Hollowpoint cavity designs

[theangrydangler]

Screenshot_20260130_101427_Brave.jpg

I recently designed this bullet and am having it made by accuratemolds with a gas check and plan on having Eric at hollowpointmolds make some custom hp pins for it. Im planning on running this bullet at about 1650fps from my 50 beowulf depending on final weight. My current hollowpoint design is a penta point with a flared mouth of .19" tapering in to .12" and .6" deep. Do you think with a 10bhn mix i will have fragmentation/overexpansion? Should I go with a smaller hollowpoint or a sturdier alloy?
My initial goal was to get a ~400 grain bullet with 2x expansion with as high a bc as i could get. I monkeyd around with the kolb calculator and I figured a .27 meplat is a decent compromise as I didnt get any numerical gains until .22". I figured a .22" meplat would be a bit small to fit a decent sized hollowpoint in to achieve my 2x expansion goal from 1600fps-1200fps velocity range. Looking for some advice on design before I spend another $200 on pins.

[theangrydangler]

I see my picture came through too fuzzy to read so I'll post dimensions of projectile.
Diameter .501"
Bullet o.a.l 1.19"
Nose length .56"
Meplat .27"
Ogive 6x cal or 3.006"
Mach 1.5 g1 bc .24
Solid weight 426.6 grains.
Hoping to get a hollowpoint in there to lower weight closer to 400 grains and provide 2x expansion at my velocity range 1600fps-1200fps. That would give me an effective range out to roughly 250 yards with a big bore thumper.
I do summertime doe management for a local cattle farmer and its tough tracking deer when the field is 2'-3' tall so I like as heavy and short a blood trail as possible. "My excuse for the .50".
Should I have gone with the smaller meplat and hp or should I be fine with my current design?
Hp design: penta point trumpet flare. Mouth diameter .19" flared down to .12" with .6" depth.
Bullet will be gas checked and powder coated.

[white eagle]

Not sure you need much expansion you are starting out with a 50 cal and that is already big

[GLynn41]

turn it loose-- it will run just fine I think

[GeneralVibe]

I would like to buy some when you get it up and running. Maybe 1 to 2 hundred or round there.

[knitepoet]

I've thought about casting for my 'Wulf as well, but have pretty much decided the 1K of Rainier 335 HPs I bought before they went under should be a lifetime supply. At the 1812mv my load of Li'l Gun pushes them, they make my 'wulf my "I don't feel like tracking one today" rifle.

That bullet looks good though.

I was looking at the MP 502-385 HP

[Digital Dan]

Never been fond of hollow points, but they do have applications. About 30 years ago I purchased a Ruger 77/44 and fiddled with it looking for a good load. Wound up shooing 300 gr pure lead that was paper patched. It was put 8 shots into one ragged hole with a 3 MOA red dot sight. Not a single critter took a step after being shot. That included deer, hogs and a few varmints. The load I used was Lil Gun w/card wad. 1600 fps was the norm.

[theangrydangler]

It will be awhile before I get it finished. I just submitted the design and theres an 8 week turnaround time estimate then its off to get the hp pins. But when I get it running I'll keep you in mind. The mold should be available for purchase on accurate molds after he makes it. I think I read on there that submitted new designs will be placed in the catalog.

[Digital Dan]

Forgot to mention, expansion was typically 2-2.5 caliber, and bullets were found under the skin on the off side on all big game. One deer I shot had a broken foreleg and 2 broken ribs on the inbound side. Cut the heart in half, broke 3 ribs and the other foreleg outbound. That shot was at 85 yds.

[ChristopherO]

That boolit should do just dandy for your application, though even with an expanded hole it won't guarantee DRT every time, from my experience. Deer can travel 50-60 yards with a heart that looks like lasagna from a 50 caliber projectile that opens up to, 75 upon impact. I've seen this many times. My state was a shotgun slug, handgun only state. Now straight wall cartridges allowed. My hunting buddies and I have killed many dozen Deer over the decades. A bang-flop is a bonus, but not necessarily the norm with basically what you plan to use. Thankfully, good blood trails are the norm, until a wad of fat clogged the hole on occasion. Be prepared to track. Be pleased when you don't have to.

Please keep us posted on your success and results. What you are doing is what makes this forum shine.

[theangrydangler]

Forgot to mention, expansion was typically 2-2.5 caliber, and bullets were found under the skin on the off side on all big game. One deer I shot had a broken foreleg and 2 broken ribs on the inbound side. Cut the heart in half, broke 3 ribs and the other foreleg outbound. That shot was at 85 yds.

That's insane. I've never tried paper patch bullets and have always been nervous about running pure lead but I might have to try it with some solids if youre getting that kind of performance.

[Digital Dan]

Isn’t insane, trust me.

https://www.amazon.com/Paper-Jacket-.../dp/1879356023

[theangrydangler]

Isn’t insane, trust me.

https://www.amazon.com/Paper-Jacket-.../dp/1879356023

Instead of paper patch do you think I could run pure lead with a powder coat and gas check at 1600 without leading

[SiliconeSword]

Absolutely, that's what gas check and PC are for. Just be sure to pull a boolit once loaded and make sure it's the diameter you want it to be. If the case/crimp crushes the boolit below size you're likely to get leading. Had that with 9mm and 350 Legend.

[Barry54]

Instead of paper patch do you think I could run pure lead with a powder coat and gas check at 1600 without leading

What about a muzzleloader sabot holding a pure lead boolit? Has anyone tried that in the Beowulf?

[theangrydangler]

What about a muzzleloader sabot holding a pure lead boolit? Has anyone tried that in the Beowulf?

That would be an interesting experiment. I know hornady makes a 250 grain .50 sabot. I would imagine a soft lead bullet at 2000+fps would be devastating.

[theangrydangler]

Do you guys think my hp design of a .19" mouth tapered down to .12" at 30° per side then continuing to total depth of .6" as a straight cylinder is too big? Muzzle velocity around 1650-1700fps. Impact velocity will range from 1500-1150fps typically

[MT Gianni]

Just an FYI, a 50 caliber rb will shoot completely through an elk at 75 yards. What is it you want to do with this bullet?

[Barry54]

That would be an interesting experiment. I know hornady makes a 250 grain .50 sabot. I would imagine a soft lead bullet at 2000+fps would be devastating.

IMG_1188.jpg
Great expansion from the Lee 310 grain tested in water jugs. Notice how the sabot left a square shape on the fired boolit.

[theangrydangler]

IMG_1188.jpg
Great expansion from the Lee 310 grain tested in water jugs. Notice how the sabot left a square shape on the fired boolit.

That looks like awesome expansion.