Hollow Base VS Flat Base bullets?......

[Mikej]

Why, one or the other?

I've got to line up some 155/165 gr .400" .40 cal, slugs for loading. Looks like I'll be using plated since Montana gold quit. I'm finally getting down to a couple/three hundred of my MG 155 gr HPS. I'd like to use RMR, but they only carry 180gr. I sure like their 9mm 115gr HPs though. Anyway, Berry's has a hollow base and solid base. What's the difference when shooting? Berry's is kind of spendy too, compared to RMR.

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[JO JO]

FYI
Xtreme bullets has a 15% off sale today

 

[Cerberus Group]

Just shooting, no difference. For projectiles like hollow base wadcutters, they tend to yaw and tumble in bodies.

 

[po18guy]

Hollow base provides a larger external "footprint" for the same weight - which helps feeding reliability in lighter bullets. It also provides slightly more room for powders which might require compressed loads.

 

[Mikej]

FYI
Xtreme bullets has a 15% off sale today

I had forgot about them Been using Montana Gold in pretty much all handguns.

 

[Mikej]

FYI
Xtreme bullets has a 15% off sale today

I ordered 500 165gr flat points. Thanks for the tip!

 

[po18guy]

Note: Winchester makes an 85 grain .380 Silvertip. It is both hollow-pointed as well as hollow-based.

 

[TTSX]

Just shooting, no difference. For projectiles like hollow base wadcutters, they tend to yaw and tumble in bodies.

Forgive my ignorance, I was under the impression that nose heavy objects tend to resist yaw while butt heavy objects are susceptible to it.

 

[Mikej]

Forgive my ignorance, I was under the impression that nose heavy objects tend to resist yaw while butt heavy objects are susceptible to it.

You forgot to add:

Discuss!

 

[Cerberus Group]

When hollow base wadcutters hit a harder object, such as cartilage and/or bone, instead of glancing off, they tend to hold their path and flip. Sometimes they will just flip without contacting anything but tissue...they are a bit of a wildcard in the ballistic world.

Many of the hollow base wadcutters I've tested will come to rest butt first.

A reason I like wadcutters so much for a defensive load, they don't need much velocity to perform well. Because of their flat nose...they act like a plow, flat face contacting a flat surface, they leave a solid wound channel and won't over penetrate.

Better for follow up shots, and of course less recoil, blast and don't batter the gun and shooter.

 

[Mikej]

When hollow base wadcutters hit a harder object, such as cartilage and/or bone, instead of glancing off, they tend to hold their path and flip. Sometimes they will just flip without contacting anything but tissue...they are a bit of a wildcard in the ballistic world.

Many of the hollow base wadcutters I've tested will come to rest butt first.

A reason I like wadcutters so much for a defensive load, they don't need much velocity to perform well. Because of their flat nose...they act like a plow, flat face contacting a flat surface, they leave a solid wound channel and won't over penetrate.

Better for follow up shots, and of course less recoil, blast and don't batter the gun and shooter.

Wad-cutters are for revolvers only I figure? Not going to chamber to well is semi-auto's? I think wad cutters for self defense sounds great.

 

[Spitpatch]

Most of what's been discussed here is probably more related to harder casted bullets in the modern calibers.

But: in the older revolver rounds, (45 Long Colt is the best example), soft lead and a hollow base are VERY often nearly necessary for fine accuracy.

It makes up for minor discrepancies in bore size to bullet diameter relationships by the rear of the bullet being deformed ("obturated" is the smart-person word) by the pressures of the powder ignition. Basically , it "flares" the butt-end of the soft lead bullet to grab the lands better.

If your .45LC doesn't shoot, find a hollow base soft lead bullet.

 

[red442joe]

I use several Lee Pro 1000's in many calibers.
I have found hollow base bullets, plated or fmj, tend to stack-lock in the bullet feeders. The fingers of the Lee bullet feeders can't pull one out of the bottom of the stack. Flat bases work just fine even with full bullet feeder tubes.

Joe

 

[Hemlock]

Most of what's been discussed here is probably more related to harder casted bullets in the modern calibers.

