FMJ vs. Hollow Point
When to use full metal jacket and when to use hollow points — the practical difference explained.
The Bottom Line
The two big categories of handgun ammo do different jobs. Full metal jacket (FMJ, or 'ball') ammo is cheap, feeds reliably, and is what you use for practice, training, and high-volume range time. It does not expand, so it penetrates deeply and over-penetrates more readily — which is why it's a poor choice for defense. Jacketed hollow points (JHP) are designed to expand on impact, transferring energy and reducing over-penetration, which makes them the standard for carry and home defense.
The simple rule most shooters follow: practice with FMJ to save money, carry premium JHP for defense, and confirm your defensive load runs reliably in your specific gun. Hollow points cost more and occasionally feed differently than ball ammo, which is exactly why the 'test it in your gun' step matters. For range plinking, ball ammo is perfectly fine and far easier on the wallet.