Type ammo in your carry weapon

[Proudtexan]

I was wondering if anyone has heard anything about having your carry weapon loaded with hollow points as being looking for trouble? It was described to me as you could be held liable for injuries caused, because you were looking for trouble and loaded your weapon for maximum damage. It didn't make a lot of sense to me at first, but the more I thought about it, the more wary I became as to sounding like something just stupid enough to be true. Is this been talked about before, any validity to it?

Thanks, Smitty

[Purplehood]

I thought we were supposed to carry "Personal Protection" rounds, and not FMJ "Target-shooting" rounds.

[WildBill]

This topic has been discussed in several other threads. Here is a recent one:

http://www.texasshooting.com/TexasCHL_F ... ds&start=0" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

[Purplehood]

This topic has been discussed in several other threads. Here is a recent one:

http://www.texasshooting.com/TexasCHL_F ... ds&start=0" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

I might have overlooked it, but that seems to address "Reloads" only. I was carrying with FMJ's until I read on the forum that you should be carrying HP's. I always had Ball-ammo in the Military so I thought nothing of it.

[arod757]

Carrying ball rounds is considered dangerous by most because they could penetrate through an attacker and injure an innocent bystander, for which you WILL be held liable.

Hollow point rounds are, by this theory, much safer, as they lose most of their energy almost immediately after expanding, whether it be in a wall or a human. So the chances of hurting an innocent are lessened. They can also cause more damage to internal organs with proper shot placement and hopefully halt your attacker more efficiently. That is, after all, what you're trying to do -- stop the attack, not kill the person.

As I've read on the forum several times, and I subscribe to the notion: If it's a good shoot, the type of gun, ammo, whatever probably won't and IMO shouldn't come into question. At least in Texas anyway.

[WildBill]

Welcome to the Forum Smitty.

Here is a better thread on the FMJ vs Hollowpoint discussion:
http://www.texasshooting.com/TexasCHL_F ... mo#p215080" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

The majority of people do carry Hollowpoint or some other proprietary Self Defense load. As Arod says, the FMJ can be more dangerous to innocents. Most testing shows that they are not as effective stopping the threat of a BG.

[Purplehood]

Oh, oh. That confused me more. Is a .40 S&W considered a small round? If so, the article implies that one should use FMJ rounds.

Please keep in mind that I freely admit to being a complete novice when it comes to the issue of ammo. Every time I crack open an issue of American Rifleman magazine I am reminded of that fact.

[stroo]

Small rounds are .32, .25, .22 etc. Anything .38 special/9mm up should use hollowpoint.

[flb_78]

In my 9mm, I carry Speer Gold Dot 124grn +P.

In my .380, I carry FMJ, but only because I can't find hollow points locally. Ideally, I hope to find some Hornady Critical Defense ammo for it.

[Proudtexan]

Thanks for the quick replies and to the forum. My son and I are looking to get our CHL's and were talking with folks about this when it came up. I stated with the castle type laws that were put in here in Texas, that we were good for that. I would think personal protection would override the "oh you were looking for trouble and intended bodily harm" types. You damn right I intended bodily harm, it's the bg or me and the family. I'm not going to just set there and take it. Thanks also for the other links, I'll look them up as well. I tried to search for something like this before posting but must have missed them. I'm glad I found this forum.

Smitty

[WildBill]

Thanks for the quick replies and to the forum. My son and I are looking to get our CHL's and were talking with folks about this when it came up. I stated with the castle type laws that were put in here in Texas, that we were good for that. I would think personal protection would override the "oh you were looking for trouble and intended bodily harm" types. You darn right I intended bodily harm, it's the bg or me and the family. I'm not going to just set there and take it. Thanks also for the other links, I'll look them up as well. I tried to search for something like this before posting but must have missed them. I'm glad I found this forum.

Smitty

IANAL, but I believe that when you take your CHL class you and your son will be taught that the goal of using your firearm for self defense should be to stop the threat rather than attempting to do bodily harm. Making such a statement that you "darn right wanted to do bodily harm" would do far more damage to your defense than carrying hollowpoint ammunition.

[Proudtexan]

WildBill,

I understand that, which was the feeling I was trying to get accross. Having been told that carrying with hollow points was showing intent. I
hope I would never even think about having to use one, much less have to cause bodily injury. I just can't get a grip on the argument that you were looking for trouble, because you were loaded with hollow point rounds.

Smitty

[WildBill]

WildBill,
I just can't get a grip on the argument that you were looking for trouble, because you were loaded with hollow point rounds. Smitty

I think that most of this type of unfounded fear comes from watching TV and movies and their unrealistic portrayal of lawyers and courtroom trials. There is always a chance that an overzealous anti-gun DA would try to label someone as a vigilante for using hollow points, but it wouldn't prevent me from using this type of ammunition for concealed carry.

When is the last time that you heard of a person confessing to murder while he was being cross examined on the witness stand?

[Proudtexan]

WildBill,

Yes sir, that is too true. Thanks for all of yalls input on this.

[DoubleJ]

I think that Massad's articles should help alleviate this fear in new CHL holders.