To enhance the safety of the non-lethal kinetic energy ammunition used in the current 38 mm riot control guns, the finite element-discrete element method was employed to simulate the impact process of the 38 mm spherical kinetic energy projectile filled with lead sand on a human body-like target. The modeling method and parameter selection were indirectly verified through a rigid-wall experiment, and data on the deformation process, kinetic energy, velocity, displacement, and energy transfer rate during the projectile impacting on the target were obtained. Based on this, comparative analysis was conducted on different projectile velocities and wall thicknesses, and safety related shooting suggestions were proposed. The results show that the projectile undergoes significant deformation upon impact with the target, transforming into a disc like shape, while the target exhibits a circular indentation, with both deformations being partially recoverable to some extent. The wounding power of the projectile increases with velocity and decreases with wall thickness. The minimum safe shooting distances without causing abdominal skin penetration injuries for projectile wall thicknesses of 5, 7, and 9 mm are 122.40, 64.62, and 31.26 m, respectively.