Is this what I "THINK" it is?

Ambidextrous · March 28, 2011, 08:20 PM

While taking some target practice with FMJ rounds late this afternoon, I happened to look-down on the ground in front of the target - same place the target sat a couple or three days ago when I squeezed-off eight Speer Gold Dot 124gr. +P HP - (shot from my Kel Tec PF-9 which has a bit less than 100 rounds through it) and found this (photos attached) laying there...it appears to me as a hollow-point round, with a chunk of plywood stuffed in the hollow (I'm currently shooting targets attached to a section of 1/2" plywood.

Should I be concerned about something ...... with the weapon??

Nnobby45 · March 28, 2011, 08:46 PM

Your pics are blurry. They need work.

If a hollow point hits plywood it will perform as yours did. Get clogged up.

Nothing wrong with the gun.

Is it the lack of penetration you're concerned with? How thick was the plywood, how many sheets, and what was the angle?

Cascade1911 · March 28, 2011, 09:02 PM

From what the op said I'd say it was single layer of 1/2 ply hit head on... Well at least you don't have to worry about "over-penetration"

Ambidextrous · March 28, 2011, 09:28 PM

*EDIT* I'll try some more pics - I took 20.

Nnobby: I'm no photographer - certainly not on these close-up's ... that's the best I know how to do on close-ups (I've been over this before with folks - no one seems to know how to adjust this JUNK HP Digi-cam ~??)

Anyway - as Cascade1911 mentioned, one (single) piece of 1/2' thick plywood (thought there are a couple of 2X4's pieces attached/nailed to the back-side of it), distance 7 yds (21 ft.), shot at straight-on.

PS - Actually, his camera does real well with shots beyond 6 ft.(??)

drail · March 28, 2011, 10:18 PM

Hollowpoints are great when they work. Kind of like computers. When they plug up they're essentially ball ammo. Try the same test with a revolver loaded with a large flat nosed SWC.

Ambidextrous · March 28, 2011, 11:01 PM

Excellent - only now I'll need to research "large flat nosed SWC" ... (?)

Thanks again...................................

Wag · March 28, 2011, 11:29 PM

Just a wild guess but it sounds like you're expecting more deformation on the bullet. Plywood just doesn't give enough resistance for that. Try a couple of phone books or some solid oak. Even a water jug might deform the bullets more.

Anyhoo, as for the photos, look for a macro button on your camera. It usually has an icon that looks like a tulip. If you have it, turn it on and really allow your camera time to adjust to the object you're photographing.

--Wag--

Ambidextrous · March 29, 2011, 02:36 AM

Wag - thanks - I was thinking about some liquid/fluid-filled jugs - will certainly give it a shot, if no-go, phone books, and on down the list...

And I've done the whole "hunt the Tulip/flower/whatever" deal...to no avail Nor any "Macro" button or anything else have I found.

I suppose I'll have to call India or Paki-land, er, I mean HP tech-support...

M.O.A. · March 29, 2011, 02:42 AM

to me it sounds like you got a low powder load that bounced off the plywood

you said it was in front of the target right

FrankenMauser · March 29, 2011, 03:12 AM

Quote:

to me it sounds like you got a low powder load that bounced off the plywood

The nose is plugged, and slightly deformed. It passed through the plywood, at a minimum. I highly doubt it failed to fully penetrate (even if it hit a 2x4, as well). It's more likely to have "splashed" back from subsequent bullet impacts, or been kicked back by a heavy-footed shooter.

I've recovered hundreds of bullets, from a wide variety of targets, test media, and soil conditions. It looks like a classic case of full penetration, with a subsequent bounce off the ground.

Ambidextrous, do you shoot in an area with slightly sandy, dry soil, and some golf ball to baseball sized river rocks mixed in?

**Mike Irwin** · March 29, 2011, 09:16 AM

Ambi,

Check your camera manual and see if it has a setting for Macro.

The macro setting allows you to take focused closeups, but in most digital cameras it's a feature you have to turn on.

