Hi bambikiller6,

As Coastie has pointed out the media's collective knowledge of firearms and related subjects could probably "be combined and fit on the head of a pin...with room left over". In many cases the media are simply ignorant...and in others it is their intention to purposely be misleading.

The bullet you heard described as explosive....was probably an ignorant description of the effect of an expanding bullet. (Actually, on a show like ER it was probably a deliberate attempt to mislead the public. A play on emotions!) Which is exactly the reason I no longer watch network TV.

And in truth, there has been some experimentation and development of truly explosive bullets. These are currently "banned" items by BATF....and it is illegal to have them in your possession without a proper license. Most attempts at "true exploding" bullets have not met with great success until you reach caliber sizes of either .50 BMG or even more successful 20mm and larger. In the smaller calibers it has been difficult to accomplish anything with an "exploding" bullet that couldn't be done much more effectively and cheaply with a well designed "expanding" bullet.

Never, ever, EVER, EVER, take any BS you hear on TV....and attribute any truth or validity to it. At least not until after you have researched and/or verified the information for yourself. In the case of firearms....not only are they ignorant....they have an agenda and have no qualms with outright lying!

Dave