Are hollow points necessary in certain calibers?

[mudoven]

Specifically, do you really think you have to run hollow points in certain powerful/large calibers? The 230 grain FMJ .45 ACP served our military well for a very long time and will definitely get the job done, as will magnum offerings (.357, .41, .44, .500, etc) featuring round nosed lead or wadcutter bullets.

The only downside I see regarding the aforementioned caliber/bullet combinations would possibly be over penetration, but other than that, what do you all think?

[Mkc451]

but they cost more and are way more Cooooool, just ask the folks that sell them.

But overall I consider it a moot point. You don't have to practice with expensive defensive ammo, but you can carry it w/o the cost being to high. If it is too high, carry what you can afford ... what you have on you at the time is what you use I guess.

[postban]

Bigger is always better when talking handgun calibers and the low speeds. Placement is always king but the biggest hole you can make in the threat is the best, in terms of bleed out/ shutdown.
9mm cannot open to 45 numbers 45 fmj does not need to open.
That being said I'm a 10mm jhp guy.

[DeSchaine]

Necessary? No. Desired? Abso-floggin-lutely. Though it depends more on the situation than the caliber being used. Speaking for some of my fellow 11 series (Army) and 0300 series (USMC), there were a lot of times where the FMJ was great: shooting into light vehicles, through doors, etc. There were other times where use of an FMJ on an target in the open did not work as well as we would have liked, and left some of us cursing the various treaties and RoEs that banned the use of hollow points. Thankfully, the Army has seen the light and given the green light to JHP for use in sidearms now.

[Outlander]

Wadcutters are not for meat, they are for punching nice round holes in paper for score. FMJ's do not expand and quite often create less trauma. If your life is at stake, what would you prefer for defensive ammo?

[Leader]

If you think you need a 45 or a magnum, you NEED hollow points.

[vansic26]

Bigger is always better when talking handgun calibers and the low speeds. Placement is always king but the biggest hole you can make in the threat is the best, in terms of bleed out/ shutdown.
9mm cannot open to 45 numbers 45 fmj does not need to open.
That being said I'm a 10mm jhp guy.

Not sure I'm reading your post right but most seld defense 9mm open up larger then .45, a few even breaking the .7" mark in testing. So a 9mm self defense is generally going to create a much more devastating wound then a 45 fmj.

https://www.luckygunner.com/labs/sel...tic-tests/#9mm

[SIX29]

FMJ, ball ammo was required, due to Geneva Convention.

[Ol` Joe]

Wadcutters are not for meat, they are for punching nice round holes in paper for score. FMJ's do not expand and quite often create less trauma. If your life is at stake, what would you prefer for defensive ammo?

Wad cutters cut a nice large hole in meat as well as paper. Part of the effectiveness of HPs is the large flat surface they produce vs a FMJs poking a hole that closes back up.
Don’t dismiss the WC as either a defensive or hunting bullet at most normal handgun ranges

[Roundballer]

The mission drives the gear. Use the best performing ammo that delivers all of its energy to the target. Look to what your local LE uses. My locals use .40cal JHP.

FMJ, ball ammo was required, due to Geneva Convention.

Actually it was one of the Hague conventions that addressed ammo. The Geneva Convention mostly addressed the treatment of prisoners.