Originally Posted by
SuperKirby
I don't know if it's because I grew up shooting longer range hunting rifles or why, but to me a bullet coming out of a rifle should have a point.
I think, like you, I had pretty much the same concept of bullets... Pointy bullets meant better BC so they will fly better over the longer ranges. Those were my exact thoughts. The some where along the line I figured out that round or flat nose bullets seemed to have beter terminal performance for at the ranges I was shooting and they seemed to be less effected by small branches or twigs... So even though I was shooting a 300 win mag I made the switch. Then I discoverd Noslers, becuse a .308/220 grain Hornady round nose came apart on two different elk shots... Noslers proved to be the best bullet I have ever shot + I could get it in Spire point and Semi-Round nose form. Noslers were the favorites of hunters in the US and Africa and they found that Noslers will completly expand over a greater range of velocities (high to low) than any other bullet. Eventually I gave up on the Spire point and went to the semi-round nose completly. They shot just fine to 300 yards. So that is the beginning of my mind accepting that I do not need pointy bullets for most of my hunting.
I know that's not necessarily the case, but every time I think about trying a new bullet, I look at shape first and for a point. Next I look at reviews.
Now, what I don't get is when looking at reviews it seems like pointed bullets seem to have problems holding together. (SST's, FTX's, and PT Golds come to mind.)
Anybody know why that is?
Like Muley said it is not really the shape of the bullet it is the construction + the velocity we shoot them at + the size of the caliber.... Because we are shooting 44,45, and 50 cal bullets at a really decent velocity the large surface area of that bullet especially after expanding creates a huge stress on the construction. They copper being so much lighter than the lead can not retain the energy that the lead does and can and often is stripped from the lead and left behind.
It is really not the pointy part of the bullet that cause this to happen... it is the velocity at the closer ranges that creates the problem... when you extend the range and the bullet slows down considerably the pointy bullet seems to work just fine.
My problem... my
personal set max range is in the 200 yard mark with a muzzleloder. I have found in my case that non-pointy bullets work best from me through that entire yardage. I really do not need the pointy bullet to get the job done.
And the argument continues... because the lead conical guys will tell you they can shoot their big slow 400-500 grain freight trains with blunt noses over that same distance and see no ill effects but a harvested animal...
My problem... I am an old football/baseball coach "speed is always the best atribute"
my 2 bits...