What is the best boolit shape for reliable feeding in 9mm,10mm and 45acp

[phil3333]

Getting all my stuff together to start,so far I have acquired about 350lbs of lead and just ordered a new lee furnace so I'm looking at dies
Probably going with NOE because they are local to me and yes I know I will be waiting but I would like to get some on order.
Probably want a 4-6 cavity 9mm and 2-4 for the others

[mdi]

Well, round nose bullets have fed 100% in all my semi-auto pistols. One of my first molds was a Lyman #452374. I have 3, 45 Auto guns and can't remember a single failure to feed. Also use a Lee 452-230-TC that has given me no problems either. For my 9mms I have a favorite; Lee 358-125-RF that feeds reliably in 4, 9mm pistols. Don't own a 40/10mm so I can't comment on that...

[Dusty Bannister]

I have the Lee truncated nose molds for the 9mm, 40 S&W and 45 ACP. I prefer the conventional lube groove bullets since I size and lube. The Lee 356-120-TC drops large enough I can also size and lube for 38/357 mag. It is a little heavy for me to recommend it for the 380 ACP.

[rintinglen]

Most semi-auto pistols are designed to run best with round nosed ammunition. For best 9 mm feeding, I endorse the Lyman 356-242, 122 grain version. Seated to 1.065," even "no-throat" SIG'S run well with it. Likewise, the 452-374 or one of the similar designs, e.g. H&G 34, RCBS 45-230 RN, NOE 454-237 RN AC4 etc would be my choice for reliable feeding in 45 ACP pistols.

Since you mentioned NOE, try the 358-128 PB, very similar to the Lyman 356-242, For the 40/10 mm I'd try the NOE 402-181 RN X4, and for my 45's; 454-237 RN AC4 Get 4 or 5 cavity molds, you'll be glad you did later .

[tazman]

Without question, the round nose boolit. I have round nosed boolits in all the calibers you mention including one for 40 cal. They work perfectly in all my semi autos.
The TC design is a very close second. The RF designs are a very close third.

[44Blam]

With 40 S&W/10mm I have been shooting this one:
https://noebulletmolds.com/site/product-category/401/htc402-188-wfn-bv1/

And for 10mm with full power loads this one (without the lube grove):
http://accuratemolds.com/bullet_detail.php?bullet=40-180BG

With 40 S&W, I shoot the 402-188 wfn with all configs: cup/hollow point/flat nose and I have never had a failure to feed in a Glock 35 with a KKM barrel. My goto load is 7.9 grain of AA7 at a COL of 1.125" with this boolit and it shoots / cycles perfectly. I've shot 10s of thousands of rounds of these.

EDIT:
I feel like the cup points have the best accuracy, but the full hollow point and flat point shoot great.

[phil3333]

Thanks 44Blam I like the looks of those

[JSnover]

Round nose for sure.
I've had decent results with TC bullets but only in the heavier weights. When they're too light, because the lighter TC profiles have a relatively small nose, the front band is more of a step or shoulder and it doesn't feed.

[Sailormilan2]

The original 9mm loading was a TC style bullet. But, the Germans got complaints that it was too effective(deadly?), and then changed it to a round nose bullet to be more humane. I have both a SWC and a TC style bullet for my 10mm. The TC feeds smoother, but I think that the SWC style is a better design, as it transfers more energy to the target. The same would go with 9mm and 45 acp. If your gun will handle SWC style bullets without Failures To Feed, I would much rather use them than a Round Nose.

[fredj338]

Well round nose feeds in anything, regardless of caliber or platform. Next up would be a RN with small flat point.

[phil3333]

Just got back from visiting the NOE store I have settled on his 135gr smooth boolit style mold for 9mm now just have to wait until they are in stock,by the way he is a very nice guy

[Burnt Fingers]

Well round nose feeds in anything, regardless of caliber or platform. Next up would be a RN with small flat point.

Umm....not in a S&W 52.

[thorswhisper]

Why did you decide on the 135gr smooth boolit style NOE ?

[Landshark9025]

I have the Lee truncated nose molds for the 9mm, 40 S&W and 45 ACP. I prefer the conventional lube groove bullets since I size and lube. The Lee 356-120-TC drops large enough I can also size and lube for 38/357 mag. It is a little heavy for me to recommend it for the 380 ACP.

Like Dusty, I have had great luck with the Lee and other maker TC designs with one exception. That would be the Lee 452-230 TC in a Para Ordnance double stack 1911. That particular gun does not have a feed ramp integrated into the barrel and they get hung up on the transition into the throat. If your gun has a feed ramp as part of the barrel, I would imagine you'd be just fine.

