build a hollow point

jinx · Feb 23, 2013

Has anyone ever made their own hollow point bullet? I ask because there is no ammo available in my area{just like everywhere else}, but I did find a hidden box of 158 grain lead semi wad cutters. Nice flat point on them and was thinking I could drill my own hollow point. Is this possible or better yet, worth it?
I would appreciate any thoughts. Thanks

kwselke · Feb 23, 2013

Why not just use the 158 gr semi wad cutters in their current form?

arjay · Feb 23, 2013

I remember drilling hollow points into 22s many, many years ago.No memory of how well they worked though.

vipermd · Feb 23, 2013

Jinx: I have often thought about it myself. Could I make something comparable/better than the factory? Many years ago I remember seeing a bullet mold that would give a hollow cavity, I do not remember who/where but I thought I could make a round similar to a glaser. Never had the time!! Drill a SWC, fill it with wax, epoxy, glue, etc, shoot them and check stability, accuracy,penetration, expansion, and whatever parameters you are looking for. As a disclaimer: I do not use my reloaded ammo for self defense due to possible legal implications. Would it be a factor in a good shoot?? I have no idea, a search of the forum will give you many strong opinions pro and con, my choice is not to use them for self defense because I have factory available to me. I would love to do it for the science of it, unfortunately I have neither the time or equipment to do it the way I would like. I would be interested in what you might come up with. Best of luck. Be Safe,

CTG_COLLECTOR · Feb 23, 2013

jinx said:
Has anyone ever made their own hollow point bullet? I ask because there is no ammo available in my area{just like everywhere else}, but I did find a hidden box of 158 grain lead semi wad cutters. Nice flat point on them and was thinking I could drill my own hollow point. Is this possible or better yet, worth it?
I would appreciate any thoughts. Thanks

Could you? Sure. Would it work like a factory designed HP? I doubt it. Problem is if you ever shoot someone with your home made HP ammo, you're just giving the prosecutor/plaintiff's attorney just one more red-herring to use against you in court.

CTG_COLLECTOR · Feb 23, 2013

kwselke said:
Why not just use the 158 gr semi wad cutters in their current form?

Because it is a highly over penetrative and is a poor SD load.

chud333 · Feb 23, 2013

I've used a drill some and had good results.
Used to make my own HP loads for 7.62x39
and also have used it to open up some 158 gr.
swc .357 loads for game. Just try and make sure
you are as close to center as possible when drilling
and hope i don't need to tell you this but.....
drill the bullets "before" you load them into the cases.

Chuck

kwselke · Feb 23, 2013

CTG_COLLECTOR said:
Because it is a highly over penetrative and is a poor SD load.

Now I understand!

colt_saa · Feb 23, 2013

You can drill hollow points. But if they are different in depth or off center or any other way you will have no consistency from shot to shot.

The old 22 hollow pointer (at least the one I owned) had a die that hel the cartridge and a drill that went through an opening only so far to get the openings as close as possible.

If you want to cast and have access to lead, it is easy to make quality hollow points. I have 8 or 10 HP molds at the moment and a few more waiting to be produced.

This is not my photograph, but I do have the mold that casts these 600 grain Penta Points for my 500. It drops two at a time and can drop round hollow points or solids.

image property of "The Black Pearl" on the cast boolits forum

semperfi71 · Feb 23, 2013

I have heard too many positive reports of lead 158 grain bullets at 900 fps and higher being a fine self-defense load. Even better if a soft cast bullet.

I would not attempt to hollow point the bullets because of the issue of "off-center" as described above.

I have also heard of many instances where hollow-points failed to open in self-defense situations. Those that did were the lighter weight, frangible, high velocity types like the Remington 125 grain jacketed hollow point.

10 Spot Terminator · Feb 23, 2013

I have the Forster case trimmer and have the 2 acccessory bits to allow hollow pointing. The holes arent profuse like those found on devastator type bullets but they do nicely on RNFP and the sharper Truncated cone bullets. Need the power drill adaptor to replace the little manual crank handle though. I have taken a tiny Dremel tapered champfering bit and added a tapered cone to the standard drill bit hole with good results all by hand and did not see accuracy suffer in the least . If you dont have a trimmer this would be the way to go or get a mould and cast your own. Eric Ohlen can do hollowpoint conversions to many existing moulds also. He does great work.

