advantages of FMJ over HP?

[Alan Fud]

When encountering a dangerous animal such as a rabit dog, wolf, coyote, etc.; would FMJ's be a better choice instead of HP's or are HP's still the way to go?

[Croyance]

I have no idea, but if a hollow point does well in those FBI tests, I imagine it would be fine on a small to medium sized animal. Is their skin and fur more likely to clog the hollowpoint than clothing on a person? If so, don't you have the equivalent to a FMJ? And is the shoulderblade or rib of a dog tougher than a humans?

Good question. Now you got me curious.

"Rabid" not "Rabit" or perhaps it is "rabbit"

[Alan Fud]

Oops http://www.thehighroad.org/images/icons/icon11.gif I meant 'rabid'. Thanks for the catch.

[sm]

I'm guessing you are asking in regard to what load for a CCW gun in the event a rabid critter / serious situation is encountered?

I'm one that subscribes to using one's CCW in various ways to test perfomance of firearm, platform, caliber and ammo.

So sharing my experience and all...

-Reliability is #1 - without it, it makes no difference.
-POA/POI - important to know where the durn thing is gonna go
-Shot placement is the key
-Matter of caliber moreso than bullet design.
-Type of critter. Size of critter. Physical and structural features of critter. Thick/thin hide. Boney/muscular...etc.
[Use Enough Gun]

I have with success used. Just a few examples...

Model 64 3" RB HB with 125 Win STHP to put down 20# to 60+# rabid dogs, raccoons, and similar.

Model 10 [ snubbies, and 4" bbl] with 148 gr target wadcutters to put down raccoons and skunks. Handgun Hunted for rabbbits , Jack and Swamp variety.

1911s , Full and commander size used 230 gr hardball , 200 gr SWC, 185 gr Win STHP, 230 gr JHP, of various makers/ shapes/ gr ...etc to take small critters to deer. I happen to like to handgun hunt with a 1911. A stock CCW 1911 that is.

To see if I could , I can and did use a Keltec P-11 with 115 gr STHP take groundhogs, rabid raccons. The same critters fell to Win USA 115 JHP and 115 gr FMJ. Federal Classic FMJ And JHP used also.

So over the years from 22lr to .454, from High Standard Sentienls, BHPs, 1911s, Name any old S&W wheel gun from model 36 , on up...well yo uget the idea, I've used a handgun on purpose to hunt some critters.

Granted .480 Ruger and .454 from a Taurus are a bit much on rabid skunks and raccoons...used the tool that was in hand is all I can say.
:)

[Alan Fud]

Thanks for the insight. I recently moved out into the country and while the only thing that I've seen around the house (actually around the property ... didn't really get too near the house) was a fox and a coyote (not together, of course) but some of my neighbors who have lived here longer have told me that they've seen wolves and even bear on their porch.

Consequentially, I was just thinking about maybe adding some FMJ rounds into my CCW (I normally carry either a 9mm, .40S&W or .45ACP ... depending on the weather, what I'm wearing, what I'm gonna be doing, etc.). Obviously I wouldn't go after one of them with only my CCW but if that's all that I had with me at the moment, I was wondering if FMJ's would be a better option over HP's.

Again, thanks for your reply.

[sm]

I thought I recalled you sharing you had moved out the country. I figured your question was in regard to what to do if critter gets a bit too - close for comfort.:)

I feel reliability of ammo in a gun + shot placement is the key.
Like the man said after the shooting stops - hopefully ending well for the good guy- all that debatable stuff never entered your brain and most folks won't ask or remember in 5 min if they did.

I was going to look up something, I had it tabbed - I thought.

Search for our own Stephen Camp and see his website and tests on animals. He is a super nice fella, great site, and heckuva shooter. He has taken deer with 9mm and 45ACP. I'm sure you have read his reviews - great reviews where he details loads , guns and gives the loads used for critters.

Me, last critter I shot with a 45ACP out of a 1911 was a big old raccoon, rabid and at night. I used Fiocchi 230 FMJ ...umm I wanted to see how it did, as I had 4 boxes of the stuff. I only had two mags of my carry load. So I was a cheapskate while out of town.

How do you like that for choosing loads? "Cheapskate And Out Of Town".

Cup of coffee says some flowered shirted gun writer will use that for a title for an article...LOL

I heard the racket , then the phone rings ,< my hosts' -widow neighbor woman calls , I answer> "that rabid coon is back in the trash can at the end of my garden"

I drop carry mag, rack slide, remove chamberd round, insert Fiocchi FMJ mag, walk out like I own the place with a single light behind me and one from her yard. I had a ASP Sapphire light on keyring...but I didn't use it. Just the ambient light and what light from the moon. Clouds passing so moon faded in and out.

I wanted to see what I could do as far as shooting and reaction stuff... Learning dealie...anyway...Racoon starts lumbering toward me like he is gonna kick my butt, ~10 yds I draw, fire one shot , down...<insert "Rocky Racoon" by Beatles here>.

Now this is midnight, 4 houses in an area that share a small lake...no I don't use nightsights, don't own them. Lights come up all around, my host finally comes out ...I'm looking at "Rocky" and he ain't moving. But Ruark always said to shoot again, so I did.

Well the folks all call each other...oh the gunshot was no big deal...out in the middle of nowhere folks are different. They were just happy "Rocky" was down and they didn't have to worry kids and pets.

I generally like to keep mags of FMJ handy. If all of a sudden "poof" all I had was hardball in 45ACP...life would continue...we survived before.

If with someone with a 1911 and I don't know their gun.."most" times the FMJ will run...if need to use my ammo ...

Read Mr. Camp's works. Great Information.

[stans]

For any defensive situation against any critter, two legged or four legged, I would take a 100% reliable FMJ round over a HP that was not a reliable feeder. Ammo reliability is number one in a defensive gun and a rapidly expanding hollowpoint is not likely to make up for poor shot placement. I am not too sure I would want a rapidly expanding bullet if confronted by a big animal. There is something to be said for penetration. A bullet that explodes in the outer layer of muscle and skin is not going to stop an animal as quickly as a bullet that penetrates the chest cavity, perforates the heart and lung, maybe takes out a chunk of liver, and bangs through the spinal cord.

[jc2]

Dropped a number four-legged varmints from coons to coyotes to feral dogs with .45 ACP FMJ. Haven't had quite as good of results with solid hard cast bullets (the revolver equivalent more or less) from .38 Specials or mid-velocity .357s (roughly equivalent 9mm FMJ). Frankly, I'd stick to the .45 with FMJ--it just seems to work better than its smaller brethren (at least for me).