Question about target results

[Jim NE]

Hi. I went shooting yesterday to try out several of my new handguns and was pretty much pleased with the results. One of my paper targets made me curious, though.

My .38 snubnose was quite accurate at 25 feet and very pleasant to shoot with rubber grips, but rather than making nice round holes in the paper target, it made sort of elongated rips or tears. Does this mean the bullet is tumbling? The ammo was old CCI 158 gr. LEAD round nose.

My 9mm was jacketed round nose (mostly) and I noticed SLIGHT tearing around the edges of the hole, but they were pretty much round holes. My .32 revolver had wad cutters, and they were perfect circles - no tearing. Is it just wadcutter vs. lead rnd. nose? IF the bullet IS tumbling, why is the gun still accurate?

I should mention: paper targets had NO backing.

 

[mgmorden]

Regular paper targets tend to do that. You really need something thicker if you want nice concentric holes. I use Caldwell Tip Top targets a lot and they are excellent in that regard, but I'd wager that if you just stuck some bullseye stickers on a sheet of construction paper that would do it too.

If the perfectly round hole isn't a concern though, then no need to worry. Nothing wrong with your gun - it's the targets.

PS If the bullet *IS* tumbling (I don't think it is from the sounds of it though), then the thick targets will help diagnose that really quick. On at least a shot or two you'll get a clear picture of the bullet impacting "long ways". That's why it's often called keyholing. If you see that, then there's a problem.

 

[Jim NE]

Thanks for your insights, mgmorden. I wouldn't have thought much about the target penetration except that comparing it to the holes my other 3 guns made, it was noticably different. The round nose bullets out of my brand new 9mm had a bit of tearing around the edges, but not much.

It could be that it was a slow moving bullet, but probably not any slower than my .32 s&w long. But yes, it WAS a flimsy target...big, too (about 24" x24") with no backing.

And I'm sure you're right because I wouldn't imagine a tumbling bullet out of a 2 inch barrel would group within 5 or 6 inches at 25+ feet, considering my poor marksmanship. Looking at my target again there were actually many (a majority) of holes that didn't have long rips along with them.

 

[NMGonzo]

use some cardboard as backing for the target

paper plates are great targets too

 

[Remllez]

It does sound like tumbling to me,I would try using different ammo ie;weight,bullet profile speed. I have seen severely leaded barrels do exactly what you describe as well. The holes should be more or less round,as for being accurate at that distance my guess is the slug just started tumbling and the further out you shoot the more noticeable it will be.

 

[Shawn Dodson]

...it made sort of elongated rips or tears.

Round nose bullets produce stellate (star-like) tears in paper. The smooth, streamline contours of the bullet allows paper to "stretch" around it as it passes through rather than being crushed and disintegrated. You can usually fold all the pieces back together and find very little paper missing (usually in the center).

 

[Drail]

If you want sharp, clean, round holes, shoot wadcutters or semiwadcutters with a cardboard backing. Round noses and paper make ugly holes. Or just call it "good enough."