6.5 Creedmoor Hornady 153 gr A-Tip

[ckhouser]

I have searched through here and have not seen much on the 153 grain A-Tip for 6.5 for Creedmoor.

I will say this... they are LONG.

I started working up loads Tuesday and running speeds on Wednesday. First of all, the bullet really drops at slower speeds... much more than the 140's or 147's. However, the wind has minimal effect on it. At a 500 yard distance, while my 140 ELD-M's were being pushed about 4" or more by the wind, the 153's were only being pushed an inch or so.

I did pick up some H4350 to try next trip.

Here is what I have from the Hornady load Data. Shooting from a Savage 10 Ashbury Ordinance with a 24" barrel.
I had the Superformance and RL17 on hand and saw they allowed the 2650 fps speeds, so I tried, what should have been the 2650 and 2600 loads. All seating was done to O.A.L 2.80.

All brass was shot once prior. Cleaned, sized, primer pocket cleaned, flash hole cleaned from inside. Primer was Federal Large Rifle Match 210M. No neck turning or concentricity yet... That's to come later.

This is all for the 153 A-Tip...

The RL17 at 42.9 produced the best. I'm curious to see how the H4350 does. Also, I want to boost the speed a little more. Clearly, Hornady had a different variable in their testing.

Powder	Grain Load	Shot 1	Shot 2	Shot 3	Shot 4	Shot 5	Avg	Spread	Std Dev
RL17	40.1	2637	2636	2628	2637	2623	2632.2	14	6.37966
RL17	39.2	2559	2575	2586	2560	2577	2571.4	27	11.6319
Superformance	42.9	2563	2586	2575	2594	2562	2576	32	14.0535
Superformance	41.8	2522	2517	2512	2472	2497	2504	50	20.1866

 

[clcustom1911]

H4350 is gonna produce a little slower velocity than R17, but is a bit more stable in temperatures. I've been doing the 147's with H4350 and R17 a wholeeeeeee bunch the last few months.

 

[Juggerxxx]

Try RL26 if you can find it. I was getting 2900fps with RL26 and 147eld from a 28” barrel. I even got as high as 3000fps but started seeing pressure signs.

 

[mattsdad64]

I have searched through here and have not seen much on the 153 grain A-Tip for 6.5 for Creedmoor.

I will say this... they are LONG.

I started working up loads Tuesday and running speeds on Wednesday. First of all, the bullet really drops at slower speeds... much more than the 140's or 147's. However, the wind has minimal effect on it. At a 500 yard distance, while my 140 ELD-M's were being pushed about 4" or more by the wind, the 153's were only being pushed an inch or so.

I did pick up some H4350 to try next trip.

Here is what I have from the Hornady load Data. Shooting from a Savage 10 Ashbury Ordinance with a 24" barrel.
I had the Superformance and RL17 on hand and saw they allowed the 2650 fps speeds, so I tried, what should have been the 2650 and 2600 loads. All seating was done to O.A.L 2.80.

All brass was shot once prior. Cleaned, sized, primer pocket cleaned, flash hole cleaned from inside. Primer was Federal Large Rifle Match 210M. No neck turning or concentricity yet... That's to come later.

This is all for the 153 A-Tip...

The RL17 at 42.9 produced the best. I'm curious to see how the H4350 does. Also, I want to boost the speed a little more. Clearly, Hornady had a different variable in their testing.

Powder	Grain Load	Shot 1	Shot 2	Shot 3	Shot 4	Shot 5	Avg	Spread	Std Dev
RL17	40.1	2637	2636	2628	2637	2623	2632.2	14	6.37966
RL17	39.2	2559	2575	2586	2560	2577	2571.4	27	11.6319
Superformance	42.9	2563	2586	2575	2594	2562	2576	32	14.0535
Superformance	41.8	2522	2517	2512	2472	2497	2504	50	20.1866

Just touching base to see if you have had an opportunity to try these with H4350.

 

[ckhouser]

Just touching base to see if you have had an opportunity to try these with H4350.

Thank you for asking. I'll post below

 

[ckhouser]

I loaded and hit the range in July. Temps were 90-95, so warm.

