EDC/Defensive FMJ ammo options?

Styx

Styx

Member
Joined
Dec 11, 2014
Messages
3,957
To keep things simple, let's just say you live in New Jersey or all non FMJ ammo has been banned. What non-wadcutter, JHP, or expanding ammo would you trust and carry for self defense? Something that's affordable, dependable, consistent, accurate, and (crimped?)
 
Last edited:
Ahh, the good ole PRNJ. 🤪🙄

Federal has, or used to have, a line of expanding FMJ ammo for states like that. It had a hollow nose with a little soft rubber plug in it that collapsed on impact and ended up like an expanded HP when done.

My parents lived down on one of the Jersey beaches for a while, and I tried them when they first came out, thinking it would be one less charge if I got stopped, and then I wised up and went back to carrying unneutered ammo when we went down there. The ammo in my gun was the least of my worries. 🙄

I shot a couple into some water jugs at the time, and they seemed to expand as advertised. They cycled in the gun fine too. I suppose they are a solution to a problem that shouldn't have to be sought or needed.
 
If it absolutely just has to be FMJ, and nothing else, it would be quality USA made .45 ACP hardball from a state compliant semi-auto platform. If a revolver, I might opt for the same with moon clips. But If the rules loosened enough I'd carry lead semi-wadcutters in a 38 special or 44 special.

I once lived in NJ, and I recall hollow points were restricted but not illegal. I don't know how any of that would apply to the NJ licensed carrier, since I left the state before licensing was possible for joe average. I don't know if things got even more restrictive beyond the drop from 15 to 10 mag limit.
 
Styx said:
To keep things simple, let's just say you live in New Jersey or all non FMJ ammo has been banned. What non-wadcutter, JHP, or expanding ammo would you trust and carry for self defense?
Click to expand...


...maybe I am confused, but my interpretation of FMJ is a non expanding bullet. That would mean to me, if everything but FMJ is banned, that one could not use any "JHP or expanding ammo". Am I missing something? I mean it is early on a Saturday morning.......
 
I'm probably under a pointless 10 round mag limit too.
A 45 acp Glock 30S or 30SF with FMJ would maximize diameter and take advantage of maximum restricted capacity.


In before some of the 32 acp FMJ folks, who:
-anticipate exacting accuracy under stress (ex: 7 shots to the sternum)
-say that nobody would want to get shot with it (duh, that doesn't infer quickly incapacitating)
-cite lethality (deadly) rather than ASAP incapacitation potential
 
CDW4ME said:
I'm probably under a pointless 10 round mag limit too.
A 45 acp Glock 30S or 30SF with FMJ would maximize diameter and take advantage of maximum restricted capacity.


In before some of the 32 acp FMJ folks, who:
-anticipate exacting accuracy under stress (ex: 7 shots to the sternum)
-say that nobody would want to get shot with it (duh, that doesn't infer quickly incapacitating)
-cite lethality (deadly) rather than ASAP incapacitation potential
Click to expand...
Exactly. I have a 30.3 and that’s my carry if things get wild.
 
Im sure if 9mm FMJ is all you had, it would work fine. Its been working well enough for over a hundred years, as long as you can put them where they need to go. Fancy ammo isn't going to make much of a difference if you cant.

Truth be told, I wouldn't be shooting the gun or approaching things any differently because of what the ammo was in the gun.
 
Is Powerball still made? If so, I would look at that.

As mentioned Lehigh would be worth a look also.

40 usually has a bit of a flat nose on it, find the one with the largest flat possible which runs in your pistol.
 
If limited to non-expanding, then, probably, the best choice would be to find the ammo you shoot best, as in best, most reliable, most "callable" groups, for the pistol you have, and stick to it.
As in practice regularly.
Which can include when you are "not in the mood," or when the weather is less nice.
You want those 'artificial' stressors during your training, so that, when under real stress, you are ready, and can be confident in your groups.
 
Id just find a good quality ammo and not worry about it.

I've seen a lot of people shot with FMJ over the years. It jacks people up. I've never seen someone ten ringed and be okay since it was a FMJ.

For the most part, there are very few instances where a hollow point would have made a meaningful difference in a shooting/gunfight.

The exception is deflection off of heavy bone. From my observations FMJ seems to deflect off or around heavy bone at a notably higher rate than hollow points. I've read that this was tested and shown that the sharp edge of the hollow point will more likely "bite" into the bone when hit at an angle.

There have been multiple times where I've shot my carry ammo by accident or something similar and ended up carrying FMJ for a bit. I wasn't worried then and wouldn't be now.
 
Re-reading your post I think you might be asking what specific ammo?

