Handgun Ammunition - Components and Differences

You always hear how "Guns kill people" - "People kill people", well they are all wrong, it is the ammunition that kills people. Without ammunition the handgun would be nothing more than an expensive blunt force instrument.

Practice and Defensive

Practice ammunition is usually lead, full metal jacket, FMJ or copper washed projectiles that are a round bullet shape. These are less expensive to purchase because the ammunition manufacturers produce millions of them, therefore keep the cost per cartridge down. This type of bullet or projectile is usually not used for self-defense because of the inherit features. These projectiles if shot into soft tissue will usually exit that body with enough energy to injure or kill the person behind the 1st body. NOT something you want to happen in a self-defense situation.

Defensive Ammunition or hollow points are specifically designed to use for self-defense and offensive use. The design of the bullets have been engineered to allow them to expand in soft tissue causing the maximum amount of damage without over penetrating the 1st body with enough energy to injure or kill the person behind them. There are so many brands and types of defensive ammunition on the market today that we can't possibly critique each of them here. There are also a few specialty rounds on the market that we would be happy to discuss with you one on one. Just allow us to interject this: We have a close friend who runs the firearms forensics division of a large northwestern city crime lab. He recently reviewed 10,000 autopsies to determine which caliber and which manufacturer with in that caliber was the best for self defense. He found a few minor differences, however nothing  notable enough to mention. The conclusion of the paper was that all the manufacturers bullets pretty much operated as designed and the most common factor was: It was more important where you out them and how many you out there than what you out there.

Every knowledgeable person you ask about the right ammunition to carry in your defensive gun will most likely have a different opinion based on experience or urban legend. Bottom line just buy a quality brand of ammunition, keep practicing and continue your firearms education.