Posted: 12/30/2007 2:34:26 PM EDT
| In a SHTF situation would you prefer hollow points for max flesh damage or solid bullets for penetration. Assume you have mid weight (grain) bullets in 9mm,.40 or 45 cal. |
Ah Geez AR, everybodies gotta learn sometimes.  The answer looking for is "What's best for the job." as general answer but in the calibers you mentioned, they aren't going to be doing that much more penetrating no matter what you use. Stating the obvious, they're pistol calibers. We tend to deal more with prepping here on this forum than ballistics which means most of us probably will have both stashed away. If you really want to get into some whys, I would repost your question rephrased to advantages in the "Handgun Forum". Just so you don't feel left out, I typically like a mag load out first four rounds JHP+P then FMJs. I don't see myself fighting off multiple targets as a high probability for a crime event nor am I a spray and pray kind of guy. After four, if I'm not behind cover, I'm trying stop a car (probably in vain).  Tj |
and/or the ammo forum, www.ar15.com/forums/forum.html?b=3&f=16 and/or read the ammo forum FAQ, www.ar15.com/content/page.html?id=237 and/or read OP's Box of Truth-ness, www.theboxotruth.com/
9mm Speer Gold Dot 124gr +P, top to bottom. ar-jedi ps: how was my recovery, TJ? 
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| I personally think way to much time is spent thinking about this. The way I look at it you hit a bad guy with any kind of bullet and he is going to have a change in attitude real quick. I don't see someone saying "oh its just a 55gr FMJ nothing to worry about. Now if was HP I'd have to stop what I'm doing and reevaluate the situation." The most important criteria for me is accuracy. I'll take a more accurate bullet over a more damaging bullet any day of the week. Second is cost. If I can buy 5000 FMJ bullets for the cost of 1000 fancy/shmancy HP bullets then its no contest. |
+1 People die from .22's... that should say something... |
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I have a core stock of good quality HP's for home defense and SHTF. Once they are depleated (if I am alive), I will feel perfectly well armed with the other 2 or 3,000 rds. of ball ammo I have on hand at any one time. I do believe that fmj has a place for long term use. |
| Out of my stash of 7k in 9mm and 45ACP, only 700 is HP. All the rest is FMJ ball ammo. I rotate my carry ammo every three months with new production 124+P and 200+P Speer Gold Dot. If it gets bad enough that I have fired very much handgun ammo at people, then I am going to be carrying a rifle. All my rifle HP rounds are match rounds that don't really count. I keep alot of ball ammo for training. As well as SHTF, I sometimes worry about ammo shortages or bans. I also use the brass for great reloads. I can reload HP if necessary. |
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Ya, just FMJ here too. It's cheap(er) and realistically, I have some very limited training, shoot semi-regularly and own reliable weapons; in my mind I already have the upperhand. The money I save buying FMJ just means I can shoot more; which would concievably mean I have a better chance of defending myself as shot placement is more critical than the wound channel. Speed |
| in my carry weapon, i load up both, rotating btwn HP and FMJ. if i had to pull the trigger, i'd be pulling it twice (at least) - at the same target. if for some reason the HP did not immediately do the job (e.g., layers of leather and denim, etc., then the second follow up shot of FMJ should punch through and cause the desired effect. |
+1 I've also got a few spare mags loaded with black talons just because they were quite a bit cheaper and they get rave reviews. I don't stock up heavy on pistol caliber hollow points. If the SHTF really seriously and I have to watch my handgun ammo then I'll be taking TJ's advice with the 4 hollow points on top and the rest FMJ. |
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To recap the ammo forum faq: (for .223/5.56 ammo) Loads for Defense 1. Loads using the Nosler 77gr or Hornady 75gr OTM bullet. 2. Loads using the Sierra 77gr MK. 3. Loads using the 68gr Hornady OTM. <-- BEST PRICE/PERFORMANCE IMHO 4. Loads using the 69gr Sierra MK. 5. Loads using Trophy-Bonded Bear Claw bullets. (not readily available) 6. Loads using the Winchester 64gr PowerPoint bullet. 7. M193-class ammo, 55gr FMJ-BT bullet. 8. M855-class ammo, 62gr FMJ-BT bullet with mild steel penetrator in the nose. Loads To Avoid Anything loaded with a varmint bullet; all varmint bullets in this caliber will under penetrate from all guns. This means NO VMax bullets (including TAP loads), NO Nosler/Combined Technologies "Ballistic Tip" bullets. |
I have both for my 9mm. Half are 115gr. Speer Gold Dots and half are 115gr. Rainer round nose. Since I reload I have the best of both worlds. Either bullet styles are no good if it does not hit the mark. |