In my 18 year LE career, much of it as a gun nut hanging around the firearms training detail and also instructing part time, I've seen hundreds of thousands of 9mm, 40, and 45 fired.

In that time we've used Speer Lawman, Winchester Win Clean, and Federal American Eagle. I won't include frangible ammo as that stuff sucks all around.

I'd say the Speer was the most reliable as I can't remember seeing any issues. The Federal was also really good though early in my career I did witness 3 squib loads and 1 severely damaged case neck that prevented the round from chambering. Like the press and case were slightly not aligned and the case mouth got smashed at one side. The Winchester has only been used for a few years now and I've seen 3 or 4 of the smashed case mouths.
 
I am not a mind reader but I think you might be looking for semi jacketed round nose ammo.exposed lead that can possibly expand. If you had to shoot an
Auto pistol, could be a good option.

spobx8nx500a.jpg
 
Look at the Gun Sam videos on YouTube.
Federal American Eagle 147 FMJ flatnose in 9mm "flips" 180 degrees, continues base-first and causes alot of damage. Even old school .38 Special 158 LRN at 700 fps from a 2-inch snub tumbles, has fully adequate penetration through heavy clothing without over penetrating and does much better than JHPs which very often fail to expand from a short barrel.
 
Styx said:
To keep things simple, let's just say you live in New Jersey or all non FMJ ammo has been banned. What non-wadcutter, JHP, or expanding ammo would you trust and carry for self defense? Something that's affordable, dependable, consistent, accurate, and (crimped?)
Click to expand...
Clarification; Wadcutters are to be illegal?
Are semi-wadcutters illegal as well?
Can the ammo use lead bullets?
Can the ammo be semi-jacketed non hollow point?
Does the ammo have to be commercially available?

I started looking up NJ’s laws & proposed laws, but stopped when I started having California flash-backs and my blood pressure jumped. 😆
 
CDW4ME said:
I'm probably under a pointless 10 round mag limit too.
A 45 acp Glock 30S or 30SF with FMJ would maximize diameter and take advantage of maximum restricted capacity.
Click to expand...

Styx said:
What about for 9mm or 40s&w?
Click to expand...

I'd not be thrilled about 9mm FMJ.

40 S&W FMJ has a flat nose and likely be in the same ballpark as 45 acp FMJ for incapacitation potential.
The "problem" with 40 in this case is having a "full" grip without using reduced capacity magazines.
Some people might be okay with a 10 round mag in a Glock 23 - No thanks, principle.
Glock 27 with pinky rest has 9 round magazine but my hand is really crammed on the grip.

Given I'm likely under a 10 round mag limit with the FMJ restriction and reduced capacity magazines make us nauseous:
Glock 30s or 30SF in 45 acp and I have 10 rounds in the mag - 1st pick
1911 in 45 acp or 10mm
Glock 29SF in 10mm - 2nd pick
Glock 38 in 45 GAP - I'd rather have 8 rounds of 45 GAP than 10 rounds of 40 S&W in a restricted Glock 23 mag.
 
I'd just use and carry whatever pistol I could shoot well and conceal well. I'm already in the habit of keeping my spare magazines loaded with FMJ, assuming the first reason I need a spare is due to a pistol malfunction, which can probably be cleared up with good FMJ ammo.

There was a discussion going on another board recently where somebody mentioned a suspect who took 18 rounds of .40 S&W during a shoot out and still made it to the ER. I noticed in the accompanying picture of the aftermath there were no high thoracic hits. There's a lesson in there.
 
Pat Riot said:
Clarification; Wadcutters are to be illegal?
Are semi-wadcutters illegal as well?
Can the ammo use lead bullets?
Can the ammo be semi-jacketed non hollow point?
Does the ammo have to be commercially available?

I started looking up NJ’s laws & proposed laws, but stopped when I started having California flash-backs and my blood pressure jumped. 😆
Click to expand...
Don't know how long you've been gone from CA, but it took me a long time to stop worrying after NJ, myself. Freedom is better :)
 
You must log in or register to reply here.

Similar threads

DMK
  • Locked
Is choosing defense ammo based on available practice ammo rational?
Replies
7
Views
1K
Preacherman
P
Good Ol' Boy
  • Locked
What Do You Carry For Defense Ammo?
2 3 4
Replies
82
Views
6K
hdwhit
H
R
  • Locked
Subsonic vs Supersonic 9mm FMJ for self-defense
2 3
Replies
61
Views
5K
Meeks36
Meeks36
N
  • Locked
Would having to use non-expanding ammo change what handguns you prefer?
2 3
Replies
70
Views
3K
Caliburn
C
P
  • Locked
FMJ Self Defense grade Ammo?
2 3
Replies
57
Views
4K
BLB68
B
Back
Top