"Keyholing"??

[Kentucky Rifle]

The last time my wife and I went to the range, we took a variety of pistols to shoot. Each time either one of us changed pistols, we also changed targets. One particular time, she was shooting a .38 snub and I was shooting a .32 pocket pistol. I noticed that the .32ACP Silvertips that I was shooting were making bigger holes in the target than the .38 Special Federal Nyclad hollow points that she was shooting!
I began to wonder if the .32 was "keyholing" or somehow tumbling as they went down range. However, the Silvertips were being pretty accurate, so I don't get it.
Any opinions??

Thanks,
Kentucky Rifle

[Jim Keenan]

If bullets are keyholing, it is usually pretty obvious, since the hole in the target will have the sideways profile of the bullet. You may be seeing the result of a sharp cutting .38 bullet and a .32 bullet that causes more tearing of the target paper and creates what appears to be a bigger hole. Other factors, like damp target paper, can also cause holes bigger than the bullet size would seem to indicate.

Jim

[Kentucky Rifle]

That makes sense.
The .32ACP holes did not have a "sideways" profile of a bullet, but rather a slightly smaller than nickel sized hole with tears going straight out. Something like a little sun with rays extending outward.
I apprecate you responding. I was a little worried there. It was my new Seecamp and you always want something like that to be somewhat perfect. :) For such a tiny pistol, the Seecamp was pretty accurate. It was surprising.

Kentucky Rifle