But: in the older revolver rounds, (45 Long Colt is the best example), soft lead and a hollow base are VERY often nearly necessary for fine accuracy.

It makes up for minor discrepancies in bore size to bullet diameter relationships by the rear of the bullet being deformed ("obturated" is the smart-person word) by the pressures of the powder ignition. Basically , it "flares" the butt-end of the soft lead bullet to grab the lands better.

If your .45LC doesn't shoot, find a hollow base soft lead bullet.

^^^^^ This is true.

 

[BillM]

Before you go plated, look at Precision Delta. That's where I ended up when Montana Gold finally pulled the plug. Another possibility is Everglades, but their quantity discount isn't as good as PD.

If you are not dead set on some kind of a copper jacket, take a look at some of the coated bullets. Bayou has a 200 gr RN 40 bullet that I use the heck out of, and they make a 165 gr 40.

 

[NeoBlackdog]

I've been using Berry's 165 grain flat base bullets in my competition guns since 2009 and have never had an issue with them. They're sized at .401 and run flawlessly in my Glock 23, 24, and 35.

 

[Ben B.]

Before you go plated, look at Precision Delta. That's where I ended up when Montana Gold finally pulled the plug. Another possibility is Everglades, but their quantity discount isn't as good as PD.

If you are not dead set on some kind of a copper jacket, take a look at some of the coated bullets. Bayou has a 200 gr RN 40 bullet that I use the heck out of, and they make a 165 gr 40.

Is that Bill Marrs talking? Hello, Bill.

If you want to give your coated bullet money to a local, Travis in Sweet Home sells a 155 gr SWC, a 155 gr RN, and a 180 gr TC. His bullets have been just fine and I've used the 180 TC (& others) with no problems.

Bullets - Handgun - 40/10mm - T&B Bullets

tbbullets.com

 

[Mikej]

Before you go plated, look at Precision Delta. That's where I ended up when Montana Gold finally pulled the plug. Another possibility is Everglades, but their quantity discount isn't as good as PD.

If you are not dead set on some kind of a copper jacket, take a look at some of the coated bullets. Bayou has a 200 gr RN 40 bullet that I use the heck out of, and they make a 165 gr 40.

I had already ordered 500 Extreme Bullets 165gr .40 cal. I don't push my .40 loads anywhere near max, so should be just fine. Also, had a good member pm me to let me know he had a 500cnt bag of MG 165gr .40 that I'll be getting from him.

Is that Bill Marrs talking? Hello, Bill.

If you want to give your coated bullet money to a local, Travis in Sweet Home sells a 155 gr SWC, a 155 gr RN, and a 180 gr TC. His bullets have been just fine and I've used the 180 TC (& others) with no problems.

Bullets - Handgun - 40/10mm - T&B Bullets

tbbullets.com

I'm not really a coated lead user. I did get a 500 bag ofT&B 200gr coated for Wifey's Rossi 92 lever gun in .45 Colt though.

 

[tac]

Obviously I can't talk about the experiences of calibres of which I know little or zilch, but here in the Commonwealth it's a well-known fact that the 174gr flat base .311 bullet was preferred by our snipers over all other shapes.

Out to 600 yards, the FB bullet ruled the battlefield, and while we shot the .303 in post-WW2 competition, the ranges all over the Commonwealth, too.

Those who STILL shoot .303, members of the Hysterical Breech-loading Small Arms Association, grab all they can find - I located 400 of them a couple of months back, and the vendor clearly knew he was on a good thing - £70/C............

 

[WAYNO]

Forgive my ignorance, I was under the impression that nose heavy objects tend to resist yaw while butt heavy objects are susceptible to it.

I am surprised this has not been further mentioned or discussed. My experience with hollow based bullets are purely with .38 hollow based wadcutters.
And my old-school understanding, is the hollow base is for aiding accuracy. Not unlike an airgun pellet or rifled slug, the hollow base causes the bullet to remain stable in spite of a lack of rotation due to lower velocities. Not any different than a badminton shuttlecock.