Even from the 1980s on bullet makers were questioning and beginning to make better hollow point bullets for defense. And they've gotten to be pretty good at it. But performance is not a given with hollow points, and I've developed my own testing protocols.
I'm pretty impressed with what Winchester loads in their bonded PDX1 line, and have found them to perform remarkably. Just recently bought a case of the Federal 9mm HST 147, and early results are promising.
But back when I was younger and always money hungry what I didn't do with a .45acp 200 SWC, made from wheel weights, didn't need to be done. Granted, I've never killed a charging bear, or a big ass elk with a handgun.
Mackay's comments about the consistency of performance with a hard cast handgun bullet are in line with my experience.
