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Thread: Forster Hollow Pointer

  1. #1
    Boolit Man
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    Forster Hollow Pointer

    Anyone got a lot of experience with the Forster Hollow Pointer?

    Pros ,Cons

  2. #2
    Boolit Master

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    Not a lot of experience at all. I just got mine set up. After a little trial and error, I have been getting consistent, repeatable results with centered hollow points. It does take a bit of a knack to get the bullet, guide and drill aligned.

    I insert the cartridge base into the collet andplace the guide over the bullet. Then I loosen the tension on the collet as I align the the bit with the guide and bullet.

    It is best to have the trimmer base solidly mounted. When set up with cartridge in collet, one hand loosens/tightens the collet and the other controls guid position and slides drill/cutter shaft into the guide positioned on the bullet nose. (The guide is held between thumb/fingers and the pinky side of palm slides the cutter shaft toward the guide.

    I read many complaints on here about needing 3 hands to use the thing. I didn't find it that bad. If you can use a micrometer to measure a boolit, then you have an idea about how to try and manipulate the hollowpointer to work, at least for me.

    Not much help, but at least a bump for your post.

  3. #3
    Boolit Master

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    I do wish they offered a 3rd size between the ⅛ amd 1/16th sizes.

    I have been trying to hollowpoint a 6mm bullet with a 1/8th meplat for subsonic use. Still working on expansion and results. A work in progress...

  4. #4
    Boolit Grand Master


    Larry Gibson's Avatar
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    I've been using both sizes for 40-50 years so you might say I've a bit of "experience" with them. BK7saum's advice is spot on. I'm right handed so the collet is tightened/loosened with the left hand and the trimmer/drill is operated with the right hand. As mentioned, the trimmer base must be solidly mounted. Here's my technique which pretty much follows BK7saum's;

    The centering drill pilot is left on the drill.

    Clean any bullet cuttings from previous bullet off the drill.

    With the collet loose, the left hand inserts and holds the next cartridge into the collet.

    The right hand pushes on the handle pushing the drill against the bullet nose lightly to just hold it in place.

    The right hand thumb and forefinger push the drill pilot back against the bullet centering it on the bullet nose while the left hand tightens the collet.

    The left thumb and forefinger then hold the pilot while the right hand tuns the crank drilling the HP.

    The drill is pulled out of the HP hole while turning the handle with the lleft hand keeping the pilot on the drill. Or the pilot may be removed to remove the bullet drillings off the drill. The pilot is put back on the drill.

    With the left hand the collet is loosened while the right hand removes the HP'd cartridge and the next cartridge is picked up ready to start the process over.

    Click image for larger version. 

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    Takes a lot longer to read this than to do it once you get the hang of it. The nice thing about the Forster HP tool is it can be used to HP bullets for hunting using any form of cast bullets. If HP'd with the 1/*" drill then a 1/8" counter sink and be used to open the HP up more for better/quicker expansion, especially with handgun cartridges.

    Click image for larger version. 

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    Larry Gibson

    “Deficient observation is merely a form of ignorance and responsible for the many morbid notions and foolish ideas prevailing.”
    ― Nikola Tesla

  5. #5
    Boolit Master
    high standard 40's Avatar
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    I have found that if I put a little Lubricant on the point of the drill bit it will cut easier. I've been using Lee case sizing lube, just enough to keep the bit from binding while drilling.

  6. #6
    Boolit Buddy 20:1's Avatar
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    How well do bullets HP'd with the Forster perform on game? Any experience/samples?

  7. #7
    Boolit Grand Master


    Larry Gibson's Avatar
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    The RCBS 35-200, 50/50 alloy + 2% tin, MV at 2150 fps.

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    Larry Gibson

    “Deficient observation is merely a form of ignorance and responsible for the many morbid notions and foolish ideas prevailing.”
    ― Nikola Tesla

  8. #8
    Boolit Man
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    Quote Originally Posted by BK7saum View Post
    Not a lot of experience at all. I just got mine set up. After a little trial and error, I have been getting consistent, repeatable results with centered hollow points. It does take a bit of a knack to get the bullet, guide and drill aligned.

    I insert the cartridge base into the collet andplace the guide over the bullet. Then I loosen the tension on the collet as I align the the bit with the guide and bullet.

    It is best to have the trimmer base solidly mounted. When set up with cartridge in collet, one hand loosens/tightens the collet and the other controls guid position and slides drill/cutter shaft into the guide positioned on the bullet nose. (The guide is held between thumb/fingers and the pinky side of palm slides the cutter shaft toward the guide.

    I read many complaints on here about needing 3 hands to use the thing. I didn't find it that bad. If you can use a micrometer to measure a boolit, then you have an idea about how to try and manipulate the hollowpointer to work, at least for me.

    Not much help, but at least a bump for your post.
    Thank's

  9. #9
    Boolit Man
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    Quote Originally Posted by high standard 40 View Post
    I have found that if I put a little Lubricant on the point of the drill bit it will cut easier. I've been using Lee case sizing lube, just enough to keep the bit from binding while drilling.
    Thank's

  10. #10
    Boolit Man
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    Quote Originally Posted by Larry Gibson View Post
    I've been using both sizes for 40-50 years so you might say I've a bit of "experience" with them. BK7saum's advice is spot on. I'm right handed so the collet is tightened/loosened with the left hand and the trimmer/drill is operated with the right hand. As mentioned, the trimmer base must be solidly mounted. Here's my technique which pretty much follows BK7saum's;

    The centering drill pilot is left on the drill.

    Clean any bullet cuttings from previous bullet off the drill.

    With the collet loose, the left hand inserts and holds the next cartridge into the collet.

    The right hand pushes on the handle pushing the drill against the bullet nose lightly to just hold it in place.

