HOLLOW POINT VS. OPEN POINT

I've been reading some reprinted books that were originally published years ago, in the 1930s and 1940s mostly, and have come across the term "open point" bullets in a couple of instances. Is this what we refer to today as "hollow point?"

Jeff M., Oklahoma

Well, kinda sorta. The original open-point bullets date way back to military usage in the 1800s, and it would be a matter of debate to try and pick who was first versus who claimed to be first. Your question is presumed to be related to big game hunting bullets, and that answer is fairly easy to answer.

Western Cartridge Company began offering what they referred to as jacketed open-point expanding bullets over 80 years ago. Mostly, this was a straight hole formed in the front center of the bullet that ran about a third of its length. The jacket closed in all but the hole, and this could be referred to as a hollow point. However, hollow-pointed rifle bullets of today typically have an opening in the front, but the lead core of the bullet falls short of filling the jacket. In other words, they really are hollow in front; they don't just have a straight hole like the old open point.

The box shown here dates back a bit. Notice the retail price of $3.45, and the reference on the back of the box to the Winchester Model 54 rather than the Model 70, which came out in 1937. The cutaway view of the open point will give you an idea of what they were back then, and the cartridges shown in the photos provide a look at these originals. Of course, they were offered in several chamberings for many years. When machinery and techniques advanced to the degree that allowed the reliable manufacturing of true hollow-pointed jacketed bullets, the open point was largely displaced. And, in still later days, as you have seen, little poly (or other material) tips have been added to improve ballistic coefficient and serve as an initial expansion assist. Nothing new, really, as bronze points (tips) were used in the past to produce the same effect. But that's another story for another day. 
 

JDC