You ever been at the gun shop or the range and seen a box of ammo loaded with 9mm bullets that had a squared off nose?
They’re called flat-nose bullets, and more popularly, wadcutters, and they have one very specific application: making even, round, clean holes in paper targets.
But are they worth it for you? Let’s take a look at this class of 9mm full metal jacket ammo.
Is There a Difference Between 9mm Full Metal Jacket and Wadcutters?
Before we can answer this question, we have to make it clear that this is sort of an “all squares are rectangles but not all rectangles are squares” sort of topic.
Most wadcutters have a full metal jacket, but not all full metal jacket 9mm ammo are wadcutters. Most FMJ ammo is made with a round nose. Wadcutters have a square nose, or a flat nose.
The whole reason for this adjustment in design has to do with on-target performance.
When a round nose jacketed bullet hits a paper target, it usually rips a hole in it. Sometimes, you can press the paper back into place and see the tears, and no paper actually gets removed.
When a wadcutter hits a paper target, it punches a clean hole straight out of it, sort of like a paper punch.
This leaves a clean, round hole that is much easier to score – hence the value for some shooters.
The thing is, wadcutter ammo tends to command a slight premium over round nose FMJ ammo. So is the expense worth it for you?
Are They Worth It for You?
Ultimately, this comes down to whether you shoot a lot of paper targets, but more importantly, whether or not you compete.
If you do compete and scoring is essential to your day to day life at the range, then yes, wadcutters are worth the extra money.
In nearly all other circumstances, you might as well pass.
First off, wadcutters are no more accurate than round nose FMJ. In truth, they are probably less accurate at intermediate ranges.
Moreover, they cost more money, and in some guns, due to the sharp angle of the nose, might even be more likely to cause jams.
If you’re just drilling, training, or practicing any other high-volume shooting discipline, you might as well just stick with plain-jane FMJ, save the money, and potentially enjoy better performance, anyway.
Where to Get 9mm Full Metal Jacket or Wadcutters Online
Looking for a place where you can get both 9mm full metal jacket or wadcutter bullets online? Make sure you visit Bucking Horse Outpost and bookmark the page, too.
They carry some of the top brands and lines in handgun ammo, along with rifle ammo and shotshells too. Their prices are competitive and they’re often running sales and specials.
They also offer periodic sales as well as some great police trade-in specials, so make sure you stop back on their page from time to time.
