# Why do .40 caliber bullets have flat noses? **URL:** \ **Category:** Factual Questions\ **Created:** [October 5, 2009, 1:17pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-do-40-caliber-bullets-have-flat-noses/512660 "2009-10-05T13:17:56Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 13\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Don\_t\_Call\_Me\_Shirley](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/f4b2a3/32.png) [@Don\_t\_Call\_Me\_Shirley](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Don_t_Call_Me_Shirley)\ **Post date:** [October 5, 2009, 1:17pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-do-40-caliber-bullets-have-flat-noses/512660/1 "2009-10-05T13:17:56Z")
Seems like it would be aerodynamically inferior, and not feed as well as a rounded nose. ---
**Author:** ![lieu](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/c2a13f/32.png) [@lieu](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/lieu)\ **Post date:** [October 5, 2009, 1:24pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-do-40-caliber-bullets-have-flat-noses/512660/2 "2009-10-05T13:24:28Z")
.40 caliber bullets can come in a variety of shapes, depending on their intended purpose. A variety of calibers can be found with a flat nose, not just .40. For what you’re seeing, the flat nose is probably intended to be used at relatively short range and meant to produce quite a bit of shock force on impact. ---
**Author:** ![lieu](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/c2a13f/32.png) [@lieu](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/lieu)\ **Post date:** [October 5, 2009, 1:41pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-do-40-caliber-bullets-have-flat-noses/512660/3 "2009-10-05T13:41:02Z")
Here’s a reasonable [guide](http://images.google.com/imgres?imgurl=http://www.firearmsid.com/Bullets/images/bullets%2520010.jpg&imgrefurl=http://www.firearmsid.com/Bullets/bullet2.htm&usg=__BVaARW7T9qMRL1eViiInBYTSxAA=&h=228&w=334&sz=16&hl=en&start=17&um=1&tbnid=xgn8j_Px6oci8M:&tbnh=81&tbnw=119&prev=/images%3Fq%3Dbullet%2Bvariety%2Bshape%26hl%3Den%26sa%3DG%26um%3D1) on the relation between shape and purpose. ---
**Author:** ![kayaker](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kayaker/32/441_2.png) [@kayaker](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kayaker)\ **Post date:** [October 5, 2009, 1:52pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-do-40-caliber-bullets-have-flat-noses/512660/4 "2009-10-05T13:52:17Z")
I fired a friends .45 SA over the weekend. He was using personal protection loads that had a flat/hollowed point. He explained that after initial penetration, they are designed to do more tissue damage than a rounded bullet would cause. They certainly destroyed the plywood we had the targets attached to. ---
**Author:** ![Don\_t\_Call\_Me\_Shirley](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/f4b2a3/32.png) [@Don\_t\_Call\_Me\_Shirley](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Don_t_Call_Me_Shirley)\ **Post date:** [October 5, 2009, 2:31pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-do-40-caliber-bullets-have-flat-noses/512660/5 "2009-10-05T14:31:12Z")
> [@lieu](#): > > .40 caliber bullets can come in a variety of shapes, depending on their intended purpose. > > A variety of calibers can be found with a flat nose, not just .40. > > For what you’re seeing, the flat nose is probably intended to be used at relatively short range and meant to produce quite a bit of shock force on impact. Can you link to a .40 FMJ round that is not flat nosed? I’ve been shooting a 40 for ten years and I’ve never come across one. And I just thought of another question. Why are .40 rounds always fully jacketed? ---
**Author:** ![Kevbo](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/e47774/32.png) [@Kevbo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Kevbo)\ **Post date:** [October 5, 2009, 2:47pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-do-40-caliber-bullets-have-flat-noses/512660/6 "2009-10-05T14:47:12Z")
Word of the day: [“Meplat”](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Meplat) ---
**Author:** ![lieu](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/c2a13f/32.png) [@lieu](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/lieu)\ **Post date:** [October 5, 2009, 3:10pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-do-40-caliber-bullets-have-flat-noses/512660/7 "2009-10-05T15:10:22Z")
I believe [www.grafs.com](http://www.grafs.com) has them. I see them listed but it’s not worksafe for me, I get blocked. Midway USA lists some; [www.midwayusa.com/viewproduct/?productnumber=583506](http://www.midwayusa.com/viewproduct/?productnumber=583506). Plenty of hollow points out there… [http://ammosphere.com/winchester-ranger-ra40t-40-caliber-ammunition-p-180.html?zenid=gp8pjqamud0a3g07ts0b02med0#](http://ammosphere.com/winchester-ranger-ra40t-40-caliber-ammunition-p-180.html?zenid=gp8pjqamud0a3g07ts0b02med0#) ---
**Author:** ![lieu](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/c2a13f/32.png) [@lieu](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/lieu)\ **Post date:** [October 5, 2009, 3:24pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-do-40-caliber-bullets-have-flat-noses/512660/8 "2009-10-05T15:24:54Z")
Shoot, I’m afraid the second link may be for .40 rifle. Worksafe is preventing me from being able to see any of their items. ---
