Why does a hollow-point bullet expand?

Expansion. When a hollow-point hunting bullet strikes a soft target, the pressure created in the pit forces the material (usually lead) around the inside edge to expand outwards, increasing the axial diameter of the projectile as it passes through.

Do hollow points penetrate?

Hollow point bullets are used because they penetrate targets but also expand, which means the round stays inside soft tissues. The reason hollow point bullets expand and other types of ammunition don’t has to do with the materials used and what happens to a bullet when it’s shot out of a barrel into tissue.

How much do hollow point bullets expand?

Expansion and Penetration So, hollow-points are designed to expand, causing their diameter to increase as they pass through the target. Acceptable expansion is considered by many to be 1.7x the original bullet diameter. As an example, a 9mm bullet has a diameter of .

Can you fill a hollow-point bullet?

There is a legit reason to “fill” your hollow points, but its a old pro’s secret. No, its not to make the bullet any more deadly or anything else Hollywood like.

What does putting wax on a bullet do?

Why is it (or was it) necessary to put some form of wax on ammunition? A. The wax was designed to reduce the friction caused by the lead or copper fouling left in the rifle bore after firing. Ammunition manufacturers still use some type of wax coating on lead bullets.

What is the difference between Full Metal Jacket and hollow point?

Full Metal Jacket (FMJ) and Hollow Point (HP) are the designations for the two most common types of ammunition fired from metallic cartridge firearms. Full metal jacket ammo is typically used for target shooting and plinking while hollow point ammo is considered the gold standard for self-defense.

Which states are hollow point bullets illegal?

Yes, everywhere in the U.S. — with one exception. The state of New Jersey bans civilians from possessing hollow point ammo unless they’re at home or hunting. If you are not in the Garden State, you can legally load hollow points in your carry weapon. Why are hollow points controversial?

Do hollow-point match rifle bullets expand?

Hollow-point match rifle bullets have a very small opening in the nose. This minimal opening is designed to maintain a minimal meplat. It is not designed for expansion. In fact, most hollow-point match rifle bullets will not expand on impact unless the target is at extremely close range and even then, expansion may be erratic.

Is the sharp tip of a FMJ bullet better than hollowpoint?

In real terms therefore, the sharp tip of the FMJ is barely a percent or two more efficient than the hollow point. Oh, and please don’t use hollowpoint match bullets for hunting. That hollow tip isn’t designed to expand; it’s all about weight distribution and ballistics. Hollow-point match rifle bullets have a very small opening in the nose.

What is the difference between soft-point and hollow-point bullets?

Soft-point bullets have less of a jacket, as the tip of the bullet (sometimes more than just the tip) is soft lead. This leads to expansion occurring, though less than that of hollow point rounds.

Why are hollowpoint boattail bullets so good?

After a short history lesson in rifle match ammo and the happenstance of hollowpoint boattail bullets emerging as the clear leader in precision shooting, Michael Bussard begins to delve into the reasons why a precisely-made hollowpoint is better than other types of bullet for accurate rifle shooting. It begins with a look at ballistics: