Let’s return to the things which justify our choice of hollow-point bullets. A major factor – the one that convinced police chiefs in even the most “politically-correct” cities to insist on this ammo when some were calling for a ban on “dum-dum bullets” – was reduced penetration. Cops called them “controlled expansion rounds” because as the nose of the hollow-point bullet widened as it passed through flesh, it met more resistance and came to a stop sooner. Therefore, it was more likely to stay inside the only backstop the Good Guy or Gal pulling the trigger had: the body of the violent criminal attacker. Self-defense shootings, after all, aren’t likely to take place on gun ranges with the Bad Guy standing in front of a backstop.
Your typical military “ball” ammunition will tend to shoot through and through a human body with more than enough power to kill another human standing behind the intended recipient of the projectile. A full metal jacket (FMJ) round nose 9mm bullet will pierce two feet or more of ballistic gelatin, which is designed to replicate the resistance of human muscle tissue. A .45 “hardball” round in this configuration will penetrate 26” to 30” depending on the load. A human thorax is simply not that deep, nor that solid. Stand three average adult men in line: such a bullet will completely perforate the upper torso of the first, enter the chest and exit the back of the second, and lodge deep in the body of the third. It can kill three people in a row, two of them theoretically innocent bystanders.
“Just be sure of your target and background” is altogether too simplistic an approach to reducing that danger. Tunnel vision is known to occur in a majority of gunfight participants. Darkness may hide the innocent from the sight of the Good Guy who is firing. The Bad Guy’s body may even physically block the Good Guy’s view. This is why it’s important to have a bullet which is highly likely to remain in the intended target and not pass through.
You’ll hear the argument, “There’s more danger to bystanders from misses than from over-penetration, and you’re likely to miss some anyway, so don’t worry about it.” That is “apples and oranges,” and terribly short-sighted. It’s like saying “Don’t be afraid of herpes, AIDS is worse.” In each example, the smart person wants to avoid both bad outcomes.
Let’s say you come under fire from an armed robber this very night, and have no choice but to shoot back. One of your shots misses and strikes a bystander. It is tragic, but you have a very strong defense: in the Doctrine of Competing Harms, your disciplined defensive gunfire presented less danger to innocents behind the Bad Guy than his wanton, criminal gunfire presented to the innocents behind you. You were forced into difficult circumstances (a moving target in the dark, as you ducked desperately to avoid being shot as you returned fire), and the proximate cause of your less than perfect marksmanship was his action, not yours. It will very likely be seen as excusable: that is, it shouldn’t have happened, but it would have happened to any cautious, competent person in the same situation you had been forced into.
But let’s say your full metal jacket .45 ball round hit the bad guy in the chest, exited his back, and then struck the unseen bystander. You had ample time beforehand to select appropriate ammunition, and you knew or should have known this could happen…yet you used the wrong ammo anyway. Now, opposing counsel has the ingredients to cook up a recipe of “willful, wanton disregard for innocent human life” on your part.
So, reduced likelihood of dangerous over-penetration is one strong reason to use hollow points…but not the ONLY reason. There are more, and we’ll discuss them as this series continues.
Federal HST 230gr +P .45 caliber bullet shown here expanded, retrieved from hog.
Mr Ayoob,
One of the long time worries I have has been the legal topic of the type of ammo used in DGUs. As one mentioned above, the “names” of the ammo that are ultimately carried which may be used could be used in courts as killer ammo instead of defense ammo, or cop killer for example.
I am not beholding to any particular brand name of hollow point, but I do choose to only carry the ones that have the word “defense” on the box. My reasoning is that if I ever were to be involved in a DGU at least the box of ammo can be used in court as part of my defense is ammo that was chosen to defend myself only.
I don’t think the box of “Zombie Killer” ammo would work very well for me defending myself in court.
Or am I wrong in my thinking?
Mr Ayoob,
One of the long time worries I have has been the legal topic of the type of ammo used in DGUs. As one mentioned above, the “names” of the ammo that are ultimately carried which may be used could be used in courts as killer ammo instead of defense ammo, or cop killer for example.
I am not beholding to any particular brand name of hollow point, but I do choose to only carry the ones that have the word “defense” on the box. My reasoning is that if I ever were to be involved in a DGU at least the box of ammo can be used in court as part of my defense is ammo that was chosen to defend myself only.
I don’t think the box of “Zombie Killer” ammo would work very well for me defending myself in court.
Or am I wrong in my thinking?
