Over the past year there has been a large influx of new gun owners with a lot of questions about their new firearm and ammunition (lately, the lack of it.) And, let’s face it, if you are new to firearms, the different ammo choices can be really confusing. The past year saw new gun owners enter the market as never before. Over 8 million (and counting) new firearms owners! That increase in new gun owners created the greatest demand levels the shooting sports industry has ever faced. Picking the right ammo for your new firearm is critically important.
One frequently asked question I seem to get the most at the MUDDY BAY® ARMORY goes something like this: “What is the difference between hollow point and full metal jacket for home defense and why do I need those more expensive home defense rounds?”
Well, here goes …
Nothing will make up for shooting skill, so practice.
No matter what, you need to spend time at the range getting familiar with your firearms. You have all heard it, “Practice makes perfect.” There is also a familiar saying for firearm ammunition: hollow points for your carry/home defense guns and full-metal jacket (FMJ) rounds for practice. Why? Here’s the skinny on the difference.
What is Full Metal Jacket?
A Full Metal Jacket (FMJ) is a bullet that has a soft core, usually with lead, and is encased in a harder alloy metal such as cupronickel or gilding metal. The purpose of these rounds is to hold their trajectory, and they have greater penetration against soft tissue. These rounds are ideal for target shooting since they do not expand much when hitting their target. The down side to FMJ in self defense is the risk of unintended impact further down the range. Penetration could hit an innocent bystander in a parking lot or penetrate through a wall, hitting a loved one in the middle of the night. You can use FMJ ammo for self defense but you must remember the golden rule: know what’s between you and your intended target – and what’s beyond your target (i.e., down range.)
What is a hollow point round?
A Hollow point round is an expanding bullet that has a pit or hollowed out tip. These rounds are preferred by hunters and in self defense situation because they expand upon impact. When hollow point bullets hit the target, the hollow tip allows the bullet to deform (making it look more like a mushroom), slowing the bullet, and giving more stopping power. It also causes more catastrophic damage to your intended target. Hollow points are a more expensive round than FMJ, but overall are a better self defense round.
Most NATO militaries use only FMJ rounds. This is due to an international treaty that was signed many years ago that forbids the use of expanding rounds. However, the USA never ratified that section of the treaty, and the US Army just recently adopted hollow point ammo along with the new Sig Sauer® M17 pistol.
The Takeaway:
Hollow point bullets are a more expensive round and best used for self defense situations, and loaded in your Every Day Carry (EDC) defense weapon. They are also best as your home defense weapon.
Full Metal Jacket (FMJ) rounds are best used for range shooting since they are much less expensive. Because you can buy more of it, you can train more often with it, and that’s important.
The Bottom Line:
It’s okay to shoot your target ammo, but generally not a widely accepted practice to carry it in a concealed carry gun. Comparatively, while you don’t want to just buy boxes of expensive hollow point ammo to shoot at the range, you do need to make sure your EDC (everyday carry) gun cycles it properly, without malfunction.
I hope this helps. And, as always, if we can ever any any questions, give me a call.
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