In the world of ammunition, not all bullets are created for the same purpose. 

Some are built for maximum penetration, others for greater damage, while others are made for practicing and precision shooting. 

The differences in the appearance, weight, and build of these different types of bullets can be quite considerable. 

In this article, we’re going to talk about two major types of bullets - target ammunition and self-defense ammunition. 

As you will see, there are some major differences between these two. 

What is defense ammunition?

In the world of rifle ammunition, as well as smaller arms ammo, defense rounds play an important role. They have a special place in any firearm owner’s arsenal - and for a good reason, too.

As its name suggests, defense ammunition refers to that special type of ammo used for self-defense purposes.

As such, defense ammo needs to pack a powerful punch that can stop an attacker in his tracks before he can do any damage. 

For this purpose, manufacturers of defense ammo produce mainly jacketed hollow point bullets that will expand on impact and cause maximum damage. 

Defense ammo is designed to incapacitate the target as quickly as possible. This means penetrating deeper than target ammunition, giving you a quicker and more permanent wound channel so your attacker can’t continue fighting.

Also, defense ammo is designed to be used in handguns rather than rifles or other types of guns. This makes sense since most people have handguns available when they feel they need protection.

What are Jacketed Hollow Point Bullets?

Jacketed hollow point bullets, or JHPs, are specifically designed for self-defense. As mentioned, the sheer power of this bullet that transfers to the target and its expansion upon impact makes JHPs far more effective in self-defense ammunition than target ammo.

This is because jacketed hollow points make a substantially larger wound channel than full metal jacket round-nose bullets. The expansion also means that the bullet will not over-penetrate since most of its energy is transferred on impact.

Even with all these qualities, not all jacketed hollow points are suitable for self-defense. 

When choosing self-defense ammo, these are the things to have in mind:

• Choose ammunition that is reliable for your firearm, even in unfriendly conditions, such as hot or freezing weather or snow and rain.
• Expansion must be reliable for the bullet to create enough damage every time and stop your attacker.
• Penetration must be deep enough (current FBI standards are 12 inches of penetration).

Even though velocity plays a significant role in how far the bullet will travel, heavier bullets will penetrate just as well as lighter rounds while conserving more inertia. This should make it penetrate even further.

Even though jacketed hollow point ammunition can be expensive, it is very important to test your bullets of choice in your firearm to ensure reliability. Fire a minimum of two hundred rounds of the JHP ammunition using your pistol, and if there are any hiccups at all, consider choosing a different round. 

Jacketed Hollow Point vs. Hollow Point

People often consider jacketed hollow points and hollow points to be the same thing. However, that is not the case. 

Although they look fairly similar, JHPs are coated in a more durable metal with a much smoother surface. This helps with your firearm’s lead issues and improves reliability and feeding. Lead build-ups are common after shooting a good amount of hollow point ammunition, which increases wear and tear. 

While both types of ammo have the same power, jacketed hollow points are a far better choice for self-defense since they are far more reliable. 

What is Target Ammunition?

As its name cleverly suggests, target ammo is exactly that. If you have ever been to the shooting range, you have used it. 

Target ammunition is made to reduce the price of shooting at the range. It is designed and manufactured differently than defense ammo to reduce the price at the range and increase accuracy. 

Target ammunition is also designed with more forgiving characteristics when it comes to shooting at the range: the shells will have higher velocities than standard defensive rounds, but they won’t explode like they would if fired from a handgun or rifle.

Full metal jacket bullets used for target practice have a flat nose that allows them to travel through tissue without breaking apart, so they don’t damage as much tissue as a hollow point would do when entering.

Target ammunition, designed with performance in mind and not necessarily self-defense or law enforcement use, can be had in larger quantities and at a lower price than defense loads.

Using Target Ammunition for Self-Defense

In a defensive situation, you want to injure only your attacker. This is why full metal jacket bullets are not recommended for self-defense.

Since target ammunition does not expand and reduce its speed on impact, it is likely to penetrate all the way through the target, injuring someone else besides your attacker. This also means that it will do much less damage to your attacker, so you typically need to fire a few more rounds.

In defensive situations, time is often crucial, so firing those extra rounds can mean the difference between keeping yourself safe or getting seriously injured.

While all of the design and manufacturing paths taken in the process of making target ammunition suggest it is not suitable for self-defense - full metal jacket bullets are still live rounds and can seriously injure or kill!

Conclusion

Both defense ammunition and target ammunition are useful for different situations. Defense ammunition is designed to stop an attacker, whereas target ammunition is used for training. 

Target ammunition is less powerful, making it easier to shoot without injuring yourself or others around you. This also means it’s cheaper than defense ammo and, therefore, more popular among shooters who are less serious about their hobby.

The choice between defense ammunition and target ammunition is a personal one. The best way to decide which is best for you is to think about what kind of activity you will be using your gun for most often and what role it plays in that activity. 

If you’re mostly shooting at targets or hunting with your gun, then target ammunition may be the right choice. 

Suppose your primary use case is home defense or personal protection from intruders and other threats on their property (such as bears). In that case, defense ammunition may be better suited!