Best FMJ 9mm for self defense? - XDTalk Forums - Your HS2000/SA-XD Information Source!

Vermillion · 08-01-2007, 05:16 AM

I live in NJ, it's against the law to use JHP for anything but "hunting" or "target shooting". I can possess it, but if someone breaks in and I shoot them with it, I get a free ride downtown. So....would I want a +p FMJ? Whats the best NJ LEGAL round I can use without extreme over-penetration? What about .357sig as well as 9mm?

thx

Verk · 08-01-2007, 06:15 AM

Well, there is really no such thing as a good FMJ in 9mm for defense. The 9mm FMJ is notorious for over penetration which in my book, makes using it a big liability. I can not believe you can’t use JHP. I can bet the cops are using it and its use is directly related to the over penetration of FMJ rounds.

For example, if you legally shoot someone in the course of self defense in your house and it goes through that person and flies across the street and hits some little old lady watching the Price Is Right on TV, you will get a ticket to the big house.

You are responsible for every bullet that leaves your gun and that is why I believe that this is the dumbest restriction I have ever heard of. Being required to use FMJ in self defense is an accident waiting for a place to happen. The deck is stack against you either way you go.

Kimura · 08-01-2007, 06:38 AM

Federal makes a 105 gr. expanding full metal jacket. That might be the best option for you. It expands like a soft-point, which should help with the overpenetration issue. As said, if you have to go with a traditional FMJ for self defense, I am gonna have to say you'll need something bigger than a 9mm.

ichy_trigger · 08-01-2007, 06:49 AM

If I had to use a non hollowpoint for self defense, I would shoot pure lead or the expanding FMJ that was mentioned above.

philbo · 08-01-2007, 07:24 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Vermillion

I live in NJ, it's against the law to use JHP for anything but "hunting" or "target shooting". I can possess it, but if someone breaks in and I shoot them with it, I get a free ride downtown. So....would I want a +p FMJ? Whats the best NJ LEGAL round I can use without extreme over-penetration? What about .357sig as well as 9mm?

thx

Standard FMJ would give more penetration than you would want for self defense, +p wouldn't offer anything significant except MORE penetration.

I'm not familiar w/NJ laws, but would Corbon's powerball or glaser rounds be legal? If so they might be part of the solution. Given no hollow point scenario, I'd think seriously of staggering my ammo w/a glaser in the chamber over the EFMJ followed by FMJ in the last 2 rounds. Checking to make sure the combo feeds reliably of course.

Another alternative would be to go to a bigger round like 45acp, 44 special, 45 colt, 357 mag using a soft lead semi wadcutter design. 9mm FMJ doesn't have much to recommend as a SD round.

Prometheus · 08-01-2007, 11:53 AM

In your case if I couldn't get a soft point, I'd go for a 147 grain bullet. Fiocchi makes some great 147grain 9mm.

Sucks you can't use HP's... weird you'd think the cops would want you to use HP's... Much safer for their vests.

**agalindo** · 08-01-2007, 12:03 PM

I wouldn't bother with glaser rounds they're not effective, try the powerballs or softnose bullets.

brewguy · 08-01-2007, 12:08 PM

I've been looking into the Efmj and they seem to work very, very well.

Vermillion · 08-01-2007, 12:13 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by philbo

Standard FMJ would give more penetration than you would want for self defense, +p wouldn't offer anything significant except MORE penetration.

I'm not familiar w/NJ laws, but would Corbon's powerball or glaser rounds be legal? If so they might be part of the solution. Given no hollow point scenario, I'd think seriously of staggering my ammo w/a glaser in the chamber over the EFMJ followed by FMJ in the last 2 rounds. Checking to make sure the combo feeds reliably of course.

Another alternative would be to go to a bigger round like 45acp, 44 special, 45 colt, 357 mag using a soft lead semi wadcutter design. 9mm FMJ doesn't have much to recommend as a SD round.

Cor-bon powrball was what I was looking into, glaser and EFMJ are legal as well. I could use .357 SIG as well as 9mm and a few other rounds, but I would think the sig would over-penetrate even worse, it's not much bigger and balistically much faster round. Where can I get these federal soft tips? I'll have to try those or the cor-bons I guess.

philbo · 08-01-2007, 01:44 PM

Federal EFMJ and a good article about linked from ammoman.com
http://www.ammoman.com/40_EP_DESC.htm

Corbons general site has info and a store front:
http://www.dakotaammo.net/

Powerball from Corbon
http://www.dakotaammo.net/products/glaser/powrball.htm

Also check other online vendors for price and shipping details (Midway, Cabela's, Cheaper than Dirt, Graf & Sons, etc.)

