At Blackout Arms and Training, we spend a lot of time helping shooters—from first-time gun owners to seasoned professionals—understand not just how to shoot, but why certain choices matter. One of the most common questions we get during classes and consultations is:
“What’s the difference between full metal jacket and hollow point ammo?”
It’s a great question. And the answer can make a big difference depending on whether you’re training at the range or preparing to defend your life.
The Workhorse: Full Metal Jacket (FMJ)
Let’s start with the basics. Full Metal Jacket (FMJ) ammunition is the round most shooters are familiar with. It’s the one you’ll find in bulk packs at the gun store, and it’s what most people use for practice.
FMJ bullets are built with a soft lead core wrapped in a harder metal shell—usually copper. This design helps the bullet maintain its shape and penetrate cleanly through targets. That’s great for punching paper or steel, but it also means FMJs tend to over-penetrate when used in defensive situations. In other words, they can go through a threat and keep going, which poses a serious risk in populated environments.
We recommend FMJ for:
- Range training
- Firearms qualification
- General practice
They’re reliable, affordable, and feed well in most firearms. But when it comes to stopping a threat, FMJs aren’t designed for that job.
The Protector: Hollow Point (HP)
Now let’s talk about Hollow Point (HP) ammunition. These rounds are purpose-built for self-defense. Instead of a solid tip, HP bullets have a hollowed-out cavity at the front. When they strike a soft target, they expand—sometimes dramatically—creating a wider wound channel and transferring more energy into the threat.
This expansion also slows the bullet down, reducing the chance it will exit the target and hit something (or someone) behind it. That’s why law enforcement and responsible civilians alike choose hollow points for concealed carry and home defense.
We recommend HP for:
- Personal protection
- Home defense
- Duty carry
Yes, they cost more. But when lives are on the line, performance matters more than price.
Why It Matters
Imagine this: You’re at the range, working on your draw and fire drills. FMJ is perfect for this—cheap, consistent, and easy to find. But later that night, when you load your carry gun before heading out, you switch to hollow points. Why? Because in a real-world defensive encounter, you want a round that stops the threat quickly and safely.
At Blackout Arms and Training, we believe in purpose-driven preparation. That means understanding your gear, your environment, and your mission. FMJ and HP rounds each have their place—but knowing when to use which is part of being a responsible, informed gun owner.
