I picked up a pack of Hornady's new FPB 350 grain conicals yesterday. They are very similar to a PowerBelt, but with one big diference, no plastic skirt. After closer examination, they basically have the same type of copper "candy coating" as the PowerBelt. I could see lead through cracks in the very thin electroplating on some bullets, and am not impressed at all in their apperance. The proof will be in the shooting, however. The flex-tip is a rubbery polymer substance that is neither hard nor soft, but is pliable to a degree.
The hollow point/hollow base is not my favorite design and have yet to find a hollow point/hollow base bullet to pass my torture test. The verdict is still out on these. Was going to shoot today, but had a rain/hail storm roll through a little while ago. If the wind calms down later I may get out and put them to the test.
The bullet is flared at the base, this allows it to fit all .50 caliber bore diameters. The base swadges down as it is pushed into the rifling, but only where the rifling engages the base. The area of the base that lines up with the grooves maintains its original dimentions. I pushed a couple through my NEF and Knight. The crown on the NEF allowed pretty easy starting and it maintained equal loading pressure through the length of the .502" barrel. The crown on the Knight is a very sharp transition, the bullet started a little harder, but once started it maintained equal loading pressure through the length of the .5015" barrel.
Hornady FPB 350 grain dimensions:
Length as supplied with Flex Tip = 1.135"
Length with Flex Tip removed = 1.000" (barely Colorado legal)
Diameter of the bullet above flare = .498"
Diameter of bullet at the flared base = .507"
Length of flared base = .125"
Depth of hollow point, tip removed = .250"
Diameter of hollow point, tip removed = .190"
Depth of hollow base = .280"
Diameter of hollow base = .430"
The depth of the hollow point and hollow base only leaves .470" of integrity between the two, and is where my doubts with this design come into play. This type of design lends itself to self destruction when coming into contact with heavy bone on big game. I am skeptical, but will provide information and pictures once they go through my test. If I were to hunt elk in Colorado with this bullet, I would either cut the tip off flush with the top of the bullet or fill the hollow point in with lead. The built in skirt on this bullet just may prove to be it's saving grace in maintaining integrity. Time will tell.
My 2 cents. :wink:
The hollow point/hollow base is not my favorite design and have yet to find a hollow point/hollow base bullet to pass my torture test. The verdict is still out on these. Was going to shoot today, but had a rain/hail storm roll through a little while ago. If the wind calms down later I may get out and put them to the test.
The bullet is flared at the base, this allows it to fit all .50 caliber bore diameters. The base swadges down as it is pushed into the rifling, but only where the rifling engages the base. The area of the base that lines up with the grooves maintains its original dimentions. I pushed a couple through my NEF and Knight. The crown on the NEF allowed pretty easy starting and it maintained equal loading pressure through the length of the .502" barrel. The crown on the Knight is a very sharp transition, the bullet started a little harder, but once started it maintained equal loading pressure through the length of the .5015" barrel.
Hornady FPB 350 grain dimensions:
Length as supplied with Flex Tip = 1.135"
Length with Flex Tip removed = 1.000" (barely Colorado legal)
Diameter of the bullet above flare = .498"
Diameter of bullet at the flared base = .507"
Length of flared base = .125"
Depth of hollow point, tip removed = .250"
Diameter of hollow point, tip removed = .190"
Depth of hollow base = .280"
Diameter of hollow base = .430"
The depth of the hollow point and hollow base only leaves .470" of integrity between the two, and is where my doubts with this design come into play. This type of design lends itself to self destruction when coming into contact with heavy bone on big game. I am skeptical, but will provide information and pictures once they go through my test. If I were to hunt elk in Colorado with this bullet, I would either cut the tip off flush with the top of the bullet or fill the hollow point in with lead. The built in skirt on this bullet just may prove to be it's saving grace in maintaining integrity. Time will tell.
My 2 cents. :wink:
:lol: :wink:
