A question about pistol ammunition.

[kal]

Is your typical round of handgun ammo loaded with gun powder to the base of the bullet or is there some space?

[Buck]

Some yes and some no... There are a lot of factors... it depends on the powder type, burn rate, case volume, bullet length, etc... Take a look at a factory loading manual for some guidence...

B

[Pumpkinheaver]

Could be either way, especially when talking handloads. Some of my hot magnum loads are filled to the base of the bullet. Plinking loads might only have 5 grains in them or so.

[CAVDOC]

loads designed from the ground up as smokeless (the auto pistol cartridges, 357 magnum etc) in factory loads and most factory equiv reloads have the space pretty full, but there is a lot more variation in this thn in rifle ammo.
Cartidges designed originally for black powder(various 32's, 38 special 44 special 45 colt among others) will have a lot of space between powder and bullet typically, which is why these rounds are more likely to get double charged and cause kabooms and gun damage- with light target loads in a 38 special- 2.7 grains bullseye for example-it is possible to fit a triple charge of powder