FMJ's for carry/defense anyone ?

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okc-zee

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Lately at the range I've run into quite a few people who are using FMJ's for their carry/defense weapons...I guess price and availability of some stuff can be a factor here...aside from over penetration,I guess it's just as effective as anything else and a lot cheaper as well...I do this in my 380 LCP,but all my other carry/defense weapons have JHP's as a rule...Any thoughts on this ? I'm sure I can stand to learn something here...
 
if fmj is just as effective as jhp and softpoints all the police departments would carry them instead. JHP's expension are very much an advantage over FMJ's rounds especially in rounds such as the 9mm

however in small pistol calibers such as the 380 fmj might be a decent idea due to the fact that most JHP or Softpoint may not reach the 12 inch penetration recommended by the FBI but FMJ 380s might
 
all of my defense guns are loaded with JHP exclusively. my LCP however, is loaded with FMJ simply because i do not reload that caliber yet.

if fmj is just as effective as jhp and softpoints all the police departments would carry them instead. JHP's expension are very much an advantage over FMJ's rounds especially in rounds such as the 9mm

^ this
 
The only weapon I consider carrying FMJ in is my pocket .380 namely because it is picky (stovepipes) with HP and JHP. The only self defense ammo I have found it really likes is Cor-bon Pow R ball.
 
IMHO, for 380, 9X18 or 32ACP I'd lean towards using FMJ. Anything above that, JHP's definately get my nod. Of course in some areas, NJ for instance, you don't have a choice. HP's of any type are banned for anyone other than police for use outside the home, except when at an approved shooting range. Self defense with HP's for private citizens is a big no-no.
 
FMJs tend to slip through tissue with little damage and penetrate deeply (as you already noted).

This thread may be of interest to you since it explores the behavior of FMJs-

http://www.thehighroad.org/showthread.php?t=691982

JHPs (if they expand) tend to damage more tissue and are more likely to stop within the body of an attacker if placed COM making them much more preferable for the task. The .380 (and smaller calibers) is a notable exception being better suited to FMJs since expansion of a JHP can limit penetration to an unacceptable amount depending upon the user's specific needs.
 
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If the jhp loads avalible cannot make 11" reliability in calibrated gel I use fmj. This pretty much means 380 down including 38 IMO but it has cast lead to fall back on.

Contrary to much of the ammunition hype these days adequate penatration is vastly more important than expansion.

Ammunition must be reliable

Only hits in the right places matter


And only then when those hits go deep enough to hit the important parts.

Making a bigger hole ranks behind these three criteria




posted via that mobile app with the sig lines everyone complains about
 
I carry a .380 sometimes, and it's loaded with 90- or 100-grain FMJ to achieve penetration.

In my .38SPL it's 125-grain JHPs.

In .40cal it's 165- or 180-grain JHPs.

In 9mm it'd be 124-grain JHPs if I carried a 9mm.

In .45ACP it's 230-grain FMJ, again to assure penetration, but if I load it as the house gun it's 230-JHPs.

For .357MAG I carry 158- or 180-grain JHPs.

For .44MAG it's 240-grain JHPs, though I just acquired some 180-grain JHPs I'm going to audition.
 
Really depends on what you're protecting yourself from. For woods carry in bear country the answer could be far different but JHP in 9mm and .45ACP are what I choose.
 
I carry JHP's only. And as for over penetration, FMJ are far more prone to this than JHP's. This is because they aren't designed to expand in the wound cavity like a JHP, this allows them to pass thorugh.

Being a reloader I often find FMJ bullets to be typically more expensive than JHP's. Although, Gold Dots are a bit spendy, Nosler, Winchester, and XTP JHP's are actually pretty economical in price for reloading, I don't know about factory prices though.

GS
 
Some shooters argue bullet placement is everything.

Some shooters like deep penetration as the shots may be made at a angle, through cover or material such as glass, or heavy clothing.

Some shooters realize that velocities from test barrels are higher than with real world guns.

Some shooters realize JHP cavities plug up and are really just FMJ only at a higher cost.
 
I've got my mags loaded about 40/60. JHP on top with fmj on bottom, figure if I get through the JHP, I may need to go thru barriers.
 
You're sure this isn't just their range/practice ammo? Maybe they're using the cheaper ammo for practice but actually carry JHPs.

No sir...They made it quite clear ...They use FMJ's for defense as well as practice...Husband and wife team there said they no longer saw the purpose to spend the money on different types of their preferred carry ammo which at times was not available...(these two are long time shooters)...I was a little surprised at how many people there actually agreed and said they did the same in their larger caliber (9mm and up) guns for the same reasons...
 
I'm pretty much aping the consensus here, but I also use FMJ only in 9x18 and .32acp (Polish P64 and Keltec P32). IMO, JHPs are the cat's meow in the more serious cartridges.
 
I'm pretty much aping the consensus here, but I also use FMJ only in 9x18 and .32acp (Polish P64 and Keltec P32). IMO, JHPs are the cat's meow in the more serious cartridges.
 
