Hornady ELD tips

[Ryridesmotox]

So I was loading my last batch of 308 and noticed a bunch of the tips on my 178 eld-ms were kinda weird, sorta smushed, and some off center. They still shot acceptably well Out to 870 yards. Just wondering if other people noticed the same thing? I guess I'm wondering what's the big deal with the "perfect" meplats if it doesnt seem to make a difference anyway? Having them kinda weird didn't negatively influence accuracy... maybe out in the trans sonic range? I dunno. What are your thoughts fellas?

I was planning on switching back to a HPBT anyway, and ordered a bunch of the Nosler 175 CCs. I did notice with the 178s, seating to max mag length in the Magpul AICS mags I'm using didnt get close enough to the rifling as I wanted to... or rather, as close as I was previously.

 

[tomcatfan]

I've had this happen when I pull the bullets with an inertia puller. The tip gets messed up when it slams into the end of the little hammer. It's not effected accuracy too much for me so I don't care as much. Are you saying that you see this with new bullets? If so, it might be worth reaching out to Hornady and let them know.

 

[Ryridesmotox]

I've had this happen when I pull the bullets with an inertia puller. The tip gets messed up when it slams into the end of the little hammer. It's not effected accuracy too much for me so I don't care as much. Are you saying that you see this with new bullets? If so, it might be worth reaching out to Hornady and let them know.

Yea new bullets. I'm not reaching out very far, and it's just for PRS type stuff, so as long as I'm inside 1 moa, I'm not mad. These have pretty much all been shot, so I'm not going to bug Hornady about it. I was more posing the question of, does it effect anything negatively. If I have some at home, I'll take a pic later.

 

[Juggerxxx]

I know you said they were new bullets but do you only notice the issue after seating them? I ask because some seating stems are not deep enough and will contact the tip and smash or deform the tips when seating.

I have hear that the tip doesn’t have a massive influence in accuracy. Rather imperfections or irregularities to the base will have much more influence. Not sure if that true or not.

I have had boxes of bullets that a few bullets with missing tips. Loaded and shot them and saw no difference in accuracy at 200 yards or less. That may be a different story at longer distances where BC could be effected.

 

[Ryridesmotox]

Yea they were like that when new unloaded. But that is a good point about the stem. I'm at the range today so I'll take some of the unloaded ones at home. But as you can see the first 3 in that picture are kinda weird. And the single down there is another random one out of my box is totally fine. None are that bad. And it hasn't negatively effected accuracy as of yet... I sure have though lol... squeeze harley, just squeeze.

 

[Ryridesmotox]

So this next pic is not yet loaded bullets. Again, it's not that bad, and didnt negatively affect accuracy, as far as I could tell. It's almost like just the veeeery tip is smushed over on some. You can see a slight ridge around the very tip. I dunno, I'm just knit picking

Either way, I'm going to go back to nosler 175 custom competitions. I ordered the nosler before I even opened the box of hornady 178s that I have pictured in this thread. I wouldn't have any issue staying with the hornady bullets, except I got these noslers on sale... and I'm a cheap, petty bitch.

 

[Rob01]

That is nothing at all to be concerned with. Standard HPBT bullets have much worse meplats and all shoot great. Shoot the rest and have fun.

 

[Ryridesmotox]

That is nothing at all to be concerned with. Standard HPBT bullets have much worse meplats and all shoot great. Shoot the rest and have fun.

Already shot em all yesterday, except for the couple I have extra at the bench, but only a couple. Not enough to do a whole batch. I had good results with them, so I'm not complaining. My question was mostly academic regarding what impact they would have at longer ranges. I only have access to 872 yards, unless I go an hour or so away, but I also dont have my own steel targets yet. And shooting paper at 1k+ would be a bitch.

 

[Rob01]

That will have no effect at longer ranges. Have shot HPBT bullets with more messed up meplats to almost a mile and have shot the ELDs and AMAX before to around 1400 yards in matches and no issues. So if you find more for cheaper in the future then don't hesitate due to the tip.