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Full Metal Jacket Flat Nose (FMJ-FN)

Full Metal Jacket Flat Nose (FMJ-FN)

Target

Full Metal Jacket Flat Nose (FMJ-FN) bullets combine the reduced-fouling benefits of a copper jacket with a flat nose profile safe for tubular magazines. Unlike pointed FMJ bullets, FMJ-FN can be safely loaded in lever-action rifles like the .30-30 Winchester without risk of primer detonation in the magazine tube. The flat nose also improves terminal performance over round nose designs by creating larger wound channels. FMJ-FN is common in pistol calibers as well, particularly .45 ACP, where the flat profile aids target shooting and feeds reliably in 1911 pistols.

Use Type

Range Training

Specifications

Core Material: Lead
Jacket Material: Copper
Nose Design: Flat (truncated)
Magazine Safety: Safe for tubular magazines
Expansion: None (non-expanding)
Penetration: High
Common Calibers: .30-30, .45 ACP, .38 Spl
Cost: Low to moderate

Comparison

Type	Nose	Tubular Safe	BC
FMJ-FN	Flat	Yes	Low
FMJ RN	Round	Yes	Low
FMJ-BT	Pointed + boat tail	NO	High

FAQ

Why use FMJ-FN over standard FMJ?

Two main reasons: tubular magazine safety in lever guns, and improved terminal effect from the larger meplat. For lever-action rifles, FMJ-FN is essentially required if you want jacketed bullets.

Is FMJ-FN good for target shooting?

Yes, particularly in pistol calibers. The flat nose cuts cleaner holes in paper for easier scoring. In .45 ACP, FMJ-FN (often called 'hardball') is a traditional target load that feeds well in 1911s.