Keyhole target hits

DallanC · Site Admin Joined: Jan 18, 2005 Posts: 3572 Location: Utah

Have you ever keyholed a bullet? I got to thinking about it and I've never yet had a keyhole. I've had horribly inaccurate rounds scattered around the target, I've had bullets fully disintegrate on their way to the target peppering it with shrapnel... but nope, never had a keyhole.

How about you guys?

-DallanC

SwampFox · Posted: Mon Oct 02, 2006 1:37 pm Post subject: Re: Keyhole target hits

Dallan,
Yes, many times.
Of course I am a big and slow kinda guy. To add to the business, I also cast bullets so, getting into a big long bullet is pretty easy if you are running rifle bullets in single shot type handguns.
Ed

mc223 · Posted: Tue Oct 03, 2006 1:56 am Post subject: Re: Keyhole target hits

I've never had a keyhole. This weekend at the range I had a bullet come apart. Hit the target in little pieces. Just the one. out of bout 50 that i shot that day. It was a Seirra 69 MK. Why? Dunno.

Dimitri · Super Member Joined: Nov 25, 2005 Posts: 5946

Never seen or got a key hole.

I've read that keyholes are caused by bad barrel twists and low speeds (a variation I've read is they keyhole when they go from super-sonic to sub-sonic speeds) so perhaps not getting keyholes isnt too bad of a thing Smile

Dimitri

guncollector · Posted: Tue Oct 03, 2006 8:37 am Post subject: Re: Keyhole target hits

I have a fast twist AR15 (1:8) that I shoot mostly 77 gr SMK through. When trying to shoot some 55 grainers, I did get some keyholing. I always thought it was supposed to happen the other way around - with barrels that have too slow of a twist for the bullet. I guess it works both ways.

Gil Martin · Posted: Tue Oct 03, 2006 3:08 pm Post subject: Re: Keyhole target hits

I have seen it a few times and it indicates something is very wrong. On one occasion I fired a .270 round out of a .30-06 rifle and got a keyhole hit. I knew something was really wrong immediately. Once using cast bullets I got keyholes and suspect the bullets were imperfect. All the best...
Gil

ripper007 · Member Joined: Mar 05, 2006 Posts: 199 Location: Colorado

guess, I have not idea what this means.

Dimitri · Super Member Joined: Nov 25, 2005 Posts: 5946

Ripper,

A Keyhole is when you see the bullet instead of making a round hole in the paper it makes a hole showing the bullets lenghtwise outline because the bullet hit the paper at 90 degrees or so from normal so the tip was pointing any other way but stright ahead.

Dimitri

ripper007 · Member Joined: Mar 05, 2006 Posts: 199 Location: Colorado

ok. I understand that.

wow, guess, I can honestly say, I have never shot a gun that did that.

but I did see my brother shoot a pistal, I think it was a old 38 revolver.

it was a smaller version of the revolver pistal that indiana jones used in the movies.

that gun, I did see bullets hitting side ways. I told my brother that was messed up , he finaly got rid of it.

thanks for letting me know what that ment.

Dimitri · Super Member Joined: Nov 25, 2005 Posts: 5946

Ripper,

Your brother had a Webley 38 Revelover ?? Confused

Was it a top loading revolver ?? Confused

Dimitri

kbis · Posted: Wed Oct 04, 2006 1:41 pm Post subject: Re: Keyhole target hits

My first Handi (243) was bad about it, like 2 out of 5 shots. That was before I started reloading.

I tried 3 different rounds, Rem., Win. and Federal, all 100 grain bullets all keyholed. H&R claimed the barrel was 1/10 twist, I meassured it along with 2 friends and we all game up with 1/12. I sent it back and they had no problems with it but did coment that the barrel seemed very accurate and they could not guarantee the new barrel would be as good. So I got the old barrel back (my choise). I tried reloading for the first time and used some 85 grain Sierra Game King bullets. The best the rifle has done so far is a 7 shot group measuring .395 at 100 yards. It still keyholes 100 grain bullets but who cares when I can get groups like that and 85 grainers drop deer just find Smile

.

Southpaw · Member Joined: Sep 12, 2005 Posts: 51 Location: Saskatoon

I had a rifle do this, was a .303 brit. I had just bought it and when I took it back the gunsmith told me the end of the barrel was worn out. He said cutting it back a couple inches might help, but he took it back and sold me another one.

rrogacki · Posted: Wed Oct 04, 2006 3:14 pm Post subject: Re: Keyhole target hits

Weren't the M16's known for keyhole hits ??

PaulS · Posted: Wed Oct 04, 2006 10:22 pm Post subject: Re: Keyhole target hits

No, the M16 didn't have key-holed hits, it was famous for having bullets change direction after the target was hit. Hit a man in the hand and the bullet might come out the other side or it might follow the bones to the sholder and when it got there it might change direction and hit the heart or it might exit. Light bullets at high velocities are unstable.

I had a 220 grain bullet hit a target sideways once. I was trying to find the limits of the range of bullet weight that my rifle would handle. I found out that it would shoot 125 to 200 grain bullets without key-holing but heavier bullets would not stablize. Lighter bullets were not any good until they got past 100 yards and settled in. I have good loads from 130 to 180 grain bullets and I don't need any more than those choices to kill anything I hunt.

squirrelbait · Posted: Thu Oct 05, 2006 5:17 am Post subject: Re: Keyhole target hits

The M16, I believe has a faster twist than many of the AR-15 variants.
Guy I work with has a CZ bolt action in 223 that will key hole all the longer bullets.