Are Hollow Points Illegal in Texas? Weapons Possession Laws

No Texas hollow point restriction

Texas Penal Code Chapter 46 (Weapons) does not address ammunition types. The state does not regulate hollow points, soft points, frangible ammunition, or any other expanding bullet design. Texas law focuses on weapons themselves and certain location-based carry restrictions, not on ammunition selection.

Hollow points are legal to:

• Purchase at any Texas gun store, big-box retailer, or online vendor
• Possess in any quantity for personal use
• Use for hunting (with caliber-appropriate game)
• Use for self-defense
• Carry concealed or openly with a valid License to Carry (LTC)
• Store at home or in a vehicle

The legality is consistent across all of Texas's 254 counties. No local ordinance prohibits hollow points.

The myth and where it comes from

The "hollow points are illegal" myth has several origins:

Hague Convention confusion. The 1899 Hague Declaration prohibits the use of expanding bullets in international armed conflict between signatory nations. This applies to military forces in war — not to civilian ammunition use, and not to law enforcement domestic use. The Convention has no application to civilian self-defense or hunting in any country, including the United States.

State-specific restrictions confused for federal. A few jurisdictions (notably New Jersey, which restricts hollow points for civilian possession outside the home) have their own restrictions. None of these apply in Texas.

Marketing for "duty rounds." Law enforcement and military operations sometimes use specific designated ammunition. The "duty round" terminology is not a legal classification — just a manufacturer/department designation.

The actual U.S. federal regulation of ammunition focuses on armor-piercing rounds capable of penetrating body armor (18 U.S.C. §922(a)(7), §921(a)(17)), not on hollow points.

Federal restrictions that do exist

Federal law restricts a narrow category of ammunition:

Armor-piercing handgun ammunition (18 U.S.C. §922(a)(7)). Defined in §921(a)(17)(B) as projectiles for handguns made from specified materials (tungsten, steel, brass, beryllium, depleted uranium) or with jackets weighing more than 25% of the total bullet weight. The restriction applies to manufacture, importation, and limited possession contexts.

Hollow points are not armor-piercing under federal law. Standard hollow points use lead cores and don't fall within the armor-piercing definition.

Other federal restrictions:

• Tracer rounds: Restricted in some contexts, particularly large quantities.
• Incendiary ammunition: Heavy restrictions; generally not available to civilians.
• Explosive bullets: Banned for civilian use.
• Destructive devices: Federally restricted (NFA Title II).

None of these affect standard hollow point ammunition for handguns or rifles.

Why hollow points are recommended

For Texas residents considering self-defense ammunition, hollow points are typically recommended for several reasons:

Controlled expansion. Hollow points expand on impact, transferring energy efficiently to the target. This produces effective stopping power.

Reduced over-penetration. The expansion typically prevents the bullet from over-penetrating, reducing the risk of striking innocent third parties beyond the target. This is particularly important in home defense scenarios.

Lower ricochet risk. Hollow points typically deform on impact rather than ricocheting, reducing collateral risk.

Better terminal ballistics. The expansion creates a larger wound channel, reducing the number of follow-up shots typically needed in defensive scenarios.

Most Texas self-defense and concealed-carry instructors recommend hollow points as the appropriate ammunition choice for home and personal defense. Range/practice ammunition is typically full metal jacket (FMJ); defensive ammunition is typically jacketed hollow points (JHP).