Macchina
Member
- Joined
- Nov 14, 2006
- Messages
- 998
When people ask about what ammo to carry for self defense against criminals, the answer almost always comes back some kind of JHP. When the question pops up about what ammo to use for self defense against bears/lions/monsters the answer almost always comes back with some flat point hard cast lead bullet. The question "what to carry for protection against bears" often refers to revolver calibers, hence the question posted here.
My question is: what supposedly makes a hard-cast lead bullet so much better than a FMJ? Most FMJ bullets for powerful revolvers (357 Mag, 44 Mag, 45 Colt, etc.) come in a similar nose shape (flat) to the solid lead loads so often recommended. If you're just going for penetration, why would a solid lead bullet ever be better than a FMJ of similar shape and size?
It seams the FMJ is always regarded as a practice bullet with only marginal SD effectiveness, yet it appears to me to be a tougher bullet than a solid lead hard-cast without much of the issues like bullet creep and barrel leading...
44 Magnum 300 grain Hard-Cast "Bear Load"
44 Magnum 300 grain FMJ
My question is: what supposedly makes a hard-cast lead bullet so much better than a FMJ? Most FMJ bullets for powerful revolvers (357 Mag, 44 Mag, 45 Colt, etc.) come in a similar nose shape (flat) to the solid lead loads so often recommended. If you're just going for penetration, why would a solid lead bullet ever be better than a FMJ of similar shape and size?
It seams the FMJ is always regarded as a practice bullet with only marginal SD effectiveness, yet it appears to me to be a tougher bullet than a solid lead hard-cast without much of the issues like bullet creep and barrel leading...
44 Magnum 300 grain Hard-Cast "Bear Load"
44 Magnum 300 grain FMJ