Need advice on best bullet "style"

[1972]

I’m fairly new to re-loading for semi-auto hand guns and would like some advice on the best “style” of bullet to use. I’m loading for 9mm and 45 ACP. I’m not new to re-loading, or to handguns, but it’s been mostly for revolvers to date. Different parameters altogether.

I’m going to use jacketed bullets but do not know whether it’s best to use the “round nose/ball" style bullet, or the “truncated nose” style bullet. In either caliber you can get bullets of the same weight in either of those styles. For example, I can get 125 grain round nose ball bullets in 9mm, or I can get 125 grain truncated nose bullets in 9mm. Same scenario in 45 ACP. Either style is available in the 230 grain weight.

Some shooters tell me the absolute best bullet for chambering is the “round nose/ball” bullet because the nose design ensures it will go up the ramp and chamber.

Other shooters tell me that a jacketed “truncated nose” bullet will chamber every bit as well as the round nose and is a better bullet to use because it is inherently a more accurate bullet design.

Does it really make any difference? Does one bullet style (truncated or ball) chamber better than the other? Is one significantly more accurate than the other? I know some of you guys out there have shot hundreds of thousands of both styles, so you obviously know a heck of a lot more about this than I do.

I’m looking for the bullet “style” that is easiest to re-load, most reliable for feeding and chambering, and most accurate for paper punching/target shooting. I know defense loads would be a whole different ball game.

Rather than learn the hard way and have to reinvent the wheel all over again, I’d sure appreciate some advice from the experts.

Thanks in advance for your opinions and suggestions.

 

[hungrybeagle]

I preface my comments by saying I don't use technical terms, I just understand how things work from many long years of discussing these points with people who know better.

Round Nose will always feed better. The pointy bit at the front has less surface area to drag on the front of magazines should the rounds slip forward in the magazine, and will go up feed ramps better. The holes are not as clean as truncated nose or hollowpoint bullets, however.

I like hollowpoints as I find they are more accurate. The profile of the bullet means that (generally) there is more volume to the back of the bullet, which makes the cylindrical part of the bullet longer. Longer length here means more surface area to contact the rifling resulting in more accurate bullet with cleaner holes. I actually don't use hollowpoints, but a hollowpoint profile with the hollow tip filled in (Montana Gold 121gr IPF). The increased area at the tip of the bullet means I have to seat the bullet a bit further down (about .020 shorter than using round nose) to make sure that they are 150% reliable, but the flat tip also means that there is the potential for more problems when the bullet slams into the feed ramp.

Under current market conditions, however, I'd shoot whatever I could get my hands on.

 

[Dansy]

Just buy 500 of each bullet that you can find and see how they Feed in YOUR gun from there it's pretty simple if there's more then one that feed well then check the accuracy from the same load same day same distance look only at grouping not were it group's....from there if there is more then one bullets that meet the criteria....use the cheaper one....

I had guns that were feeding well and were dead accurate with JHP and some with FPRN my the new one will be asking for RN only.... it all depend

 

[Canuck44]

Knowing the make of gun you have will get you a better answer as some guns are known to feed virtully any style of bullet while others maybe finicky ab out the bullet you find them.

Take Care

Bob

 

[animalamidon]

in my .45 1911 i have successfully shot 200gr lead SWC, 200gr truncated cone, 185gr JHP and of course 230 gr. FMJ ball. although all function, if i had to rate, i would say i have had the least ammount of malfunctions with 230gr ball. just think of the physics of the nose of the bullet. i am sure some of you will disagree with me but thats what ive found.