**Author:** ![Tranquilis](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/tranquilis/32/3639_2.png) [@Tranquilis](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Tranquilis)\ **Post date:** [October 5, 2009, 3:29pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-do-40-caliber-bullets-have-flat-noses/512660/9 "2009-10-05T15:29:56Z")
Flat-nose==‘semi-wadcutter.’ Basically, designed to feed cleanly in a semi-auto pistol, and are a compromise between rapid energy transfer and penetration. They also make good target rounds, as they’re relatively inexpensive and make nice clean holes in the paper. Basically, it’s a utility bullet, acceptable for a variety of uses. ‘Full’ wadcutter bullets make cleaner holes, but generally don’t feed well in a semi-auto pistol. ---
**Author:** ![yoyodyne](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/y/a9a28c/32.png) [@yoyodyne](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/yoyodyne)\ **Post date:** [October 5, 2009, 5:50pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-do-40-caliber-bullets-have-flat-noses/512660/10 "2009-10-05T17:50:04Z")
The truncated bullet is shorter. They were designed to work in a 9mm sized frame and magazine and a round-nose is too long. A side benefit is that the bullet has the same shape with or without a hollow point, so there’s no difference in feeding characteristics. ---
**Author:** ![SanDiegoTim](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/85e7bf/32.png) [@SanDiegoTim](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/SanDiegoTim)\ **Post date:** [October 5, 2009, 9:20pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-do-40-caliber-bullets-have-flat-noses/512660/11 "2009-10-05T21:20:51Z")
“Can you link to a .40 FMJ round that is not flat nosed? I’ve been shooting a 40 for ten years and I’ve never come across one.” I can’t do exactly what you ask, But look here: [https://www.hornady.com/shop/08\_357-44\_mag.htm](https://www.hornady.com/shop/08_357-44_mag.htm) .44 Magnum ammunition is primarily associated with handguns (thank you, Dirty Harry). However, it’s also popular with lever action “cowboy” rifles. I just purchased one, a Marlin 1894 model. Anyway, a rifle chambered for the same caliber as a cowboy’s handgun means only one type of ammo needs to be carried. Have to assume cowboys would like that. You’ll note this traditional handgun round (as is a .40 Cal) has a tapered/pointed tip more often associated with rifle ammumition. This ammo is relatively new and has some ballistics-related advantages as detailed on the above-referenced site. Not mentioned, however, is an advantage associated pertaining to lever action rifles in which the magazine is a tube underneath the barrel. The rounds in the magazine are “asshole to bellybutton” and are under tension. While rare, a round in the magazine can ignite by the tip of one round hitting the primer of the round in front of it when the rifle recoils. Again, pretty rare, but it has occurred. The tip of this Hornady round is a soft/plastic material which acts as a cushion between the rounds in the magazine. Whether Hornady or anyone else will make a similar .40 Cal round, I do not know. Suspect not as I don’t think there are any rifles chambered for the .40. ---
**Author:** ![Crafter\_Man](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/crafter_man/32/458_2.png) [@Crafter\_Man](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Crafter_Man)\ **Post date:** [October 5, 2009, 11:23pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-do-40-caliber-bullets-have-flat-noses/512660/12 "2009-10-05T23:23:08Z")
The 5.7 handgun is an odd one… the bullets look like mini rifle bullets: > **[FN Five-seven](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Five-seven)** > > The FN Five-seven (stylized as Five-seveN) is a semi-automatic pistol designed and manufactured by FN Herstal in Belgium. The pistol is named for the 5.7×28mm cartridge's bullet diameter, and the trademark's capitalization style is intended to emphasize the manufacturer's initials—FN. > The Five-seven pistol was developed in conjunction with the FN P90 personal defense weapon and the FN 5.7×28mm cartridge. The P90 was introduced in 1990, and the Five-seven was introduced in 1998 as a pistol using ... > **[FN 5.7×28mm](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/5.7x28mm)** > > The FN 5.7×28mm (designated as the 5.7×28 by the C.I.P. and FN 5.7x28mm NATO) is a small-caliber, high-velocity, smokeless-powder, rebated, bottleneck, centerfire cartridge designed for pistols and personal defense weapons (PDW) uses, manufactured by FN Herstal. It is similar in length to the .22 WMR and .22 Hornet. Unlike many new cartridges, it has no parent case; the complete package was developed from scratch by FN. > The 5.7×28mm was developed in conjunction with the FN P90 PDW and FN Five-... ---
**Author:** ![Dallas\_Jones](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/dallas_jones/32/3277_2.png) [@Dallas\_Jones](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dallas_Jones)\ **Post date:** [October 6, 2009, 1:03am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-do-40-caliber-bullets-have-flat-noses/512660/13 "2009-10-06T01:03:44Z")
> [@lieu](#): > > Here’s a reasonable [guide](http://images.google.com/imgres?imgurl=http://www.firearmsid.com/Bullets/images/bullets%2520010.jpg&imgrefurl=http://www.firearmsid.com/Bullets/bullet2.htm&usg=__BVaARW7T9qMRL1eViiInBYTSxAA=&h=228&w=334&sz=16&hl=en&start=17&um=1&tbnid=xgn8j_Px6oci8M:&tbnh=81&tbnw=119&prev=/images%3Fq%3Dbullet%2Bvariety%2Bshape%26hl%3Den%26sa%3DG%26um%3D1) on the relation between shape and purpose. Here’s another that just about covers all types. > **[arizonagunlist.com - arizonagunlist Resources and Information.](http://www.arizonagunlist.com/ammunition_types.html)** > > arizonagunlist.com is your first and best source for information about arizonagunlist. Here you will also find topics relating to issues of general interest. We hope you find what you are looking for!