Why the button nose?

I use 185 gr button nose bullets from Dardas for the short line because I read somewhere that they work well for that. They do. I'm actually using them for everything indoor..... But I'm curious as to WHY they work well. What difference does the different bullet design make? Or does it?

I don't know how much difference it makes, but the button nose has a longer bearing surface compared to a 185 long nose. I shoot a lot of Zero 185 swc hollow points.  They have a profile almost identical to a 200 H&G 68.

I don't know, but I can say that MY 1911s do not like the button nose (AKA H&G 130) and I am lucky to even get 2.5" groups at 25 yards.
The Zero 185gn L-SWCHPs are great with 3.8gn N310 and 4.1gn Red Dot (<1.5" at 25 yds), and pretty good with 4.3gn WST.

I had great luck with Magnus button nose.

I believe the button nose had two advantages.  It was the smallest nose that would feed reasonably and it also could be seated with the same seating plug as the round nose ball.   I base this on the seating plug number for the Lyman cast bullet and the round nose ball cast bullets.   In the 1950s there were usually only two loads for the 45 from the factories the 185 JSWC button nose and the 230 ball. So the factories didn't have to do more than adjust the machine.

JayhawkNavy02 wrote:I had great luck with Magnus button nose.

Ditto

the magnus 801 button nose also is a flat base, some say this is a advantage over bevel base which almost all other cast 45s are.

Are the magnus cast or swaged? I have been contemplating trying them. Anyone now of a coupon code or anything of the like?

Jwhelan939 wrote:Are the magnus cast or swaged? I have been contemplating trying them. Anyone now of a coupon code or anything of the like?

The #801 button nose is cast but Magnus also offers swaged bullets in 185 and 200 grain SWC

Very good results here with the Magnus 801 button nose.  Very accurate and feeds well in my guns.

I too have had no luck getting the button nose to feed in my Rock River wad gun. I know they test RR's with the Federal factory 185 button nose and I replicated it in every dimension., except in cast lead. No dice. What OAL do you use for a lead BN?

I seat all my SWC to the shoulder of the bullet, they are all the same length to the shoulder .940 whether button nose or not. OAL with the button nose seated the way I do is 1.144 and I have never had a problem with any 1911 I have shot these through at that length.

OAL 1.144

Length to shoulder .940


Virgil

Does anyone that has had bad luck with the magnus button nose, and can therefore not use them, have any interest in selling a small quantity for me to try? Maybe 100? I hate buying 500 or 1000 round boxes blindly. Pm me if interested. Thanks!

He doesn't list them that way but Terry at Magnus will sell you 100 for testing if you email or call him.

I have a friend that has a RRA and showed me some rounds last winter that were button nose.  I was just learning about bullseye but it appeared he had no problems with button nose rounds.  Call and ask for Mark Z and ask him.  He builds the RRA pistols.  He should be able to give some insight.

I've Ransom Rested the cast and the swaged 185 gr button nose.  The swaged shot better than the cast, the 185 SWCHP outshot them both.  But, it was minuscule difference between each.  Really good bullets.  You can't go wrong with any of them.