ZeSpectre
Member
Okay I admit it, I'd never even heard of "expanding full metal jacket" rounds (EFMJ) until last night.
Anybody use this stuff? What do you think?
Anybody use this stuff? What do you think?
EFMJ - Anybody use it?
- Thread starter ZeSpectre
- Start date
- Status
I have it loaded as my self defense rounds (9mm, 124 gr +p). I've shot several hundred rounds through all my guns and never had an issue with feeding. There's literature out there that comes down on both sides - pro and con. I did a little bit of testing myself and I was generally pleased with the results. I have some info on my website, here: http://home.comcast.net/~navy87guy/home/ballistics.html
I'd like to try some tests with a big ham and some old clothes - just to see how it does. Maybe with the leftovers from Christmas....
Jim
I'd like to try some tests with a big ham and some old clothes - just to see how it does. Maybe with the leftovers from Christmas....
Jim
ZeSpectre
Member
neat test, thanks for posting that link.
I'm assuming that was 9mm rounds?
I'm assuming that was 9mm rounds?
ArchAngelCD
Member.
From what I hear from friends who live in NJ they work ell enough for what they are. In states like NJ they really have no choice since the law prohibits them from carrying HP ammo.
MASTEROFMALICE
member
- Joined
- Aug 2, 2007
- Messages
- 711
I'm with Arch. When i go to NJ to visit family I carry either EFMJ or PowRBall
@ArchAngelCD
Actually NJ is (unsuprisingly) bi-polar on HP ammo.
You can buy it, you can own it and you can shoot it at a range. The statute appears mostly to be used for adding on to the charges if you are caught being naughty (in NJ's eyes).
Since the probability of a mere peon like ourselves ever being allowed a CCW in NJ is vanishingly small, effectively the only time this would really affect you would be if you were carrying open or concealed illegally.
If you used HP, in your home, for home defense, in theory the DA/Police could use this as a charge against you if they wanted to.
Quite silly in a way as "illegal-ish" HP's have been seen to fail quite miserably at expansion on a regular basis and the "legal" EFMJ are legal and more reliable at expansion. (Box O'Truth is a lovely place to see this)
Actually NJ is (unsuprisingly) bi-polar on HP ammo.
You can buy it, you can own it and you can shoot it at a range. The statute appears mostly to be used for adding on to the charges if you are caught being naughty (in NJ's eyes).
Since the probability of a mere peon like ourselves ever being allowed a CCW in NJ is vanishingly small, effectively the only time this would really affect you would be if you were carrying open or concealed illegally.
If you used HP, in your home, for home defense, in theory the DA/Police could use this as a charge against you if they wanted to.
Quite silly in a way as "illegal-ish" HP's have been seen to fail quite miserably at expansion on a regular basis and the "legal" EFMJ are legal and more reliable at expansion. (Box O'Truth is a lovely place to see this)
the naked prophet
Member
Everything I've read says they're more likely than most other traditional modern JHP to fail to expand. Anywhere from 1 in 2 to 1 in 4 can fail to expand, especially when going through clothing.
Because the bullet has a large lightweight front, a normal weight bullet takes up more room in the case, meaning it has less room for powder. That means the EFMJ is less powerful, like putting a 115 grain FMJ over a smaller powder charge meant for the 147. It's great for those who are recoil-sensitive, but they don't penetrate as much as they should either.
Bottom line is, they're better than FMJ if you can't carry (or you gun won't feed) a decent JHP, but if you can carry and shoot a JHP, you should.
Because the bullet has a large lightweight front, a normal weight bullet takes up more room in the case, meaning it has less room for powder. That means the EFMJ is less powerful, like putting a 115 grain FMJ over a smaller powder charge meant for the 147. It's great for those who are recoil-sensitive, but they don't penetrate as much as they should either.
Bottom line is, they're better than FMJ if you can't carry (or you gun won't feed) a decent JHP, but if you can carry and shoot a JHP, you should.
CoRoMo
Member
No shame, your thread just introduced me to this round and the Pow'RBall too. Never heard that there was such a round until now! I think these should help all my FTF problems with hollowpoints, and keep me from defending myself with FMJ rounds that feed flawlessly. Thanks!
I've been wondering what might fill the gap. Does anyone know how well the LRN rounds expand?
Are you guys familiar with the Barnes Triple-Shock™ X-Bullet for big game? The solid coppers that have a fine little hollow point in the tip? I was wondering if there is a 9mm equivalent. I don't mean the solid copper, but a 99% FMJ with that tiny hollow point in the tip.
I just need something to keep my gun cycling, and most hollowpoints eventually jam. I've even considered trying to drill a 1/32" hole in some bullets before I handload them and see how they expand, IF they would expand.
