[glkguy]

I have a little cheaper .380 that I really like to shoot but every time i shoot it leaves huge holes in the paper. I have heard the term keyholing an figured this has to be what this is called.What causes this? Does it affect saftey?I just want to make sure i understand what is going on an am not affecting mine or anyone else's saftey. Thanks guys

 

[Bidah]

Keyholing is where the bullet enters the target sideways instead of straight on.

There are a number of things that can cause this, and is usually seen in reloaded ammo (for me anyway). Wrong powder selection, wrong bullet size for bore are 2 that come to mind. A barrel that is bad at the muzzle (dinged, oversize) will do this as well.

-Bidah

 

[Catfish]

Bullets have to spin to keep them from tumbleing, and the longer the bullet the faster they have to spin. It is very common that is short cheaper handgun that they do not get the nessary spin on the bullets due to long throughts, oversized bores or shallow rifleings or what ever and the bullets often tumble and key hole. As long as the gun is sound they are safe to shoot, they are just not accurate.