Which of the following describes hollow point bullets' purpose?

• A. To vaporize on impact
• B. To expand upon entry to make a larger wound cavity
• C. To increase velocity
• D. To penetrate armor

Answer: (B)

Hollow-point bullets are designed to expand when they hit a target. This expansion increases the diameter of the bullet as it penetrates, causing a larger wound channel and transferring more energy to the surrounding tissue. The result is faster incapacitation while reducing the chance that the bullet will over-penetrate and exit the target, potentially harming bystanders.

Vaporizing on impact isn’t how these bullets work, and increasing velocity isn’t the intended purpose of hollow points. They’re not designed to penetrate armor; in fact, expansion tends to reduce penetration through soft targets and armor compared to non-expanding bullets.