Is hollow point less likely to penetrate body armor?

[bushmaster1313]

New Jersey restricts hollow-point handgun ammunition, but I would think hollow points less likely to penetrate body armor.

Is hollowpoint more dangerous to our men and women in uniform?

 

[rcmodel]

No.
It is safer.

Penetration against soft body armor worn by cops?
Not much difference.

Penetration in a BG's soft tissue is less, incapacitation is more.
So fewer shots might be necessary, and over-penetration less likely.

So innocent bystanders like another cop or back-up arriving at the scene, or a civilian walking the dog a block away are less likely to be hit by stray or excess shots.

Just because a government outlaws or bans it doesn't mean it has to make any sense.

rc

 

[bigfatdave]

(hint, the real answer is that the NJ law is stupid)

 

[Telekinesis]

The vast majority of hand gun ammunition will not penetrate body armor unless it's specifically designed to. There are some exceptions (apparently the 7.62x25 gave vest designers headaches for a while until they finally managed to find something that would stop it) but very few. FMJ vs HP doesn't really matter.

Generally FMJ has more chance of over penetration and poorer terminal ballistics than HP. I'm not sure why NJ would restrict that type of ammo. I would bet good money that NJ police carry HPs though.

 

[baylorattorney]

Makes little difference in the analysis. Body armor (Kevlar) acts more like a net than a barrier. Bullet diameter is the key to penetration as well as power.

 

[FMF Doc]

The NJ law has nothing to do with vest penetration. There was a really good article writting my Ayoob that got into it. I don't have the link right now but I'll bet if you wanted to, you could find it. Probably not going to make a difference becuase like ballor above said, a vest will act like a net and likely clog even some of the best hollow points turning them essentially into FMJs. Modern body armor is designed with this in mind. That being said, there are some hunters out there with hard-cast, HOTT! .357Mag loads that would give any soft armor (and some hard) that I have seen a run for its money.

 

[Loosedhorse]

The NJ law concerns "hollow-nose" and "dum-dum" ammunition.

In 1898, the German government lodged a protest against the use of the Mark IV [dum-dum-like] bullet, claiming the wounds produced by the Mark IV were excessive and inhumane, thus violating the laws of war...

...the American military delegate, Captain Crozier, whose country was about to make use of them in the Philippines [, defended dum-dums, saying:] "The civilized soldier when shot recognizes that he is wounded and knows that the sooner he is attended to the sooner he will recover. He lies down on his stretcher and is taken off the field to his ambulance, where he is dressed or bandaged. Your fanatical barbarian, similarly wounded, continues to rush on, spear or sword in hand; and before you have the time to represent to him that his conduct is in flagrant violation of the understanding relative to the proper course for the wounded man to follow - he may have cut off your head."

Taken from wiki.

The dum-dums rep as an inhumane and illegal bullet likely led to the NJ law; but as every NJ PD uses expanding bullets, it is long past time for that law to be crossed out.

Is hollowpoint more dangerous to our men and women in uniform?

My guess is they would tell you they would not prefer to be shot by either. More importantly, shooting LEOs is not the use that the law-abiding gun-owners of NJ would have for HPs.

 

[Lawdawg45]

New Jersey restricts hollow-point handgun ammunition, but I would think hollow points less likely to penetrate body armor.

Is hollowpoint more dangerous to our men and women in uniform?

Generally not, depending on the threat level of the vest. As a rule, sharp objects like a knife or arrow (yes, some idiots have fired a crossbow at Officers) will penetrate the vest like warm butter, but a HP will flatten out against it.

LD

 

[bigfatdave]

Also pretty much any rifle round will punch a basic body armor set easily ... the law isn't baout protecting po-po, it is about control.

 

[Lawdawg45]

Makes little difference in the analysis. Body armor (Kevlar) acts more like a net than a barrier. Bullet diameter is the key to penetration as well as power.

I agree as long as you mean a smaller diameter. A .44 magnum will not penetrate a III A threat level, but a 22 LR will zing right through it.

LD

 

[theicemanmpls]

Another internet rumor. "22's will penatrate LEO's vests" If that were true, more bad guys would be taking on the cops using buckmarks, and 10/22's.

Read the attached link for NIJ Standard-0101.06.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ballistic_vest

 

[NG VI]

Neither will pass through a IIIA vest.

 

[Lawdawg45]

Another internet rumor. "22's will penatrate LEO's vests" If that were true, more bad guys would be taking on the cops using buckmarks, and 10/22's.

Read the attached link for NIJ Standard-0101.06.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ballistic_vest

My last vest was a Second Chance and a 22 LR was the first caliber listed that would penetrate the armor. The new models may differ though.

LD

 

[brickeyee]

A .22 LR fired from what?

Rifle length barrels really increase penetration.

 

[xXxplosive]

IMO............Gun Control in NJ isn't really about guns as most of the firearms laws here make little sense...it's more about "Control" of the masses who reside here on this parcel called New Jersey. We're told What, Where, When and How....every day....and are charged the highest, most rediculous rates and taxes our EO's can get away with.

 

[mrmeangenes]

NJ Laws

xxplosive, I used to feel the same way about our restrictive gun laws, until the day I took a good look around me---and saw how damned congested we are !

There are few places in our state ( I live in one) where a shot fired-for any reason - is not in danger of hitting an unintended "target".

Some of the people who might become one of those unintended targets cry out LOUDLY and persistently , and rally supporters to their "holy cause" : thereby creating a political groundswell that is hostile to guns and gun owners.

Stir in more Tort lawyers per square inch (another form of congestion) , and things get sticky: agencies charged with regulation regulate like crazy-because it is the safest, sanest thing to do.

 

[Super Sneaky Steve]

.17 HMR will go through some armor.
http://youtu.be/FwMDdYnEvjw

But that shouldn't matter. We have a right to defend ourselves from all threats, including bad guys wearing vests or even an out of control crazy cop.