Was looking at the NOE 358-155-TC for some heavy subsonic 9mm loads coated with Hi-Tek. But I was wondering, at those low of velocities would it even have any expansion?
Was looking at the NOE 358-155-TC for some heavy subsonic 9mm loads coated with Hi-Tek. But I was wondering, at those low of velocities would it even have any expansion?
The simple fact is hollowpoint expansion is velocity based! Drop the velocity below the expansion threshold they don’t expand! I did A little test not very scientific because I don’t have a chronograph but take it for what it’s worth. I had a box of Hornaday 158 grain XTP bullets. The box clearly states that they will expand and velocities over 700 ft./s. In other words at standard velocities. I loaded some rounds up with three different powders I use the data from both Hornaday and from Lyman to determine what the feet per second was supposed to be. (like I said I can’t verify velocity I don’t have a chronograph) fire those rounds into wet newspaper at a distance of about 6 yards. I dug those bullets out of the wet newspaper and outside of the rifling marks the bullets look like they had never been loaded! Now in reference to your question about 9 mm subsonic is basically below 1000 ft./s the way I think of it so maybe if you load them just to subsonic levels you might get expansion I don’t know. Based on my experience I wouldn’t count on much. Hope this helps
Long, Wide, Deep, and Without Hesitation!
That really depends. A pure lead HP will certainly expand below 1000 fps.
Depending on alloy and hp design and wall thickness. You can look up Loads of Bacon and he has some really good vids of his testing.
I know at +P 44 special I get really good expansion in the borderline supersonic level from 50 yards to 200. Bhn about 8-9.
Well .22 rimfire short hollow points expand, they're around 700fps to start out with
You could cast the bullets with a 40 to 1 lead/tin alloy (so you get good mold fill out), then powder coat them. Load at around 1000 fps and it should be both sub-sonic and have some expansion.
" Does heavy subsonic hollow points make sense?"
I'd guess about as much sense as non-alcohol vodka, but YMMV.
The .357 Magnum......
1935
Major Douglas Wesson, using factory loads, which were a 158 gr. soft lead bullet, traveling 1515 fps, from an 8 3/4" barreled S&W, producing 812 ft. lbs of muzzle energy.
Antelope - 200 yards (2 shots)
Elk - 130 yards (1 shot)
Moose - 100 yards (1 shot)
Grizzly Bear - 135 yards (1 shot).
It kind of makes one wonder, why today, it will bounce off anything bigger than a rabbit
^^^^^^^^^^What he said^^^^^^^^^!
If you are going to make a hole in something. MAKE IT A BIG ONE!
What does VIRGEL say. It is the latest thing yet on stopping power questions.
I'm not sure what the point would be. Knock the velocity down on a 9mm and your into 38 Special ballistics pretty quick.
What is wrong with the 38 Special?
https://www.luckygunner.com/labs/sel...c-tests/#45ACP
Look at the 9mm results. Several heavier HP bullets in there. Some are also borderline on penetration depth.
I wouldn't call it detuned. A 9mm luger wont get supersonic with a 147 grain. Even loading to +p wont do it. 1150 fps is hot even for a 125 gr bullet in 9mm. A 147 gr bullet at 1000 fps is a mean round for 9mm. I don't think a 38 special will touch that unless you are talking about a longer barreled revolver.
Cast them Soft ...
A 148 gr. swaged lead HBWC , loaded with the hollow base as a hollow point in 38 special
over 3.5 grs of Bullseye for 801 fps ... at this velocity , this soft swaged lead bullet will expand (flatten) to .715" diameter ... about/almost 3/4" ... penetration was 5 1/4 " into packed Newsprint ... which to me was impressive .
I believe if the metal is soft enough , the hollow point big enough and the velocity is around 750 to 800 FPS ... you should get expansion
This test was done by Terry Wieland in Handloader Magazine - August 2013 - #285 but involved a 38 special revolver and loads ... which made life easier .
My thought is if the boolit metal is soft enough and the cavity/hollow point large enough and the velocity in the 750 to 800 fps ... you should get some expansion .
It might be tough to get this to Feed in a 9mm ... but hey ...
Give it a Shot !
Gary
Certified Cajun
Proud Member of The Basket of Deplorables
" Let's Go Brandon !"
I think the real question, is does it matter? If SD is the idea, I would suggest some decent J words. I think you could get them to expand, but you would need a pretty soft alloy.
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 |