Comet/teardrop shaped bullet holes?

[oldgun]

Last night at the range I noticed a good percentage of the holes that I was punching in the paper targets with my Model 649 were comet shaped, not round, with the tail at about 7pm or so.

Technically, what is going on with that? It's a 2 1/8" barrel, and I was shooting both .38 specials and .357 magnums. Not all of them were comet shaped. My first thought was that the bullets must be tumbling when they strike the paper.

This doesn't happen with my 686 4".

Anyone have an educated opinion on the subject?

Thanks,

Oldgun

 

[Smithboomer]

I've seen some strange holes as a result of too-thin paper targets and low velocity bullets. I would also check how the targets were attached to the backing.

 

[Texas Star]

Was it windy, either outdoors or from a range fan? That might blow the targets a little.

 

[PH-2]

oldgun,

You are describing "key-holing," what do you reckon the round count on your 649 to be?
There may be other factors at play, here, but I have "shot-out" barrels on a couple of high mileage 1911A1's and key-holing is one indicator the barrel is worn out. Also, the bullet weight/configuration may not be conducive to stabilizing in that particular weapon. Are these handloads?
As stated before, there may be other reasons for this. Both Smithboomer and Texas Star offered valid suggestions.

Mike

 

[Flint Ridge]

If they are hand loads, you might try a couple different factory brands and see if they also are doing it - just trying to rule out ammo. But you indicate a couple different loads yourself....

 

[BUFF]

Hollowbase wadcutters do that when driven too fast. Too high a pressure blows the hollow "skirt" (rear sides) of the bullets out when it leaves the muzzle.

 

[Nightowl]

I had a gun do that with a throat that was .01 oversize.

 

[DETROIT]

Last night at the range I noticed a good percentage of the holes that I was punching in the paper targets with my Model 649 were comet shaped, not round, with the tail at about 7pm or so.

Technically, what is going on with that? It's a 2 1/8" barrel, and I was shooting both .38 specials and .357 magnums. Not all of them were comet shaped. My first thought was that the bullets must be tumbling when they strike the paper.

This doesn't happen with my 686 4".

Anyone have an educated opinion on the subject?

Thanks,

Oldgun

Its sounds like key holing, you'll just need to trouble shoot as to why. could just be simple limp wristing

 

[stevieboy]

What did the targets consist of in terms of paper and backing? Very thin or light paper will tear when penetrated by bullets, causing a "key holing" effect. I sometimes will use plain printer paper for targets and just take a marking pen and draw in a black dot. When I do that I'm likely to get all kinds of tears and fishhook shaped holes which look a lot like key holing. The problem is more noticeable with larger caliber bullets, particularly those that aren't moving too fast, such as .45 ACP.

Today, for example, I fired my 625 JM at the range. I was shooting at some fairly flimsy paper targets. The bullets just tore these targets to pieces, leaving large tears along with the holes made as the bullets passed through.

Next time you fire this gun, try shooting into something fairly stiff, such as a target with a cardboard backing, and see whether that changes the appearance of the holes.

Btw, how was your accuracy? If you were hitting a POA and "key holing" I'd be willing to be that the problem lay in the targets and not with the gun.

 

[Harrison]

Sometimes happens with plated bullets, that have too tight a crimp, it strips the plating off and they keyhole.

 

[Alk8944]

Without photos to show precisely what you are trying to describe, everyone is just guessing. Just about any of the things mentioned could be the problem, or part of it.

Harrison. Over-crimped plated bullets stripping the jacket???????? Get serious. Electroplating bonds the metals at the molecular level, this is a very srtong attachment. I challenge anyone who proposes this to show me a core missing it's jacket, or an empty plated-on jacket base that has been stripped!. Show me just one example and I might believe it.

 

[G-ManBart]

Without photos to show precisely what you are trying to describe, everyone is just guessing. Just about any of the things mentioned could be the problem, or part of it.

Harrison. Over-crimped plated bullets stripping the jacket???????? Get serious. Electroplating bonds the metals at the molecular level, this is a very srtong attachment. I challenge anyone who proposes this to show me a core missing it's jacket, or an empty plated-on jacket base that has been stripped!. Show me just one example and I might believe it.

I can't stand plated bullets, but even Berry's say that you can cause the plating to separate if you use too much crimp (or not enough flare prior to seating, although they left that out). Anything that cuts the plating can/will cause either keyholes or full tumbling with plated bullets.

Berry's Frequently Asked Questions â

 

[Alk8944]

I can't stand plated bullets, but even Berry's say that you can cause the plating to separate if you use too much crimp (or not enough flare prior to seating, although they left that out). Anything that cuts the plating can/will cause either keyholes or full tumbling with plated bullets.

Berry's Frequently Asked Questions â

That wasn't the question. What I said was "Show me an example", not just second-hand anecdotal evidence. No question you can damage bullets and cause some odd things to happen.

Remember, Speer "Gold Dot" or "Uni-Core" bullets have the jacket applied by electroplating, exactly like Berry's and other simple plated bullets. Have you ever heard a warning about over crimping or jackets stripping with the Speers? It doesn't happen. Until someone can show me an actual plated bullet where the core and jacket have separated, and has solid proof it isn't/wasn't a cup-and-core bullet, I will call this the BS that it is.

 

[oldgun]

I was shooting Fiocchi .357 mag and Magtec .38 spec., 142 and 158 gr. respectively. The range is indoor, with significant negative pressure between the firing line (booth) and the target area, which makes a wind that you can feel coming past you and does make the target flap sometimes, depending on the targets, and distance from the shooting "window".

The range does not allow straight lead wad cutters or hardcast bullets of any kind. The Fiocchi's are FMJTC. The .38 spec. Magtec are FMC-Flat.

Oh, and the gun has really low round count, maybe 500 max.

I'll pay attention to wind effects that might cause the target to wave the next time.

Thank you for the feedback. It is really a great discussion board and I appreciate your help in addressing my shooting questions. I'm gaining experience, and knowledge, but there is no substitute for learning from others, for which I am humbled by the willingness to share and help.

If I get a chance, I'll take a picture next time and share it w/u.

Thanks,

Oldgun