Since ammo cost was mentioned, I think that the gun should be broken in with FMJ until it is trust-worthy. Then if cost and availability are issues, there are hollow points that are known to have a profile friendly to feed ramps (thinking Golden Sabers or even Winchester Rangers and SXTs over Gold Dots and Hornadys). The bargain/civilian/practice version of that duty ammo could be shot in the hundreds through the gun before a box or two of the real deal would be tested before loading gun and magazines with it. Not ideal, but I’d be personally comfortable with that.
And if on a budget, the shooter should probably stay away from +P rounds and find one that shoots to the same POI as FMJ instead so that there’d be no need to practice with the duty ammo, just to test it for reliability.
Since ammo cost was mentioned, I think that the gun should be broken in with FMJ until it is trust-worthy. Then if cost and availability are issues, there are hollow points that are known to have a profile friendly to feed ramps (thinking Golden Sabers or even Winchester Rangers and SXTs over Gold Dots and Hornadys). The bargain/civilian/practice version of that duty ammo could be shot in the hundreds through the gun before a box or two of the real deal would be tested before loading gun and magazines with it. Not ideal, but I’d be personally comfortable with that.
And if on a budget, the shooter should probably stay away from +P rounds and find one that shoots to the same POI as FMJ instead so that there’d be no need to practice with the duty ammo, just to test it for reliability.
I suggest to my students that “break-in” ammo can be range ball. The purpose of the “break-in” is to assure mechanical reliability, to burnish the left over machining marks and smooth off the burrs, make sure the slide stop doesnt have a hidden material defect and that the magazine release has the “brand-new” stiffness ironed out a bit.
Then you run a box of your chosen defense ammo through it.
I suggest to my students that “break-in” ammo can be range ball. The purpose of the “break-in” is to assure mechanical reliability, to burnish the left over machining marks and smooth off the burrs, make sure the slide stop doesnt have a hidden material defect and that the magazine release has the “brand-new” stiffness ironed out a bit.
Then you run a box of your chosen defense ammo through it.
I suggest to my students that “break-in” ammo can be range ball. The purpose of the “break-in” is to assure mechanical reliability, to burnish the left over machining marks and smooth off the burrs, make sure the slide stop doesnt have a hidden material defect and that the magazine release has the “brand-new” stiffness ironed out a bit.
Then you run a box of your chosen defense ammo through it.
An added plus, when that expanding bullet comes to it’s sudden stop within a body that body has had to absorb all the energy that was driving that bullet. that’s a lot of shock.
An added plus, when that expanding bullet comes to it’s sudden stop within a body that body has had to absorb all the energy that was driving that bullet. that’s a lot of shock.
Randy–Republic of Illinois:
Technological innovation is a beautiful thing! Now they have hollow points that are shaped like FMJ, so they should feed in any type of semi-auto. Both “Pow’R Ball” and “Hornady Critical Defense” ammo fill in the hollow cavity with plastic. This solves some problems. Obviously it is good for semi-autos that are finicky with traditional hollow-points. Also, some semi-autos were designed so long ago that they only function with FMJ. I’m thinking of Lugers and Thompsom submachine guns. Now these historic guns could be used for self-defense, assuming the Pow’R Ball feeds in them.
And here’s the best thing about the hollow points filled in with plastic; they defeat New Jersey’s silly, overly-complicated hollow point carry laws. According to NJ law, only active-duty officers can carry hollow points. Even retired cops are not allowed to use HPs in their carry guns. But, these new HPs with the plastic tips are not considered HPs by NJ, therefore they are legal to be carried by those few residents who can legally carry concealed handguns. I’m low-tech and neo-Amish, but technological innovation is indeed a beautiful thing!
Randy–Republic of Illinois:
Technological innovation is a beautiful thing! Now they have hollow points that are shaped like FMJ, so they should feed in any type of semi-auto. Both “Pow’R Ball” and “Hornady Critical Defense” ammo fill in the hollow cavity with plastic. This solves some problems. Obviously it is good for semi-autos that are finicky with traditional hollow-points. Also, some semi-autos were designed so long ago that they only function with FMJ. I’m thinking of Lugers and Thompsom submachine guns. Now these historic guns could be used for self-defense, assuming the Pow’R Ball feeds in them.
And here’s the best thing about the hollow points filled in with plastic; they defeat New Jersey’s silly, overly-complicated hollow point carry laws. According to NJ law, only active-duty officers can carry hollow points. Even retired cops are not allowed to use HPs in their carry guns. But, these new HPs with the plastic tips are not considered HPs by NJ, therefore they are legal to be carried by those few residents who can legally carry concealed handguns. I’m low-tech and neo-Amish, but technological innovation is indeed a beautiful thing!
