Hollow points

[ncbengal]

Is there a case to be made for using hollow point bullets for target? I use a steady diet of Berry's 155 gr plated RNFP .40 cal and 158 gr plated RNFP in .38/357. Just thought that a HP bullet might improve sectional density and maintain flight stability with lighter weight bullets. Any thoughts?

[Dragon88]

Yes, I think for competition shooters who don't have to worry about the cost of their ammo, hollow points may be preferred. For example, Hornady likes to tout the fact that Todd Jarrett shoots XTPs for competition. Unless you are a really really good shot though, or are going long range, you may not notice much difference.

[mtgianni]

Almost all rifle target loads are HP as it moves the center of gravity to the rear and increases stability. IMO, If you are shooting over 300 yards it might be beneficial. Under that it probably is not as much of an advantage. I have played with different depths of HP in cast and shoot what gives me maximum expansion when I use an HP bullet rather than see if a group can be shrunk 0.100".

[WR Moore]

Since sectional density is the relationship between bullet weight and the cross sectional area of the bullet diameter, the nose design isn't going to change anything. Sectional density primarily affects penetration anyway.

The nose design of match grade rifle bullets also improves the air flow over the bullet in addition to a change in the realtionship of the center of gravity and center of pressure. Coupled with a boat tailed base, this generally makes improvements in the ballistic coefficient (reduces drag) and stability of the bullet in flight. The hollow point of those bullets is not the same thing as the hollow point of expanding pistol bullets-nor are the jackets.

Hornaday produced flat nose FMJ target bullets in 9mm and .45 ACP at one time after working on a developmental contract. As near as I can figure out, the HAP line of bullets copies the profile, but neither are in calibers you're enquiring about.

Concentration of the fundamentals of marksmanship will do more to improve your grouping ability than trying to find magic bullets.

[ncbengal]

Thanks, guys, and the use of h-p's is rifle match bullets is long established. For handgun loads you can get regular flat or round nose plated bullets for about the same price as hollow points. This would make the bullet a tad longer for given grain weight; place the c-g closer into the case and fil the case that much more for a given overall cartridge length.
Not trying to achieve sub-m.o.a. with a 38 spl, but I ain't that bad a shot either. Might order some h-p's, get out the ol' sandbag and see what happens.

[n4zov]

I can't think of a single factory handgun target load that uses hollow point bullets, so I am assuming that if they offered any advantages the factories would be loading them in their premium (expensive) target loads.

[Jellybean]

I agree with Mr. Moore's post.

You are thinking about Ballistic Coefficients and not Sectional Density. The SD wouldn't change from a solid pt to a HP of the same design but the BC might because of the bullet being longer. However, if you look at the differences in ballistics between similar bullets differing in nose jobs you aren't gaining a whole lot, especially at "target" distances.

Match grade rifle bullets actually have the center of balance moved a little forward as compared to similar hunting bullets, but the most important thing is that the reason their noses are hollow is a by product of how they are made and not a factor of it. There used to be a product that would make the hollow point of a match bullet solid for those that didn't like the way the nose looked "non-concentric", but it actually hurt accuracy more than helped it.

If they are offering HP bullets at the same price as FPs then that is a clear indication that one is not any better than the other.