I'll definitely pick up a box of the Federal EFMJ and try them out. I'm sure they'll feed perfectly. Don't know if I like the reduced velocity/ft lbs.
denfoote
Member
I'd like to try them, but I have yet to see them on dealer's shelves here in Arizona.
ArchAngelCD
Member.
TT
member
I’m running them in a Springfield Ultra Compact that won’t feed JHPs (or even Powerball) reliably. They appear to feed just like ball. They are not very accurate out of my gun though.
Mad Magyar
Member
Same here in New Mexico....They just opened up Academy Sports in El Paso, maybe I'll try over there....Anyone that uses Academy at other places, let me know if they stock it or not; save me a trip...
TT
member
While getting EFMJ is a nuisance, sending a gun back to Springfield and then revalidating its performance with 200 rounds of HPs would be more of a nuisance. Other than availability I don’t mind EFMJ.
BrokenArrow
Member
5 round avgs, FBI test protocol
P45CSP1 200 gr Glock 21 12/14/00
bare gel 978 12.95/.653
cloth 984 13.7/.651
wboard 983 12.15/.676
pwood 982 12.65/.654
steel 992 12.2/.59 (jacket/core sep/77% ret wt)
glass 1002 11.7/.576 (67%)
P45CSP2 165 gr SIG P220 3/6/01
bare gel 1068 9.1/.74
cloth 1032 9.9/.722
wboard 1054 8.9/.726
pwood 1043 9.55/.743
steel 1047 8.15/.58 (71%)
glass 1047 7.85/.578 (61%)
P9CSP1 124 gr SIG P228 1063 fps 1/00
bare gel 12.85/.519
cloth 12.55/.519
wboard 11.1/.525
pwood 13.2/.51
steel 9.5/.466 (65%)
glass 8.5/.511 (60%)
Beretta 92
bare 11.35/.567
cloth 12.1/.552
wboard 10/.563
pwood 10.8/.561
steel 9.33/.492 (65%)
glass 7.9/.526 (55%)
P9CSP1 124 gr HK MP5 1225 fps 1/00
bare gel 11.3/.600
cloth 10.9/.596
wboard 9/.592
pwood 10.3/.596
steel 11.1/.491 (68%)
glass 8.6/.512 (57%)
P40CSP1
bare 12.45/.617
cloth 13.3/.605
wboard 12.8/.610
pwood 15.95/.579
steel 11.65/.513 (72%)
glass 11.75/.530 (67%)
Compare to:
115 Silvertip 10/.62 bare, 12/.58 cloth
147 HS 13/.62 bare, 15/.57 cloth
165/40 HS 13.5/.63, 14.5/.60
230/45 HS 13.7/.70, 16.4/.66
The 124 +P 9mm does 1065 from a G19. Into a deer at 15 ft did 14/.56
P45CSP1 200 gr Glock 21 12/14/00
bare gel 978 12.95/.653
cloth 984 13.7/.651
wboard 983 12.15/.676
pwood 982 12.65/.654
steel 992 12.2/.59 (jacket/core sep/77% ret wt)
glass 1002 11.7/.576 (67%)
P45CSP2 165 gr SIG P220 3/6/01
bare gel 1068 9.1/.74
cloth 1032 9.9/.722
wboard 1054 8.9/.726
pwood 1043 9.55/.743
steel 1047 8.15/.58 (71%)
glass 1047 7.85/.578 (61%)
P9CSP1 124 gr SIG P228 1063 fps 1/00
bare gel 12.85/.519
cloth 12.55/.519
wboard 11.1/.525
pwood 13.2/.51
steel 9.5/.466 (65%)
glass 8.5/.511 (60%)
Beretta 92
bare 11.35/.567
cloth 12.1/.552
wboard 10/.563
pwood 10.8/.561
steel 9.33/.492 (65%)
glass 7.9/.526 (55%)
P9CSP1 124 gr HK MP5 1225 fps 1/00
bare gel 11.3/.600
cloth 10.9/.596
wboard 9/.592
pwood 10.3/.596
steel 11.1/.491 (68%)
glass 8.6/.512 (57%)
P40CSP1
bare 12.45/.617
cloth 13.3/.605
wboard 12.8/.610
pwood 15.95/.579
steel 11.65/.513 (72%)
glass 11.75/.530 (67%)
Compare to:
115 Silvertip 10/.62 bare, 12/.58 cloth
147 HS 13/.62 bare, 15/.57 cloth
165/40 HS 13.5/.63, 14.5/.60
230/45 HS 13.7/.70, 16.4/.66
The 124 +P 9mm does 1065 from a G19. Into a deer at 15 ft did 14/.56
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