We-the-People
Regular Member
imported post
There's also a MAJOR difference between the ammunition used by military forces engaged in combat and that carried by civillians for self defense. The two are entirely different situations with entirely different legal environments.
In military operations, the intent is NOT to kill the enemy but to "reduce" him. That basically means removing his ability to engage in combat operations against you. That can be accomplished by killing him but also by merely wounding him. In an international attempt to minimize the death and suffering on the battlefield, "BALL" (which is Full Metal Jacket) ammunition has been declared the only lawful rounds for use in small arms for use against personnel. This is because the round is intended to penetrate, causing a disabling wound, but not to cause the more massive injuries that an expanding or disentegrating bullet would cause.
There was, and continues to be, a good amount of controvery over rounds such as the 5.56 (M-16) round because, while they are BALL projectiles, they are designed to become unstable upon hitting a human target at which time they tumble and/or break apart. While they comply with the letter of international law on ammunition, they do not comply with the intent of the law.
The situation in civillian self defense is far different. The "mission" still is not to kill but to STOP the threat. However, the civillian environment differs drastically from that of the combat theater. The civillian defender is most likely alone, carrying far less ammunition, and must be concerned with what is behind the target being engaged. For all of these reasons, FMJ or BALL ammunition is NOT suitable for use in civillian self defense. Additionally, it is unlikely for a civillian who has been shot to not have rapid medical care in the form of an ambulance with trained and well equipped paramedics on scene within a few minutes as well as complete trauma services at a nearby hospital. Conditions which are constantly improving for the battlefield casualty. While combat surgeons are highly efficient at treating gunshot wounds, most inner city trauma centers are equally as efficient and probably much more well equipped.
There is NO REASON to not carry hollow point or other commercially available ammunition designed to give your particular choice of round the maximum possible chance of stopping a threat should you find yourself in a situation where you must do so. To do otherwise is, frankly, not responsible.
There's also a MAJOR difference between the ammunition used by military forces engaged in combat and that carried by civillians for self defense. The two are entirely different situations with entirely different legal environments.
In military operations, the intent is NOT to kill the enemy but to "reduce" him. That basically means removing his ability to engage in combat operations against you. That can be accomplished by killing him but also by merely wounding him. In an international attempt to minimize the death and suffering on the battlefield, "BALL" (which is Full Metal Jacket) ammunition has been declared the only lawful rounds for use in small arms for use against personnel. This is because the round is intended to penetrate, causing a disabling wound, but not to cause the more massive injuries that an expanding or disentegrating bullet would cause.
There was, and continues to be, a good amount of controvery over rounds such as the 5.56 (M-16) round because, while they are BALL projectiles, they are designed to become unstable upon hitting a human target at which time they tumble and/or break apart. While they comply with the letter of international law on ammunition, they do not comply with the intent of the law.
The situation in civillian self defense is far different. The "mission" still is not to kill but to STOP the threat. However, the civillian environment differs drastically from that of the combat theater. The civillian defender is most likely alone, carrying far less ammunition, and must be concerned with what is behind the target being engaged. For all of these reasons, FMJ or BALL ammunition is NOT suitable for use in civillian self defense. Additionally, it is unlikely for a civillian who has been shot to not have rapid medical care in the form of an ambulance with trained and well equipped paramedics on scene within a few minutes as well as complete trauma services at a nearby hospital. Conditions which are constantly improving for the battlefield casualty. While combat surgeons are highly efficient at treating gunshot wounds, most inner city trauma centers are equally as efficient and probably much more well equipped.
There is NO REASON to not carry hollow point or other commercially available ammunition designed to give your particular choice of round the maximum possible chance of stopping a threat should you find yourself in a situation where you must do so. To do otherwise is, frankly, not responsible.