John Miller
Hollow-point bullets are designed to expand on impact, sometimes by up to twice their diameter. This expansion creates a mushroom-like shape, with a widened, rounded nose on top of a cylindrical base. The expansion of the bullet transfers more of its kinetic energy into the target, creating a larger wound channel and more extensive tissue damage. This makes hollow-point bullets particularly effective for hunting and self-defence, as they increase the chance of a quick kill and reduce the risk of accidental injury to bystanders. However, they are generally prohibited for use in warfare due to the increased damage they inflict.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Type of bullet | Hollow-point bullet |
| Other names | Expanding bullet, dumdum bullet |
| Composition | Lead core, copper jacket |
| Function | Expands on impact with a soft target, increasing in diameter and creating a mushroom shape |
| Use | Hunting, law enforcement, self-defense |
| Advantages | Controlled penetration, increased accuracy, reduced risk of accidental injury to bystanders |
| Disadvantages | Easily damaged, banned for military use, may cause guns to misfeed or jam |
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What You'll Learn
Hollow-point bullets
The first hollow-point bullets were marketed in the late 19th century as express bullets. They were hollowed out to reduce the bullet's mass and provide higher velocities. They were originally intended for rifles but could also be fired from revolvers. The popular .32-20, .38-40, and .44-40 calibers were some of the first hollow-point bullets.
Modern hollow-point bullet designs use various methods to achieve controlled expansion, including jackets that are thinner at the front, partitions in the middle of the bullet core, fluted jackets, and posts in the hollow cavity. Solid copper hollow points provide controlled, uniform expansion even at high velocities. Plastic inserts in the hollow can also initiate the expansion of the bullet upon impact.
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Soft-point bullets
The amount of expansion of a soft-point bullet depends on the hardness of the lead alloy core, the strength of the surrounding metal jacket, and the energy available from the decrease in bullet velocity as the bullet encounters target resistance. The energy available to expand the bullet is proportional to the square of the velocity at which the bullet strikes the target. If the bullet passes through the target, the energy is not transferred to the target. Soft-point bullets may not expand if they strike a target at low velocity or if the target does not slow the bullet enough to deform the exposed point or rupture the surrounding jacket.
The main disadvantage of soft-point bullets is that they do not have the same stopping power as hollow-point bullets, nor the penetration of full metal jacket bullets. They are also less accurate and have worse downrange performance than full metal jacket bullets.
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Controlled expansion
The process of bullet mushrooming, or bullet expansion, is a carefully designed feature of certain bullet types. Hollow-point bullets, for instance, are designed to expand on impact with a soft target, such as flesh. This expansion increases the cross-sectional area of the bullet, slowing it down and transferring more of its kinetic energy to the target. This results in a larger wound channel and more extensive tissue damage, increasing the chance of a quick kill. This makes them particularly useful for hunting and self-defence, as they are less likely to penetrate all the way through the target or harm a bystander.
The amount of expansion a bullet undergoes depends on its design and composition, as well as the velocity at which it hits the target. Hollow-point bullets, for example, have a cavity in their tip that fills with the target's soft material upon impact, causing the surrounding rim to mushroom out. The standard acceptable expansion for these bullets is 1.7 times their original diameter, though some can expand to nearly twice their original size.
The expansion of a bullet can be controlled through various means. One method is to use a jacket, a thin layer of harder metal such as copper, brass, or mild steel, that surrounds the softer lead core of the bullet. This jacket provides additional strength, increases penetration, and helps prevent the bullet from leaving deposits in the bore. Another method of controlling expansion is the use of plastic inserts in the hollow cavity, which initiate expansion upon impact by being forced into the cavity. Solid copper hollow points are also used for controlled, uniform expansion, even at high velocities.
The design of the bullet itself can also be altered to control expansion. For example, the cruciform expanding bullet is a solid bullet with a cross-shaped incision in its tip. This design allows for controlled expansion up to the depth of the incision, preventing over-expansion. Additionally, the velocity of the bullet can be adjusted to control its expansion, with higher velocities generally resulting in greater expansion.
The ability to control the expansion of bullets is important for hunters and law enforcement, as it allows them to select ammunition that is appropriate for the specific situation and helps to minimise collateral damage.
