I'll have to check with my LEO SIL if they classify frangible with hp and expanding jacket here in NJ. If you shoot someone with HP they consider it 'malicious intent", even though it's a safer round as far as your neighbors are concerned.
I also didn't know you could reload frangible....can you crack the bullets or anything when reloading?
You do have to be careful with the crimp when reloading, you can snap the bullet off if you put too much crimp on. That doesn't mean it will just come off. I double check mine by taking a round and hitting the bullet off the edge of my reloading bench, if it stays in place, it's good. It takes a little bit to get the feel for it. Definately not as forgiving as conventional bullets.
There are different designs of frangible and they perform differently. A flat or round nosed frangible will fragment against a hard surface and act just like a FMJ when it strikes tissue. Not ideal for self defense, good for practice and the range. When Rob stated in another thread that his friend shot himself in the leg and the round didn't fragment, I'm guessing that they were using this and not duty or carry rounds.
Frangible rounds for self defense or duty have a slight "hollow point" or dimple in the nose of the bullet. This allows for hydrostatic pressure from tissue to fragment the bullet with devastating results. I think you need at least 900 fps for it to work properly. The nose of the bullet fragments, causing damage, and the base of the bullet stays intact, creating a bigger wound channel. Most of the energy is used up within 12-16 inches, depending on the round.
Hope this helps.