For a .308, .303, 30-06, 8mm or 7.62x54 weapons, what would be your first choice? You pay for your own carry and practice ammo. Scenarios could be anything from civil unrest to an invasion by the Luxemburg hordes bent on conquering suburbia to self-defense against kitten stompers.
Ball, hollow point, AP or soft point for self-defense?
- Thread starter Oleg Volk
- Start date
Lycanthrope
New member
Assuming I don't have to shoot through heavy armor, I'm going to choose my usual hunting ammo (soft point) because it has the right mix of penetration and expansion to kill fast. Besides, at the 30-06 level or above, it would likely carry right through Kevlar anyhow.
Ball Ammo
I think ball ammo would be best... reasons; overall better results in all conditions..easier to stockpile ammo (its cheaper). All those armies in recent history couldn't be wrong, could they?..but other ammo has its purpose... ball is just better in general use...Who knows when you will need it? So you need it all the time....
USA USA USA!!!! chris
I think ball ammo would be best... reasons; overall better results in all conditions..easier to stockpile ammo (its cheaper). All those armies in recent history couldn't be wrong, could they?..but other ammo has its purpose... ball is just better in general use...Who knows when you will need it? So you need it all the time....
USA USA USA!!!! chris
Lycanthrope
New member
Isn't the reason that the military uses ball governed by the Geneva convention and the need to penetrate light armor? I was once told that using fragmentary (hunting hollowpoints....not match rounds) was grounds for battlefield execution..?
My understanding
My understanding is that ball ammo was chosen because it would pass right thru the body causing lots of wounded for the enemy.. also the bullet would pass thru all types of debris, dirt, walls, etc.
As far using soft-point ammo on the battle field, I dont know, and would like some info on it....
Have a good one Chris
USA USA USA !!!!!!
My understanding is that ball ammo was chosen because it would pass right thru the body causing lots of wounded for the enemy.. also the bullet would pass thru all types of debris, dirt, walls, etc.
As far using soft-point ammo on the battle field, I dont know, and would like some info on it....
Have a good one
ChrisUSA USA USA !!!!!!
Destructo6
New member
If it was going into an autoloader, it would be FMJ every time.
If it was a bolt action, I'd go with whatever is most accurate at the lowest price.
If it was a bolt action, I'd go with whatever is most accurate at the lowest price.
yankytrash
New member
What scouter27 said.
5.56mm AP?
For those responding about 5.56mm/.223 ammo, just a note that AP is pretty hard to come by.
M855 or SS109 is really ball ammo, despite the penetrator insert.
5.56mm AP is designated M955, and is rare in commercial channels.
FWIW, my choice for serious work is Ball M855, but I'm happy with Ball M193 as well.
For those responding about 5.56mm/.223 ammo, just a note that AP is pretty hard to come by.
M855 or SS109 is really ball ammo, despite the penetrator insert.
5.56mm AP is designated M955, and is rare in commercial channels.
FWIW, my choice for serious work is Ball M855, but I'm happy with Ball M193 as well.
The best load from my .308 Garand
is 168 HPBT bullets over (more or less) 40 grains of IMR 4895. It clocks about 2650 and groups well. This form of hollowpoint is functionally FMJ.
I've tried 147 grain bullets, but can't them to group for nothing.
I load the match ammo in bulk; why bother with anything else?
The best grouping ammo in my 1917 Eddystone is 165 grain SPBT over a corresponding (moderate) dose of IMR4895. MV is around 2700 and it shoots tight.
The 6.5 Swede likes the Sierra 160 SMP soft point. H4895 powder,
My close up carbine is a M92 (Rossi) in .44 WCF. I use mostly cast lead bullets, but have started an experiment with some 180 grain JHP bullets over H4227.
All these choices are based on reliable accuracy. They work everytime in function, and group well. I don't think expansion makes much difference against a human predator.
is 168 HPBT bullets over (more or less) 40 grains of IMR 4895. It clocks about 2650 and groups well. This form of hollowpoint is functionally FMJ.
I've tried 147 grain bullets, but can't them to group for nothing.
I load the match ammo in bulk; why bother with anything else?
The best grouping ammo in my 1917 Eddystone is 165 grain SPBT over a corresponding (moderate) dose of IMR4895. MV is around 2700 and it shoots tight.
The 6.5 Swede likes the Sierra 160 SMP soft point. H4895 powder,
My close up carbine is a M92 (Rossi) in .44 WCF. I use mostly cast lead bullets, but have started an experiment with some 180 grain JHP bullets over H4227.
All these choices are based on reliable accuracy. They work everytime in function, and group well. I don't think expansion makes much difference against a human predator.
Chad Young
New member
I'll pick "Ball." If the S has really HTF, overpenetration is not an issue worth thinking about.
Shooter 973
New member
Ball, HP, AP, or soft point.
My personal favorite is AP, it will do anything that ball will do and then some. Penitration of cover may become very important in a combat or firefight situation. In WW2 the Bar man was issued AP for his mags because it would penitrate walls and trees. I've tried it out of my 30-06s and it sails right thru trees and car bodys like a hot knife thru butter. Plus the AP that I have tried out has shot almost as good as match ammo for me. I don't see any down side to the AP with a little soft point available for soft targets or hunting.
My personal favorite is AP, it will do anything that ball will do and then some. Penitration of cover may become very important in a combat or firefight situation. In WW2 the Bar man was issued AP for his mags because it would penitrate walls and trees. I've tried it out of my 30-06s and it sails right thru trees and car bodys like a hot knife thru butter. Plus the AP that I have tried out has shot almost as good as match ammo for me. I don't see any down side to the AP with a little soft point available for soft targets or hunting.
Ball is good if you need to shoot through trees or walls, but soft point will make a wound that is much more severe.
I am basing this statement on the graphs available in the link below. I do not have first hand knowledge, but the statistics shown at the link provided are impressive. I have no real life experience at wounding humans, but I do know that .223 ball will pass through a bowling pin without knocking it down. Soft point will knock it down every time. This is digressing a bit, as I am adressing the graphs for 7.62X51 in the link.
I have found one load and am looking for others that will cycle reliably in a semi-auto. If ball was the end-all, they would not have developed the soft point. JMHO.
http://www.vnh.org/EWSurg/ch02/02Projectiles.html
I am basing this statement on the graphs available in the link below. I do not have first hand knowledge, but the statistics shown at the link provided are impressive. I have no real life experience at wounding humans, but I do know that .223 ball will pass through a bowling pin without knocking it down. Soft point will knock it down every time. This is digressing a bit, as I am adressing the graphs for 7.62X51 in the link.
I have found one load and am looking for others that will cycle reliably in a semi-auto. If ball was the end-all, they would not have developed the soft point. JMHO.
http://www.vnh.org/EWSurg/ch02/02Projectiles.html
