Tactical Rifleman Shoots 9mm Ball and Hollow Points Into Gel

In a short demo from Tactical Rifleman, the host runs two different 9mm loads through a block of ballistic gel to show why ammo choice matters for self-defense and home defense setups.

Key points

• Ball ammo overpenetrates: Standard 124-grain military 9mm full metal jacket shot straight through the gel block, entering one side and exiting the other.
• Energy loss with ball rounds: The host explains that while this round gets the penetration needed, the pass-through means a lot of energy is wasted instead of transferring into the target.
• Hollow points tested next: He swaps in Federal HST, a plus-P hollow point he calls a standard for many government agencies, along with other options he favors like G9 and Barnes TAC-XPD.
• Different wound track: The HST round caused the gel block to jump more and created more secondary cavitation, with the hollow point opening up to add surface area and deliver more energy rather than over-penetrating.
• Takeaway on ammo choice: The host notes that this is why hollow points, not ball ammo, are the standard for EDC and home defense use.

Quick take

This is a quick, visual way to see the practical difference between full metal jacket and hollow point ammo in gel, backing up why Tactical Rifleman and many agencies lean on rounds like Federal HST for defensive carry instead of standard ball ammunition.

Watch the full video: Tactical Rifleman