Use FMJ for Self Defense?

Once you get a hold of a box of JHP for self defense use, keep them in a magazine/cylinder and they will last a life time.
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Actually, this isn't completely correct. Ammo in a box will last a lifetime, or certainly can do so more easily than ammo in a cylinder and sometimes magazine. I have seen folks kill primers due to exposure of the ammo to gun oils due to routine maintenance of guns, especially revolvers.
 
Point being; you don't have any reason to be shooting your self defense HP ammunition. And if a person isn't smart enough to pull the ammo out prior to cleaning and lubing; and don't have the gun back to operational status prior to putting the ammo back in the magazine; then I don't know what to say. But there's a lot of people who have some misguided belief that they need "FRESH" ammo in their gun, and that they somehow need to practice and/or shoot their SD ammo once in a while. You don't. This isn't even an opinion. It's simply fact and logic. There might be an accuracy issue between ammo when shooting 25-50 YARDS at a target. But when shooting in self defense, at 20-30 feet maximum distance, accuracy is not an issue. I personally don't have a cylinder or magazine drenched in oil when it's ready for duty. After it's cleaned, I grease mechanical parts; oil down the rest; and wipe it down to leave a film.
 
Agreed. Not to mention that premium JHPs these days have laquered primer pockets. It would take a serious soaking in oil and over a very long period of time before the oils can contaminate the primers.
 
Double Naught Spy said:
Actually, that appears to be a huge exception rather than the norm. I know of very few stores that would require you to buy hollowpoint ammo in lots of 1000 or more rounds. Many don't even have that in stock. So I can't imagine that they would not be willing to break open cases to sell boxes especially when they make more from selling boxes rather than cases.

JohnKSa noted 9mm. Sportsmans Guide has 380 and 9mm. Ammo to go has 9mm.
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That particular offer was made to me by an Oregon Wolf Ammo rep. I bumped into him at the shooting range where I typically go (He was letting people shoot 5 rds. of 50 BMG for $15!) Anyway, gave me his number and said he could sell me 1000 rds. of 9mm for $249. Reasonable, I suppose but I just don't have that kind of cash...

Finally found some ammo at Ammo to Go! Some 9mm Speer Gold Dot LE and S&B .380 auto. Probably going to shoot a magazine of both just to make sure my pistols don't have an issue with them, then sit tight and wait for some White Box to hit the shelves.
 
Hi,
A good JHP indeed creates a larger wound cavity and has less chances of over-penetration the FMJ. (JHP are not guaranteed not to over penetrate, and some expand better than others)

However, if one looks at the amount of deaths caused by FMJ's particularly by 9mmp and 0.45, fired from SMG's and pistols in conflicts all over, then FMJ's are definitely deadly.

In South Africa or example, the police carries a 9mm Berreta 92 immitation, and uses only FMJ. it accounts for a couple of BG's almost every single day, many times several in one day.


The most important factors are feed-reliability and shot(s) placement.

The possibility of over-penetration, particularly at short ranges is very real, but I dont think that one is more likely to take chances ans shoot when over-penetration may hit a by-stander when he carries JHP ( I certainly will not take chances).

I think that if all you have is FMJ and they feed reliably (they are more likely to feed well than some JHP's) then you should be fine.


Brgds,

Danny
 
In a pinch you can use FMJ. The US military uses 9mm fmj :rolleyes:

However from now on, you need to remember that 9mm FMJ is for range use, and whenever you see a box of JHP in the flavor that you like, you buy it.

I have 500 round of my favorite 9mm jhp and 1000 rounds of FMJ WWB in storage. Its my ammo pantry. I just keep rotating the old ammo to the range and replace it with fresh, but I will never let that pantry fall short.
 
"Mr .45" aka Jeff Cooper said hardball always worked fine for him in a large bore, that's why he advocated it. Also fewer legal hassles with FMJ. I agree Shot Placement is King, not always so easy under stressful conditions. That's why we carry repeaters.
 
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