My YouTube feed brought me a video about Tim Hamilton's Ballistic Machinist and the new-ish product Interceptor rounds.

https://www.ballisticmachinist.com/interceptor

Looking at the way they blossom, I'm not sure they would feed without altering the bullet shape enough to create problems, but people have been testing them with interesting results.

At 90gr., it's a zoomie round. I like that it would reduce over-penetration should I ever need to use it for self-defense.

Otherwise, it's a couple of guys having fun making (big) holes in inanimate targets.

[youtube]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6bL4hnJZEtI[/youtube]

As with any of the boutique SD rounds, these are spendy, at almost two Georges a bang. There's probably a long waiting list, too.

Certainly looks interesting!

Wonder what jury's will think about people carrying that round. I tend to stay away from extreme self defense rounds. Mostly cuz I'm cheap and hald don't perform as promised anyways.
Just gimmie FMJFP's. thanks.

tonguengroover wrote: Mon Dec 12, 2022 1:46 pm Wonder what juries will think about people carrying that round. I tend to stay away from extreme self defense rounds. Mostly cuz I'm cheap and hald don't perform as promised anyways.
Just gimmie FMJFP's. thanks.

I see your point, flat though it may be (see what I did there?). I agree that there are arguments to be made against extreme self-defense rounds.

My biggest objection to FMJFP rounds is apprehension that they would OVER-penetrate (especially in heavier sizes like 147), going through "the intended target" (to use the Paul Harrell euphemism) and into someone else well beyond.

Somewhat related is my curiosity regarding frangible rounds--while frangible rounds can cause a lot of damage to soft tissue, they won't penetrate beyond without losing their kinetic energy (and becoming Copper powder). One of the larger (pardon the pun) benefits of the 9MM Interceptor is that it doesn't seem to over-penetrate.

Yes, the wound channel would seem to be enormous, with lots of tearing instead of cutting. That the gel test shows the projectile pointing sideways at the end of its travel suggests there would be some tumbling in addition to spin, wreaking even more havoc.

BearPaws wrote: Mon Dec 12, 2022 2:42 pm

tonguengroover wrote: Mon Dec 12, 2022 1:46 pm Wonder what juries will think about people carrying that round. I tend to stay away from extreme self defense rounds. Mostly cuz I'm cheap and hald don't perform as promised anyways.
Just gimmie FMJFP's. thanks.

I see your point, flat though it may be (see what I did there?). I agree that there are arguments to be made against extreme self-defense rounds.

My biggest objection to FMJFP rounds is apprehension that they would OVER-penetrate (especially in heavier sizes like 147), going through "the intended target" (to use the Paul Harrell euphemism) and into someone else well beyond.

Somewhat related is my curiosity regarding frangible rounds--while frangible rounds can cause a lot of damage to soft tissue, they won't penetrate beyond without losing their kinetic energy (and becoming Copper powder). One of the larger (pardon the pun) benefits of the 9MM Interceptor is that it doesn't seem to over-penetrate.

Yes, the wound channel would seem to be enormous, with lots of tearing instead of cutting. That the gel test shows the projectile pointing sideways at the end of its travel suggests there would be some tumbling in addition to spin, wreaking even more havoc.

Hohoho, a little contorted reply however I think a plain FMJ might over penetrate more rather than a flat point. Then there's the multiple coat/clothing test and how much clothing is going to get clogged up in them fingers as hollow points get. Might not even hit an organ.

That why I most often carry Hornady FTX bullets - not huge expansion but good penetration. They also feed reliably in all my semi-auto defensive pistols. I generally purchase hornady critical defense ammo across my entire battery. Lots of data and testing out there. Plus, my own real world data on game/pest animals. Reliability is usually my top concern. Most of my defensive pistols are in the 2-4” barrel length and generally my experience is that most .38 +p get minimal expansion out of a JFrame. I get better hollow point expansion out of 4” 9mm with a 115gr bullet.

I’ve found that a proper rifle/cartridge mix is a unbelievably more effective on game than even +P ammo out of a pistol. For instance, a raccoon shot with a .357 LSWC is usually, instantly killed with a shot to the vitals. A .45 ACP out of a 1911 a with an FTX sometimes requires a follow-up for a quick dispatch.

Common EDC Pistols with common, defensive ammo are not death rays. I just say that as some people reading this my have limited experience actually seeing defensive ammo and pistols utilized In The field.

I also worry about carrying “gimmicky” bullets for self defense. I don’t want the “10mm” prosecution treatment either … If that makes me Uber conservative in ammo/bullet selection - so be it.


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Reminds me of Underwood's maximum expansion line - also copper monolithics. Bullet mass tends to be important for penetration, so a lightweight, fast-moving round designed to expand a lot might not penetrate enough to hit anything vital in a defensive situation. They claim 9 inches - don't they all? - and the FBI minimum is 12.

I've come across some interesting modeling work on the cavitation effect for flat point hardcast bullets. Highly dependent on velocity but also meplat and helps to explain why those rounds work so well for hunting with big bores. It did support the common wisdom that a FN hardcast bullet will produce a wider wound channel than caliber alone suggests, with little deflection and deep penetration. Since Alex Baldwin managed to shoot two people with the same bullet, killing one and hospitalizing the second, I think the overpenetration risk for using those rounds defensively against humans is a valid concern. Great for bears and hogs, not good in crowds.

Optimizing for both is hard. I sure as heck would never want to pick a load to face down a grizzly wearing a plate carrier in a 747 full of babies and nitroglycerin. We got trained professionals for that nonsense.

Also, did you look at the other craziness that website has on offer? Meat tenderizer rounds and hand sanitizer slugs? Yoinks, Scooby.

tonguengroover wrote: Mon Dec 12, 2022 1:46 pm Wonder what jury's will think about people carrying that round. I tend to stay away from extreme self defense rounds. Mostly cuz I'm cheap and hald don't perform as promised anyways.
Just gimmie FMJFP's. thanks.

I would think a jury would look favorably on it, if kevlar vests are good at stopping this round. I wouldn't carry this round, either, but I don't carry at all.
I wouldn't mind stashing a magazine away though. Not sure the $2+ per round price is worth that passive fun though. I believe the videos so I don't feel compelled to even get a box and see it for myself.

my self defense round is 357. i don't worry too much about ballistics

My criteria for choosing carry ammo is pretty simple.

What do I already have?

From what I already have can I be absolutely sure will always feed, fire, extract and repeat?

From that sub group what do I shoot most accurately, fastest, and repeatably?

Speer Gold Dots have been the law enforcement standard for a very long time, and apparently with good reason. I'd prefer to carry something with a proven track record.

And yes, BTW, the .357 round is the way to go. Revolver owners, UNITE! :-)