How does the expansion of a hollow-point bullet upon impact affect its performance?

The expansion of a hollow-point bullet upon impact significantly enhances its stopping power. As the bullet strikes a target, the hollow cavity at the tip causes it to expand and deform, increasing its diameter as it travels through tissue. This expansion creates a larger wound channel and transfers more energy to the target, which can lead to more effective incapacitation of a threat. By maximizing energy transfer, hollow-point bullets can achieve their intended purpose more effectively than full metal jackets or other types of ammunition that do not expand.

In contrast, the other options don't accurately capture the effect of this expansion. Penetration ability is typically reduced as the bullet expands, which is not necessarily a positive feature in all contexts. Accuracy may be influenced by various factors, but expansion itself does not directly decrease it; rather, it is determined by the factors leading to the bullet's flight characteristics before it even makes contact. Lastly, recoil is influenced more by the gun's design and bullet weight rather than the bullet's ability to expand upon impact. Understanding these dynamics is essential for selecting the appropriate ammunition for self-defense or other applications where the objective is to incapacitate a target efficiently.