Hollow base vs. flat base?
- Thread starter woolfam
- Start date
- Status
ReloaderFred
Member
If you're refering to .38 special wadcutters, then the answer is accuracy. The hollowbase wadcutter was designed specifically for target shooting. The deep hollowbase allows the bullet to fully obturate and seal the bore, and it gives the longest bearing surface possible with that weight bullet. The longer bearing surface tends to give better accuracy.
With flat base bullets in the same caliber, you get basically the same shape, which is similar to a tin can, but a shorter bearing surface. It's still accurate, but not as accurate as the longer hollowbase wadcutter.
At fairly close distances, say 7 to 10 yards, the difference in accuracy is hard to measure, but when you start shooting at 25 to 50 yards, then there is a great difference in accuracy between the two bullets, given everything else is equal.
Back when I was shooting lots of PPC matches, I would use solid base wadcutters for the 7 yard line, but the hollowbase wadcutters for all the 25 and 50 yard line shooting, to take advantage of the greater accuracy of the long bearing surface.
Hope this helps.
Fred
With flat base bullets in the same caliber, you get basically the same shape, which is similar to a tin can, but a shorter bearing surface. It's still accurate, but not as accurate as the longer hollowbase wadcutter.
At fairly close distances, say 7 to 10 yards, the difference in accuracy is hard to measure, but when you start shooting at 25 to 50 yards, then there is a great difference in accuracy between the two bullets, given everything else is equal.
Back when I was shooting lots of PPC matches, I would use solid base wadcutters for the 7 yard line, but the hollowbase wadcutters for all the 25 and 50 yard line shooting, to take advantage of the greater accuracy of the long bearing surface.
Hope this helps.
Fred
Hummm. That makes sense. What prompted my question (and I probably should have included this info in my first post) was seeing an eBay auction for both flat based and hollow based 9mm FMJ bullets.
http://stores.ebay.com/TJ-Conevera_W0QQssPageNameZstrkQ3amefsQ3amesstQQtZkm
I had heard of HBWC bullets for a .38, but I'd not heard of hollow base FMJ bullets for a 9mm. I would assume the "better seal / longer bearing surface" benefit would apply to the 9mm bullets also, although, as you mentioned, you would not have the length of bearing surface you would with a wadcutter.
http://stores.ebay.com/TJ-Conevera_W0QQssPageNameZstrkQ3amefsQ3amesstQQtZkm
I had heard of HBWC bullets for a .38, but I'd not heard of hollow base FMJ bullets for a 9mm. I would assume the "better seal / longer bearing surface" benefit would apply to the 9mm bullets also, although, as you mentioned, you would not have the length of bearing surface you would with a wadcutter.
ConcernedCitizen
Member
- Joined
- Jun 25, 2004
- Messages
- 149
This is a topic I'm interested in, as well.
I understand the advantage of the hollow base on lead bullets, but how does it affect FMJ bullets?
I've also been looking at both hollow base and flat base bullets for the 9mm, and can't figure out which one is better. It appears that the B.C. of the flat base is better, but a few reviews I have read claimed that the hollow base was more accurate.
Is one really better than the other?
I understand the advantage of the hollow base on lead bullets, but how does it affect FMJ bullets?
I've also been looking at both hollow base and flat base bullets for the 9mm, and can't figure out which one is better. It appears that the B.C. of the flat base is better, but a few reviews I have read claimed that the hollow base was more accurate.
Is one really better than the other?
ReloaderFred
Member
In 9mm, the hollow base gives a longer bearing surface, but not to the same degree as in the .38 wadcutter. This is important with bullets that have the NATO design, with a long ogive and short bearing surface. It also allows for a little more volume in the 9x19 case, which is rather limited.
Winchester in particular offers 9mm bullets in both configurations for the same bullet weight. I've got both types, but I don't use my 9mm handguns for serious target shooting per se, so I can't really tell the difference between the two types on paper myself. I do know that the hollowbase don't feed very well through automatic bullet feeders on motorized loading machines. The bullet nose catches in the hollow of the base on the bullet above it in the tube.
Hope this helps.
Fred
Winchester in particular offers 9mm bullets in both configurations for the same bullet weight. I've got both types, but I don't use my 9mm handguns for serious target shooting per se, so I can't really tell the difference between the two types on paper myself. I do know that the hollowbase don't feed very well through automatic bullet feeders on motorized loading machines. The bullet nose catches in the hollow of the base on the bullet above it in the tube.
Hope this helps.
Fred
- Status