Round Nose Bullets - Who uses them?

[firstshot]

With all the high tech, bonded, plastic tiped, high BC, good at any range / velocity, new fangled bullets on the market today, you wouldn't think that there was a place for the old fashoned, low tech, Round Nose bullets.
However, somebody's using them! Cause they are definitely availabe and in a multitude of calibers. I didn't check the other manufacturers, but Hornady offers one or more Round Nose bullets in all of the major calibers. (See list below)

.243 6MM, .257 25 CAL, .264 6.5MM, .227 270 CAL, .284 7MM-08, .308 30 CAL,
.312 303 CAL, .323 8MM, .338 338 CAL, .358 35 CAL, .375 375 CAL, .416 416 CAL
.458 45 CAL

Who out there is still using Round Nose bullets? Other than in lever guns......Why? In what caliber(s)? How do they perform on game?

firstshot

[skb2706]

I have a 6mm wildcat that requires a radical fire forming so I use 100 gr. RN bullets. I use them because they are cheap, I can buy them in bulk for >$5 / 100 and quite honestly they are every bit as accurate as any SP bullet I have tried out to 100yds.

[MickinColo]

I haven’t used a round nose bullet in 25 years. I just don’t need their punch at close range in my rifles anymore. I don’t own any rifles bigger than 7mm anymore except the 45/70 and I use flat nose bullets in them.

17 Rem, 204 Ruger (new), 22 Hornet, 22-250 Rem, 220 Swift, 243 Win, 25-06 Rem, 270 Win, 270 Wby, 7mm Mauser. 7mm Rem Mag, 45/70 Gov, 357, and the 44 Mag, is all I reload for anymore. Other than the handguns and my 45/70s, I reload for speed and distance and round nose bullets don’t cut the mustard for me.  
 :-)

I can reload 308 Win, 300 Win Mag, 300 WBY, and 338 Win, been there and done that.

[jerkface11]

Most of those hi-tech plastic wonder bullets pretty much explode if used at close range. A round nose will get the job done from 10 yards out to whatever you can hit the target at.

[MickinColo]

“Those hi-tech plastic wonder bullets” work pretty well if used as proscribed.

Round tipped bullets well never die out. They’re needed. Hunters need their options for their hunting needs.

Round tipped bullets have a little more trouble out at 200 yards and beyond compared to Boat-tail Spitzer point (or hollow-point) of the same bullet weight in my experience.
 :-)

[jh45gun]

TRound tip bullets may work fine in Jacketed but they are not worth a darn in Cast or lead bullets. there a flat tip is the way to go. Jim

[leverfan]

TRound tip bullets may work fine in Jacketed but they are not worth a darn in Cast or lead bullets. there a flat tip is the way to go. Jim

I'd add, "Unless you get a two part mould that allows you to pour a pure lead round point that's later fused to a hard cast shank."  That's how I plan to make hunting bullets for my 40-65 WCF, although I'd be pretty well content with a wide flat point bullet, too.  

You could also say, "Another excellent choice is a paper patched bullet of pure lead or nearly pure lead."  That lets you drive the bullet at some pretty high velocities, and you'll get all the expansion you want out of a round nose.  As a bonus, pure lead slugs tend to hold together pretty well on impact.  

If you want to stick with non-expanding, hard cast slugs, then flat point is pretty much your best bet for large game.  If you're only talking handguns, then it's hard to beat a WFN cast bullet.

[warf73]

My 7.62X54R likes .311 dai. 180gr. bullets.

It's way cheaper to shoot a RN than a SP not only that but Sierra is the only one who makes a SP for my application.

RN box 100 $12.00
SP box 100 $16.00

I'll stick with the RN.
Not only that my hunting needs with this rifle are going to be 100 yards or less in the thick brush.

Warf

[SLAVAGE]

skb if you dont mind me asking what bullet are you shooting thats round an is it over 100 grain?
im looking for an in expensive one for my 243 just to go out an shoot all day

thanks
dave

[jerkface11]

Slavage you can't beat the bulk remington bullets if you just want cheap plinkers.