Randy–Republic of Illinois:
Technological innovation is a beautiful thing! Now they have hollow points that are shaped like FMJ, so they should feed in any type of semi-auto. Both “Pow’R Ball” and “Hornady Critical Defense” ammo fill in the hollow cavity with plastic. This solves some problems. Obviously it is good for semi-autos that are finicky with traditional hollow-points. Also, some semi-autos were designed so long ago that they only function with FMJ. I’m thinking of Lugers and Thompsom submachine guns. Now these historic guns could be used for self-defense, assuming the Pow’R Ball feeds in them.
And here’s the best thing about the hollow points filled in with plastic; they defeat New Jersey’s silly, overly-complicated hollow point carry laws. According to NJ law, only active-duty officers can carry hollow points. Even retired cops are not allowed to use HPs in their carry guns. But, these new HPs with the plastic tips are not considered HPs by NJ, therefore they are legal to be carried by those few residents who can legally carry concealed handguns. I’m low-tech and neo-Amish, but technological innovation is indeed a beautiful thing!
Randy–Republic of Illinois:
Technological innovation is a beautiful thing! Now they have hollow points that are shaped like FMJ, so they should feed in any type of semi-auto. Both “Pow’R Ball” and “Hornady Critical Defense” ammo fill in the hollow cavity with plastic. This solves some problems. Obviously it is good for semi-autos that are finicky with traditional hollow-points. Also, some semi-autos were designed so long ago that they only function with FMJ. I’m thinking of Lugers and Thompsom submachine guns. Now these historic guns could be used for self-defense, assuming the Pow’R Ball feeds in them.
And here’s the best thing about the hollow points filled in with plastic; they defeat New Jersey’s silly, overly-complicated hollow point carry laws. According to NJ law, only active-duty officers can carry hollow points. Even retired cops are not allowed to use HPs in their carry guns. But, these new HPs with the plastic tips are not considered HPs by NJ, therefore they are legal to be carried by those few residents who can legally carry concealed handguns. I’m low-tech and neo-Amish, but technological innovation is indeed a beautiful thing!
That neo-Amish comment made me laugh, Old Fezzywig! I regard much progress with suspicion and have mentioned my ‘Amish tendencies’ many times elsewhere. That’s why I sometimes contemplate loading my guns with FMJ, but old school only goes so far, as this series by Mas shows. And hollow points are well proven anyway now. Good point on the Pow’R Balls, by the way.
That neo-Amish comment made me laugh, Old Fezzywig! I regard much progress with suspicion and have mentioned my ‘Amish tendencies’ many times elsewhere. That’s why I sometimes contemplate loading my guns with FMJ, but old school only goes so far, as this series by Mas shows. And hollow points are well proven anyway now. Good point on the Pow’R Balls, by the way.
That neo-Amish comment made me laugh, Old Fezzywig! I regard much progress with suspicion and have mentioned my ‘Amish tendencies’ many times elsewhere. That’s why I sometimes contemplate loading my guns with FMJ, but old school only goes so far, as this series by Mas shows. And hollow points are well proven anyway now. Good point on the Pow’R Balls, by the way.
This is often a no win situation. Take the Miami shootout for example. One of the bad guys was hit in the arm with a 115 grain 9mm hollow point. It went through the arm but stopped just short of the heart enabling the bad guy to go on shooting and killing.
Now should the cops have used 125 grain 9mm bullets for more penetration. The answer is probably not as the 125 grain bullets have been known to over penetrate enough to kill innocent by standers.
The answer is there is no easy answer sometimes as to what weight bullet to use for self defense as every shooting incident is different requiring varying depths of penetration.
This is often a no win situation. Take the Miami shootout for example. One of the bad guys was hit in the arm with a 115 grain 9mm hollow point. It went through the arm but stopped just short of the heart enabling the bad guy to go on shooting and killing.
Now should the cops have used 125 grain 9mm bullets for more penetration. The answer is probably not as the 125 grain bullets have been known to over penetrate enough to kill innocent by standers.
The answer is there is no easy answer sometimes as to what weight bullet to use for self defense as every shooting incident is different requiring varying depths of penetration.
Another problem is how many rounds do you fire to break in a pistol and still have it reliable considering the fact that more and more firearms companies are using unreliable junk brittle MIM Cast parts that are know for high failure rates.
Another problem is how many rounds do you fire to break in a pistol and still have it reliable considering the fact that more and more firearms companies are using unreliable junk brittle MIM Cast parts that are know for high failure rates.
Another problem is how many rounds do you fire to break in a pistol and still have it reliable considering the fact that more and more firearms companies are using unreliable junk brittle MIM Cast parts that are know for high failure rates.
Another problem is how many rounds do you fire to break in a pistol and still have it reliable considering the fact that more and more firearms companies are using unreliable junk brittle MIM Cast parts that are know for high failure rates.