>When I served in the military, it was common understanding that Hague convention required use of "ball ammunition" was desirable because you want to inflict ca

>When I served in the military, it was common understanding that Hague convention required use of "ball ammunition" was desirable because you want to inflict casualties on your opposition, not necessarily to kill them. It was also probably common understanding that the Sergeant Major ate misbehaving enlisted men for breakfast. That is just a barracks room tale, similar to the one that .50 BMG can only legally be used on material and not personnel (which you can allegedly get around by aiming at the enemies web gear or helmet). The Hague convention banned hollow points because they were thought to be cruel and unnecessary. The convention continues to largely be obeyed because in general military use ball ammunition is better (eg it can shoot through light cover without deforming) and cheaper.