All loads were done with a digital scale that read to the tenths, so the value could have ranged from -.x5 to +.x49 where x is the tenths position. I really liked the H4350. The 42.1 load was fantastic, while the 41.2 load was not far behind in accuracy.

I've attached two images of 100 yard targets. 1" squares, gun zeroed at 500 yards, so holding for the group. I was looking for grouping, not hitting the bullseye.

Image 1114 is the RL17 with 41.0 load. Image 1115 is the H4350 load with 42.1. While there was one flyer, the remaining 4 were pretty tight. I've also included the image of the H4350 load at 41.2 as image 1116. Image 1116 group is the left most (the right is the image from 1114)

Powder	Load	Expected	1	2	3	4	5	Avg	Spread
RL17	41.8	2750	2757	2765	2751	2766	2743	2756.4	23
RL17	41	2700	2699	2697	2680	2678	2688	2688.4	22
H4350	42.1	2700	2694	2702	2702	2695	2696	2697.8	8
H4350	41.2	2650	2647	2628	2665	2637	2668	2649	40

 

[ckhouser]

I have been able to shoot these out to 500 and they are pretty consistent in placement. The last time out we had a variable wind from very slight to about 10-15 mph, right to left. I was able to send some 153, 147 and 140 down that 500 yards. The 153 were pushed some, but nothing like the 140, and the 147 was in between. so the wind had some effect, just not much. Maybe an inch for 153 vs 3-6" for 140's.

Has anybody else had an opportunity to send some of these?

I talked to a friend who said the price tag ran him off.

 

[DEWD_STUFF]

Following

 

[michiman]

Where were you able to get the 153’s

 

[ckhouser]

Where were you able to get the 153’s

I looked at Cabelas, Bass Pro, online at a lot of places. Found them at Scheels. You need a special setting piece with their long ogive.

 

[Mike Moorhead]

Very interesting. hat elevation are you shooting from/

Semper Fi! Mike

 

[ckhouser]

Shot 153’s at 500 yesterday and H4350 is my go to powder for these pushing about 2700 FPS. I have not had a chance to find the sweet spot between 2700 and 2750, but 2700 very sweet. Grouping was very tight and consistent.

 

[ckhouser]

Mike, my elevation is 1050 and temps have been in the mid 80’s to mid 90’s. Humidity has been about low to mid 70%’s

The temp and humidity do not seem to effect the 153’s. They are nice!

 

[DEWD_STUFF]

I looked at Cabelas, Bass Pro, online at a lot of places. Found them at Scheels. You need a special setting piece with their long ogive.

Could you not just use a VLD seating stem? If using Redding dies

 

[ckhouser]

I don’t know if a VLD seating stem would work. I am not familiar. I went with the Hornady seating die and used their seating guides. They have one for the 153 and one for 147’s. You could try it and see if it would work, I just don’t know.

 

[michiman]

Thanks. I just ordered some. Should probably get them by Monday. I use Redding competition seating dies. Idk if they make a specific sleeve for their dies. I use the standard sleeve with my 147’s. I don’t think I’m having any problems lol

 

[ckhouser]

i’d be interested to find out how that works for you. These bullets are long and the I give is long. You might notice the tip squish if it bottoms out. The aluminum is different that the polymer tip

 

[michiman]

Are they much longer than the 147 eld?

 

[ckhouser]

See what you think.

 

[timwoo]

Thank you for sharing your info. This is encouraging. Are you running these in a 1:8 twist barrel? When I first started playing around with the Hdy 4DOF calculator, it showed these right at their min. recommended gyro. number in a 1:8 twist at 2600fps @60F.

I'm only getting 2560fps out of the factory 147 ELD-M loads in my 22" barrel, and haven't started handloading these yet (new rifle for me), so I wasn't sure​

what kind of velocity I would be able to get the new heavier A-tips to. This low stability number made me wonder if a faster twist rate would be required for these.

 

[ckhouser]

Very interesting. hat elevation are you shooting from/

Semper Fi! Mike

Elevation 1020feet. Heart of the Midwest.

 

[ckhouser]

Thank you for sharing your info. This is encouraging. Are you running these in a 1:8 twist barrel? When I first started playing around with the Hdy 4DOF calculator, it showed these right at their min. recommended gyro. number in a 1:8 twist at 2600fps @60F.
I'm only getting 2560fps out of the factory 147 ELD-M loads in my 22" barrel, and haven't started handloading these yet (new rifle for me), so I wasn't sure
what kind of velocity I would be able to get the new heavier A-tips to. This low stability number made me wonder if a faster twist rate would be required for these.

