The flat nose of the .40 S&W cartridge is technically called a meplat and is designed to impact the bullet’s ballistics and wounding capability. Much like jacketed hollow points (JHP), the meplat tip allows the bullet to expand more on impact, creating greater internal damage and reducing the risk of overpenetration. Because the .40 S&W was specifically created to be used by the FBI and law enforcement, it was designed with as much stopping power as possible and its cartridges almost always feature the flat tip.