Most traditional hollowpoints aren't designed to break apart into shrapnel. They're designed to expand in a controlled manner. The FBI protocol is that it should expand after passing through four layers of cloth (denim, fleece, cotton, and something else), then penetrate between 12 and 18 inches through standardized ballistics gel.

A non expanding bullet might get double that much penetration if it doesn't start tumbling. Projectiles designed for large, dangerous game are designed for no expansion and maximum penetration. It all depends on what the goal is.

There's a lot of youtube where people have put that kind of stuff to the test if you want to dig. There are a few results out there that are non-intuitive. For example, a regular 38 special hollow point out of a modern revolver often doesn't get enough velocity to expand, so the cavity will fill up with cloth and over penetrate the gel even though it's substantially less powerful than a 9mm.