FMJ vs Soft Points for hunting

[Dagostino480]

I recently came accross a great example on the use of soft point ammunition for hunting instead of the FMJ which should mainly be used in target shooting.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5AXE_nBs2gw

[spamsucker]

FMJ should be used for almost nothing, especially target shooting. Only combat between national armies really requires FMJ for any reason and that's mainly a legal one, not a technical one (though FMJ does help penetrating barriers in combat so I guess there is a little technical reason, even if it's situationally specific).

I dislike FMJ for target shooting of any sort. Soft points are more likely to expand, fragment and lose energy after a marginal hit or a miss that strikes dirt meaning that stuff off to the side and downrange is at much less risk of damage. FMJ's are vastly more likely to deflect without fragmentation or expansion. Some would term that as an increased ricochet potential which to me is contraindicated in practice ammunition.

If you need to penetrate something hard they're great. Beyond that, no bwaynoh.

EDIT: And what kind of dolt would use FMJ for big (but not dangerous/African) game?

[RAMCLAP]

This is a revelation? I can't imagine anyone having such little regard for noble game animals that they would use fmj on them. Yes I understand dangerous game in Africa. But those are large caliber and extremely heavy and can kill instantly.

[DSMeyer]

EDIT: And what kind of dolt would use FMJ for big (but not dangerous/African) game?

Well how else am I going to have my .223 penetrate non varmit game? Bwah ha ha ha ha

[Divernhunter]

You can add match bullets to the list of bullets that should not be used on game animals------No matter how accurate they are.

[tanks]

This is a revelation? I can't imagine anyone having such little regard for noble game animals that they would use fmj on them. Yes I understand dangerous game in Africa. But those are large caliber and extremely heavy and can kill instantly.

The standard FMJs are not suited even for dangerous game. They will deflect, distort, and not penetrate deeply. What you want is a solid bullet. Here are a couple of brass 500 grain bullets recovered from elephants. The one on the left went through the skull and was recovered from the spine (6ft+ penetration), the one on the right went through the right shoulder, traversed through the elephant and was recovered from the opposite hip (almost 10ft of penetration).

[bambam8d1]

I wouldn't ever recommend using FMJs for hunting.

[Huntsprig]

FMJ is not legal in California for hunting.

with softnose or expanding projectiles; bow and arrow (see Section 354, Title 14, CCR, for archery equipment regulations); or wheellock, matchlock, flintlock or percussion type, including "in-line" muzzleloading rifles using black powder or equivalent black powder substitute, including pellets, with a single projectile loaded from "projectile" is defined as any bullet, ball, sabot, slug, buckshot or other device which is expelled from a firearm through a barrel by force.

[Thefeeder]

FMJ is not legal in California for hunting.

Bingo!

[elx144]

FMJ is not legal in California for hunting big game.

fixed it for you

[elk hunter]

FMJ is not legal in California for hunting.

In other states a solid or FMJ is legal and by some used to take big game every season. Shot placement and penetration are King using ANY bullet.

[DSMeyer]

FMJ is not legal in California for hunting.

I think you meant to type "hunting is soon not to be legal in California"

[elk hunter]

I think you meant to type "hunting is soon not to be legal in California"

Well, I figure it will be illegal to hunt there someday. the Sacto-Nut jobs sort of have a real good start on it. I was born and raised there and spent most of my life there until I broke out and found a place to escape to so I "know" what it WAS and I saw what it became and watched where it went since my escape. I still have family and friends there and I feel really bad for their environment and what Calif. is but there is nothing I can do about it from there or here.

[Shoot-it]

I shot a few squirrels with fmj Sunday but that's because we ran out of sp and vmax and we were shooting down into a low point. Ricocheting is my biggest concern using fmj for varmints.