Hollowpointer Modified .22 Ammo Range Report

[Joshua M. Smith]

A while back I bought a hollowpointer/accurizer tool.  There were doubts expressed as to whether the modified bullets would perform.

I ran a 100 yard test.  However, before we get to that test, let me walk you through the process of making the ammo.


Here are the components to the hollowpointer...

Fairly simple setup, but precise.


The first step is to put the round in the bottom block.


Assemble, and put on some sort of press - even a hammer will work.


Pull the handle...


... and a gaping hollowpoint (depending on depth settings) results.

But how do they perform?

They do shoot more accurately than unmodified ammo, but to the same point of aim.  This is probably because they've been set to a standard size, and because the center of mass is further back.  This is speculation however.  I just know it works!

I set up four water jugs at 100 yards, and fired into them.

These are the results:


This is the first jug.  It's pretty well shredded.


A line of all four jugs...


Here's a bullet I recovered from right beyond the fourth jug...


Two more stopped inside the fourth jug.

I believe the variation in penetration is due to the fact that I fired 10 rounds, and kept firing after the jugs were pretty well empty.  I tried this test before with three jugs and failed to recover any.  I therefore added a fourth jug and kept firing until empty to try to get a few decent samples.


This is a picture of the unmodified round, modified round, and the three bullets I was able to recover.

Keep in mind that this is CCI 40gn LRN I modified.  Their website lists the velocities thus:

Muzzle 1235     

50 yards 1092     

75 yards 1040     

100 yards 998

So, when the bullet impacted, it was acting as a heavy .22 short.  Yet, it still expanded to over .36".

These are doing better than my old standby, Winchester Xpert, and are of course more consistent.

I'm impressed.

Josh

[StrawHat]

Who made the tool?

[Joshua M. Smith]

Hello,

This one was made by D Rock at RFC.  Paco Kelley at Leverguns.com makes a brass one, and someone (forget who) makes one that fits in a press. 

I wanted the latter, but D Rock has the points I want.

Regards,

Josh

[huntswithdogs]

PHEW! One of those would blow the head about clean of a squirrel, huh?

How'd they do accuracy wise?

HWD

[huntswithdogs]

 This thing doesn't remove lead like a drillbit? It just punches a hole depending on how deep you set it? Do the ends of the bullets spread out so you have a wider area at the tip?
Interesting concept...

HWD

[Joshua M. Smith]

PHEW! One of those would blow the head about clean of a squirrel, huh?

How'd they do accuracy wise?

HWD

Better than I can...


Five shots, the fifth one being in the bottom hole.  Though I have this labeled 100 yards, it was more like 109.


I think this was CCI Blazer.


100 yards Dynapoint, as a control group.

I enjoy seeing what I can do with sorted supersonic bulk ammo.  Subsonic ammo is easy to shoot for precision, and the hollowpointer makes the bulk stuff almost as precise, though it still magnifies my errors due to the transonic transition and all.

Regards,

Josh

[Joshua M. Smith]

This thing doesn't remove lead like a drillbit? It just punches a hole depending on how deep you set it? Do the ends of the bullets spread out so you have a wider area at the tip?
Interesting concept...

HWD

Hello,

It punches in and doesn't remove lead.  The end does spread out, and, depending upon your depth settings, you can have a wider area, yes.

I like to go as wide as possible then use the roundnose punch that comes with it as well to close it back up on itself.  It is very explosive -- almost too much so.  This morning I took the first squirrel of the season, and, as I was shooting standing supported at 50 yards, I accidentally hit it through the guts.

It busted it up such that I had to leave it for the coyotes.  I don't like doing that at all, but I didn't trust to eat it.  At least it's on my land and I didn't kill someone else's food.

I always make head shots or shoulder shots, and I should have taken the time to get prone or passed this up as I'm always rusty shooting at moving critters the beginning of the season, no matter how much paper punching I do the rest of the year.

Regards,

Josh

[no guns here]

other than the outside heel of the bullet pressing on the rim of the case, what keeps the bullet from being pressed back down into the case?
 
 
ngh

[Joshua M. Smith]

other than the outside heel of the bullet pressing on the rim of the case, what keeps the bullet from being pressed back down into the case?
 
 
ngh

Seems to be all that's needed.

Obviously can't be used on a inside-lubricated round.

Josh

[Silvertp]

Josh...very interesting thread, thanks for posting. 

My question is about your initial reason for buying and testing the HP'er:
Were you trying to make bulk ammo more accurate?
Or...improve stopping power of the rounds for small game?

Be interested in your reason for starting out and how well the HP'er met your needs.

Thanks
Silvertp

[saddlebum]

Interesting thread. As for me? I just buy CCI or Federal Champion hollowpoints and get similar results with no effort. 180yd Cottontail accurate, (at least), and picture perfect mushrooms. The only accuracy enhancement is that I fire lapped the barrel on the 10/22-22'' rifle that fires them.
Just call me lazy, I guess....................

[Joshua M. Smith]

Josh...very interesting thread, thanks for posting. 

My question is about your initial reason for buying and testing the HP'er:
Were you trying to make bulk ammo more accurate?
Or...improve stopping power of the rounds for small game?

Be interested in your reason for starting out and how well the HP'er met your needs.

Thanks
Silvertp

Hello,

Yes 

This was during the ammo famine if I recall correctly, and hollowpoint supply was spotty.  I seem to remember that Blazer was always pretty plentiful, but the lead round nose left something to be desired as it just zipped on through squirrels to allow them to die in holes and dens later.

Also, I wanted a more consistent nose profile and diameter for target shooting.

This provided for those needs.

As well, it worked to seat the .22 bullet back into the case when I had it in my head to handload those things for a bit.  That was an interesting phase there!

Regards,

Josh

[Joshua M. Smith]

Interesting thread. As for me? I just buy CCI or Federal Champion hollowpoints and get similar results with no effort. 180yd Cottontail accurate, (at least), and picture perfect mushrooms. The only accuracy enhancement is that I fire lapped the barrel on the 10/22-22'' rifle that fires them.
Just call me lazy, I guess....................

Lazy 

Seriously, that was me as well, until the supply dried up.

Never did like Federal Champions though. 

Winchester 333, 555, and Xpert work for me, as does CCI in any of its flavors.  Still, sometimes I like me a 40 grain hollowpoint.  It just retains energy a bit better for the long shots.

Cottontails at 180 yards?  Man, I dunno that I'd try that.  Sure the energy's there, but one little puff of a cross breeze or unexpected thermal and you have a wounded rabbit as opposed to a dead rabbit.

Regards,

Josh

[ironglow]

  Your hollowpointer seems to work well.  I purchased one which consisted of a cartridge holding base similar to yours, but it had a small knob with drill attached. There were a couple problems 1)  Fingers soon got sore from drilling bullets with the small knob. 2) the drill got dull after converting perhaps 40 rounds 3) The drill was not replaceable, seems like the small drill and the knob were a one-piece affair.  As far as I am concerned it was junk,  I gave it up.....and handed the kit to my gunsmith grandson to play with.
 
    I recently tried the newer Winchester subsonics.  Although I haven't tried any with a test medium, they are a full 40 gr and have big, gaping hollowpoints.   Judging by the game I shot with them, they sure hit like the clappers !