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Posted: 6/10/2008 1:02:42 PM EDT
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I bought a lot of reloading supplies from a member here. Included in the lot were about 150 Nosler Custom Competition 168 308 HPBT bullets. I have several questions for those that have used these. First, while the bullets look to be in perfect, new condition, it also appears that they have been tumbled. Many of the bullets appear to have a piece of cleaning media embedded in the hollow point   . I am unable to remove this and want to know if this negatively affects bullet performance.Second. Upon weighing these bullets, I have found that they are extremely consistent. Apx 94% of them (so far) weigh exactly 167.9 grains. I dont have a ton of reloading experience, but this seems excellent to me. Is weighing and culling bullets that are, say, more than .1 grain off "spec" a worthwhile use of ones time, assuming they are loading for maximum accuracy out to 500 yards? Lastly, for now, does anyone know a way to remove the embedded media from the hollow point? Also, please offer general opinions about these Nosler bullets. |
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Sierra uses +/- 0.3 grains for their match bullets. That works fine for shooting out to 600 yards. I might consider weighing for shooting a benchrest match at that distance, but I would also uniform the meplates, too. Mostly you'll never know unless you're shooting a precision rifle that can discriminate the accuracy of the bullets. I'll be interested to hear methods for removing the media. I'm not going to say what I would try first. 
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My experience was similar. It probably doesnt make any difference, but I used the wire inside a bread tie to at least break the particle loose. There is still some in there, but it is not clogging up the end. I havent fired any of the Nosler Custom Comp's yet, but I am pretty impressed with the consistency in weight. Hopefully they will shoot well. |
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I fear that the media stuck in the HP does hurt accuracy........even IF only in my mind.......so, they are regulated for 100 yd practice. It's not like everyday you get to practice at 600 yd. YMWV. You want to find out, true or not, during a Match at 600 yds.......so be it. Aloha, Mark |
In this particular case, the hollow point is simply an artifact of the manufacturing process, nothing more. As the bullet jacket is closed, there has to be a space for a tiny punch to push the bullet out of the forming die... or something like that ;) Once the bullet is made, a match 'hollow point' has no functional purpose. In short, it doesn't really matter. Unless you are really on top of your game that day, you'll probably flub a shot worse than what the occasional bit o' tumbling media will cause. |
LOL.....Yes.....I've FLUBBED IT on more than one occasion.........and, I can't/won't blame the ammo. Aloha, Mark |
I believe the hollow point design in match bullets is to move the balance point of the bullet back. Think this has an effect on how much the bullet wobbles as it flies through the air. Less wobble=more accuracy. Someone correct me if I got that wrong. I have noticed the corn cob stuck in the hollow point, sometimes I pick it out, depends on the moon phase. 
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Precision match bullets are simpler to manufacture by squirting the lead core into a jacket preformed with extremely uniform wall thickness, getting the base shape, the diameter, and concentricity right. The point doesn't do much except serve as an aerodynamic fairing, which I suppose isn't trivial. |
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