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Gel Test Comparison - Full Metal Jacket vs Soft Point Ammunition
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What's the difference between Soft Point and Full Metal Jacket Ammo?
I made a simple video comparing the terminal ballistics of soft point and full metal jacket .223 ammunition. Before you check out the test keep in mind that this is a very small sample size, so take this info with a grain of salt.
What's a Full Metal Jacket?
A bullet that is classified as a Full Metal Jacket (FMJ) features a soft metal core, usually lead, that is encased in metal. The casing or jacket surrounds all of the core except for the base. This is one of the cheapest ways to manufacturer ammunition besides using lead cast bullets. The metal jacket has many advantages over standard cast rounds. It provides the barrel with a bit of protection from core all while increasing muzzle velocity.
What's a Soft Point?
A Soft Point Bullet or Jacketed Soft Point (SP or JSP) is very similar to a FMJ. The soft metal core is surrounded by a harder metal jacket. The difference between a FMJ and a SP is the tip of the projectile. A SP has no jacket protecting the tip of the core. This exposed nose is designed to force the bullet to expand, and often fragment, once it strikes soft tissue.
Which is Better for Defensive Use?
In this test I was hoping to get a clear cut answer to this question. I fully expected the SP to be lodged somewhere in the synthetic gelatin, and the FMJ to pass on through. Of course like any test my expectations were dead wrong.
The SP began expanding around the two inch mark. Immediately from that point the bullet fragmented as it tore through the target. The widest diameter of the permanent cavity was roughly 1.75 inches. Dozens of fragments of the bullet remained in the gel, but surprisingly the SP penetrated the entire 16 inch block. It seems that only a small portion of the bullet over penetrated, but it was an unexpected result.
The FMJ also gave an interesting performance. As it hit the block, we saw the standard FMJ "tumble". The projectile expanded but remained in one piece. The widest portion of its permanent cavity was measured at 1.5 inches. The FMJ was found stuck in the gelatin at the 15 inch mark.
I think this test raises some interesting questions. What kind of ammunition do you think is best for home defense use? Do you think it is advantageous to have a rifle round that fragments as much as the SP, or would you rather use a solid FMJ?
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More Boring test Details
Both rounds used the same brass, Lake City, and were cut to the same length.
They were both loaded with 24 grains of IMR 4320 and loaded with CCI Benchrest Primers.
The projectiles were Hornady 55gr SP and FMJ.
Fired from a DelTon Echo 316 AR-15
Fired from the same distance of 25 meters
What's the difference between Soft Point and Full Metal Jacket Ammo?
I made a simple video comparing the terminal ballistics of soft point and full metal jacket .223 ammunition. Before you check out the test keep in mind that this is a very small sample size, so take this info with a grain of salt.
What's a Full Metal Jacket?
A bullet that is classified as a Full Metal Jacket (FMJ) features a soft metal core, usually lead, that is encased in metal. The casing or jacket surrounds all of the core except for the base. This is one of the cheapest ways to manufacturer ammunition besides using lead cast bullets. The metal jacket has many advantages over standard cast rounds. It provides the barrel with a bit of protection from core all while increasing muzzle velocity.
What's a Soft Point?
A Soft Point Bullet or Jacketed Soft Point (SP or JSP) is very similar to a FMJ. The soft metal core is surrounded by a harder metal jacket. The difference between a FMJ and a SP is the tip of the projectile. A SP has no jacket protecting the tip of the core. This exposed nose is designed to force the bullet to expand, and often fragment, once it strikes soft tissue.
Which is Better for Defensive Use?
In this test I was hoping to get a clear cut answer to this question. I fully expected the SP to be lodged somewhere in the synthetic gelatin, and the FMJ to pass on through. Of course like any test my expectations were dead wrong.
The SP began expanding around the two inch mark. Immediately from that point the bullet fragmented as it tore through the target. The widest diameter of the permanent cavity was roughly 1.75 inches. Dozens of fragments of the bullet remained in the gel, but surprisingly the SP penetrated the entire 16 inch block. It seems that only a small portion of the bullet over penetrated, but it was an unexpected result.
The FMJ also gave an interesting performance. As it hit the block, we saw the standard FMJ "tumble". The projectile expanded but remained in one piece. The widest portion of its permanent cavity was measured at 1.5 inches. The FMJ was found stuck in the gelatin at the 15 inch mark.
I think this test raises some interesting questions. What kind of ammunition do you think is best for home defense use? Do you think it is advantageous to have a rifle round that fragments as much as the SP, or would you rather use a solid FMJ?
_______________________________________________
More Boring test Details
Both rounds used the same brass, Lake City, and were cut to the same length.
They were both loaded with 24 grains of IMR 4320 and loaded with CCI Benchrest Primers.
The projectiles were Hornady 55gr SP and FMJ.
Fired from a DelTon Echo 316 AR-15
Fired from the same distance of 25 meters
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