1:8 twist in a 24” barrel. You will see slower velocities with a shorter barrel. Other powder might even work better in your rifle. I’ve pushed these to 2780 FPS but the start spreading from a tight group. Good luck.

 

[Princess_Jamie]

I'm going to try these in my 260rem w/ 5r 8twist 26in as soon as my new scope arrives. I'm going to shoot my remaining 123gr smk off first to zero and get myself back into the groove and then try some of these.

 

[BoltActionBrotherhood]

So I have been playing with the 153s sense before they even came out. Being that RL26 is not available and I am all out, I am trying to find a powder that will get me over 2800 fps with ease.
My thoughts for alternatives are
1.RL16 which has already given me some good results
2. Norma mRP
3. Accurate Magpro
4. Superformance.
Has anyone had any luck with these?

 

[Cascade Hemi]

So I have been playing with the 153s sense before they even came out. Being that RL26 is not available and I am all out, I am trying to find a powder that will get me over 2800 fps with ease.
My thoughts for alternatives are
1.RL16 which has already given me some good results
2. Norma mRP
3. Accurate Magpro
4. Superformance.
Has anyone had any luck with these?

What length barrel? "2800 fps With ease" may be a tall order for a 153 and 6.5CM.

 

[darth_ritis]

Definitely at a disadvantage with my 22" barrel, but when I worked up a load with RL26 I found a high node going 2760 that didn't shoot too bad. I imagine a good 26" barrel would perform better. Once I'm done with this batch of 153gr A-Tip I'm going to try the 135gr A-Tip, because my barrel loves to send 130gr Hornady or Berger at about 2960 which I have a tough time beating with a 6mm.

 

[BoltActionBrotherhood]

What length barrel? "2800 fps With ease" may be a tall order for a 153 and 6.5CM.

i have a 26 inch barrel. I just did some load development today with RL16 and the 153s, great results, 42.0gr 2804 FPS SD of 6, .005 off the lands.
I was really surprised by the speed today, on my last barrel (same length) I had run 43 gr to get 2756 everything else was the same
Including the case capacity, coal etc. only difference is the new barrel and with this barre I’m much closer to the lands. Other barre I was jumping .050. I wonder if being so close to the lands is causing a pressure spike.

 

[coyotewillie]

I might have to try some of these. Live just down the road from Hornady Manf. and stop in there frequently to check their reject offerings. They've got a cabinet with about a dozen large drawers in it where they keep boxes of rejects. I've shot a LOT of reject bullets over the years and feel they shoot just fine. Today they had 12-15 boxes of the 153's. Usually shoot the 140's in my 6.5CM so might have to stop back and grab some. $31/100

 

[flyright]

I'm using a fairly mild 135 A-tip load at 2750 with single digit ES and super accuracy. I've been impressed with them as these bullets are very consistent. I have a 147 ELDM load that's also around 2750 with great accuracy so, I'm hoping it'll work with the 153 A-tip I do find a bit of accuracy improvement if I ogive sort the 147's and it is nice not to feel the need with the A-tip. I initially thought the 153 to be too much of a good thing and not suited for the Creedmoor but if I can get it stable in an 8 twist and to 2750 - maybe.

 

[BoltActionBrotherhood]

I'm using a fairly mild 135 A-tip load at 2750 with single digit ES and super accuracy. I've been impressed with them as these bullets are very consistent. I have a 147 ELDM load that's also around 2750 with great accuracy so, I'm hoping it'll work with the 153 A-tip I do find a bit of accuracy improvement if I ogive sort the 147's and it is nice not to feel the need with the A-tip. I initially thought the 153 to be too much of a good thing and not suited for the Creedmoor but if I can get it stable in an 8 twist and to 2750 - maybe.

I did some load dev today using rl16 and the 153, very happy with the results. 2800 wasn’t a problem I could have gone hotter as well.
Here are some photos. Note all these were different loads

 

[NamibHunter]

Try RL26 if you can find it. I was getting 2900fps with RL26 and 147eld from a 28” barrel. I even got as high as 3000fps but started seeing pressure signs.

