Tumbling bullets for home defense?
- Thread starter TXAZ
- Start date
Technosavant
New member
I would expect that accuracy with decent penetration and expansion is a more reliable combination.
in the long run it isnt usefull for long range fun.
tumbling is a product of the gun, its a product of the BULLET only. for example the older original 200 grain 380 british revolver loads always tumbled at 50+yards when it hit tissue, made big holes according to the literature.
sure the idea of having a 200 grain, .38 diameter x .9 inch long bullet tumble sideways through is nice, and would do some major structural damage, its just not as practical.
its the old "m16 versus m1 garand debate "150 grains at 2100 fps not as goos as 60 grains tumbling at 3000 fs through you?
tumbling is a product of the gun, its a product of the BULLET only. for example the older original 200 grain 380 british revolver loads always tumbled at 50+yards when it hit tissue, made big holes according to the literature.
sure the idea of having a 200 grain, .38 diameter x .9 inch long bullet tumble sideways through is nice, and would do some major structural damage, its just not as practical.
its the old "m16 versus m1 garand debate "150 grains at 2100 fps not as goos as 60 grains tumbling at 3000 fs through you?
Alabama Shooter
New member
Do you mean tumble in the air? Bullets don't do that.
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When uninformed people bring up the subject of "tumbling" bullets, its a matter of defining what "tumbling" bullets are.
Bullets that tumble in the air as they travel are unstable and show poor accuracy.
Bullets that tumble on impact with tissue can be accurate and do severe tissue damage.
Most that tumble on impact are full metal jacket, or even lead like the old British .38/200.
Generally speaking, aside from the military FMJ in 5.56 that can tumble on impact, you do just about as well with a well-designed bullet created to be accurate in travel and then to expand uniformly and widely, with reasonably deep penetration.
Deliberately designing a bullet to tumble on impact isn't a simple matter. Most FMJs will just punch right on through tissue, creating little damage as they do.
For handgun ammunition it's not worth bothering.
Denis
Bullets that tumble in the air as they travel are unstable and show poor accuracy.
Bullets that tumble on impact with tissue can be accurate and do severe tissue damage.
Most that tumble on impact are full metal jacket, or even lead like the old British .38/200.
Generally speaking, aside from the military FMJ in 5.56 that can tumble on impact, you do just about as well with a well-designed bullet created to be accurate in travel and then to expand uniformly and widely, with reasonably deep penetration.
Deliberately designing a bullet to tumble on impact isn't a simple matter. Most FMJs will just punch right on through tissue, creating little damage as they do.
For handgun ammunition it's not worth bothering.
Denis
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