Also, for 9mm the Lee 356-120 TC is a classic...HOWEVER the TL (tumble lube) has had a lot of complaints. If you are going with NOE, you won't have the issues from that particular mold.

I liken the TC design to be very similar to the shape of my defense ammo which is Hornady Critical Duty/Defense.

[phil3333]

Why did you decide on the 135gr smooth boolit style NOE ?

I liked how it looks

[Kraschenbirn]

For .45 ACP, my two choices would be either the Lee 45-230TC or the good ol' H&G 68 SWC. Currently, I've got five 1911s...ranging from an as-issued Remington-Rand to a full-house IPSC 'race gun'...and all feed both boolits reliably. Haven't really needed to do much developement for the 9mms. My old Hi-Power feeds anything with a profile similar to NATO ball and I haven't tried anything in my SIG 365XL other than Speer 124 gr. Gold Dots (my 'carry' load) and Lee 358-125RFs (a very similar profile to the Speers) I use for practice...both feed without a hiccup and are very accurate.

Bill

[charlie b]

Just starting out? I'd recommend RN at first. Once you get the hang of it then try experimenting with different bullet types.

These days it is more of take what you can get. I know Accurate molds has a 2 month wait list. I just got a new mold from him last week. NOE is whatever is in stock. If you want one that is not then call and ask for it. If he gets enough requests he may move it up in the production schedule. I like Lee's 6 cavity molds but they are really hard to find right now.

[onelight]

If you have certain guns you will use these in that might get you better suggestions if you name them , some pistols have no throat so some RN bullets have to be seated deep to chamber. Some molds have a small shoulder where the ogive starts that will let them chamber in barrels that the rifling starts right at the chamber.

[GARD72977]

What guns are you shooting?

[GARD72977]

I have the NOE 359-129g no lube grove mold. It does not like to be sized base down in a Lyman sizer. They come out with the nose not centered. It does not seem to have an effect on accurracy at 20yds.

Some of these style are much easier to size nose first. Just my experience

[phil3333]

Springfield xdm 4.5 10mm
Springfield hellcat 9mm
Soon a walther PDP 9mm
Springfield xdm 45 tactical

[onelight]

Nice selection !
I won't be much help
In 9mm this is a .356 or .357 RN that has a small shoulder where the ogive starts this has worked well in at least 10 different 9mms including a 9mm SA XDS
The 40 S&W is a .401 180 TC it works in my 2 SA XDMs a 3.8 & 5.25
The 45 is a .452 200 RNFP it has worked in at least 10 different 45s , a SA XDE and a XDS
I wish I had some of the same Pistols you have but these 3 styles work in all the springfields I have tried them in.
Hopefully some guys will be along that load for your exact pistols with bullet weights and styles that will work for you.
278116

[tazman]

Springfield xdm 4.5 10mm
Springfield hellcat 9mm
Soon a walther PDP 9mm
Springfield xdm 45 tactical

I have a Springfield XDm target version. The only differences are the length of the barrel and the sights. Mine feeds any cast boolit nose shape as long as it is sized .452 or under. Tight chamber.

[mvozz]

I bought the same mould from NOE and I love it!! A friend of mine has a Hellcat and I have to say it is a hand full with heavy loads. I have an XD9 Sub Compact that loves those boolits as well as my Beretta FS 92. They are accurate and shoot great from the six 9mm that I have tried them in. I decided to try that mould because Ken Hackathorn recommended a 135 gr round for 9 mm. I have learned that anytime Ken Hackathorn or Bill Wilson give their advice I should listen. I am very pleased so far.

[AviatorTroy]

Round nose for universally best feeding, even a finicky Eastern European surplus type pistol should swallow them.

Although I myself have never had a pistol that had a problem taking the Truncated Cone shape nose. The Lee 452-230-TC is my favorite in a .45acp

[FLINTNFIRE]

40 S&W M&P of mine does not like round nose at all , wfn it feeds fine , tried different seating depths and it has a range it likes but not the round nose , My XDM 45 acp both feed my cast and coated no sizing needed , same with my mod2 Springfields , loading round nose 200grain hollow points and lee 230 grain , same with wadcutter molds , I like to experiment and have a assortment of different shapes and hollow point and solids .

MP 357-125 hollow point shoots the best for me across all the different 9mm platforms , have a NOE that is almost identical and it shoots great also .