Ambidextrous · April 1, 2011, 03:06 AM

Sorry for the delay gents...`twas me BIRTHDAY, and I got a NEW CAMERA!!!
Here we go...(and I'll answer those questions in the morning (well, later in the morning) - GOT to get some shut-eye........

Wag · April 2, 2011, 06:44 AM

Holy smoke, that's a dramatic improvement!

It appears there just isn't any resistance going on.

No, picture a self-defense situation where that bullet having passed through someone's winter jacket is now passing through the body with the front end all clogged up like that. Probably isn't going to expand much at that point.

I may be wrong but that's what goes through my mind. Someone else to chime in on that?

--Wag--

March 28, 2011, 11:29 PM	#7
Wag Senior Member Join Date: October 22, 2010 Location: Albuquerque, NM Posts: 1,010	Just a wild guess but it sounds like you're expecting more deformation on the bullet. Plywood just doesn't give enough resistance for that. Try a couple of phone books or some solid oak. Even a water jug might deform the bullets more. Anyhoo, as for the photos, look for a macro button on your camera. It usually has an icon that looks like a tulip. If you have it, turn it on and really allow your camera time to adjust to the object you're photographing. --Wag-- __________________ "Great genius will always encounter fierce opposition from mediocre minds." --Albert Einstein.

March 29, 2011, 09:16 AM	#11
Mike Irwin Staff Join Date: April 14, 2000 Location: Northern Virginia Posts: 41,642	Ambi, Check your camera manual and see if it has a setting for Macro. The macro setting allows you to take focused closeups, but in most digital cameras it's a feature you have to turn on. __________________ "The gift which I am sending you is called a dog, and is in fact the most precious and valuable possession of mankind" -Theodorus Gaza Baby Jesus cries when the fat redneck doesn't have military-grade firepower.

April 2, 2011, 06:44 AM	#13
Wag Senior Member Join Date: October 22, 2010 Location: Albuquerque, NM Posts: 1,010	Holy smoke, that's a dramatic improvement! It appears there just isn't any resistance going on. No, picture a self-defense situation where that bullet having passed through someone's winter jacket is now passing through the body with the front end all clogged up like that. Probably isn't going to expand much at that point. I may be wrong but that's what goes through my mind. Someone else to chime in on that? --Wag-- __________________ "Great genius will always encounter fierce opposition from mediocre minds." --Albert Einstein.

March 28, 2011, 08:46 PM	#2
Nnobby45 Senior Member Join Date: November 20, 2004 Posts: 3,150	Your pics are blurry. They need work. If a hollow point hits plywood it will perform as yours did. Get clogged up. Nothing wrong with the gun. Is it the lack of penetration you're concerned with? How thick was the plywood, how many sheets, and what was the angle?

March 28, 2011, 09:02 PM	#3
Cascade1911 Senior Member Join Date: February 27, 2011 Location: Dutchess County, NY Posts: 450	From what the op said I'd say it was single layer of 1/2 ply hit head on... Well at least you don't have to worry about "over-penetration"

March 28, 2011, 10:18 PM	#5
drail Junior member Join Date: February 2, 2008 Posts: 3,150	Hollowpoints are great when they work. Kind of like computers. When they plug up they're essentially ball ammo. Try the same test with a revolver loaded with a large flat nosed SWC.

March 28, 2011, 11:01 PM	#6
Ambidextrous Member Join Date: June 6, 2008 Location: VA Posts: 70	Excellent - only now I'll need to research "large flat nosed SWC" ... (?) Thanks again...................................

March 29, 2011, 02:36 AM	#8
Ambidextrous Member Join Date: June 6, 2008 Location: VA Posts: 70	Wag - thanks - I was thinking about some liquid/fluid-filled jugs - will certainly give it a shot, if no-go, phone books, and on down the list... And I've done the whole "hunt the Tulip/flower/whatever" deal...to no avail Nor any "Macro" button or anything else have I found. I suppose I'll have to call India or Paki-land, er, I mean HP tech-support...

March 29, 2011, 02:42 AM	#9
M.O.A. Senior Member Join Date: January 29, 2011 Location: south indiana Posts: 555	to me it sounds like you got a low powder load that bounced off the plywood you said it was in front of the target right