Measuring the effectiveness of “dum-dum” bullets: The Box O’ Truth
The Box O Truth 06.23.11
Shooters have always been looking for ways to make their bullets more effective, whether it be for hunting, home defense or otherwise. The Box O’ Truth checks out one rumored method of doing so in this article.
Had a few folks ask me recently about Dum-Dum bullets. Let’s see what we can find out about them on the Internet:
“The ‘dum-dum’ was a British military bullet developed for use in India – at the Dum-Dum Arsenal – on the North West Frontier in the late 1890s. The dum-dum comprised a jacketed .303 bullet with the jacket nose open to expose its lead core. The aim was to improve the bullet’s effectiveness by increasing its expansion upon impact. The phrase ‘dum-dum’ was later taken to include any soft-nosed or hollow pointed bullet. The Hague Convention of 1899 outlawed the use of dum-dum bullets during warfare.”
Some folks have heard rumors of soldiers and others cutting an “X” in the nose of pistol bullets to “improve” performance. Today’s question: Does altering the nose of a bullet make it more effective against living targets?
To read the rest of this article, please head to the Box O’ Truth, an Outdoor Hub Network member.
