.45 ACP Round Nose or Truncated Cone?

[Fluxed]

I'd like to hear from shooters who have experience with the 225-230 gr. Round Nose and Truncated Cone bullets. Can anyone say that either is more likely accurate or easier to get good results with? I'm looking for something to shoot out of .45 ACP revolvers and 1911s. Fast to load with moon clips and good feeding in any auto. I may be over thinking this, but please let me hear what your experience has been.

Thanks.

[Nocturnal Stumblebutt]

Round nose is difficult to screw up, that said, I know that many members on here would say the same for truncated cone. Frankly, I think the difference, as far as reliability of feeding, is negligible.

[DxieLandMan]

Never tried Truncated cone but the round nose is hard to beat. Just a great design.

[KCSO]

I shoot both and I can't see any accuracy difference between them. I cast a lot of tumble lube 230 RN for my 1911 as they are quick to do but the truncated bullets are what I carry for field use.

[ncbearman]

I started reloading 20 years ago for my Dad's 1911. This by far is my favorite handgun. I cast and load 2 boolits for it. Period. The first is the 452374 225gr RN sized to .452 over 5.0gr of 231. The next and my favorite is 45-201 195gr HP sized to .452 over 5.0gr of 231 also. Results are 3" groups at 25 yards. I cast with straight ww and get no leading what so ever. I love this gun.

59798 59800

[beagle]

I may be a dinosaur but I've always had great luck with the 225-230 grain RN in both the auto and in the revolters with moon clips and I've been at it a long time.

In truth, you probably won't be dissapointed in either. Try the RCBS 45-230-CM for a real winner./beagle

[2wheelDuke]

How are you planning to size/lube? If you plan to tumble lube, it won't make much difference, same if you use a Star sizer. If you plan on using a Lyman/RCBS, the TC design is a bit easier since the nose is flat IMO.

I bought some of each from Jerry at Carolina Cast Bullets and decided which Lee design my guns liked best.

They both worked well, but I went with the round nose 230 tumble lube. They have a tiny little shoulder to them, so they still punch a nice clean, round hole in paper.

[mdi]

My favorite .45 lead bullet is Lyman's 225 gr. roundnose; 452374. I don't think I've ever had a failure to feed with this bullet in my stock 1911 or my Ruger P90. I also have a mold for Lee 230 gr. TC, but don't care for bevel based bullets (some Lee molds for this bullet are BB and some are plain base??). There are some round nose designs that need a very short OAL due to a "fat" ogive, so watch for that when choosing a Round Nose mold...

[Fluxed]

Thanks gentlemen.
I've got plenty of experience with the .45 going back a long way but never tried the TC bullets. I have a 68 H&G now but its not really the ticket for fast moon clip loading for competition in a revolver.

I'm looking at one of the NOE 230 RN H&G #34 clones. It has a little shoulder which ought to make it easy to seat to reasonable depth and not get tied up in the throat. They advertise it as .454 diameter and I'll be sizing to .452 but that's not that big a squeeze. Or should I go with the H&G 34 from Ballisticast?

Further suggestions and conversation welcomed.

[Tbird]

I use swc 200 gr...4.5 gr titegroup..bullet holes touch each other at 25 yds. sr 1911

[Cherokee]

I have been using the TC design for at least 30 years in all my 45 ACP's over the years. When the OAL is correct for the gun, they are reliable. I have an old 452374 RN that I haven't used in those 30 years, changed to the TC. Also works well in 45 Colt, should work fine in 45 ACP revolvers. I have the RCBS 45-230CM but it has a bad habbit of bumbing the slide lock into place when feeding from the mag due to the shape of the boolit so I use it for 45 Colt.

[35remington]

The 1911 was originally designed for ball bullet shapes, loaded in cartridges approximating 1.265" in overall length and shot from GI magazines. This combo went 6000 rounds or more without a failure in acceptance testing. Pretty good.

Easiest reloading in revolvers from clips is a roundnose shape. Candidates would be the HG 34, Lyman 452374, and Lee 230-2R. No brainer.

The truncated cone may have a little more smack on impact. I'd buy the cheap Lee version in a two cavity and see if it feeds for you as it does for me.

Also try different magazines in the 1911. What is not commonly known is most 1911 magazines, and this includes all of the really popular brands, do not feed the pistol the way it was meant to be fed. If you are shooting ball then GI magazines, real GI magazines, are the right ones to be using. The TC shape needs a bit earlier release point. Both types of bullets can be used in the truly correct magazines that are available if you look for them in the right places.

[Abenaki]

I shoot both.

I prefer the tc boolet for punching paper, or when I am shooting some thing that bleeds.

Take care
Abenaki

[Le Loup Solitaire]

Both designs cast easily and feed well. Both will shoot accurately if loaded properly. The RN will usually cut a raggedy hole which will be harder to score if you are shooting BE. The truncated cone will cut a neater hole making the scoring easier, but it is not as neat/sharp as a SWC or a full WC. LLS