Is this what I "THINK" it is?

[GConn]

While taking some target practice with FMJ rounds late this afternoon, I happen to look-down on the ground in front of the target - same place the target sat a couple or three days ago when I squeezed-off eight Speer Gold Dot 124gr. +P HP - (shot from my Kel Tec PF-9 which has a bit less than 100 rounds through it) and found this (photos attached) laying there...it appears to me as a hollow-point round, with a chunk of plywood stuffed in the hollow (I'm currently shooting targets attached to a section of 1/2" plywood.

Should I be concerned about something ...... with the weapon??

[Hawg]

That's the problem with low powered hollow points. The hollow point gets clogged with wood or material from clothing and basically turns it into a FMJ effect wise.

[carver]

This is a problem with a lot of the HP ammo out there right now. All bullet manufacturing companies are trying their best to make a HP bullet that will expand every single time, no matter what. Try some Hornady Critical Defence, http://www.hornady.com/store/critical_defense

[GConn]

Originally Posted by Hawg

That's the problem with low powered hollow points. The hollow point gets clogged with wood or material from clothing and basically turns it into a FMJ effect wise.

I thought 124-grain was more of a "MEDIUM" weight - and JEEEEZ - it's "+P"!!! THAT'S "low-powered"???

[GConn]

Originally Posted by carver

This is a problem with a lot of the HP ammo out there right now. All bullet manufacturing companies are trying their best to make a HP bullet that will expand every single time, no matter what. Try some Hornady Critical Defence, http://www.hornady.com/store/critical_defense

So these, marked "LE" ("Law Enforcement") are potentially what some law enforcement are swatting at bad-guys with!??!?!

[carver]

Yep. LEO's here where I live are using a lot of the Remington Golden Sabers. You can buy them off the shelf just like you can the Hornady Critical Defense, or the Hydro Shock ammo from Federal. Now some ammo that is labeled "Law Enforcement Only" is just that, and can not be purchased by us mere civilians who the LEO's work for in the first place. Just look around a little, read up on what's out there, then go buy some of this, and some of that. You have to shoot the ammo in your pistol to determine what your gun likes best. The ammo that shoots the most accurate is the one you want to go with. One well placed bullet is worth 50 that don't hit the target.

[CampingJosh]

It might be worth remembering that plywood is different than flesh. Just because a round failed to mushroom in plywood does not necessarily mean that it would fail to mushroom in a body.

Even if it doesn't mushroom out, it's still a 124 grain bullet traveling at somewhere around 1300 fps. Our military uses FMJs in their handguns.

[GConn]

Originally Posted by carver

Yep. LEO's here where I live are using a lot of the Remington Golden Sabers. You can buy them off the shelf just like you can the Hornady Critical Defense, or the Hydro Shock ammo from Federal. Now some ammo that is labeled "Law Enforcement Only" is just that, and can not be purchased by us mere civilians who the LEO's work for in the first place. Just look around a little, read up on what's out there, then go buy some of this, and some of that. You have to shoot the ammo in your pistol to determine what your gun likes best. The ammo that shoots the most accurate is the one you want to go with. One well placed bullet is worth 50 that don't hit the target.

OK - Thanks much to everyone- and on that note, here's my Range Report today with 16-rounds of FMJ @ 7 yds/21 ft.

FINALLY, today, after thinking to myself; "ahh what the "HECK", I'm just gonna relax, do this, and sssuuueezzzzzzeee this trigger instead of getting all tensed-up and JERKING IT - got the absolute BEST group of shots I've yet - in almost 100 now - BY FAR!!!

[todd51]

Way to go Glenn. Now that is the right attitude. Relax and have some fun.

[GConn]

Originally Posted by todd51

Way to go Glenn. Now that is the right attitude. Relax and have some fun.

Thanks Chief! And yes - was kinda funny, I've shot much more powerful weapons for many years...but they were all looong arms...there's just been something about holding a li'l *B0MB* in my hand that had me a bit uptight (you know, that short little barrel, I reckon?), but I finally just took a deep breath...and said to myself; "self, lets OWN this weapon, and hence, this target" - aimed, smiled, and just as gently as I could squeezed that thar trigger !

I was AMAZED how the next several shots (the remainder of the mag) were the best shots I've taken yet. Shots 4, 5, 6, 7, and 8. I took a break of several hours, and changed locations, to squeeze rounds 9 - 16.

