Train Like You Fight, Fight Like You Train
One of the consistent doctrines of the US military is the above. And we do train that way. We train to be able to overcome, to succeed.
There are countless examples of training interfering with fighting and even more of training bringing victory to the battlefield.
The first cops into the Nashville school state that their training just took over. They moved with purpose towards the sound of gunfire. They cleared rooms along the way, rapidly with no wasted motion. When they had cleared, they took the lead and did not stop until the asshole was dead.
Compared to the school cops that ran and hid in Texas and Florida. In both cases they went into barricaded with hostages, and children died because of their cowardice and lack of training.
Another example from an earlier time: when they recovered the body of a dead cop, they found six expended cases in his pocket or pouch. Why? Because he had been trained to retain his brass when he reloaded.
Why do we train with FMJ bullets?
Cartridge Pricing
These are representative prices. I’m not suggesting that these are the best prices, but they come from the same source.
Description,Quantity,Price,Per Unit
| Quantity | Type | Description | Price | Per Unit |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1000 | rounds | 115gr FMJ | $215 | $0.21 |
| 50 | rounds | 124gr JHP 9mm | $40 | $0.80 |
| 2,000 | bullets | 115gr 9mm FMJ | $125 | $0.06 |
| 500 | bullets | 115gr 9mm JHP | $60 | $0.12 |
| 2,000 | bullets | 115gr 9mm FMJ | $200 | $0.10 |
| 2,000 | bullets | 115gr 9mm JHP | $225 | $0.1125 |
The cost of reloading a FMJ and a JHP is the same but for the cost of the bullet.
Training Costs
If you are buying your training rounds, you are going to save nearly 60 cents per round. When you are talking about 100 or more rounds in a single training session, that is a $60 difference per 100 rounds.
That means that most people will use “range candy” instead of self defense rounds.
On the other hand, the difference between firing a reloaded FMJ vs. a JHP is 6 cents per round. Even with a range session of 200 rounds going downrange, that is only a $12 difference in cost.
For me this is a non-starter. I am working through my FMJ .45 ACP but I will no longer reload FMJ pistol ammo. It isn’t worth it to me.
It’s been a minute since I ran the numbers, but the reason I don’t reload is I’d have to expend close to 3k rounds(9mm) just to pay off the equipment and starting supplies. I can’t afford to shoot that much at all….
Good morning
Anything worth shooting is worth shooting 2 or 3 or more times
The ONLY time you have too much ammo is if you are either on fire or swimming
Many years ago, I tried reloading and found I did not have the patience for it
Blessings upon those of you who do have the patience to reload
I reload. The equipment was purchased about 30 years ago; much more reasonably priced. Components were so as well. It allowed me to shoot a lot and gain skill on an “empty pockets” budget (My pockets were really empty!). Components are now quite expensive!
It also allowed me to shoot in a league where only all lead bullets were allowed as we shot steel targets. Its a habit I still have.
When winter comes, I move indoors, using CO2 pistols in my basement. I also use them for more complex drills and low light practice in my backyard (50 or so rounds at night….).
Learning and maintaining skill is important these days…
only thing I will say about FMJ- some day you might wish you had a mag full to make holes in something behind a car door…
jhp rounds are “safer” on the street as they are less likely to go all the way thru… practice with what you carry..
we could argue ammo forever and nobody will be happy..
Cost is only part of the equation. Other items that need to be taken into account:
1. What are you training for? If it is self defense, ask yourself what situation are you expecting?
2. What are the ballistic differences between FHJ, and any other round? Will the recoil be significantly different?
3. Will that ballistic difference matter in any way?
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The reality is the ballistic difference between FMJ and JHP at self defense distances is negligible. We are talking about 15 yards or less almost every time. If you are shooting someone from further away than that… odds are you are not in sufficient jeopardy to warrant use of deadly force.
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Also, during a self defense situation, you are not going to be placing your shots using a tackdriver. You are pointing as much as aiming at center mass. Yes… I know. Everyone is John Wick and Chuck Norris combined, and will remain so while they are fighting for their lives. I live in the real world. I know I will not be able to place a shot right between the eyes from 10 paces when someone is actively trying to harm me.
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Which leads right back to ballistics. Unless your FMJ rounds differ significantly from your defensive carry rounds over self defense distances (and if they do, you are using the wrong training rounds), use the cheap ammo. We may be talking about an inch or so at that kind of difference, if anything at all.
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I have a lot of factory build 9mm FMJ for training. It is 124gr which matches the weight of my defensive carry rounds. The muzzle velocity is slightly different, but the recoil is close enough that I cannot tell the difference between rounds. And, the ballistics, more than adequate for self defense distances.
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Then again. If you car reload, and have the patience to load hundreds of rounds in a go, there is no reason not to use a bullet that is equivalent to your carry rounds. And, it will save some money over factory.
Some guns are finicky about ammo, so for those part of the training requirement is to use various types of JHP ammo and identify the ones that are highly reliable. Now maybe some would argue that a gun with that property shouldn’t be used at all. Perhaps. But I like my Boberg, and the fact that some el-cheapo ammo doesn’t work well in it isn’t that big a deal. I haven’t tried feeding it reloads (I don’t have the gear). Maybe someday.
For those who collect oddball guns, reloading is important if you want to have ammo. I once almost bought a rather nice Arisaka, and while factory ammo exists for that it sure is pricy. Then I almost bought a Beaumont (19th century Dutch infantry rifle, 4 round fixed magazine). I don’t think I would have been able to shoot that without first finding suitable brass and loading it myself. Ok, that’s not a defensive gun use scenario, but our world is full of many different reasons for owning certain types of guns. I like things with interesting engineering, which explains the Boberg, and the Beaumont (have you ever seen a rifle with the main spring in the bolt handle?)