Hollow Point vs Round Nose for reloads

[scott_kart]

Newbie reloader, I am looking to participate in the Xtreme bullet group buy and wondered if there are reasons to reload for target, not SD, using hollow point vs round nose? Accuracy, closer to a SD round, to make sure they feed with your pistol? Thanks.
Scott

[joelogic]

A lot of action shooters use HP because they spall less.

[chinny33]

hollow points, in my experience are more accurate than RN bullets.

Xtreme bullets are not THAT accurate for "target" shooting, more of a plinking round just to go BANG.



You want Target grade bullets, Hornady HAP, Montana Gold JHPs. For competition shooting, they are pretty dominant in the field.

I shoot everything, but when I have a competition on the line, I use Montana Gold. Better SDs through my chrono.

[scott_kart]

Sorry, not target competition, just target plinking.
Scott

[ireload]

I shoot either one. What ever is on sale or available. Since I don't do target shooting, I'll take what ever that is available. My handguns are not finicky in what I feed them. But my Beretta 92 likes Hornady XTP or HAP for top accuracy.

[emptybottle151]

Depends on your seating die. For 9mm I have a old RCBS seating die that prefers RN over FP/HP. HP are good for steel targets and if the price is the same as RN then why not?

[Enfield47]

The plated hollow point bullets are designed for target shooting, they are not as good for self defense as jacketed bullets. It has do with how they expand, JHPs are designed to expand on impact but the plated bullets are not. The plated hollow points bullets will retain their shape and keep on going. If you shoot them through some jugs of water you'll see what I am referring to (if you can find your bullet). You should still get in on the group buy and pick some up for target practice, it's a great price they are going for. Buy a box of JHP ammo for self defense and then you won't have to worry if they will work or not.

[GeoffLinder]

I go with JHP across the board for the keep it simple thing, cost is a tad more, but, no biggie IMHO. JHP will typically perform a tad better on the target face, but not always.

[jwc]

Hollow point bullets usually leave a cleaner hole on paper targets.

X-Treme's 124gr 9mm hollow point bullets have a concave base and copper plating twice as thick as most of their other plated bullets.

For these reasons I don't mind paying a little more for them, especially at the group buy price.

[mjmagee67]

I use Xtreme bullets a lot and I have found out a few interesting things about them and my guns. First the 9mm 124gr HP's and 45ACP 230gr HP's both seem to shoot better in my guns. The 124gr HP Xtreme shoots as well as the Montana Gold bullet! Second my 40 S&W's just don't care what 180gr Xtreme I use HP or FN, they both shoot well, but not as good as the Montana Gold HP. Since the Xtreme bullets are a lot cheaper, its what I feed my 40. Last for 38 Spc. I don't really like the Xtremes, Bayou Bullets just seem to shoot better in my pistols.

[Germz]

hollow points, in my experience are more accurate than RN bullets.

What? Please explain how the ballistic coefficient of a HP is greater than an RN's...

[JagerDog]

What? Please explain how the ballistic coefficient of a HP is greater than an RN's...

That's not what he said. Ballistic coefficient only has to do with how quickly it sheds velocity. It has nothing to do with accuracy out of pistol "X".

[Caddis]

Many years ago I asked that question to a bullet manufacturer's rep at an NRA convention during a seminar. He said HP are more accurate and mentioned something about the dynamics of the HP cutting through air causes them to be more accurate. He did not get into details. Perhaps the true test is to load up both comparable bullets and bench them.

[GeoffLinder]

Many years ago I asked that question to a bullet manufacturer's rep at an NRA convention during a seminar. He said HP are more accurate and mentioned something about the dynamics of the HP cutting through air causes them to be more accurate. He did not get into details. Perhaps the true test is to load up both comparable bullets and bench them.

I have heard that it has something to do with a HP having a more rearward center of mass so it tends to precess in flight less.

[JagerDog]

I have heard that it has something to do with a HP having a more rearward center of mass so it tends to precess in flight less.

Frontal mass is a good thing for subsonic accuracy. One reason HBWC predominate in bullseye. Darts are weighted toward the front. A dart weighted from the back wouldn't do very well.

When you get into supersonic, then there are some phenomenons which enter the equation, hence the small hollowpoints on some match rifle ammo.

This doesn't mean RN "X" will be more accurate than HP "Y". So much goes into projectile accuracy with consistency being key.