Is the round nose pistol bullet not politically correct anymore ?

[9.3X62AL]

I have a few RN moulds in the cabinet, and their castings get frequent use. One thought that Ken Waters expressed years ago in a "Handloader" Pet Loads piece he wrote concerning the 32-20 WCF as a revolver caliber was this--he felt that shoulderless RN bullets might tend to "self-center" in a revolver barrel's forcing cone a little better than sharp-shouldered keith or other designs, and if a wheelgun's chambers and barrel weren't quite perfectly lined up due to wear/workmanship/grit/whatever the same ease of loading into a chamber we get from a RN-loaded cartridge might apply to a bullet jumping from throat to cone. Made some sense to me, anyway--and might assist in accuracy factor.

If expansion is a critical question with a cast bullet, I cast my hunting projectiles as "Bruce B Softpoints". The late Bruce Bannister wrote a pretty in-depth study and article on his fits and starts in pursuit of this subject on Cast Boolits, and to date I have whacked one critter of size (a coyote with par-golf IQ) with a soft-pointed #311041 at 1800FPS/muzzle from a 30/30 WCF. Nice round 1/2" entry hole at the back of left rib cage, exit was a ragged 1-1/2" round stellate eruption, not unlike wounds in deer I've seen with 150 or 170 grain JSPs from the 30/30. Range was about 75 yards. I would confidently hunt deer with these loads.

 

[Ben]

I can see that.
That also makes sense to me.

Ben

 

[fiver]

if you look at how a rn bullet would worm it's way through flesh versus a flat point which pushes stuff out of the way you'll easily see how the flat point would win out in terminal performance.

I myself prefer a rnfp design over any other type because it's the better 'medium' design out there.
good terminal ballistics, a fair B.C, it feeds well, and is accurate [shrug]
a big pile of one boolit type that fit's my needs of an everyday 3/4 throttle 'do all, fit all' is what I want.

 

[KHornet]

A number of good points within this thread, all worth noting.

 

[smokeywolf]

I too favor the RNFP design as, as long as it's cast soft enough, good terminal performance, they're universally acceptable in all magazine configurations and reliable feed.

 

[Dale53]

Here's a picture of my current "preferred" bullet for the .44 Special and .44 Magnum for reasonable ranges in the game fields:



This is the LBT 240 gr. WFN that I size at .430" for my revolvers.

Dale53

 

[Rally Hess]

Are you using a soft alloy? Preferred velocity? Good looking bullet.

 

[35 shooter]

Can't wait to put another deer down with my 358009 round nose bullets in 35 whelen this year.
I do have a new 230 gr. fn to test in the hunting fields first this year though as i already know how the big 280 gr. rn performs. Pretty awesome wound channel even through a couple of smallish deer considering 27 bnh and no expansion judging from the entrance and exit in the hides. Wound channel through the lungs was quarter size though.

I doubt the deer will like the new fn bullet any better. Lol i don't think they will think either style bullet is very politically correct!!

 

[35 Whelen]

Looking forward to trying this one out in my 358 Win as a plinker, Grouse, and pest control for skunks. Any help in load data is.much appreciated .

Mold is an Ideal 358311 that doesnt look like it has ever been used. Got it with handles and hollow pointed for $90.....which in Canada is a pretty good deal.

Having problems loading a pic....

 

[S Mac]

That bullet and 9-10 grains of Promo, Red Dot or WST in my 35 Whelen is a lot of fun.

 

[fiver]

it won't take much to poke that along to destructive velocity.

 

[35 Whelen]

Do you guys think I should leave it as a hollow point to turn that pin into a flat point. Perhaps best to see how it shoots first then decide?

 

[Brad]

For pest control the HP is a plus.

 

[fiver]

I'd make a big ol' pile of them like it sits, then maybe flatten the pin up some and make another pile, then flatten it off.
that way if you like how they work you have some, and if you don't you got good alloy to move along with.

 

[Fiddler]

35 Whelen: Here is what I did to a Lyman 457122 as an alternative to the HP. A close fitting pin press fit through a 1/8" block held in place with the screw. Still have the HP pin, it was getting too many voids.

 

[35 Whelen]

Excellent idea Fiddler.....I really like that. Thanks for sharing. I was hoping my hollow pointing pin was removable, unfortunately it is permanently fixed. But what you have there will work just fine...thanks

 

[Intheshop]

This is about as non PC as it gets,and am not endorsing it...but;

The last Deer I killed from a tree stand was killed with a 357,158g RN...runnin full tilt.

It was a gentle drizzle rain.I had on a duster length bright yellow raincoat,with a Marlborough red hanging out of my mouth.The year was prolly late 1970's.The "tree stand",had a junkyard sports car seat halfarsed nailed down in it.We used to take garbage bags and cover them up....

I knew this bucks routine....it took almost exactly 15 minutes from the time I hit the recliner lever,till this mature 4x4 buck shows up at spitting distance.Shot him in his ear....done deal.

Haven't been in a tree stand since.Don't use RN for hunting,quit smoking and prefer camo these days.BW

 

[Missionary]

Cast RN depends on what lead is in the pot. Cast a 180 -200 grainer of range scrap and at 1200 FPS it is going to near double in diameter as it churns through corn cruncher ribs. Use a near RN ( has a1/8 inch flat) 200 grain in a 44WCF SRC with 8 grains Unique on wild desert dogs down here. Through the ribs on a 50 pound K9 at 35 yards or so and it is all over but the digging in the sand.

 

[S Mac]

I too like Fiddler's fix. If it were me I'd keep the original pin, make another if you want something different.

 

[Pistolero]

Ben,
I believe it is the 360246 that is one of the most accurate in my little Colt .38 S&W Police Positive. I have
put 5 shots into 1.5" or so at 25 yds, sitting. It is a good one for accy.

Looks like that, but I will have to verify the number on the mold.

Bill