Glossary of Terms

Comprehensive Glossary of Bullet Construction Types

Term Manufacturer Description Purpose Applications FMJ (Full Metal Jacket) Generic A soft core (often lead) encased in a harder metal shell. Reliable feeding, reduced barrel fouling, non-expanding. Military, training, target shooting. JHP (Jacketed Hollow Point) Generic A jacketed bullet with a hollow cavity in the nose for controlled expansion. Expands on impact, increasing stopping power. Self-defense, law enforcement, hunting. SJHP (Semi-Jacketed Hollow Point) Generic Partial jacket with an exposed lead hollow point for rapid expansion. Greater expansion and energy transfer. Hunting and self-defense. SP (Soft Point) Generic Jacketed bullet with an exposed soft lead tip. Controlled expansion and deeper penetration. Hunting medium-to-large game. BT (Boat Tail) Generic A bullet with a tapered rear end for improved aerodynamics. Enhances ballistic coefficient and long-range accuracy. Long-range shooting. AP (Armor Piercing) Generic Hardened steel or tungsten core for penetrating armor. Designed to defeat armored targets. Military and law enforcement. Match Various Precision bullets optimized for consistent accuracy. Competitive shooting and long-range precision. Match shooting and sniping. Polymer Tip Various Bullet with a polymer tip to improve aerodynamics and initiate expansion. Enhances accuracy and terminal performance. Hunting and precision shooting. Bonded Core Generic A chemically or mechanically bonded core and jacket. Retains weight and ensures deep penetration. Big game hunting, law enforcement. Solid Generic Made entirely of a single material, often brass or copper. High weight retention, straight penetration. Dangerous game hunting. Frangible Generic Designed to break apart on impact with hard surfaces. Reduces ricochet and over-penetration. Training, close-quarters combat. OTM (Open Tip Match) Generic Match-grade bullet with a small hollow point, not designed for expansion. Maximized precision and aerodynamics. Competitive shooting, military sniping. Varmint Generic Lightweight, thin-jacketed bullet designed to fragment on impact. Causes massive tissue damage on small game. Varmint and predator control. LRX (Long Range X-Bullet) Barnes Bullets Solid copper with a polymer tip and optimized boat-tail for long-range performance. Reliable expansion at long range and lower velocities. Long-range hunting. TTSX (Tipped Triple Shock X) Barnes Bullets Solid copper bullet with a polymer tip and expansion grooves. Combines accuracy, penetration, and weight retention. Hunting large game, precision shooting. TSX (Triple Shock X) Barnes Bullets Solid copper hollow-point bullet with expansion grooves. Deep penetration and consistent expansion. Dangerous game and large game hunting. ELD-X (Extremely Low Drag – Expanding) Hornady Polymer-tipped bullet with heat-shield tip for long-range precision and expansion. Maximizes accuracy and terminal energy. Long-range hunting. ELD-M (Extremely Low Drag – Match) Hornady Similar to ELD-X, but designed purely for match shooting without controlled expansion. Extreme accuracy for long-range competition. Precision matches. VLD (Very Low Drag) Berger Bullets Bullet with an aerodynamic design for superior drag reduction. Improves velocity retention and accuracy over distance. Long-range shooting, competitions. AccuBond Nosler Bonded-core bullet with a polymer tip and boat-tail for controlled expansion. Combines penetration and accuracy. Medium-to-large game hunting. Partition Nosler Dual-core bullet with a solid partition for controlled expansion and deep penetration. Reliable performance on tough game animals. Hunting dangerous game. A-Frame Swift Bullets Bonded dual-core bullet similar to Nosler’s Partition. High weight retention and controlled expansion. Dangerous game hunting. Ballistic Tip Nosler Polymer-tipped bullet with a tapered jacket for controlled expansion. Reliable terminal performance. Medium-range hunting. HST (Hydra-Shok Tactical) Federal Premium Hollow-point with improved expansion and weight retention. Self-defense and law enforcement. Personal protection. Gold Dot Speer Bonded-core hollow-point bullet for controlled expansion and penetration. Consistent terminal performance. Self-defense, law enforcement. Core-Lokt Remington Soft-point bullet with a mechanically locked core. Deep penetration and controlled expansion. Hunting medium-to-large game. SST (Super Shock Tip) Hornady Polymer-tipped bullet for rapid expansion and high ballistic coefficient. Maximizes terminal energy and accuracy. Medium-to-long-range hunting. InterBond Hornady Bonded-core bullet for high weight retention and controlled expansion. Penetration and reliability at high velocity. Hunting large game. GMX (Gilding Metal eXpanding) Hornady Solid copper alloy bullet that expands reliably while retaining weight. Eco-friendly and effective penetration. Hunting in lead-free zones. E-Tip Nosler Solid copper bullet with a polymer tip for accuracy and terminal performance. Reliable expansion and weight retention. Large game hunting, restricted areas. FLEX TIP (FTX) Hornady Flexible polymer-tipped bullet designed for lever-action rifles. Safe for tubular magazines, enhanced performance. Lever-action rifles. MonoFlex Hornady Lead-free version of FTX made from copper alloy. Eco-friendly expansion and penetration. Hunting in restricted areas.