08-01-2007, 05:16 AM	#1
Vermillion XDTalk Member Join Date: Jul 2007 Location: Absecon, NJ Posts: 40	Best FMJ 9mm for self defense? I live in NJ, it's against the law to use JHP for anything but "hunting" or "target shooting". I can possess it, but if someone breaks in and I shoot them with it, I get a free ride downtown. So....would I want a +p FMJ? Whats the best NJ LEGAL round I can use without extreme over-penetration? What about .357sig as well as 9mm? thx __________________ Glock 32 (6k rnds, no mal.) 31, 21SF (1k rnds no mal) \| SIG P226 (every 5th rnd, mal \| Colt Cobra .38 (circa 1983) \| S&W .38 Police Issue (circa 1979, ~20k rnds) \| Taurus Model 85 .38 \| S&W Model 66 6" .357 mag \| S&W Model 629 6" .44 mag \| DPMS AR-15 \| Savage arms .22LR \| Mossberg 500 (10k+ shells no mal) \| Ruger 10/22 \| Romanian AK kit

08-01-2007, 06:38 AM	#3
Kimura XDTalk 100 Member Join Date: Apr 2006 Location: Birmingham, Alabama Posts: 273	Federal makes a 105 gr. expanding full metal jacket. That might be the best option for you. It expands like a soft-point, which should help with the overpenetration issue. As said, if you have to go with a traditional FMJ for self defense, I am gonna have to say you'll need something bigger than a 9mm. __________________ "It isn't that Liberals are ignorant, it's just that they know so much that isn't so" --Ronald Reagan

08-01-2007, 06:49 AM	#4
ichy_trigger XDTalk 5K Member Join Date: Jan 2004 Location: Dayton, Ohio Posts: 8,093	If I had to use a non hollowpoint for self defense, I would shoot pure lead or the expanding FMJ that was mentioned above. __________________ "The person who has nothing for which he is willing to fight, nothing which is more important than his own personal safety, is a miserable creature and has no chance of being free unless made and kept so by the exertions of better men than himself." http://militarysignatures.com/signatures/member2645.png

08-01-2007, 11:53 AM	#6
Prometheus XDTalk 1K Member Join Date: Oct 2006 Posts: 1,093	In your case if I couldn't get a soft point, I'd go for a 147 grain bullet. Fiocchi makes some great 147grain 9mm. Sucks you can't use HP's... weird you'd think the cops would want you to use HP's... Much safer for their vests. __________________ "Always vote for principle, though you may vote alone, and you may cherish the sweetest reflection that your vote is never lost." - John Quincy Adams, 6th President of The United States of America The nra EXPOSED

Thread Tools
Show Printable Version Email this Page
Display Modes
Linear Mode Switch to Hybrid Mode Switch to Threaded Mode

08-01-2007, 06:15 AM	#2
Verk XDTalk 100 Member Join Date: May 2007 Location: Texas Posts: 359	Well, there is really no such thing as a good FMJ in 9mm for defense. The 9mm FMJ is notorious for over penetration which in my book, makes using it a big liability. I can not believe you can’t use JHP. I can bet the cops are using it and its use is directly related to the over penetration of FMJ rounds. For example, if you legally shoot someone in the course of self defense in your house and it goes through that person and flies across the street and hits some little old lady watching the Price Is Right on TV, you will get a ticket to the big house. You are responsible for every bullet that leaves your gun and that is why I believe that this is the dumbest restriction I have ever heard of. Being required to use FMJ in self defense is an accident waiting for a place to happen. The deck is stack against you either way you go.

08-01-2007, 12:08 PM	#8
brewguy XDTalk 100 Member Join Date: Jul 2007 Posts: 284	I've been looking into the Efmj and they seem to work very, very well.

08-01-2007, 01:44 PM	#10
philbo XDTalk 100 Member Join Date: Feb 2006 Location: Houston, Texas Posts: 307	Federal EFMJ and a good article about linked from ammoman.com http://www.ammoman.com/40_EP_DESC.htm Corbons general site has info and a store front: http://www.dakotaammo.net/ Powerball from Corbon http://www.dakotaammo.net/products/glaser/powrball.htm Also check other online vendors for price and shipping details (Midway, Cabela's, Cheaper than Dirt, Graf & Sons, etc.)