[skb2706]

slav - To tell you the truth they are bullets I bought at the gun show. I am quite sure they are Remington .243" 100 gr. RN in bulk. $4.95/100 (no way to tell and I didn't ask) Next time I am there I will ask tho. Like I said I use them for fire forming loads but I was also quite surprised at how accurate they were. I would have no hesitation hunting deer size game with them out to 200 yds.

[jcunclejoe]

Round nose bullets are the unsung hero's. They are most often more accurate than a spitzer bullet. The most accurate Nosler partition bullet in 30 caliber (long run average) is the 30-170 RN.

There is very little difference in drop out to 300 yards. Check the numbers and you will find out that there is only a couple of inches difference in drop at 300 yards. Since most game is shot at less than 200 yards does it really matter? At 300 yards or farther under field conditions who can really hold accurately enough to make a difference? And if you know the distance and have target tested the drop, not just run the numbers, then you know how much to hold high anyway.

They perform well on game at low velocity, either close up and slow or long range and slow, they will expand reliably.

As mentioned earlier they are cheaper and in my opinion there should be a greater selection of round nose bullets.

The only drawback I can see to round nose bullets is that they are generally of light construction and should not be pushed too fast.

Long live the round nose.

Joe

[Slamfire]

I find them ideal in rifles other than bolt actions. Those generally can't be loaded to maximum performance due to their lack of extraction power. I don't mean just those with tubular magazines either.  :wink:

[leverfan]

I find them ideal in rifles other than bolt actions. Those generally can't be loaded to maximum performance due to their lack of extraction power. I don't mean just those with tubular magazines either.  :wink:

Which type of action do you mean here?  It's pretty hard to find bolt actions with poor extraction and tube magazines (except for rimfires).  Swelling the case to the point that you need maximum extractor power may be a bad idea, regardless of action type.

[Slamfire]

Lever fan, are you reading something I didn't write? I'm talkin' about levers, pumps, autos, etc.. I don't recall complain' about the extraction power of any bolt actions, although there are some better'n others.
Shootin' 58 grains of H4831 with 130 grain Corelokts in a Remington 760 convinced me you have to tread lightly or it gets difficult to work the action. The most extraction power in levers comes with the rack and pinon arrangement in the Browning or Sako Finnwolf, the others are easier to stick. I don't recall advocatin' loads too stout for any rifle.  :wink:

[leverfan]

Nope, I read your post, Slamfire.  The way you wrote it, it sounds exactly like you're talking only about bolt actions, because that's the only type of action you mention.  I'm looking at the post, and that's the only way to read it, hence the confusion.  Never meant to rip on you, just looking for clarification.  Not having the ability to read minds, or sort out details over a beer, we're stuck with plenty of loose ends when posting on the net.  You've pretty much tied them up with that last post, so thanks for telling me what I wanted to know.

[firstshot]

Wow, a lot more round nose shooters than I expected!

I'm shooting a REM 700 Mtn LSS in 7MM-08. Thinking about trying the Hornady 154 Grn round nose.

Do you think a round nose would perform well on a shoulder shot, or should they be reserved for a behind the shoulder? What about angling shots?

firstshot
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Make your first shot count!

[leverfan]

Firstshot-

Hornady rates that bullet's velocity range as being good up to 3200 fps, and they say it's suitable for medium and large game.  What animal's shoulder were you thinking of putting that bullet through?  Deer should pose no problem, but on larger game, you might want to angle through the lungs and try for the offside shoulder, if you want to shorten the tracking job.  That gives your bullet a soft initial impact behind the near shoulder, lots of lung damage, and, if the bullet is up to the task, you still take out the far shoulder.

[GregP42]

TRound tip bullets may work fine in Jacketed but they are not worth a darn in Cast or lead bullets. there a flat tip is the way to go. Jim

JH45,

I don't know about that, I shoot a 520 gr. round nose cast bullet in my .45-70 that does wonders as long as I do my part.

