Posted on 07/31/2013 12:45:30 PM PDT by 1rudeboy
So I know a guy who knows a guy who owns a Walther PPK. He's asking whether to load FMJ or JHP, purely for self-defense. It's not his primary weapon . . . he just wants to know what to keep in the magazines.
Hollows man, go for expansion.
Take a hint from hunters, go for hollow points, or better yet controlled high expansion rounds like gold dot.
JHP
Check the gun forums for discussions of the Seecamp .32 pistol - some of those guys have studied the caliber’s capabilities. Seems like I’ve seen recommendations to go with the FMJ, but I can’t be sure.
First three comments practically settle it . . . I only asked (on his behalf) because there appears to be some “controversy” when I did the research (on his behalf).
Ouch!
I can’t resist. How’d you get shot in the buttocks?
Run, Forrest! Run!
HP ammo is always preferable for personal defense, but you need to make sure that it’s reliable in your weapon. I’d make sure that it can fire 100 rds. without any FTF’s. If they don’t pass the test, you’re better off using the FMC stuff.
JHP is my personal preference as long as there are zero feeding issues. Take some to the range to check for feeding reliability.
... And is the Free Republic on the screen in the background?
lol
Use FMJ for target practice, as fragmentation can be dangerous if it bounces off a hard target. If you can afford it, go for TMJ (total metal jacket), especially in an indoor range. It completely encases the lead bullet with a copper jacket.
FMJ's don't encase the bottom of the bullet in a jacket. So, a thin layer of lead is vaporized by the powder charge. If the area is not well-ventilated (and even if it is), you breathe the lead vapor and get lead particles all over your hands. Long term, it can cause lead poisoning if you shoot a lot.
Silvertips.
THAT is a great point! I have female family members that carry .32 and .380 self defense weapons. I can't remember which one of them jambs. But one of them won't feed many types of JHP. They don't make it up the ramp before the slide hangs up. If I remember correctly, we did find a type that seemed reliable (50+ rounds). But I do not recall any specifics.
... and STAY off my lawn.
Use hollow points for the same reason the FBI does - to prevent over penetration and hitting an innocent bystander.
At least that is what you say at the trial.
I use Winchester silvertips in my Beretta Tomcat. (.32 ACP) no prob.
But some older pieces, like my Browning Hi-power, are not reliable with JHP.
Proof is in the shooting. Tell him to break down, buy a box, and shoot them.
The PPK can be temperamental with other than FMJ. I found that even among factory magazines some were reliable, some not so much.
FWIW, my Makarov 9x18 digests whatever I load into it with never a hiccup. Commie ammo, postcommie ammo, JHP, all have cycled fine.
But I’ll keep my PPK just the same. 007 & all that.
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