I got started on this tumbling bullet thing by considering what could be done to improve the performance of bullets from short-barrel guns with relatively low velocity. That’s yielded some interesting results, and this week I’ll be sending some bullets to a fellow to test on feral hog carcasses.

Next .38 testing for me will be the 158gr. bullets through the 1-3/4″ barrel of my custom Taurus Model 85, but I need to recast the block again to get good photos of the wound-tracks.

As regular readers will know I also tested a bullet in .32 S&W Long, again with interesting results, and I got to thinking, ‘What other rounds have trouble getting enough penetration with expanding bullets?’ I thought I might see what I could do with .380 ACP.

I pulled out some 90gr. TMJRN and adjusted the swaging die until I got the shape i wanted. These load to .982 OAL, right on-spec for .380 ACP ball. They feed perfectly in my wife’s P238 Legion, and I’ll be using that for a test gun. Again, I need to wait for a ‘clean’ block of gel.

I have another, very different project in the works, but it’s not ready for prime-time yet. It’s going to take some time; it’s pretty involved.

I hope you all have a great 2021.

Michael Tinker Pearce, 4 January 2021