I would like to direct my inquiry to any law enforcement officers out here. I do not possess a CCW for NJ, nor do I know anyone with one. I’m asking out of pure curiosity so I can understand the reasoning behind NJ banning hollow point ammunition.
My EDC are JHP or Honey Badger ammo. I personally believe hollow point ammunition is better for stopping a threat with less risk of over penetration or through and through wounds that can happen with FMJ rounds.
I welcome any and all input on this topic.
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They veiw the jhp rounds as penetrating ammo on bullet resistant vests… they can be used for hunting… JHP rounds were outlawed for carry in the 90’s with the cop killer JHP rounds… if I had to guess. Not from there but best I can give ya
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As far as I can tell, and I have called and inquired even to the NJ State Police Firearms Division, that there is no logical reasoning behind banning hollow points in NJ. I agree with you that it makes sense to carry them as they would not go through and through and kill someone else. They do not penetrate bullet proof vests so they should not worry about that.
I don’t have a carry permit in NJ but I do have a VA Non-Resident (which is not valid in NJ) so I am not in a position to personally address this issue.
In NJ, it might be a long time and a long fight to get things straight.
NJStraightShooter
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I think it’s simply politicians, with no knowledge of a subject, enacting laws, usually the result of knee jerk reactions.
As was pointed out, hollow points are safer than FMJ in a shootout, cutting down on possibilities of over penetration, possibly causing injury or death to innocent people.
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I do not know, but wonder if its modeled after the 1899 Hague convention restriction?? The shear amount of damage the this rounds causes, is why its against the Geneva convention to use Hollow points, during wartime., I also believe I read the Military is very interested in hollow point use for CQC. Since it only stops the person you shoot and little to no collateral damage is done. Oddly enough, I believe the Military Police does currently use Hollow pointed, much like other police agencies.
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You can still as a civilian use hollow point ammo to use at the range. You’re just now allowed to use it in your concealed carry weapon.
The LEO’s in the state are allowed to carry them, however they aren’t allowed to carry them off duty.
It would appear that some uneducated politicians (redundant I know) in the Garden State made this decision for two reasons…1) they are severely misinformed from watching TV and movies about the capabilities of hollow point ammo and 2) it’s a back door way to discourage private ownership of a firearm for protection.
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@txradioguy, Are you sure about using hollow points at the range and do you know if we can use them at home for self defense? As far as I have heard, the only ones who can use hollow points other than the police are hunters! How did the Non-Hunters get disallowed for using hollow points? Are we untrusting? This state has some serious issues and not good ones.
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Indiana CCL can carry hollow point as well as off duty LEO’S.
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@NJStraightShooter I pulled my info mainly from an old article from The Truth About Guns website:
New Jersey law doesn’t absolutely ban hollow points, but makes it virtually impossible to use them for self-defense outside the home. One may own hollow points in their home or property, but only “sportsmen” are allowed to transport them, but their guns must be unloaded and the ammunition removed and kept separate, and even in some circumstances, locked up. In addition, one must go straight to and from their range or hunting area and have a valid hunting license. The New Jersey State Police have a helpful article on the issue available here.
In other words, in the name of public safety, New Jersey makes the use of the most effective and safe handgun ammunition all but impossible outside the home, particularly for self-defense, and actually endangers the public. The laws are so convoluted and nonsensical that most people would be wise to avoid hollow points–even gun ownership–entirely. No doubt, that’s what New Jersey politicians intend.
https://www.thetruthaboutguns.com/2014/08/mike-mcdaniel/hollow-point-ammunition-basic-rationale/
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@txradioguy, Yeah. looks like a very old (2014) article. I’m living this crap day to day trying to get just one honest answer from the Firearms Investigation Unit division of the NJ State Police or anyone else who really knows. I think that is the problem. The information doesn’t get out so no one, not even the police, really know. But your article is right about one thing: Hunters can use Hollow Points to hunt. As for self-defense in a house or apartment, I can’t get a real answer and I have friends on our local police department. They are not even sure. When Governor Murphy ruled that 15 round clips were illegal in NJ even the police weren’t sure what to carry on their days and nights off. They didn’t want to break the law either. This state is so anti 2A it’s pathetic. If and when I can afford to move, I am out of here. I’ll be looking for a nice 2A state to live in.
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That Governor of yours probably pulled a muscle or two he moved so fast to undo a lot of the 2A measures Christie had in place.
And as for the confusion about who can and can’t carry hollow points…I think that is done on purpose. There seems to be an ambiguity to the way the law was written to cause confusion and in the long run depress gun ownership.
Now if you want to legally get around the hollow point ban for personal defense in your concealed carry weapon…go with Hornady Critical Defense Rounds with the FTX tip.
I can say with much certainty…but I seem to remember they created these rounds shortly after the hollow point ban went into effect as a way to get around the NJ law. They are legal in your state last time I checked.
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What do you think about the Underwood Xtreme Defender ammo?
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I’ve seen it in the stores but haven’t read too much about it yet.
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I’ve seen reviews of it. It seems like good stuff.
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"DO NOT USE WHAT I POSTED HERE AS LEGAL ADVICE - DON’T HOLD ME RESPONSIBLE!"
"FOLLOW UP WITH YOUR OWN RESEARCH BEFORE USING ANY AMMO IN NEW JERSEY"
I asked the owner of the Gun Shop in the Gun Club I recently joined. He said without hesitation that Hollow Points CAN BE USED in your Home/Apartment for self-defense. I went on to ask him also about Fluted or Frangibles and he said they are also legal in your Home/Apartment and he went on to say that for safety sake of your neighbors, Frangibles would most likely be my best choice.
"DO NOT USE WHAT I POSTED HERE AS LEGAL ADVICE - DON’T HOLD ME RESPONSIBLE!"
"FOLLOW UP WITH YOUR OWN RESEARCH BEFORE USING ANY AMMO IN NEW JERSEY"
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With how fast laws change, @NJStraightShooter, we should always be double and triple checking with the official pages of the state or county were we live. That’s a great point to emphasize.
Here’s a great resource for everyone about the laws of NJ:
https://www.usconcealedcarry.com/resources/ccw_reciprocity_map/nj-gun-laws/
This is a static image here - be sure to check the latest laws by clicking on the reciprocity map link above.
The link to NJ State Police: Transportation and Use of Hollow Point Ammunition by Sportsmen | New Jersey State Police Firearms Information
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The problem with our State, The Wonderful State of New Jersey, The Garden State… is that everything is written in Legalese. If you were to click on the link it talks about Hunters. Hunters can use Hollow Point Bullets. It says that you may keep Hollow Point Bullets in your residence. NOTHING says anything about using Hollow Point Bullets for Self Defense within your residence. They don’t want you to know. No one I have ever asked including the STATE POLICE will come out and say that you can use Hollow Point Bullets in your own residence for Self Defense. The owner of the Gun Shop in the Gun Club I just joined was the first person to come right out without hesitation and said “YES, You Can use them for Self Defense in your home.” But try to verify that with the State and you would rather read War and Peace! 
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Your fundamental mistake is seeking “reasoning” for any of the confusing, nonsensical, and logicalness laws regarding guns and ammo in NJ. 
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Speaking of Ammo. I think Walmart’s decision to stop selling ammo is going to hurt them. A lot of people I know only go there for the less expensive ammo.
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Sometimes it just breaks the gray cells trying to make sense of that stuff. Welcome to the group!
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