Why Hollow Points Fly Straight

by
at Hornady Manufacturing Co. posted on January 10, 2017
** When you buy products through the links on our site, we may earn a commission that supports NRA's mission to protect, preserve and defend the Second Amendment. **
hp-1.jpg

The starting point for an accurate bullet is the jacket concentricity. You have to have a bullet that has a very concentric jacket. If it gets over .001” it will definitely show up on the target. Generally speaking, spending a lot of time trying to get jackets under .0005” is not going to get you much because this will be covered up by a lot of other things.

From a pure physics standpoint, a hollow point does have some advantages for trying to achieve greater accuracy. A lot of bullets are “over stabilized” in the common barrel twist rates that are used in competition. When a bullet is over-stabilized it will take it longer to “go to sleep” or stabilize, following any disturbance at the point of muzzle exit. Hollow point bullets literally have no lead in a significant portion of the jacket at the front of the bullet. This results in a bullet that is longer for a given bullet weight than, say, a soft point bullet with lead all the way to the nose. The result of the longer bullet for the same weight, coupled with the hollow cavity in the nose, is a bullet with a more rearward center of gravity and a slightly lower stability.

The bottom line is the bullet goes to sleep quicker and you achieve better accuracy. You can go too far with this, however, and get a bullet that will fly point first but never go to sleep, never stop yawing, and it will shoot all over the paper.

Latest

Rem Wethepeop BP 1
Rem Wethepeop BP 1

Remington Don’t Tread on Me, Come and Take It Bulk Buckets Now Shipping

Remington’s Don't Tread on Me and Come and Take It bulk ammo buckets are shipping nationwide, expanding the company’s patriotic America 250 lineup.

First Look: SIG Sauer’s New Hexium Suppressor Line

SIG Sauer’s new Hexium suppressor line brings 3D-printed, low-back-pressure rifle cans to 5.56 mm NATO, 7.62 mm NATO and .300 BLK platforms.

41st Northeastern Satellite Grand American Opens 2027 ATA Target Year

The 41st Northeastern Grand American, first Satellite Grand of the 2027 ATA target year, runs Sept. 8-13 at the NYSATA Homegrounds in Cicero, N.Y.

Back On The Range: Lessons From A Life-Saving Detour

USPSA Board Chairman Dan Click reflects on the health scare that sidelined him in 2025 and the lessons about improvement, community and joy he brought back.

James Fox Wins Ninth Straight Oregon State High Power Championship

Team Berger’s James Fox captured the 2026 NRA Oregon State High Power Championship at Douglas Ridge Rifle Club, his ninth consecutive Oregon state title.

A Tribute To David Tubb

James A. Schmidt II of Arizona Ammunition remembers his longtime friend David Tubb, the champion rifleman and innovator who died July 2.

Interests



Get the best of Shooting Sports USA delivered to your inbox.