So I've got a bunch of .458 405 grain jacketed soft point bullets for my 45-70 and have not been impressed with terminal ballistics. They tend to perform like ye ole' energizer bunny and keep going and going. The 300 grain hollow points I've loaded were devastating on hogs so I started thinking<---uh oh. Has anyone here drilled the nose of flat nosed bullets to create your own hollow points. Granted it would be tedious and time consuming but I've got a lot of time and a drill press that I was planning on using. My only concern was how bad this might affect accuracy. I'm sure I'll end up trying it but was curious if anyone here had done and how it worked out.
Flat nose to hollow point conversion??
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MtnCreek
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If you have router bits laying around, you may find that one of them might be used to put a flare on your home made hollow points after drilling. How are you going to hold the projectile in place while drilling?
griz
Member
It is difficult to do. I tried it on a couple bullets just to see if it improved expansion. (it did) I put the bullet in a small lathe to get the hole centered. It is still tough to keep the depth consistent and lead is very "grabby" to drill. I didn't do enough of them to check the effects on accuracy.
It can be done, but it's not easy. If you try it, a center drill works best. It looks like a countersink with a short starter drill on it. I don't know if you can get them at a place like Lowes but an industrial place that supplies machine shops will have them. Try Grainger or MSC.
It can be done, but it's not easy. If you try it, a center drill works best. It looks like a countersink with a short starter drill on it. I don't know if you can get them at a place like Lowes but an industrial place that supplies machine shops will have them. Try Grainger or MSC.
Hmmm....tried to post last night but it didn't show up. Anyway, I was thinking since these are jacket bullets I could use a small vise to hold them if I make some form fitting shims. I was planning on using a drill stop for depth uniformity. I guess I'll try a few and see how they shoot.
winchester1886
Member
Midway has a item for drilling hollow points for pistol and rifle.You get a drill bit and a part that will set on top to center the bit.I can't remember the brand maybe Sinclair.
dagger dog
Member
I can't recall where I saw a Lyman 4500 lube sizer with a modified top punch, used to press a hollow point into the nose of the bullet. It may be on the castboolits site.
JimKirk
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unwise11
Member
In the movie "The American" George Clooney drilled out some FMJ rounds and put Mercury in the tip and sealed it somehow, claiming explosive bullets..
But he used a drillpress, I think you could modify a Casing to hold them while you drilled, and them be able to pop the bullet out of the casing easily..
But he used a drillpress, I think you could modify a Casing to hold them while you drilled, and them be able to pop the bullet out of the casing easily..
JimKirk
Member
http://www.forsterproducts.com/catalog.asp?prodid=700226
Quoted from the Forster page above... may be they know how to use their product ...they designed it.
You could use this with a Lee shell holder and lock stud(Lee trimmer) ... the loaded round clamped in the shell holder and the drill bit chucked in the drill press...
Jimmy K
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Well, I got a few done and test fired with good results. Bullets ended up weighing right at 360 grains. I ended up using a 7/16 socket pressed over the bullet pretty snug then used the round hole as a drill guide. I put a stop collar on the bit and used a hand held drill. A quick smack on the tip flatens the frayed lead then used a chamfer tool to clean up the nose. They almost look store bought! Now off to find a willing participant for the terminal ballistics test. Here Piggy Piggy Piggy !!!!!!
gearjammer-2000
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I made a jig out of a chunk of steel for my cast 44's.
I first drilled a 1/16 hole thru the still and then drill a hole just deep enough and big enough [you might have to hone the hole a bit to get the right fit] to slide the bullet into it with the backside just a bit higher than the jig.
to use I insert the bullet into the bottom and set it onto a piece of hard rubber which holds the bullet tight enough to keep it from spinning in the jig and proceed to drill thru the 1/16 in hole.
I drill about 3/8" into the bullet place a piece of masking tape onto the drillbit to act as a drillstop once you drill the first one.
after that I remove it from the jig, and take a center drill and drill down the 1/16" hole already centered in the bullet I have a pair of pliers that I cemented rubber to the jaws to hold them without damaging them.
I was going to make another jig to do the center drilling operation but found out that it is just as easy to hold them with the pliers and eyeball the depth of the center drill operation.
I first drilled a 1/16 hole thru the still and then drill a hole just deep enough and big enough [you might have to hone the hole a bit to get the right fit] to slide the bullet into it with the backside just a bit higher than the jig.
to use I insert the bullet into the bottom and set it onto a piece of hard rubber which holds the bullet tight enough to keep it from spinning in the jig and proceed to drill thru the 1/16 in hole.
I drill about 3/8" into the bullet place a piece of masking tape onto the drillbit to act as a drillstop once you drill the first one.
after that I remove it from the jig, and take a center drill and drill down the 1/16" hole already centered in the bullet I have a pair of pliers that I cemented rubber to the jaws to hold them without damaging them.
I was going to make another jig to do the center drilling operation but found out that it is just as easy to hold them with the pliers and eyeball the depth of the center drill operation.
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