“Jack, what type of handgun ammo is the best out there?” This is a question I have heard and addressed so many times, I do not believe I could actually count. There are several types of bullets on the market that all perform differently, but they do perform as they are designed. I will cover these various types and with the proper information, this will serve as a reference to help you select the right ammunition for the purpose you need at a given time.
Full Metal Jacket (FMJ): Lead core bullet covered in copper, this is the least expensive round you can purchase for a given caliber. This round is best suited for target practice, most cost effective for recreational shooting, however I would not suggest this for self-defense. When the FMJ round hits organic tissue it will enter on one side, and then it will exit on the other side. This creates the least damage (permanent wound channel) to tissue and will not stop an aggressive attack consistently which is what you are looking for in a defensive setting. You need to consider liability, YOU MUST ACCOUNT FOR EVERY ROUND YOU FIRE. If you do shoot the bad guy and the bullet continues until it goes thru 3 of the walls in your house and hits one of your children, spouse or your neighbor, you then could be charged with involuntary manslaughter, not to mention you will have to live with yourself for what occurred. This is why the FMJ round is NOT the best selection for self defense, now we will look at the Hollow Point (H.P.) round. Below you can view a cut away section of a full metal jacket round.
Hollow Point (H.P.): The most common self defense round you will find is the hollow point bullet. Simple explanation for this name can be seen when you look at the tip of the copper coated round, you will see a recessed cavity leading into the lead center core of the round, i.e. a “hollow point”. By design, when this round impacts organic tissue the pressure that is created by this small air pocket forces the bullet to “mushroom” and expand. This round is designed to enter at point of aim, mushroom inside the target, and most importantly, stop inside the target. When the round does as it is designed, it will create a large wound channel and by coming to a quick stop inside the target it will transfer all of the energy to the target. This instant transfer of energy to organic tissue is called “foot pounds of energy” (f.p.e.) and this is what is commonly called “stopping power”. The higher the f.p.e. a round delivers to the target, the faster you can stop the aggressive actions of an adversary. You want to have a round that stops an attacker as fast as possible, it will only take that person a split second to pull the trigger to shoot you or another innocent person, or just one swipe of a knife to cut your femoral or carotid artery which can kill you faster than a bullet. For my L.E., Security Professionals, and law abiding citizen friends out there, there is but one rule: YOU WILL GO HOME AT THE END OF THE DAY. Proper selection of a defensive round can be the difference between life and death. Below you can view a hollow point round before and after impact.
Frangible Ammunition: The next round we will discuss is the frangible round. There are many types of frangible style rounds on the market today, some contain a core made from a hardened type of clear epoxy with steel shot like the Magsafe round. Others such as Extreme Shock are made of Tungsten-NyTrilium which is a bullet formed from a substance with the consistency of talcum powder, then compressed to form a solid round. Upon impact to organic tissue it returns to its original state creating up to 5,000 separate, tiny wound channels. These are by far the most expensive types of rounds you can get, they generally offer a higher level stopping power. There are benefits of this type of round when it comes to liability, and there is also a down side to this as well, we will now look at the pros of this round. These rounds will dump 100% of its energy into whatever it impacts, so if you miss your target, it will break apart in drywall, sheetrock, and ricochet is minimal at the round will disintegrate upon impact. This is a great round to use in an urban setting , your house, or apartment. Now for the cons, first is the price, these types of rounds can cost over $20 for only 8 rounds. The ability of these rounds to go through a car windshield, plywood, or light concealment is not good as they will break apart. For this reason this is not a good choice for L.E. to carry as an “everyday carry” ammunition. On the other hand, if your department allows, it would make a great round if you are an entry team serving warrants and you find yourself “knocking down doors”. Below is a cut away view of the Mag Safe round.
It is important to remember, there is no magic bullet, all bullets have their limitations. It is up to you to get the knowledge you need to select the ammunition that will work for you. Below are some links that will take you to factory sites so you can research the specific data for the caliber you of gun you use.
Extreme Shock: http://www.extremeshockusa.com/cgistore/store.cgi?page=/new/product_info.html&setup=1&cart_id=1409912.512
"Anyone can understand shooting to protect themselves. You give me five minutes and I’ll make anyone on this planet mad enough to shoot me. The real question is, will they have that much time in a fight? You need to make that decision before you start to fight-only your life depends on it."—Clint Smith
With all this information, this will give you a great start on the road to a successful selection of the ammo you need, for the situation you prepare for.
Stay safe, practice, and prepare.
Jack
With all this information, this will give you a great start on the road to a successful selection of the ammo you need, for the situation you prepare for.
Stay safe, practice, and prepare.
Jack
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