Quick Tip - Choose Good Carry Ammo

Caleb from Brownells heads out to Big Spring Shooting Complex to demonstrate a crucial lesson for anyone who carries a firearm for self-defense: the difference between full metal jacket (FMJ) ammunition and dedicated defensive hollow point rounds. Through a hands-on ballistics gel test, he shows how shot placement and ammo type can significantly affect terminal performance.

Introduction

When it comes to carrying a firearm for personal defense, most shooters focus on the gun, the holster, and training—but one element that’s often overlooked is the ammunition itself. In this quick but informative video, Caleb explains why your choice of ammo is just as important as your firearm.

Using ballistics gel, he compares two common types of 9mm ammunition:

• FMJ (Full Metal Jacket) – Winchester White Box

• Hollow Point – Winchester PDX1 Defender

Why Choose Defensive Ammunition?

Caleb begins by pointing out that most self-defense encounters happen at very close range—often between 5 and 7 feet. The ammo you choose needs to perform consistently and effectively in that environment, especially when it comes to stopping a threat quickly.

While FMJ ammo is great for training and target shooting, it’s not ideal for stopping a threat. Defensive hollow point ammunition is designed to expand, causing greater disruption in soft tissue and reducing the risk of overpenetration.

The FMJ Ballistics Gel Test

The first shot Caleb fires into the gel is a standard Winchester FMJ round. From close range, the bullet punches straight through the entire length of the gel block, exiting out the back.

While it does create a visible wound channel, it’s narrow and relatively clean—showing little to no expansion. FMJs tend to pass through targets without dumping much energy, which can be dangerous in real-world scenarios due to overpenetration and lack of stopping power.

The Hollow Point Ballistics Gel Test

Next up is a Winchester PDX1 Defender hollow point, fired under the same conditions. This time, the difference is immediate and dramatic. The wound channel is significantly larger, indicating that the bullet expanded rapidly, transferring more energy into the target.

Though both rounds penetrated fully in the first test due to the close distance, the hollow point created a much more destructive wound channel, which is essential for stopping a threat quickly and effectively.

Slow Motion Test and Bullet Recovery

To get a better look at what’s happening inside the gel, Caleb fires a second hollow point round and captures it in slow motion. This time, the bullet comes to a stop within the gel block, allowing Caleb to recover the expanded projectile.

The expansion is textbook:

• The bullet "flowered out" as designed

• The hollow point did not fragment or deform irregularly

• The wound channel clearly showed a dramatic difference compared to the FMJ

This visual reinforces the idea that a high-quality defensive round can do exactly what it’s supposed to do—expand, dump energy, and stop a threat.

The Firearm Used

Caleb mentions that he’s shooting his personal SIG Sauer P226 Legion, a handgun he’s carried since the Legion series was released. It’s a high-performance platform ideal for both range use and personal defense.

Final Thoughts

Caleb wraps up the video by emphasizing the importance of choosing the right ammunition for the job. If you’re willing to spend time and money on:

• A reliable firearm

• Training to use it effectively

• A solid carry setup

...then it only makes sense to carry ammunition designed for self-defense.

FMJ may be cheaper, but it’s not made to stop a threat. Hollow point ammo like the Winchester PDX1 Defender is purpose-built for personal protection and performs accordingly.

Conclusion

This ballistics gel test clearly shows the difference between training ammo and defensive ammo. When your goal is to stop a threat quickly, you need ammunition that performs reliably and consistently.

If you're carrying a firearm for protection, make sure you're loading it with defensive ammo designed to save lives—not just punch holes in paper.

For more tests, reviews, and firearm tips, visit Brownells.com or check out the Brownells YouTube channel.

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