Author Topic: Bullet tip flattens in magazine (Read 359 times)

CIG · « **on:** November 28, 2005, 03:24:29 AM »

I load 30-06 in a roger 77 mark II.

Rem brass, 165 gar horned Interlock flat base, 56.6 grains wy4350, Rem brass and win Primers. these fit in the mag with very little room to spare, but they fit and I get great groups.

The problem is when I fire the first round it flattens the points out on the ones in the mag. The last round can be very flat. Anyway to stop this from happening without changing to a plastic tip bullet? Does it really matter?

I have shot game out to 300 yards before and I do practice out to 500. I mainly use a 270 for these longer ranges and that gun, using same type of bullet does not have these problems. Any suggestions. Can I add anything inside the mag box to soften the blow?

Patriot_1776 · « **Reply #1 on:** November 28, 2005, 08:53:03 AM »

Hmmmm... About how much space would you say there is between the bullet noses and the magazine wall? I don't think there is really anything that could be placed inside the mag wall to protect the bullets, without causing feeding problems. Reason being is the follower rides closer to the wall than the bullets most likely. Although, if you find there is a way, maybe a piece of thin cardboard would fit into there for one session? I don't really know if there is a cure other than plastic tips, but maybe someone else with more experience can be of better help me.

Another thing you mentioned is that you practice often at longer ranges. I would say that if you haven't noticed anything detrimental to your accuracy or performance from 100yds to the farthest you would shoot, then I don't think it makes too much of a difference.

-Patriot

ricciardelli · « **Reply #2 on:** November 28, 2005, 10:12:06 AM »

Many years ago I wondered if that flatened tip made any difference in accuracy.

So...I intentionally started flattening the tips of bullets in progresssive steps of 0.003" until the exposed tip was even with the edge of the jacket material.

I did this with 5 different calibers.

Final result? Made no remarkable difference in grouping ability of point of impact. However, when I started messing around with the bases of the bullets (simulating the damage that could be caused if the bullet was not seated correctly and had part of the base shaved), there was a significant difference.

My final opinion was that the deformation of the nose of a bullet has no effect, but the deformation of the base of a bullet will screw it up really bad.

So...I changed all my bullets to boat tail and jacketed hollow points, thereby eliminating both conditions.

PaulS · « **Reply #3 on:** November 28, 2005, 02:23:28 PM »

I remember a study from years ago where they compared high speed photos of bullets coming out of a muzzle of a 30'06 and what happened to the soft exposed lead point of spitzer bullets. The photos showed that the acceleration pretty much took the point and flatened it into a miniature round nose. I quit worrying about the deformation in my '06 after that. I was happy with the sub-3/4 inch groups anyway. I think the artcle was in the American Rifleman but after all those years I couldn't prove it. (first the eyes then the mind)

Chuck White · « **Reply #4 on:** November 29, 2005, 03:28:39 AM »

I read somewhere a long time ago (30 yrs or so) that the base of the bullet steers it and the nose of the bullet allows it to do it's job when it hits the target!

Over the years, I've seen a lot of cartridges with screwed up tips on the bullets and they seemed to still be able to do their job!

CIG · « **Reply #5 on:** November 29, 2005, 07:51:01 AM »

At the range I individually load each round so I haven't tested what the flat noses do because I hadn't seen them before. It seems some of you have with no ill effect. I guess I won't worry about it. Maybe at the range I will do little testing of my own, at least once it gets above freezing again. I am thinking about April.

Thanks for the input.

WylieKy · « **Reply #6 on:** November 29, 2005, 08:02:14 AM »

CIG,
I have the same rifle, same caliber, had the same concern. After what these others have wrote about it not affecting accuracy, I guess it doesn't matter. I had a different theory though. When hunting, I have never needed more than two shots, and no I don't mean a followup (I'm not a good enough to risk shooting a running animal at 150+ yards, but some are), I mean one for the deer I shot first, and one for the doe standing there with a startled look on her face. :shock: When target shooting, I usually load the shells one at a time. This is how I eliminated the problem. I guess if you were hunting dangerous game it may be a different story, although I would use a more hardy bullet.