Granted, I still don't have quite 100 rounds under my belt (squeezed through a handgun, that is), but I have a whole new attitude about target "practice"!

Thanks again sir...

[hunter29180]

ok, being dumb here most likley...in your pictures i did not notice several things.... nothing to indicate rifleing marks, base of bullet very shiney as in no powder marks, nose of bullet while is full of plywood shows no deformaity at all, even the grooves are not deformed at all, I would expect some deformaity to show...so from the pictures which are not the best, fuzzy somewhat..either the bullet is a very hard alloy or the plywood was very rotten?

[Bindernut]

Originally Posted by hunter29180

ok, being dumb here most likley...in your pictures i did not notice several things.... nothing to indicate rifleing marks, base of bullet very shiney as in no powder marks, nose of bullet while is full of plywood shows no deformaity at all, even the grooves are not deformed at all, I would expect some deformaity to show...so from the pictures which are not the best, fuzzy somewhat..either the bullet is a very hard alloy or the plywood was very rotten?

Not dumb...the only dumb questions are the ones you don't ask.
The rifling is there...albeit fuzzy. Those darned cheap little point-n-shoot cameras usually take poor macro shots.
No powder soot...a good sign. Means it's a pretty clean burning powder.
No deformation...that can be typical of punching an HP through a hard fibrous material. I've dug full-tilt load 180gr XTP/HPs from my .357 out of my backstop posts (green-treat 4x4s) with no deformation at all to the nose too. They still expand nicely on whitetails though. Some bullet designs do have tougher snouts than others too...so some might deform when you hit wood, some might not.

[GConn]

Originally Posted by Bindernut

Not dumb...the only dumb questions are the ones you don't ask.
The rifling is there...albeit fuzzy. Those darned cheap little point-n-shoot cameras usually take poor macro shots.
No powder soot...a good sign. Means it's a pretty clean burning powder.
No deformation...that can be typical of punching an HP through a hard fibrous material. I've dug full-tilt load 180gr XTP/HPs from my .357 out of my backstop posts (green-treat 4x4s) with no deformation at all to the nose too. They still expand nicely on whitetails though. Some bullet designs do have tougher snouts than others too...so some might deform when you hit wood, some might not.

You've got good eyes.

I got a NICE NEW CAMERA TODAY (Birthday Gift from my Best Friend), so more pics are coming.

The Wood is not rotten (I'll see if I can get that pictured/attached here also), and I'll have to re-read your message again to see what else I need to address in response to you - THANK YOU MUCH!

[GConn]

New cam - new pics!

[hunter29180]

hey! now thats a big improvement there!! HAPPY BIRTHDAY!!!!

[carver]

Those are some really good pics! And by the way, the Speer Gold Dot is some very good SD ammo, and +P means that it is more powerfull than standard loads. As you can see though, after passing through the plywood the HP is filled with wood, and would act as a solid (FMJ). All this means is that the bullet would not expand, and would make a much smaller wound channel ( http://www.bing.com/images/search?q=...=1&FORM=IDFRIR ).

[DoesItMatter]

I know I've read this in a few places online, don't have any to post right now.

I thought manufacturers also design some of the SD rounds to act that way
for in-home shooting situations - that way if the round starts to penetrate walls,
it will get stopped up in the drywall and/or wood - preventing the risk of the
bullets going into neighbors houses/etc.

I'm pretty sure I've read that somewhere...

[GConn]

I suppose the only other order of beeswax on this thread is:

What in the HECK an I gonna DO with this HP tip that "became separated" from its shell...please?

Thanks in advance,
G...

[DoesItMatter]

Drill a hole through the base, hang it on a piece of rawhide, leave the wood bits intact.

It can become your new story!

"The sucker missed me by THAT much..."

[GConn]

Originally Posted by DoesItMatter

Drill a hole through the base, hang it on a piece of rawhide, leave the wood bits intact.

It can become your new story!

"The sucker missed me by THAT much..."

Ummm, probably not, hah......

[Boris]

Originally Posted by carver

Now some ammo that is labeled "Law Enforcement Only" is just that, and can not be purchased by us mere civilians who the LEO's work for in the first place.

You can buy it, you can own it, you can even shoot it, all 100% legaly. The ammo companies just wont sell to ya.

When a po po department orders too much of the LEO ammo and dont take the full order the rest can be sold to anyone.

I got a bunch of HST for my 45GAP I got for $27.00 a box of 50. Its just hard to get and there is never a consistant supply. Get it when you can!!