FMJs vs. JHPs for defensive handgun use?

Vince

From my time in the Army, I learned that the reason the military use FMJ is for purely humane reasons (courtesy of the Geneva Convention)...they don't always cause nasty nasty wounds, or as Suz says, they just poke a hole in things on their way through.

When I carried a pistol doing security work in Sydney's western suburbs (the Vietnamese and Lebanese stronghold) I carried a couple of different loads of bullets. In the 4" 686 S&W I carried, the cylinder had 125gn JHP. I also carried two speed-loaders, one with 125gn JHP bullets and the other with 158gn FN. I also carried an 18 round "wallet" in my pocket with nine rounds of each 125gn JHP and 158gn FN. The backup pistol I was supplied with was a Bernadelli 9mm Short (.380). A totally useless pistol that was loaded with FMJ bullets.

One thing I do like about pistol hollow point bullets is the HP is not a simply "pin hole" in the tip...it is a hollow cavity, which lends itself to easier expansion at pistol velocities, although as DS pointed out, it can clog with some mediums.

I hoped that I would never have to make use of even a single round, but with the "less than scientific", but relevant, testing I did on various mediums, I knew that I could rely on both of these rounds to do the job if needed.

Like Single Shot, (if I was allowed to carry) I would have nothing smaller than a .40 for the same reasons he outlines...mass and diameter, well proven stoppers.

Bushmaster

185 grain Hornady XTP over 7.6 grains of WSF. Launched from a Kimber UCC II .45 ACP at 850 fps (+/- a few).

Guess this will give rise to a few more comments. Oh yeh. Jacketed hollow points. If there is a chance to expand. Great!! If it doesn't expand the .45 ACP makes a big hole anyway.

radar

The Police here use federal Hydrashok 9mm and most bad guys shot once with that are pretty well down and out with a center mass hit.
I know what I'd use if I was able to. Instead I got the 12G Buckshot option.

Pumpkinslinger

There were several on the other site that carried FMJs, the basic reasons being along the lines of "less likely to jam" and "it doesn't make any difference".

PaulS

There are two reasons for police to use hollow-points:
1. stopping power - which may be debatable.

2. it cuts down on ricochets.

Most of the police I shot with had a hard time keeping their rounds on a 2' x 2' target board at 25 yards. I don't get to shoot with the police here in Walla Walla because they use the range at the pen - no civilians allowed.

radar

Thats rat-shit shooting, Im shitty if I cant group fist size at 30M punching paper. I can get that down to tennis ball with the new acog sights on our M4s at 50M. We're even being taught to shoot on the move- not stopping just putting accurate rounds down range whilst moving, even then I haven't gone off center mass of aim point, sure they spread a bit but theyre all stoppers.

Elvis

rat shit alright I can beat that with buck shot!!!!

SingleShotLover

Whatever a person chooses to carry, we all need to be aware of the local and state laws. Some states (New Jersey for one) make it a felony to even possess hollow point ammunition.

Aloysius

SSL, in our country private persons are also not allowed to use HP in a handgun, but it is allowed in a rifle. So these lever action in handgun calibers can be healphy when you walk close to the line... Smile

Funny thing is that we are not allowed to use a FMJ for hunting, so when having a revolver and a lever action in the same caliber, we almost have to have both types of bullets (or go straight to the lead SWC and/or semi-jacketed with a lead nose.
And the use of bullets made of solid cupper or brass (as Barnes's) is still very misty and a lot will depend on your answers when you get control...
that's when you have so many rules that nobody knows them all anymore.

English Mike

I can shoot nice small groups with a 1911 off the bench but shooting off hand is a World different & if I can put all 8 shots from a magazine in the C zone of an IPSC target at 15yds I'm happy.
The only time I've carried defensively was on a mountainside covered in oak scrub & bear crap.
8 rounds of 230gr FMJ.
If it were intended for two footed predators, then hollow points all the way.

chambered221

I've always advocated for jhp's in the bigger is better theory....... but shot placement determines the outcome !!!

Anyone who argues in favor of fmj's because they're less likely to jam needs to spend more time finding the confidence they should have.