Can you load FMJ and Hollowpoint in one mag.?

Question

Is it safe to have like the first 6 rounds of a magazine in Hollowpoint , and then have the rest FMJ's??

I think if you had to use the gun and the hollowpoints did not work I would want the last few rounds to pack a punch of FMJ.

Answer 1

I do this with my auto's and revolvers for in home protection.

I stagger the rounds, FMJ...JHP...FMJ...JHP

In other words... through the door... body shot... through the wall... body shot

Out were I live I don't have to worry about over penetration. The only bystanders would be someone who shouldn't be on my property in the first place. If you have people living close to you, ditch the FMJ's.

Answer 2

Sure you can.

In fact, for many years, I've made a habit of having the last cartridge in the magazine be a FMJ round. I tend to use CCI 200 gr. JHP's, aka The Flying Ashtray. They have been known to cause feeding problems in some guns, though I've never had a problem. I use that final FMJ in an effort to ensure the last load feeds as well as the first six, and leaves the gun ready for the next magazine.

BTW, FMJ has no more energy than a JHP, and imparts less energy to the target than a JHP does.

Doc

Answer 3

Shouldn't be a problem they both load the same way. I don't really understand your logic, If hollowpoints don't work I don't know how FMJ's would work better. If you shoot them six times and they don't go down just run away.

With HP's they expand and you don't have to really worry about over penetration. With FMJ's they tend to go completely through. So you have to worry about others, if people may be in the line of fire of an exiting bullet. HP's are usually recommended for self defense.

Answer 4

If the hollow points don't work you're using the wrong defensive ammo. There is really no good reason to mix up ammo in the same magazine and it may have some civil liability issues. Solids tend to over-penetrate and could lead to collateral damage. If your gun won't shoot hollow points without jamming, have it checked out by a gunsmith. If you're just concerned with hollow point ammo not penetrating enough, then carry a separate magazine loaded with soft points or FMJ ammo.

Best.

H

Answer 5

Most modern semi-auto pistols feed hollow points reliably. Unless you have a pistol which doesn't feed hollow points, it is fine to use a mixed loading in the magazine. As to the effectiveness, the FMJ stuff is really not that good for defensive purposes. There are many excellent hollow point bullets available in almost any caliber made in America. If your pistol has such limited penetration that FMJ is necessary, you might rethink your choice of weapon.

Answer 6

If you mean safe from a technical standpoint, I can think of no reason why it wouldn't be safe to load a mixed mag.

If you are concerned about others' safety from possible over-penetration of the FMJs, you should carefully consider the tactical scenarios you might be engaged in - home defence or street carry? At home, where might your family be if the sh*t hits the fan and you have to open fire? Where are the likely lanes of fire, and do any of them point toward a neighbour's house? What will you be able to utilise as cover against an intruder's bullets, and what he against yours? In some scenarios it might be wise to have the FMJs available first.
Fighting outside is another matter entirely, and any discharge of a weapon in a public venue carries considerable risk and potentially enormous liability. Highly frangible bullets such as the Glaser Safety Slug, while ballistically effective only under ideal conditions and at close-quarters, may be preferred in the broader context wherein the goal is to conclude the engagement asap to minimise risk and prove one's own lack of aggressive intent. Firing - even carrying - HPs may be interpreted as malicious willingness to fight and kill, and firing hardball would most certainly be viewed as reckless endangerment of the general public. All those well-aimed but mis-placed rounds fired by action-movie heroes have to end up someplace, after all.

Answer 7

I leave JHP's in the mag that stays with the gun on my coffee table. All the rest (ok, 3 others) are loaded with FMJ and stay in the closet, just because JHP's are so dang expensive, and I don't want to accidentally use them up while target shooting.

Answer 8

If your using this for self-defense, like I think you are, then just load HP's all the way. I only use FMJ's when target shooting or hunting for pelts as they do not expand when they hit the target. HP's give you more stopping power as they expand to create wound channels.

Answer 9

You can do it, but the logic behind it just doesn't make a lot of sense.

If, as you say "....the hollowpoints did not work..." that usually indicates you are not hitting your target.

Answer 10

How well does your pistol feed either round?
FMJ generally feeds more reliably.
JHP is almost always the better 'stopper`.