This is mainly due to the fact that FMJ rounds are significantly cheaper than your average hollow point. It's also due to the fact that, from a “put the attacker down†point of view, FMJ rounds aren't exactly ideal. That's not to say that FMJ rounds are useless for defense. Far from it, in fact.
Hollow point bullets are too brutal for warfare, yet U.S. police use them. The amount of different kinds of bullets available for both civilian and professional use is immense but can mostly be put into one of two categories: full metal jacket or hollow point.
The FMJ is better for military applications because of its penetration capabilitys. When shooting doors, walls with people behind them, people in vehicles, aircraft, boats and anything else that the enemy has that needs to be shot, its the best thing going.
The hollow-points, which expand when they hit flesh, are banned in warfare as inhumane by the Hague Declaration and the Geneva Conventions because they cause great damage to internal organs and tissue.
The purpose of these rounds is to hold their trajectory, and they have greater penetration against soft tissue. These rounds are ideal for target shooting since they do not expand much when hitting their target. The down side to FMJ in self defense is the risk of unintended impact further down the range.
FMJ loads are full metal jacket ammo and are most commonly used by shooters for range training or during competitions that require high-volume shooting. These rounds are not designed to expand on impact with a soft target, making them a poor choice for self-defense or hunting in most scenarios.
To put things simply, while FMJ does work in Warzone, it is unlikely to be a perk that many players will want. That is because FMJ does not increase damage against enemy players, and it does not improve a weapon's abilities against armor, as that is not considered equipment.
The FMJ is less expensive than the JHP. Use FMJ ammo for recreational shooting, training, and other situations where you are not concerned with how much damage you can inflict. The JHP does more damage to a living target than the FMJ. Use JHP ammo for when you wish to turn your firearm into a weapon for self-defense.
Armour Piercing are just for use against enemies and players with body armour on. AP rounds will almost ignore armor and bulletproof helmets. FMJ rounds will break and go through bullet-resistant and bulletproof glass as if it were normal glass. As others have said, FMJ also deals higher damage on normal vehicle hits.
To answer the OP's question, you can use range ammo for self defense but if other SD ammo is available then use it for sure. The most important thing is shot placement. A hit to the arm with the highest priced bullet will not be as effective as a hit to the chest region with a range bullet.
Short answer: with several very good JHP alternatives on the market, I would not recommend FMJ as a defensive round for any of my personal carry pistols, in any of the common "carry" pistol calibers except perhaps . 380ACP. While FMJ should be able to penetrate deep enough in a short-bbl .
Are hollow point bullets legal for civilian use? Yes, everywhere in the U.S. — with one exception. The state of New Jersey bans civilians from possessing hollow point ammo unless they're at home or hunting. Partly because some people assume that a bullet designed to inflict greater damage must therefore be less humane.
Dumdum bullets (also referred to as 'Dum-Dum bullets') are a type of expanding bullet prohibited by international treaty in 1899. For more information on dumdum bullets and other expanding bullets, see the detailed entry on expanding bullets in the Weapons section of the Encyclopaedia.
The whole point of using FMJ is that you have an increased chance to shoot through surfaces. You should note that this does not do more damage to your opponent. It simply allows you to shoot through your cover, increasing your chances to damage someone.
The two most common types of self defense carry rounds, are JHP (Jacketed Hollow Points) and JHPBT (Jacketed Hollow Point Ballistic Tip). The difference between these two is exactly what it seems, the ballistic tip.
Many gun enthusiasts disregard the deadly potential some kinds of handgun calibers have. However, any bullet – small or large – that travels at a high rate of speed will get through body armor. Huge handgun rounds such as . 357 SIG and 9mm guns travel at a quicker speed and can't stop them as easily.
In spite of the influence military firearms have had on the modern deer hunter, traditional military rounds are not necessarily the best choice for deer hunting. Traditional, military-style, full metal jacket (FMJ) bullets produce maximum penetration and hold their shape upon impact with soft issue.