[bernie]

I have long wondered why no bullet company made spitzer bullets, something similar to the Hornady SST-Muzzle Loader.

I think that it could improve longer range ballistics and our of a .44 magnum or .45 Colt they could really be something.

Also, if they were just bullets and not loaded ammunition, I would think that the liability of them being used in a tube magazine rifle would be offset. Even though the chance of a primer detonation is small, some fool would do it and sue the company. Handloaded ammunition really makes it difficult to sue a bullet manufacturer.

I also know that the .460 S&W uses them, but gain twist rifling would not be necessary on a spitzer bullet out of a pistol would it?

[JohnKSa]

The limiting factor in the effective range of a revolver is not the aerodynamics of the bullet. The 460 may be an exception, but if so, it stands alone.

[LHB1]

Bernie,
Spitzer pointed bullets of a given weight are longer than flat/round nosed bullets. Such longer bullets may protrude beyond front of cylinder and hang up on the barrel throat extension unless the bullets are seated VERY deep in the case. And if the bullets are seated this deep the ogive of bullet would probably be at mouth of case and thus cause bullet grip/crimping problems. I don't think spitzers are practical in revolvers unless they are a VERY abrupt taper. Just my .02

Good shooting and be safe.
LB

[Sharps Shooter]

Back in the 80's when I was heavily into metallic sillouette competition, I knew a few shooters who using 180 grain SPs designed for the .35 Remington in their .357s for the 200 meter ram targets. The way they got away from the bullets sticking out of the end of their cylinder was to use .38 Special cases. I have no idea what kind of pressures they were running, but I was always too cautious to try it. Besides, I don't remember them tipping over any more 200 meter rams with those loads than anyone else shooting .357s with 158 grain TMJs did.

[MachIVshooter]

a few shooters who using 180 grain SPs designed for the .35 Remington in their .357s for the 200 meter ram targets

As I understand, that was a very popular load for those using the .357 Maximum.

[rockstar.esq]

Bernie, I too wondered the exact same thing. As a little aside have you ever looked carefully at the Sierra bullet ads? If you look at the tip of their majestic match rifle bullet you'll see that the tip is not perfectly formed. This is because the tip of the bullet makes less difference to accuracy that the base of the bullet does. This is the reason that accuracy crazed revolvermen who cast thier own bullets sometime shell out the bucks for nose pour bullet molds. The nose pour design sees to it that the base of the bullet is very consistent whereas the sprue cuts off the waste at the tip. As a side note, Lyman makes a bullet mold for a 200 grain bullet that has a spire point. If memory serves the reigning accuracy champs tend to remain wadcutters.

[Ky Larry]

This is just my $0.02 worth and may be entirely wrong, but here goes.
Hand gun velocities are not high enough to take advantage of the better aerodynamic shape of rifle bullets. Sort of like the differences in shape of an F-15 Eagle and an A-10 Warthog.
I'm sure someone will correct me if I'm full of beans.

[Grey54956]

It's not so much cylinder length or any of that; it really comes down to velocity, rifling , and spin. I just woke up so I can't really explain right now, but needless to say, long bullets don't typically work as well in a handgun because it can't spin them fast enough to stabilize them properly. Short bullets are more suitable for a handgun platform.

[Crosshair]

I want a spitzer bullet for the 45-70.

[jacobtowne]

"Back in the 80's when I was heavily into metallic sillouette competition, I knew a few shooters who using 180 grain SPs designed for the .35 Remington in their .357s for the 200 meter ram targets. The way they got away from the bullets sticking out of the end of their cylinder was to use .38 Special cases. I have no idea what kind of pressures they were running, but I was always too cautious to try it. Besides, I don't remember them tipping over any more 200 meter rams with those loads than anyone else shooting .357s with 158 grain TMJs did."

Yup. 13.5 grains WW296 with a .358 diameter 180-grain rifle bullet. Because of the long ogive, the bullet is seated on the powder and there is no crimp.
We went to this load because the 170-grain Sierra silhouette bullet failed to down the rams consistently.
JT

How do you work the reply with quote option?

[Fatelvis]

God, I love this site! I always wondered that! OK, can anyoneone suggest any loads with a spire pointed 357 bullet, in a 357 Supermag? And does it indeed flatten its trajectory? Thanks-