Big-Mouth Hollow-Points & Flying Doughnuts:

 "Ballistics" is interesting stuff eh .. 

But .. warning warning this is just an opinion .. but I doubt that there is much practical terminal performance difference between a .38"S&W Special fired from a 2 inch snubby revolver and a decent  .38 S&W fired from a 4 inch antique revolver barrel.

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I was thinking about 'lead wadcutters' loaded backwards as expanding loads for 'bowling pin' matches etc. - Of course there is a very obvious direct CONFLICT between Expansion and Penetration. - Bigger Diameter > More Drag > Less Penetration.

Gun Sam_Revolver Aficionado finds that soft lead 38 Special wadcutters (.357" dia.) expand to .721" in his cloth covered "Ballistic Baloney Pack" and water medium .. That's DOUBLE the diameter - or FOUR times the surface area - from .1001 sq. inch to .4083 sq. inch - I think that's bloody impressive .721"

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5vJ-36kcEuA

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-QGIoAxNIOw

except .. these backwards looking slugs failed to penetrate to a needed optimum degree of perhaps 12 inches.

- Now, the center-post in Hydra-shok Deep bullets is said to be there in part to improve penetration to 15 inches ..

.38 S&W Special Federal Hydra-Shok Deep

- So I'm now wondering if a 'center-post' would help these soft lead wad-cutter expanders to push further? - How about dropping a wee blob of adhesive into that gaping hollow followed by a penetrating-probe 'post' - perhaps made from a steel ball bearing or maybe a spent small pistol-primer? .. I enjoy DIY eh.

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-  I was reminded online of the ULTRAMAG Cartridges from PMC:

Around 1985 / 1986, PMC would adapt a design by Abe Flatau (designer of the ring-airfoil and steel nose Guilford HP pistol bullet) in their own line of "Ultramag" cartridges in .38spl and .44spl. The first .38spl projectiles were true hollow cylindrical bullets with a tapered nose and plastic obturating base. These were made of brass (66 grains) and had decent, yet limited enhanced penetration abilities at 1,500fps. These were effective against soft body armor, but not against steel plate, or hard metals. The federal law restricting pistol-caliber AP bullets would soon follow in August, 1986, and so PMC would switch their now restricted brass bullets over to 100% copper. Using copper would more or less defeat the intended purpose of real enhanced penetration, and these copper tubular bullets would continue on as a novelty of sorts for a few years until PMC gave up on the concept altogether. The initial brass bullets were only produced for a year or so in .38spl, and are fairly rare today as collector’s items. The copper versions are much more common, and full boxes of .38spl can be found via auction websites at times for anywhere from $40 to $75, with the .44spl boxes being worth closer to $100.

Next I came across THUNDERZAP bullets ..

Which were very light weight 'TEFLON' 36 grain High velocity rounds marketed by Rich Davis

You can find Jerry Miculeks' spectacular demo of these on video here ..

https://www.facebook.com/watch/?v=3730005583676525

 These rounds seem to have been withdrawn from the market for unknown reasons .. perhaps they were rubbish? - But such light weight rounds would have a high 'SAFETY' factor with their very limited range and penetration.

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I read this next linked story about 'carry gun performance' and thought that's decent work - before spotting the writers name at the top .. Greg Ellifritz .. makes sense eh.

https://www.buckeyefirearms.org/%E2%80%9Cmouse-gun%E2%80%9D-gelatin-testing-results

I do wish to clearly state that I fully understand that New Zealand Police do not want to permit the lawful use of any firearm for SELF DEFENCE other than by themselves - despite such being completely legal. - I once again wish to state that I have no thoughts of violence under any circumstance as I am both a pacifist and an anti-nuclear activist..

Martin K.