Very impressive speed for a 153 gn bullet. That is one heavy and long bullet!

Rifle has a 26” barrel and lands have moved forward, so i can load the bullets very long. Well beyond mag length. Have tried H4350, and got around 2600 fps, which is a little too slow. Superformance and RL-17 got just over 2700 fps before ejector marks appeared. Was hoping for more.

Tried to order some RL-26 today: Must be the covid-19 panic buying spree, but everybody is out of stock! If you see any in stock please post.

 

[BoltActionBrotherhood]

Very impressive speed for a 153 gn bullet. That is one heavy and long bullet!

Rifle has a 26” barrel and lands have moved forward, so i can load the bullets very long. Well beyond mag length. Have tried H4350, and got around 2600 fps, which is a little too slow. Superformance and RL-17 got just over 2700 fps before ejector marks appeared. Was hoping for more.

Tried to order some RL-26 today: Must be the covid-19 panic buying spree, but everybody is out of stock! If you see any in stock please post.

Rl26 is always impossible to find, you have to basically looks at all the sites a few times a day, and set up notifications.
It’s cool to get the speed, but I would say the best powder all around for the heavies is rl16.
This is the two loads I shoot bow, one with RL16 and one with Rl26z
The slower RL16 numbers shoot better groups.

 

[Juggerxxx]

Very impressive speed for a 153 gn bullet. That is one heavy and long bullet!

Rifle has a 26” barrel and lands have moved forward, so i can load the bullets very long. Well beyond mag length. Have tried H4350, and got around 2600 fps, which is a little too slow. Superformance and RL-17 got just over 2700 fps before ejector marks appeared. Was hoping for more.

Tried to order some RL-26 today: Must be the covid-19 panic buying spree, but everybody is out of stock! If you see any in stock please post.

Just to clarify it was the 147gr ELD and here is the thread if you are interested. https://www.snipershide.com/shooting/threads/147gr-eld-and-reloader-26-test.6894466/

Reloader 26 has been nonexistent for the last almost 2 years.

 

[supraguy88t]

Rl26 is always impossible to find, you have to basically looks at all the sites a few times a day, and set up notifications.
It’s cool to get the speed, but I would say the best powder all around for the heavies is rl16.
This is the two loads I shoot bow, one with RL16 and one with Rl26z
The slower RL16 numbers shoot better groups.

I was comparing your numbers with mine and It looks like they would be identical at 43.7. At 42.3gr of RL16 I am getting an average of 2763 with an SD of 3.5 and ES of 9 shooting 147s with very tight groups. I am going to switch to 153s and see if the speed and SD stays close. Just out of curiosity what is your COAL?

 

[BoltActionBrotherhood]

Coal is 2.928
FedGm primers (magnum for rl 26, standard for rl16)
Lapua brass
.010 off the lands

 

[NamibHunter]

Rl26 is always impossible to find, you have to basically looks at all the sites a few times a day, and set up notifications.
It’s cool to get the speed, but I would say the best powder all around for the heavies is rl16.
This is the two loads I shoot bow, one with RL16 and one with Rl26z
The slower RL16 numbers shoot better groups.

Thanks much for the tip about RL16 being more consistent than RL26. That is valuable info. Will try to get an 8 lbs can.

 

[NamibHunter]

Has anybody tried the heavies (147 ELDM, 153 Atip, 156 Berger) in a 6.5 PRC with RL16 or RL26? I have a switch lug rifle and thinking about getting a second barrel for the rifle.

Have to pick between 6.5 PRC and one of the short / standard action 7 mm cartridges like a 7 SAUM. Any advice would be most welcome.

 

[BoltActionBrotherhood]

Thanks much for the tip about RL16 being more consistent than RL26. That is valuable info. Will try to get an 8 lbs can.

Yeah I have only been able to find that one consisten load with RL26 where my SDs are always low, where as rl16 It seems like the sds are always good!

 

[Cascade Hemi]

I've had a few 153 A Tip come apart out of my PRC. I have 200 more and them I'm going to try the new bergers.

 

[BoltActionBrotherhood]

I've had a few 153 A Tip come apart out of my PRC. I have 200 more and them I'm going to try the new bergers.