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Bullet velocity
Hollow-point bullets are designed to expand on impact with a soft target, increasing the axial diameter of the projectile as it passes through. This process is commonly referred to as mushrooming, due to the resulting shape resembling a mushroom. The expansion of the bullet causes it to slow down, and more of its kinetic energy is transferred to the target, creating a larger wound channel. The velocity of the bullet is a key factor in determining the extent of its expansion and penetration.
At higher velocities, hollow-point bullets exhibit more significant expansion. Solid lead bullets, when fired at high velocities, can also deform and expand upon impact, particularly if they are cast from a soft alloy. However, with the advent of smokeless powder, bullet velocities increased significantly, and bullets became smaller, faster, and lighter. These modern bullets, especially those used in rifles, often require a jacket of harder metal such as copper, brass, or mild steel to provide additional strength and increase penetration.
The velocity of the bullet also depends on the type of firearm used. For example, handgun ammunition typically operates at lower velocities of around 1,000 feet per second (300 m/s), while rifle ammunition can exceed 2,000 feet per second (610 m/s). The design of the bullet, such as its weight and calibre, also influences its velocity. Lighter bullets tend to achieve higher velocities, and certain designs, like hollow-point bullets, are specifically created to increase velocity.
The intended target also plays a role in determining the required bullet velocity. For hunting thin-skinned game, hollow-point bullets with higher velocities are effective as they expand significantly upon impact. However, for medium and large game, bullets need better penetration, so less expansion is desired. In these cases, lower velocities can be used, as the bullets are designed to maintain their integrity and avoid excessive expansion.
Ultimately, the velocity of a bullet is a crucial factor in the mushrooming effect. Higher velocities generally lead to greater expansion, but the specific design, materials, and target also influence the outcome. The velocity, along with other factors, determines the extent of mushrooming and the resulting wound channel.
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Wound channel
When a bullet hits a target, it creates two cavities within the body: the permanent cavity and the temporary cavity. The permanent cavity is the primary wound channel, caused by the tissue damage due to the bullet's passage through the body. The temporary cavity is created as the bullet travels through the body, stretching the permanent cavity and causing progressive pulsations and contractions. The temporary cavity exists for around 5 to 10 milliseconds before giving way to a permanent wound track. The ultimate extent of the wound is determined by the kinetic energy on impact, the extent of the temporary cavity, and the amount of bullet fragmentation.
The size of the wound channel is influenced by the bullet's velocity and design. High-velocity rifle bullets produce a "tail splash", which is the rearward propulsion of injured tissue and a large temporary cavity that can be 11 to 12.5 times the diameter of the projectile. The maximum cavity diameter occurs at the point of maximum kinetic energy loss, usually when the bullet reaches maximum yaw or fragmentation. The rapid expansion of the cavity can cause severe damage at a significant distance from the wound path, depending on the tissue struck.
Expanding bullets, also known as dumdum bullets, are designed to expand on impact, increasing in diameter to create a larger wound channel. This transfer of kinetic energy to the target results in a more extensive wound and greater stopping power. Hollow-point bullets, a type of expanding bullet, are commonly used in handguns and low-velocity rifles. When a hollow-point bullet strikes a soft target, the pressure created in the pit forces the material outwards, increasing the axial diameter of the projectile as it passes through, resulting in a mushrooming effect. This increased surface area limits the bullet's penetration depth and causes more tissue damage along the wound path.
The type of tissue struck by the bullet also determines the extent of the wound channel. For example, temporary cavities cause more damage to less elastic organs like the kidney or heart. Additionally, bullet fragmentation can increase the size of the wound channel by damaging tissues under strain by the temporary cavity.
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Frequently asked questions
A mushroomed bullet is a bullet that expands on impact, increasing in diameter, which is also known as mushrooming.
A mushroomed bullet is also known as an expanding bullet or a hollow-point bullet.
When a bullet mushrooms, it expends its forward momentum, which helps to prevent it from passing through the target and unintentionally hitting something in the background.
Bullets are designed to mushroom to increase their stopping power and create more damage, which increases the chance of a quick kill, making them popular with hunters.
A bullet that is less likely to mushroom is a full metal jacket (FMJ) bullet, which is probably the most common type of projectile in the world today.