Carrying FMJs is sometimes not a bad idea in lighter calibers such as .32 ACPs, .380s, .22s and .25s. The reason being is those rounds may not have the energy to reliably expand AND still penetrate the minimum to get the job done. Many would rather have something that can reach the vitals rather than something that will expand but lose penetration to get to them at all.

However in the standard service calibers today I don't see much of a reason to carry FMJ. Bullet technology has improved a lot. It's not 1970. There are many .45 ACPs and 9mms that will reliably expand and meet at least the 12" minimum FBI penetration requirement.

Those who are carrying FMJ because it's all they could find or afford, really should have planned better. I keep a sizeable stock of premium JHPs for all of my handguns. I usually buy a few boxes, run a couple to make sure they work in my gun, and save the other couple boxes for a rainy day or carry.
 
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In terms of damage, JHP and SP rounds are going to be more effective, in terms of damaging the target. The only situation I could think of when using FMJ in a defensive role would be due to reliability reasons. My buddy owns an AMT 1911 and I used to own a Commander-sized Colt 1911. Both of these guns had issues with several types of JHPs, specifically the heavier grained bullets; they would, however, function just fine with FMJs. I would have rather carried the FMJs instead of resorting to having to remove metal (I.E. polishing the feed ramps, the base of the ramps or the contact point under the bevel on the roof of the chamber).
 
I have two carry pistols, both 1911s (one officer in 9mm and one commander in .45 ACP) and only use JHP. My wife carries a .380 (Sig P238) and also uses JHP. I was a little concerned about the .380, but ammunition has come a long way. After a great deal of online research I settled on Hornady Critical Defense for her Sig. I was so impressed with the performance I switched to Hornady CD for my pistols. They feed great, have excellent expansion, and very good penetration. And for those concerned about clogging of the JHP cavity, Hornady seems to have the answer with plastic plug in the cavity that prevents clogging and doesn't impede expansion.

Check out the ballistics tests from tnoutdoors9 on YouTube.
 
I carry FMJ in my .380 but plan on function-testing some of the Buffalo Bore standard pressure hardcast SWC ammo in it eventually. I don't carry that gun much, so it's low on the priority list for now. My backup magazine for my .45ACP has FMJ in it but the primary mag is always JHPs. The .40 is always JHPs. The .45LC is always wadcutters of some sort.
 
IMHO, for 380, 9X18 or 32ACP I'd lean towards using FMJ. Anything above that, JHP's definately get my nod. Of course in some areas, NJ for instance, you don't have a choice. HP's of any type are banned for anyone other than police for use outside the home, except when at an approved shooting range. Self defense with HP's for private citizens is a big no-no.

I have to call shenanigans on this.
there is nothing in the statutes that explicitly or implicitly indicates that use of HP rounds in a self-defense situation is illegal.
You are legally allowed to possess such ammunition.
You are legally allowed to transport it from a place of purchase.
You are legally allowed to transport it between residences and firing ranges.
You are legally allowed to use said ammunition at a range.

If you can find or have knowledge of a case where an individual was convicted after a S.D. shooting SOLELY because of their using HP ammunition I'd very much like to read into it.
 
I have to call shenanigans on this.
there is nothing in the statutes that explicitly or implicitly indicates that use of HP rounds in a self-defense situation is illegal.
You are legally allowed to possess such ammunition.
You are legally allowed to transport it from a place of purchase.
You are legally allowed to transport it between residences and firing ranges.
You are legally allowed to use said ammunition at a range.

If you can find or have knowledge of a case where an individual was convicted after a S.D. shooting SOLELY because of their using HP ammunition I'd very much like to read into it.
My bad, sota, I should have clarified that last statement as "self-defense outside of your own home". I do understand that it is legal to buy, and use at an approved range, but that's about it.

According to police in our local Pa. department, even they must remove their approved HP ammo when traveling thru NJ or attending training there. Maybe just prudence on their part, but it's what they do.
 
9mm and up HPs and even in 9mm I prefer a +P with HPs.

.380 I use flatpoint FMJ for carry.

.32 I only use regular FMJ "ball ammo" not only for better penetration but also because of the potential rimlock issues with HPs or flatpoints.
 
My bad, sota, I should have clarified that last statement as "self-defense outside of your own home". I do understand that it is legal to buy, and use at an approved range, but that's about it.

According to police in our local Pa. department, even they must remove their approved HP ammo when traveling thru NJ or attending training there. Maybe just prudence on their part, but it's what they do.

given the fact that NJ is a "shall issue" state (which in real terms means, never issues unless you're sucking something on someone in power) there really is no legal option to use a firearm in self-defense outside of your home. that's not to say I don't know of certain aquaintences who do carry every day regardless. but if they were involved in a SD shootout they're already so far up the legal flag pole at that point the issue if FMJ vs. JHP doesn't make much of a difference. :)

as for PA boys being told to unload HP's when traveling through NJ, that might just be a prudence thing, since there's a few nothern badges that will arrest anyone for anything.
 
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