What do you mean come apart? And what makes you think they did? I recover mine at 2000 yards, some of them look ready to load lol.

 

[Cascade Hemi]

They blew up and shotgunned a paper target.

 

[NamibHunter]

I've had a few 153 A Tip come apart out of my PRC. I have 200 more and them I'm going to try the new bergers.

What speed are you driving them at, and at what spin rate?

I have several 6.5 mm barrels, one is a 7 twist 30” Shilen Select Match barrel and with the right Reloader powder could drive the 147 ELDM and the 150 SMK to around 2950 (with mild pressure signs), and have not seen a bullet disintegrate. Have not tested the 153 Atip in that fast twist barrel, but will try when i swap barrels again.

I guess if you spin any bullet fast enough, at some point it becomes a real possibility. Always thought that happened around 3400 plus, but maybe it depends more on bullet construction.

Could also be a defective or damaged bullet, so maybe just bad luck?

Would be curious to hear from folks who shoot the 6.5 mm 153 Atip in a large magnum like the Weatherby mag and drive it beyond 3200 fps.

 

[Cascade Hemi]

30" 1:7.5 Mullerworks going 3080fps with RE26. The load is probably pretty close to max SAAMI without going over. I have a target with four holes and then 12" over a banana shape where a jacket went through a fresh target. Last time I actually had the jacket embedded in the cardboard backer. It is too bad because the A-Tip is an incredible bullet.

 

[BoltActionBrotherhood]

Are you sure you didnt skip it lol? Or was this just at 100 yards? I have shot over 2000 over the 153s never had any sort of issue like that, I also shot a 1:75 close to the same speed. Sounds like you got a bad batch.

 

[Cascade Hemi]

Do my posts seem unsure? I doubt my rifle would go from shooting under .5" to shanking a round a foot away sideways. The barrel has 300 rounds through it.

If you count the holes you'll see one missing. The bottom group is .4gr of RE26 higher than the top. I pulled the left shot.

Keep shooting them if they work for you. This wasn't the first blow up and I wasn't going to say anything until I knew for sure. I'm certain they came apart.

 

[NamibHunter]

30" 1:7.5 Mullerworks going 3080fps with RE26. The load is probably pretty close to max SAAMI without going over. I have a target with four holes and then 12" over a banana shape where a jacket went through a fresh target. Last time I actually had the jacket embedded in the cardboard backer. It is too bad because the A-Tip is an incredible bullet.

Well, 3080 fps in a 1:7.5 twist barrel should not make a bullet disintegrate.

Could be a bad batch, or an accidental ricochet. That has happened to me before at 600, forgot to trickle up the load to the correct value and it was probably 3 grains low, the way the powder measure left it.

Could also be bullet damage: Any chance it is touching a suppressor baffle or getting snagged on a carbon ring inside your muzzle brake on the way out? Shot a buddy’s 308 a few weekends ago, using the 168 grain SMK, and got a 6” group at 100 including one unstable bullet keyholing through the target. It was hitting a baffle plate inside the suppressor. Messed up the expensive suppressor pretty good, and had to be sent back.

Call Hornady and see what they say. They are very friendly, typical country folk. I bet they will tell you to send it back, as they will want to run their own tests. Maybe fire a few rounds into a swimming pool or a water tank... and collect the bullets.... just don’t cause a SWAT incident! Local TV station will love that!!

 

[NamibHunter]

Yep no chance of a ricochet off the ground at 100.

Sounds like a bad batch.

 

[BoltActionBrotherhood]

Do my posts seem unsure? I doubt my rifle would go from shooting under .5" to shanking a round a foot away sideways. The barrel has 300 rounds through it.

If you count the holes you'll see one missing. The bottom group is .4gr of RE26 higher than the top. I pulled the left shot.

Keep shooting them if they work for you. This wasn't the first blow up and I wasn't going to say anything until I knew for sure. I'm certain they came apart.

you never know the experience level of people on forums, it wasn’t meant to be a personal attacks, just asking some questions considering you are the first report I have ever seen of these bullets disintegrating.
Good luck

 

[supraguy88t]

do you know what batch number these were in?

 

[Cascade Hemi]

Here you go.