10 Spot

blujax01 · Feb 24, 2013

Doesn't the statement: "I'm going to clamp loaded ammunition in a vice and drill a hole in the end of it." seem a little extreme to you?

SD ammunition is still available pretty much anywhere on the 'Net
(like Buffalo Bore https://www.buffalobore.com/index.php?l=product_detail&p=108 ).
I would consider purchasing enough to keep your chambers full and practice with whatever else you can find until this blows over.

colt_saa · Feb 24, 2013

blujax01 said:
Doesn't the statement: "I'm going to clamp loaded ammunition in a vice and drill a hole in the end of it." seem a little extreme to you?

Interesting comment

As a hand loader, I took the initial post to be that he found a box of projectiles for loading. I responded with that thought in mind. That is why I suggested casting his own hollow point projectiles

Re-reading the original post he could easily have meant he found a box of loaded ammunition. In that case you are correct, this is not a wise road to travel down.

blujax01 · Feb 24, 2013

colt_saa said:
Interesting comment

As a hand loader, I took the initial post to be that he found a box of projectiles for loading. I responded with that thought in mind. That is why I suggested casting his own hollow point projectiles

Re-reading the original post he could easily have meant he found a box of loaded ammunition. In that case you are correct, this is not a wise road to travel down.

Agreed. Maybe he put his post in the wrong forum? Boy, I hope so!

Tenn2 · Feb 24, 2013

arjay said:
I remember drilling hollow points into 22s many, many years ago.No memory of how well they worked though.

I am glad you are still here to tell us that. Drilling a loaded round!!!!!!!!!!

jinx · Feb 24, 2013

Thank you all for your time and thoughts. Good points made by all. I had gone over most of them in my mind. Keeping centered, being a solid and over penetrating, liability. I may have too much time as I am retired. Was looking for something to do and the frustration of finding ammunition.
Having seen your thoughts, I think I will leave that project alone and ride out this shortage.
Thank you again for your replies.

SMSgt · Feb 24, 2013

I used to open up the HP of .22 LRs with a drill bit and "X" the opening all the time when I hunted ground squirrels in western WA. They were devastating on the little varmits. Never bothered with centerfire as it wasn't worth the time and effort.

gwpercle · Feb 24, 2013

I well remember the Goerg hollow pointers, they came in 38 spcl. , 357mag. , 41 mag. 44 spcl. , 44 mag. 45 colt and 22 LR.
Forster made a pistol hollow pointer , for use on thier hand cranked case trimmer for all of the above ( except 22 LR ) and the 45 ACP.
They also made a accessory tool for thier power case trimmer for " any caliber rifle or pistol cartridge" complete with guide bushing and drill. All of these tools were to be used on " gasp " loaded ammunition. How did we survive...
Actually it is not as dangerous as you think. Back then , except for Super-Vel , there were no hollow points loaded by the factories. I bought hollow pointed moulds from Lyman so I could have those magic bullets. Super-Vel were so expensive they sold them in boxes of 50 instead of 100 like the other makers.
Gary

jinx · Feb 24, 2013

This has been very informative. You would think at my age that I would have known about the "hollow point" kits. Did not know such a tool was available and for such a long time.
As for hollow pointing loaded ammo, I would be leery. Don't want to be accused of suicide. But evidently it can be done.
Thanks again, I always enjoy learning.

vipermd · Feb 24, 2013

gwpercle: you just reminded me that I need to dig out some of the 357 super vel that I have, I bought a few cases. Marketed by" Qualfier",( mad in the USA by the manufactuers of Super Vel) The quote is on the box. They are 125 357 mag, I will prob chrono some tomorrow for grins, I will try 3",4",6" and let you know. I do remember that they were "peppy" , especially the 357 American Derringer!!, Be Safe,

build a hollow point

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