Hollow pointing tool question

[stubert]

I have been seeing posts about hollow pointing using the Forster tool. Does anyone have one? How do they work? Can it be used as purchased, or is it an attachment for the case trimmer?
Thanks, Stu

[Jack Stanley]

I think it's an add on to the case trimmer , I've never used one but I've been tossing around the idea of how to hollow point just a few bullets for chuck killin'

Jack

[Bret4207]

Yup, you have to have the trimmer too. It works okay. Basically it's a drill type setup you use on the loaded round. Alignment is important.

[Mike W1]

I used mine years ago to do some .357's and I'll just add that lead does NOT drill easily with that little hand crank as I remember.

[reloader28]

It fits the Forster trimmer, but I revamped mine to fit RCBS. I chucked the drill bit portion in my drill and spun it while holding a file to the main shaft. That took it down to fit RCBS.

If your using a RCBS trimmer, you can just get a 5/32" drill bit and use that. It works fine, but is hard to keep the hole centered without the cone that comes with the Forster hollow pointer.

Put a little oil on the bit. Take the handle off the trimmer and use a drill motor instead. I dont have any problems.

[MT Gianni]

Having owned both i would look into this one.
http://castboolits.gunloads.com/showthread.php?t=71615

[Shuz]

I have a Forster hollow pointer for the .44 mag. I haven't used it in about 20 years. The problem I encountered was the flutes of the drill kept blinding up with lead from the boolit, making the whole hollow pointing process too time consuming for me.

[Larry Gibson]

I've a 1/8" Forster that I’ve used extensively for years. It is made to work with the Forster case trimmer but some have adapted it to others as mentioned. It is easy to use and works very well once you get the hang of it (not too hard to do). There is a device with an inner cone the centers over the nose of the bullet and guides/keeps the drill centered and straight.
I use the electric drill/screw driver attachment so mine drill easily and quickly. I do flick the lead out of the flutes that the cone device doesn't knock off before HPing the next bullet. Of course softer alloys should be used for HPs and they drill easily. I've also found that best cast bullet HP expansion is when the HP is 1/3 to 1/2 the length of the nose and the alloy is malleable.

My technique is;

1. Leave the collet slightly loose and hold the case head bottomed out in it.

2. With the right hand (holding the screw driver) slide the drill with the cone device on it against the tip of the bullet. The index and thumb of the left hand pull and hold the cone device over the bullet nose. This centers drill hole and drill over the bullet nose. The right hand pushes the drill against the nose of the bullet which pushes the case head against the bottom of the collet holding it in place. The left hand then releases the cartridge and tightens the collet.

3. Left hand then holds the cone device while the screw driver is turned on and the HP is drilled.

4. When the HP is drilled to depth (depth is preset by the stop collar) the screw driver is backed out while still running. Most often the lead drillings come off the drill when the cone device is slid off. If not they are easily flicked off with a finger nail or a small pointy tool. I leave the cone device on the drill for the next cartridge.

5. The collet is loosened and the HP'd cartridge removed and a new cartridge is then put in and the process repeated.

As always, it sound a lot more complicated and harder than it really is. I've HP'd many bullets over the years with complete satisfaction. The nice thing is you can use a regular mould with multiple cavities and cast lots of bullets for general use and practice. Then with the very same bullet but cast of a softer alloy you can HP it and use it for hunting. If you want to shoot a lot of HP bullets for practice, plinking, etc then get a HP mould because it probably will be faster. When used for hunting the Forster HP'd bullets are entirely satisfactory.

I use the 1/8" HP on .30, .31, 8mm and .35 cal rifle bullets for hunting at velocities of 1800 - 2200+ fps. In handguns the Forster 1/8" HP is perfect for .32 H&R, .380 ACP, .38 Special and .357 Magnum with very soft alloyed bullets. For the few .41, .44 and .45 HP bullets (both rifle and handgun) I use a tapered drill (Michael's for rear sling swivel stud holes) to taper/cone shape the HP. I only use HP cast bullets for serious hunting so the Forster tool works very well for me.

Photo shows some .30 carbine 313631s HP'd (deadly on coyote's when calling them in close - not bad for home defense either) and the RCBS 35-200-FN HP'd for deer hunting.

Larry Gibson