Greg

[firstshot]

Firstshot-

What animal's shoulder were you thinking of putting that bullet through?  Deer should pose no problem, but on larger game, you might want to angle through the lungs and try for the offside shoulder, if you want to shorten the tracking job.

leverfan

I'm primarily referring to shoulder shots on whitetails even though where I hunt there is a chance of coming across a black bear or big hog.

firstshot
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Make your first shot count!

[EVOC ONE]

I still use round nose bullets in the .30-06 and .303.  My father used them when he introduced me to reloading and I still use them today.  Not exclusively, because I like to experiment and have found some really good combinations with SP's.  But they do tend to be less expensive and I occasionally find them discounted at gun shop's and show's.  I don't hesitate using them at all.  Forgot to mention that in the '06 and .303 I use 180's.

Thanks,
EVOC ONE

[Duffy]

They also provide good accuracy and will expand easily in bottleneck handgun loads where the vel isn't up there with the rifles.

[while99]

I recently bought some Remington .30 caliber 180 grain round-nosed Core-Lokts and plan to try them in my 760 pump chambered for the .300 Savage.  I've previously loaded the 165 grain 7mm version of that same bullet for my .280 Remington pump and it seems to work just fine.  I've shot that rifle/bullet combination with peep sites at 100 yards, I don't feel handicapped at all.

[remington660]

I recently bought some Remington .30 caliber 180 grain round-nosed Core-Lokts and plan to try them in my 760 pump chambered for the .300 Savage.  I've previously loaded the 165 grain 7mm version of that same bullet for my .280 Remington pump and it seems to work just fine.  I've shot that rifle/bullet combination with peep sites at 100 yards, I don't feel handicapped at all.

While99,

Where did you find the 180 round nose core-lokts? I haven't been able to locate any to use as components for years. Seems even the loaded ammo with round nose core-lokts is getting scarce.

I would say they should work fine in your 300.

[Slamfire]

Here a chart of various .30 caliber 180 grain bullets. It is about 9 or 10 years old now, but check out the roundnose corelokt performace.

http://www.seahook.com/bestbullet.jpg

[while99]

Remington660,

I got the Remington .30 caliber 180 grain round-nosed Core-Lokts from Blue-Star, Inc. in Searcy, Arkansas.

Here's the URL.   http://www.blue-star-inc.com/rbullet.htm

[old06]

Not to steal this post but I checked out the blue star link while99 posted above and it seems a little dated is this company still doing business.

[glock29]

I use round-nose bullets in my 45/70, 458 Lott, and 45ACP.
Spitzers are MUCH harder to find for the 45/70 and 458 Lott than RN bullets (although Barnes does make 'em)
In my "longer" range calibers, I use spitzers exclusively.

[huntswithdogs]

I've used Hornady's RN bullets in my 243 for nearly 20 years and haven't ever lost a deer with it. These bullets in front of a liberal dose of H4831 stay around 1 inch. Shoulder shots,neck shots, head shots or body shots ,all complete pass thrus. I've loaded 308 with the 170 gr Flatnose designed for 30-30's and got great accuacy with these. 220gr RN Sierra 30 caliber bullets out of the 300 win mag that I sold would make clover leafs at 100 yds with 3 shots.

Just because they don't have the fancy tips or cute little tapered butts most folks pass em by.  FINE WITH ME!! Leaves more for me!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

HWD

[remington660]

Remington660,

I got the Remington .30 caliber 180 grain round-nosed Core-Lokts from Blue-Star, Inc. in Searcy, Arkansas.

Here's the URL.   http://www.blue-star-inc.com/rbullet.htm

Seems Blue-Star is out of the remington RN core-lokts, and the fellow there said he called remington about ordering more, and he was told that the round nose has been discontiued :cry: .

Guess I'll keep on buying hornadys. In fact, maybe I should stock up. Seems all of the bullet makers are discontinuing round nose slugs.