Hi all, I got to the range yesterday and shot a bunch of different style bullets in my Taurus 454.
I was talking with Dan at www.mountainmolds.com and he mentioned the idea of doing a test on different nose and base styles to see which ones would work the best. He made a pile of molds.
the results are posted here:
http://www.geocities.com/idahobronco/mm454.html
One target put 3 into .120" at 50yds, the other 2 opened the group up to 2".

I guess the pic didn't work.

I changed the font color, if the text still gets lost, I'll remove the background or change it.

LAR45-any chance you've figured out what profile works best? Dan said my .480 mold is on its way, and I couldn't decide on whether to go LFN or WFN, so went with a 75% nose. Its only a 400 grain GC bullet, but has the square crimp grooves that I prefer on my custom molds. Reason it took Dan so long, was that the square crimp groove wasn't an option or in his program, so I had to send him a sample and he said he had to manually do my crimp groove. I have a long .510" nose to crimp, to utilize the long SRHK .480 cylinder. Was hoping you had more results showing what bullet profiles worked best. Been shooting the Lee 400 grainer and a LFN 310 Ballisticast molds that I sold to a buddy, and most of my 50 yard groups will generally go in the 2"-3". Had a few 4 shots go close to the 1" mark, but keep blowing the groups with a flyer. Keep me posted if you have a design that excels over the others? Thanks, Dennis

The ogival flatpoints seem to work about the best overall. I've had good luck with the 70%, 80%, and 90% gaschecked designs, weights from 330-340. The best accuracy seems to come inbetween 1300 to 1400fps. Some of my best groups have been with a 70% plainbase. I put 3shots into .120". I also had a similar group with a solid shank SWC with just a little lube smeared on the base. It put 3 into the same hole, with two more opening up close to 2". All at 50yds. I've been rather busy with school, but I want to shoot them all at extended ranges to see if they remain stable. I also want to do a wet newsprint penetration test on them. The only bullet that didn't shoot well was a bore rideing design. It was all over the place. Maybe it needs different nose dimensions??? I have two other 80% molds that are heavier around 360gns and they shoot just as well, under 2". If my gun is any indicator, I'd say that the LFN/WFN 70-90% nose should do well. I've heard from different sources that the extra wide nose, 90% won't shoot well, but it did good in my gun. I have a couple of 45colts, I'll have to try the bullets in them also and see if the trend stays the same.