Can somebody explain these movie scenes to me? (Involving bullets)s)
 

I've seen in a few movies, including Taxi Driver, where the following takes place...

Someone will place a bullet on a table, take a knife blade and etch a "+" into the tip of the bullet, and then gently tap the blade into the tip of bullet with some kind of blunt object.

What is the point of this?

Edited to add: Sorry for the typo in the thread title. My keyboard is a little wonky and the cursor jumps around.

Re: Can somebody explain these movie scenes to me? (Involving bullets)s)
 

Hollow point=Nasty damage

Re: Can somebody explain these movie scenes to me? (Involving bullets)s)
 

I figured it would be something along that line, but how does that cause more damage?

Re: Can somebody explain these movie scenes to me? (Involving bullets)s)
 

I'm not a weapons nut, but I assume it is so the slug will split open (widen) on impact, making a bigger hole as it passes through the target.

Re: Can somebody explain these movie scenes to me? (Involving bullets)s)
 

from wikipedia:

Re: Can somebody explain these movie scenes to me? (Involving bullets)s)
 

^ Thanks, I tried searching for an answer earlier but couldn't find one. I wasn't quite sure what the effect it had on the bullet. It's been shown in quite a few movies.

Re: Can somebody explain these movie scenes to me? (Involving bullets)s)
 

It's also good for vampire killin'.

Re: Can somebody explain these movie scenes to me? (Involving bullets)s)
 

well to be honest...I only assumed it did what it actually does but not till Mondo Kane called it out did I have the chance to actually know the details. I didn't exactly know why they did that and whatnot. So..yay team!

Re: Can somebody explain these movie scenes to me? (Involving bullets)s)
 

But why not just buy hollow point rounds?

Re: Can somebody explain these movie scenes to me? (Involving bullets)s)
 

I was thinking the same thing.

Re: Can somebody explain these movie scenes to me? (Involving bullets)s)
 

I only see one question here... where are my bullet points?

Re: Can somebody explain these movie scenes to me? (Involving bullets)s)
 

From wackypedia:

The earliest examples of bullets specifically designed to expand on impact were those fired by express rifles, which were developed in the mid 19th century. Express rifles used larger powder charges and lighter bullets than typical for the time to achieve very high velocities for black powder cartridges. One method of lightening the bullets used was to provide a deep cavity in the nose of the bullet. These were the first hollow point bullets, and in addition to developing higher velocities, they also expanded significantly upon impact. These hollow point bullets worked well on thin-skinned game, but tended to come apart on bigger game, resulting in insufficient penetration. One solution to this was the "cruciform expanding bullet", a solid bullet with an X shaped incision in the tip. This split section expanded to the depth of the incision, and then stopped, making it an early form of controlled expansion bullet.[7]

So the X incision stopped the bullet expansion at a point where the projectile stayed in one piece maximizing damage. These types are outlawed for use in warfare. Anyone taken prisoner who had these on him were not looked upon with great joy.

Re: Can somebody explain these movie scenes to me? (Involving bullets)s)
 

It adds dynamic to the film.

Re: Can somebody explain these movie scenes to me? (Involving bullets)s)
 

it's...cheaper to make them yourself?

Re: Can somebody explain these movie scenes to me? (Involving bullets)s)
 

A cross cut non-jacketed round does not behave like a hollow point on impact.

It does add a different dynamic to the wound channel and crush cavity, but it's not a 'do it yourself' hollow point. The two are different.

But in essence the answers so far give the gist of it.

Re: Can somebody explain these movie scenes to me? (Involving bullets)s)
 

Time = money

Re: Can somebody explain these movie scenes to me? (Involving bullets)s)
 

touche, sir.