JHP or FMJ for defensive carry?

[cmgee67]

Just seeing yalls thoughts of JHP or FMJ rounds for defensive carry. I currently carry hornady critical defense 115gr JHPs in my Glock 19 but have often though an FMJ would work just as well. I know the JHP causes more damage and the FMJ will penetrate a lot more sometimes over penetrate but do any of you carry FMJ instead of JHP and why?

[AF-Odin]

Simple answer, what do PDs carry? Some form of JHP. As stated, over penetration!!

[parabelum]

The only exception for fmj in my EDC would be 230 gr .45 fmj. Everything else, jhp.
In a 9mm especially, go heavy and/or fast (147 or 125+P).

[Javier730]

My fmjs are for target practice and for when poop hits the fan (luckily for me it hasnt) since I have more if it. Hollow points for carry 100% of the time.

[Jusme]

+1 on the Hornady Critical Defense. I only use FMJ for practice, FMJ has no consistent expansion, so I would never want it for self defense, plus as everyone else has said over penetration. I want all of the energy expended inside my target.

[crazy2medic]

What everybody else said FMJ too much penetrate, my choice 230gr hydrashoks

[Jketchum]

The only exception for fmj in my EDC would be 230 gr .45 fmj. Everything else, jhp.
In a 9mm especially, go heavy and/or fast (147 or 125+P).

I agree, however I do keep jhp in my XDs .45 my 9mm & .357sig always have jhp when carried.

[Glockedandlocked]

FMJ over penetrates, it's good for range ammo and maybe a a problem arises type stash, but for serious carry jhp should be necessary.

Do your research, find the weight, and maker that you like and carry on.

Personally I carry the same ammo we use at work, Rem Golden Sabers, 124 gr JHP. They are effective and not too terribly expensive.


It is all about expansion and shock, making bigger wound channels and causing bleed out if a central nervous system hit is not achieved.

[longhorn86]

230 gr .45 ACP Gold Dots for carry, FMJ are strictly for the range

[K.Mooneyham]

The NYPD, once upon a time, mandated that their officers carry FMJ instead of JHP, which was getting a bad rap in the press. The number of shoot-throughs of suspects and ricochets from misses (which sometimes struck bystanders) rose considerably. After some time, they went back to JHP, and at the present time, they carry Speer Gold Dot 9mm +P 124g.

[ghostrider]

I think there are a few options:

1. JHP
2. JHP

or....
3. JHP


:-)

[oljames3]

JHP.

[joe817]

Well, there are some exceptions to the tried and tested(and proved valid) rule to ALWAYS use JHP's in SD rounds.

EXCEPT when a 'small gun' round is used. EG: .380. acp, .32 acp and Heaven forbid, even smaller.

and Don't even think of using FMJ rounds in larger calibers.

[Pawpaw]

Another thing to consider is that FMJ is much more likely to deflect when it hits bone, turning a well placed shot into one that hits nothing vital.

JHP on the other hand has a better chance of digging into the bone and smashing it's way through with little deflection.

I remember reading an article about up close fighting and how a shot to the pelvic girdle could put an attacker on the ground then and there. 230gr JHP was pretty consistent in that regard, but 230gr FMJ had a tendency to just ride along the bone without doing much damage.