Intro to Types of Bullet

Just as handguns vary in shape and size, the bullets they fire can look a little different. Bullets are designed differently to serve different purposes.

Why is this important?

Well, all bullets will tear a hole in something or somebody. However, different types of bullets will do it differently, affecting the stopping power and deadliness of your weapon.

For this reason, new gun owners should have a basic understanding of the most common bullet types to help them choose what will work best for their needs.  Let’s look at them here.

One point to always keep in mind, which  is one of the fundamental safety rules… Know your target and what is behind it and around it.  Why?  Because you are responsible for every bullet that leaves your gun.  Responsible under the law and as a moral person.

Jacketed vs Unjacketed

First, let’s look at jacketed vs unjacketed. The core of a jacketed bullet has a metal coating (usually copper) around it. This coating acts as a lubricant of sorts and helps the bullet slide easily through the hard steel barrel and keep its shape in the process.

It also helps the bullet slide through the target more easily. In other words, “full metal jacket” (FMJ) bullets are more likely to penetrate the target and slide through to strike anything behind it.

The side of an unjacketed bullet scrapes along the barrel on its way out of the gun. Most bullets are made of lead which means that each bullet fired can leave behind a trace of lead. Over time this lead can build up and affect the accuracy of the gun. This is mostly only a problem for high-volume shooters as casual shooters don’t typically shoot enough times between cleanings to affect it.

Bullet Shapes

There are a few different bullet shapes.

• Round-nosed
• Hollow point
• Soft point
• Wadcutter

Round-nosed bullets have a domed point. These bullets are considered general “all-purpose” bullets and are commonly used at the range.  As a home defense bullet… keep in mind the penetration factor, and the damage that may occur after your target.

Hollow point bullets follow the basic shape of the round-nosed bullet, but the center has been hollowed out. This space causes the bullet to flatten and expand when it strikes anything stiffer than air.

For this reason, hollow-points are more lethal bullets, as they expand on impact, creating more devastation on its target and a larger exit wound… if exits and generally stay inside the body causing more damage. The Hague Convention of 1899 banned these types of bullets for military use, though they are favored for hunting. Since they are less likely to pass through the target and strike someone or something behind it, they are commonly used for home defense.

Soft point bullets have a partial metal jacket. In other words, the bullet’s material at the tip is exposed and not contained within the jacket. Because of this, the bullet will expand like a hollow point, but not to the same extent.

Wadcutter bullets are flat on the front. Ballistically, they are kind of pointless, but they are handy for target practice with paper targets as they leave a clean little round hole in the paper.

Bullets for Your Gun

We have given you a quick overview of the basic bullet types to help you decide which type you should choose for your purposes. If you are a new gun owner, a Defensive Tactical Training class is an excellent idea to help you learn to use your gun properly. Start with safety, move to marksmanship, then to defensive skills.  Your instructor will also explain the various types of bullets and help you choose the right one for you.