What does "full metal jacket" mean in describing ammo?

Question

What are some of the alternative types?

Not meant to be scary, I was just wondering from the title of movie and a show I saw on "Myth Busters."
I don't even own a gun.

Answer 1

A full-metal-jacket (FMJ) bullet is one designed not to expand at all. It is the standard military ammo under the terms of the Geneva Convention. I suppose the idea is that FMJ bullets are 'humane,' less likely to kill (and more likely to maim thus inflicting more 'cost' on the 'enemy.' A wounded soldier requires two or more to remove the wounded from the battle front and then treat). FMJ bullets are also more likely to penetrate light armor.

Usually the full-metal-jacket that surrounds the 'soft' lead bullet is made of hard copper or nickel and sometimes even steel (which will cause premature barrel wear if continually used). These will 'expand' or deform if they strike something harder than flesh, bone and muscle. FMJ bullets are not suitable for hunting and should only be used for target practice.

Other bullet types are: Soft point or tip (they'll have an exposed soft lead tip); semi-jacketed-soft-point (half a copper jacket with an exposed flat lead tip); hollow-point (soft lead with a 'hole' on the nose and no jacket); hollow-point semi-jacketed (half a copper jacket with an exposed lead tip with a hole in it); prefragmented (shot in an epoxy matrix--very devastating but low penetration); snake/rat shot (plastic capsule filled with shot) for shooting vermin.

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Answer 2

Full Metal Jacket Bullet

Answer 3

This Site Might Help You.

RE:
What does "full metal jacket" mean in describing ammo?
What are some of the alternative types?

Answer 4

The above are pretty much correct. The effect of a full metal jacket is to zip through the target without expanding. They were used in the military to inflict injury. Just made a neat (if there is such a thing) hole through you while breaking bone and everything else in its path but not causing the tissue hemmoraging that soft points do in hunting applications.

They may also have had some application in blasting through metal and bullet proof vests. The fact is that no vest can stand up to any modern high caliber rifle regardless of the bullet composition.

Answer 5

You can buy FMJ bullets,,, but they would be commonly available is pistol cartridges and military rifle cartridges. Most states prohibit the use of FMJ on game animals ( possible exceptions for predators and fur harvesters). FMJ will punch right through animals with no expansion and just are not reliable killers for hunting use. Hollow points tend to fragment and shed jacket material. They don't explode on contact. Deer have thin skin and hollow points usually don't expand correctly on that kind of carcass. Tell your buddy to save the hollow points for self defense.. they usually work very good on people. Most hunting bullets utilize a soft point jacket bullet made to expand on contact, retain weight, stay in the carcass and deliver energy to the target.

Answer 6

FMJ or full metal jacket, means the actual bullet, which consists primarily of lead, is encased in a copper jacket.

Answer 7

a full metal jacket describes the copper cladding on a lead bullet designed to increase muzzle velocity and penetration power

Answer 8

Full metel jacket is the outer copper jacketing surrounding the bullet on impact it mushrooms out creating jagged edges cutting arteries on impact

Answer 9

i thought a full metal jacket was the magizine behing full hense the term full metal jacket

Answer 10

that is a scarey question why do you ask? you may need to add that befor you get a good answer