    The right hand thumb and forefinger push the drill pilot back against the bullet centering it on the bullet nose while the left hand tightens the collet.

    The left thumb and forefinger then hold the pilot while the right hand tuns the crank drilling the HP.

    The drill is pulled out of the HP hole while turning the handle with the lleft hand keeping the pilot on the drill. Or the pilot may be removed to remove the bullet drillings off the drill. The pilot is put back on the drill.

    With the left hand the collet is loosened while the right hand removes the HP'd cartridge and the next cartridge is picked up ready to start the process over.

    Click image for larger version. 

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ID:	321309Click image for larger version. 

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    Takes a lot longer to read this than to do it once you get the hang of it. The nice thing about the Forster HP tool is it can be used to HP bullets for hunting using any form of cast bullets. If HP'd with the 1/*" drill then a 1/8" counter sink and be used to open the HP up more for better/quicker expansion, especially with handgun cartridges.

    Click image for larger version. 

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    Yes,I would say that you have a Bit of experience with it !
    Lots of interesting information that you have provided here.

    I would be using it for a Rossi 92 44special/44Magnum Carbine with a 16 inch barrel.

    I am using 44 Specials ,with the goal of about 1,000 FPS with a Bullet weight of about 250 Grains and a Big Hollowpoint Like the Devastator to get massive expansion or even some fragmentation at that velocity.

    Sounds like it would be relatively easy to do as long as I could get the Hollowpoint bigger than the factory one's offered with it.

    And versatile as well,just buy some relatively inexpensive 250 grainish bullets either RNFP or Semi - wadcutters or some wide flat nose and just Hollowpoint however many I want.

    Thank's

  11. #11
    Boolit Master armoredman's Avatar
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    I have the HP set, used it a few times, wasn't overly impressed and it is now shoved into a drawer somewhere...I think.

  12. #12
    Boolit Man
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    Quote Originally Posted by armoredman View Post
    I have the HP set, used it a few times, wasn't overly impressed and it is now shoved into a drawer somewhere...I think.
    What is it that you wanted from it ,that you did not feel like it gave ?

  13. #13
    Boolit Master armoredman's Avatar
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    Expansion with pistol boolits. I shot water jugs and got nothing, even with soft lead. It was an idea, didn't work for me, probably works for everyone else.

  14. #14
    Boolit Master
    high standard 40's Avatar
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    Quote Originally Posted by armoredman View Post
    Expansion with pistol boolits. I shot water jugs and got nothing, even with soft lead. It was an idea, didn't work for me, probably works for everyone else.
    I tried hollow pointing 45 ACP with powder coated pure soft lead. The hollow point was enlarged with a bevel cutter to the full diameter of the meplat. Water jug tests yielded zero expansion. But I have also hollow pointed 30-06 and 358 Win bullets and the results on whitetail deer were quite impressive.

  15. #15
    Boolit Man
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    Quote Originally Posted by armoredman View Post
    Expansion with pistol boolits. I shot water jugs and got nothing, even with soft lead. It was an idea, didn't work for me, probably works for everyone else.
    Wonder if the Hollowpoints were not big enough to promote expansion at the Velocity they were shot at,or not big enough for the Brinell hardness of the lead ? Or a combination of both ?

  16. #16
    Boolit Master armoredman's Avatar
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    Dunno. All I know is they failed expansion in water jugs. I still have the thing somewhere in my reloading cubby.

  17. #17
    Boolit Master
    high standard 40's Avatar
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    In my post above, I mentioned that I enlarged my hollowpoints with a bevel cutter till they were the size of the meplat. Zero expansion. I think the missing component is velocity.

  18. #18
    Boolit Master
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    Quote Originally Posted by high standard 40 View Post
    In my post above, I mentioned that I enlarged my hollowpoints with a bevel cutter till they were the size of the meplat. Zero expansion. I think the missing component is velocity.
    That’s interesting. Now I need to run some tests into water with my 9mm as cast HP loads. I know my 44 mag HP bullet opens up on deer.


    Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

  19. #19
    Boolit Grand Master


    Larry Gibson's Avatar
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    Quote Originally Posted by high standard 40 View Post
    In my post above, I mentioned that I enlarged my hollowpoints with a bevel cutter till they were the size of the meplat. Zero expansion. I think the missing component is velocity.
    Probably. I load my 45 HP'd bullets over 7.5 gr Unique for 1000 fps +/-.
    Larry Gibson

    “Deficient observation is merely a form of ignorance and responsible for the many morbid notions and foolish ideas prevailing.”
    ― Nikola Tesla

  20. #20
    Boolit Master
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    Quote Originally Posted by Larry Gibson View Post
    The RCBS 35-200, 50/50 alloy + 2% tin, MV at 2150 fps.

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    Larry, I load the RCBS 35-200 in both a 358 Win and a 35 Rem, each hollowpointed with the Forster tool and the alloy is 50/50 COWW/Pure with added tin. My velocities are estimated to be similar to what you stated or less. I have noted larger hematoma on the entrance side than the
    photo you posted. They really make a mess.

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Abbreviations used in Reloading

BP Bronze Point IMR Improved Military Rifle PTD Pointed
BR Bench Rest M Magnum RN Round Nose
BT Boat Tail PL Power-Lokt SP Soft Point
C Compressed Charge PR Primer SPCL Soft Point "Core-Lokt"
HP Hollow Point PSPCL Pointed Soft Point "Core Lokt" C.O.L. Cartridge Overall Length
PSP Pointed Soft Point Spz Spitzer Point SBT Spitzer Boat Tail
LRN Lead Round Nose LWC Lead Wad Cutter LSWC Lead Semi Wad Cutter
GC Gas Check