LIGHT Loads by CUTTING bullets in half ?

[HoBoBum]

I know it's a bizarre question, and to avoid embarressment, I looked at all the forums I could find, but ........
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if I take a factory loaded .38 special with Lead Round Nose 158 gr. and remove about 50 grs. from the tip (either with a dremel or file or whatever) , what will be the results ?
I am thinking less recoil , higher velocity, and less accuracy..... the most important to me is to lose recoil.....will it work ?
I know, I know, it's silly, but will it lessen recoil ?

thanks

[capstan]

Yes you oughta get less recoil. You are pushing a lighter weight bullet with the same powder charge as the heavier bullet

[DFrame]

Yes. With equivalent loads your recoil will be lessened. Seems like a lot of work. For the labor of drilling or cutting away part of the bullet, it seems to me it would be a heck of a lot easier to simply buy some lighter projectiles. I've seen cast 38 calibre bullets as light as around 85 grains. If recoil is your paramount consideration, buy the lightest bullet you can, and load it to minimum reloading book recommendations. Don't try to go lower or you could end up with a bullet stuck in the barrel.

[Kid Sopris]

Are you planning to take Factory Loaded ammo already assembled and file down the Noses on these bullets ?

[HoBoBum]

Are you planning to take Factory Loaded ammo already assembled and file down the Noses on these bullets ?

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.that's correct, Kid, that's what I aim to do - I have a bunch of inexpensive 158 gr round-nose that just aren't pleasant to shoot in my DS , so rather than just let 'em rust, I thought I'd knock off about 1/3 of the projectile and shoot 'em up - might even be fun to see the bizarre groups I get with the accuracy going out the window - ha - but I wanted to chec with y'all to be sure there was no hidden danger
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thanks guys

[Kid Sopris]

If you are doing it by manual labor I think the exposure to an incident is minimal. HOWEVER if you plan on using a electrical device which may heat the bullet up while grinding away...I think the chance of an incident greatly increases. Think about it a little harder before you jump in.

[Bisley]

Hello, HoBoBum. The problem your going have to overcome is consistancy. The Forster company sells a hollow-point drill attatchment for their case trimmer..this would give you a H.P. & remove some weight. I'll have to check..but I wonder if you drilled a hollow pt. on center & used a cut-off piece of drill shank for a pilot in your trimmer..you could use trimmer cutter to precisely "face" off end of bullet.
A file-trim die would work..but man what a mess of lead filings..not to mention the time required.

[porsche]

Trade or buy some lighter weight cartridges or even shoot them in a different gun. I don't think I would butcher live ammo.

[HoBoBum]

good idea, Bisley, thanks