heart of CovertX is an advanced proprietary bullet—a precision-engineered jacketed hollow point (JHP) featuring a lead-alloy core with pre-cut serrations. This innovative design ensures reliable, uniform expansion upon impact, maintaining devastating energy transfer and deep penetration for life-saving performance. Its copper jacket is meticulously tuned for controlled expansion across a wide velocity range, providing dependable stopping power in critical moments.

Fiocchi didn’t stop with just the bullet. Extensive research and testing led to the development of unique powder formulations for each caliber. The result? Reduced muzzle flip, low flash signature, and a softer shooting experience that allows for faster, more accurate follow-up shots—ideal for CCW users who rely on smaller handguns in high-pressure scenarios.

Recognizing the challenges of daily carry, Fiocchi equipped CovertX with nickel-plated brass cases. These high-performance casings resist corrosion and ensure seamless feeding and extraction, even in environments filled with dust, lint, or moisture. This attention to detail guarantees reliability when it matters most.

The new Fiocchi CovertX ammunition comes in 20-round boxes or 10 boxes per case. Available loads include:

• .380 Auto: 95-gr. JHP, 1025 fps
• 9mm Luger: 124-gr. JHP, 1115 fps
• .45 ACP: 230-gr. JHP, 875 fps
• .38 Spc. +P: 125-gr. JHP, 1200 fps
• .357 Magnum: 125-gr. JHP, 1425 fps

Overview

Compared to Fiocchi’s Extrema loads, the CovertX is geared more toward expansion reliability in compact handguns. This is sometimes referred to as earlier energy release. Barrier penetration isn’t a consideration in personal defense loads versus service loads. I was able to obtain a supply of the first run of CovertX and give the loads a thorough test. The first test was for function. I carefully loaded each magazine, loading two to three rounds, tapping the back of the magazine to seat the cartridges, and continuing. I used several handguns in this test — typical service grade handguns and top-quality pistols to evaluate performance. Here are the handguns involved in combat shooting and reliability testing:

• .380 ACP – Glock 42
• 9mm Luger – Glock 19, SIG P365, Glock 49
• .38 Special – Manuhrin MR 88 (4-in. barrel), S&W 640 Pro (2.25-in. barrel)
• .357 Magnum – S&W M686 Plus (3-in. barrel)
• .45 ACP – Les Bear Premier (5-in. barrel), Dan Wesson Specialist (4.25-in.)

In some calibers, both lightweight and standard weight pistols were used for a balance of testing.

Recoil is an important consideration. There is little point in moving to +P velocity if control and rapid follow-up shots are compromised. The single most important component of personal defense is shot placement.

In wound ballistics, a balance of expansion and penetration is important. The adversary may be heavily clad in covering garments or have the arms outstretched, holding a firearm. The projectile must penetrate heavy bones to reach blood-bearing organs. Only blood loss causes incapacitation. As I mentioned, without reliability you have nothing.

During the test program, there were no failures to feed, chamber, fire, or eject. The recoil impulse was not unpleasant in lightweight handguns and proved especially pleasant in the full-size handguns. I fired two magazines of the new Rattlesnake Tactical 34-round magazine in the Glock 19 and Glock 49 with excellent function. I also fired a modest quantity of the CovertX 9mm in a 9mm carbine with good results. Feed reliability was never an issue.

Accuracy Testing

Next was accuracy testing. Accuracy is relative according to the handgun. The sights and trigger action have much bearing on these results. Naturally, full-size handguns perform better in most respects but carry guns present a compromise. All the handguns tested are part of my carry rotation and geared toward specific roles in the scheme of things. One may be a backup or hideout, the other may be a field gun for defense against animals. All are proven. I have a good understanding of what each is capable of. Fiocchi loads provided good accuracy. Recoil increased when firing from a rest, but was moderate. Muzzle blast and flash are limited.

Here are the accuracy results — an average of two five-shot groups. I broadened the test with additional firearms compared to the off-hand combat shooting testing. All shots were fired from a bench rest, 25 yards distance.

• .380 ACP: Bersa Combat, 3.7-in. avg.; Glock 42, 4.5-in. avg.
• 9mm Luger: SIG P228, 1.75-in. avg.; Glock 49, 2.5-in. avg.; SIG P365 Eclipse, 3.25-in. avg.
• .38 Special: Manuhrin MR 88, 1.25-in. avg.; S&W 686 Plus, 2.5-in. avg.
• .357 Magnum: S&W 686 Plus, 2.0-in. avg.
• .45 ACP: Les Baer, 1.5-in. avg.; Dan Wesson, 1.6-in. avg.

Clearly, accuracy is more than adequate for personal defense. The nickel-plated cases feed smoothly and there is no hesitation in the feed cycle. While combat shooting at 10 yards is more important in personal defense than 25-yard shooting, I am an accuracy bug, I suppose. Accuracy testing tells us a lot about the quality of manufacture. The standard deviation — the difference in velocity between shots — is also quite low.

Penetration Testing

With feed, function, and accuracy potential squared away, the next step was wound ballistics evaluation. I ordered a quantity of Clear Ballistics gelatin for the tests. Clear Ballistics offers a verifiable and repeatable method for evaluating penetration and expansion performance. Anyone testing ammunition from Oregon to Florida may compare results with confidence they have used the same combination. Another advantage is that gelatin offers the ability to observe the wound channeling and to take measurements or record results with photographs. Gel blocks were shot at five feet, allowing optimal shot placement. Penetration and expansion were measured.

• .380 ACP: 10.5 inches penetration; .52 expansion
• 9mm Luger: 14.0 inches penetration; .64 expansion
• .38 Special: 13.0 inches penetration; .62 expansion
• .357 Magnum: 14.0 inches penetration; .68 expansion
• .45 ACP: 16.0 inches penetration; .75 penetration

Expansion

It is interesting to note the spiral wound cavity as the expanding bullet whips through gelatin. Expansion begins and seems to top out in the first few inches, as it should. While the 9mm and .38 appear similar in performance, the higher velocity 9mm created a more extensive wound cavity. It should be noted that the .380 ACP maintains good penetration while achieving expansion. This loading makes the most of a minor caliber.

All Covert X loads opened quickly. The actual maximum expansion before the expanded “petals” of the mushroom peel back is larger than the final expanded diameter, that much is certain. The .45 ACP loading is especially impressive. Fiocchi wisely chose standard weight projectiles rather than lightening the bullet for greater velocity. The standard weight loads are more likely to feed reliable in a wide range of handguns.

Conclusion

I am impressed with CovertX ammunition. Feed reliability is good. A full powder burn was exhibited even in short barrel handguns. Accuracy is more than adequate for personal defense. In the right gun, the ammunition is match-grade accurate and suitable for many types of competition. Wound ballistics are good. A balance of expansion and penetration is ideal for personal defense. CovertX expands well but also offers good penetration. Fiocchi CovertX has the balance needed for personal defense. The primary element of wound potential must always be shot placement. These loads feature good accuracy and control, and most of all cartridge integrity. They are going to be a popular loading and a top choice for many shooters.