Full metal jacket vs banned hollow-point bone tail—the bullet battle behind CRPF's fresh trials

The Print

22-04-2025

This decision follows allegations from Bengaluru-based SSS Defence, which claimed it was unjustly disqualified despite adhering to the established guidelines, while competitors PLR Systems (a joint venture between Adani Group and Israel Weapon Industries) and ICOMM (a MEIL group company in partnership with CARACAL from the UAE), allegedly employed banned hollow-point bone tail (HPBT) ammunition to secure a competitive advantage, as reported by ThePrint.
The Delhi High Court has ordered fresh field trials for the procurement of 200 sniper rifles and 20,000 rounds of ammunition.
New Delhi: Hollow-point bone tail versus full metal jacket, this was the crux of the controversy surrounding the Central Reserve Police Force's (CRPF) bid to procure sniper rifles for itself.
Examining the behaviour of these two types of ammunition reveals the significance of the issue at hand.
Full metal jacket ammunition vs hollow-point
FMJ bullets consist of a lead core that is encased in a durable metal shell. This design ensures that structural integrity is preserved upon impact, enabling it to pass through targets with precision. The outcome is characterised by deeper, narrower wound channels, along with a relatively controlled lethality that aligns with the demands of battlefield applications.
In contrast, HPBT rounds are engineered to expand upon impact. The design of the bullet's tip features a cavity that leads to mushrooming and fragmentation upon impact with tissue. This mechanism enhances energy transfer to the target, resulting in increased internal damage.
These factors also contribute to their stability in flight and overall effectiveness, making them suitable for handgun target practices and shooting competitions. Nevertheless, its application through high-velocity rifles raises significant ethical and tactical concerns, as the potential for excessive or unpredictable damage becomes a critical issue.
The ban on HPBT ammunition in India
The Hague Declaration of 1899 instituted a ban on the deployment of any projectile that expands or flattens readily upon impact with human tissue in the context of armed conflict. Almost all signatories, India included, prohibit the use of hollow-point ammunition in warfare, deeming it excessively inhumane.
Domestically, this legal principle is reinforced by procurement norms, which restrict the use of hollow-point rounds for both the military and civilian markets.
The Armed Forces rely on FMJ ammunition for all standard-issue rifles, including the INSAS and AK-47 / AK-203 family, as well as other sniper platforms. Special forces units like the National Security Guard (NSG), Marine Commandos (MARCOS) and Para Special Forces (Para SF) may in rare cases obtain HPBT rounds for specific counter-terror operations. However, this remains the exception, not the rule and is subject to stringent oversight.
Consequently, the two companies that used HPBT ammunition in field trials for a general CRPF tender appear to contradict both the letter and spirit of existing regulations.
(Edited by Zinnia Ray Chaudhuri)
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