Practice what you carry...so why not carry FMJ?
- Thread starter WoodchuckAssassin
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BSA1
member
Maybe...
Wasn't that one of the arguments put forth on Z?
It is a good comment on how anything might be used against you.
Having been a student of philosophy, that is true of almost everything.
I offer it as something that is commonly accepted by juries in both criminal and civil trials
Walt Sherrill
Member
re: practice and carry -- which ammo type?
With MOST ammos of generally the same weight (or relatively the same velocity), once you've found rounds that function consistently in your weapon (i.e., like a hollow point design that feeds properly), what you use for practice and what you use for actual carry becomes almost irrelevant. Generally similar ammo will perform similarly in how they feel to the shooter when used and where they hit.
When using FMJ for practice and a similar Self Defense round, it would be hard for the shooter to tell which was which when fired -- particularly when you're doing things quickly or under stress. Those two types of rounds would have different effects on a target (hollow point tends to cut crisper holes), and they might also perform differently in ballistic gel or in a bad guy, but that is probbly irrelevant for you as you practice.
Then. too, I think that several ammo brands offer matched sets of ammo -- one for practice and one for carry -- so that the shooting experience (i.e., training and carry) is nearly identical regardless of which one you use. You have a lot of options -- and none of them justify using FMJ as a carry ammo unless it's a .25, .32, or even some types of .380 that you'll be carrying.
With MOST ammos of generally the same weight (or relatively the same velocity), once you've found rounds that function consistently in your weapon (i.e., like a hollow point design that feeds properly), what you use for practice and what you use for actual carry becomes almost irrelevant. Generally similar ammo will perform similarly in how they feel to the shooter when used and where they hit.
When using FMJ for practice and a similar Self Defense round, it would be hard for the shooter to tell which was which when fired -- particularly when you're doing things quickly or under stress. Those two types of rounds would have different effects on a target (hollow point tends to cut crisper holes), and they might also perform differently in ballistic gel or in a bad guy, but that is probbly irrelevant for you as you practice.
Then. too, I think that several ammo brands offer matched sets of ammo -- one for practice and one for carry -- so that the shooting experience (i.e., training and carry) is nearly identical regardless of which one you use. You have a lot of options -- and none of them justify using FMJ as a carry ammo unless it's a .25, .32, or even some types of .380 that you'll be carrying.
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lysanderxiii
Member
Why not practice with JHPs?
I'm in the same situation...my EDC is a 9mm Sig P938. After I had put a couple of hundred 115gr FMJ failure free rounds through it when it was new, I bit the bullet (no pun intended) and began to run different JHP brands. The criteria was 200 failure free rounds to qualify as reliable carry ammo. At the end of the day, Remington HTP 115 gr JHP (RTP9MM1) was my choice. YMMV
Zerodefect
member
I practice with my jhp's. They've been in my pistol too long. In snow, rain, exposed to oil and sweat. So I shoot them before they're too old.
My reloads are fmj. Aluminum cased to save weight. If cheap fmj's in my reload mags work every practice session, chances are that my jhp's are still fine. I'll carry the mag with the fmj's again, but I shoot the round that was in the chamber.
If anything, jhp's are more reliable. Chromed cases with less drag, better sealant, more powder to cycle properly. If your ccw feeds fmj's better, scrap it, it's not reliable enough.
I prefer Federal hst, but my Glocks can feed anything I know of, that's decent.
My reloads are fmj. Aluminum cased to save weight. If cheap fmj's in my reload mags work every practice session, chances are that my jhp's are still fine. I'll carry the mag with the fmj's again, but I shoot the round that was in the chamber.
If anything, jhp's are more reliable. Chromed cases with less drag, better sealant, more powder to cycle properly. If your ccw feeds fmj's better, scrap it, it's not reliable enough.
I prefer Federal hst, but my Glocks can feed anything I know of, that's decent.
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Trey Veston
Member
Every time I've had to draw my weapon, the person was skinny. Why? Because they were on drugs. Dopers are the ones that you are most likely to have to shoot due to their impaired impulse control and lack of critical thinking skills.
I carried The Hornady Critical Defense loads for the past few years, and before that, it was Federal Hydra Shoks. When I bought my latest carry pistol, a S&W M&P40c, I took it to the range and shot everything from FMJ match reloads, my own Speer Gold Dot defensive loads, to Hornady Critical Defense loads.
My self-defense loads which used the Hornady 180gr XTP turned in groups around 3" at 25 yards. The Hornady Critical Defense 165gr loads, which I had been carrying for years, gave me a 9" group. Completely unacceptable.
So now I have it full of my own self-defense reloads which are within reloading specs and not considered a "nuclear" round using a bullet I buy off the shelf at my local Wal-Mart.
I wonder how many people that are paranoid over carrying reloads have something stupid like this on their pistol?
Zerodefect
member
Yep 3 dot sights are pretty stupid to have on a pistol. Lol.
And we got more than tweakers to worry about now. Our intolerant people are pretty darn fat.
TomJ
Contributing Member
Simplifying your defense in case you need to use your gun is a far cry from paranoia. I have no idea what the skull has to do with this.
Trey Veston
Member
Because a prosecuting attorney is going to bring up the fact that you had the logo of a vigilante killer on your pistol before he will ever bring up that you used handloads.
TomJ
Contributing Member
That's fine, except for the fact that I never mentioned having a skull on your gun. If you want to address what I actually posted, I'm always open to that.
Trey Veston
Member
Really?
The subject matter is whether or not using reloads for self-defense will come into play in a self-defense shooting. The only way they could ever possibly matter is if an over-zealous prosecuting attorney decides to somehow twist the fact that you use re-loads to try and paint you as a psychotic gun nut who was looking to shoot someone with your custom-made bullets.
Any defense attorney worth his salt could easily dispel that ridiculous reasoning with two sentences. It's a non-issue in the real world.
But having the Punisher logo on your pistol is more likely to gain traction with a jury. That's why I brought it up; because it is directly relevant to the discussion of what a prosecuting attorney will bring up to paint you as a bad guy.
Trey Veston
Member
Do you think that the fact that you "customized" your P365 could possibly be brought up by an attorney? What is going to sway a jury more; that you used handloaded ammunition using the same bullets and power levels as local law enforcement, or the fact that you "hot-rodded" your P365 with an aftermarket steel striker?
Both arguments are ridiculous, of course, but I still don't see how you are "simplifying your defense" by customizing your carry gun but not using cheaper reloads.
And please don't misconstrue my responses to you as being snarky or argumentative. We're both on the same side and I am in no way upset or angered by your reasoning. I'm just trying to point out my perspective.
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I think we might have drifted too far afield now that we are discussing legal ramifications in the Autoloader subforum.
I'm going to put this one to bed
I'm going to put this one to bed
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