Deformed Tips

[DaveA37]

I recently opened a new box of Nosler PT's and found 6 bullets in the box with the lead tips slightly deformed. Looks like the may have been dropped. The box was in excellent condition. Never have seen that before.

I gently tapped then on a hard steel plate in an attempt to get them back close to their "normal" shape. No lead was removed and after weighing, they all were almost identical in weight.

I'm curious. What if any effect will the "reforming" have? I plan to use them as a few test rounds and compare them on paper with a similar load to see how they shoot. I do NOT plan to use them for hunting.

I have used hundreds of "PT's'" and never had any problems.

 

[rick smith]

You could have shot them just the way they were without any noticeable change.Rick.

 

[JD338]

I agree with Rick Smith, you wouldn't notice any difference.
I have tested PT's that were battered in the magazine from recoil. The flattened tips still hit the same POI at 300 yds.

JD338

 

[SJB358]

Same here, never had any issue with PT's with a little deformed tip. They get bunged up a little in the magazine any. I think you will be good to go with them. Good luck, what are you loading for? Scotty

 

[DrMike]

Deformation of lead tipped bullets is inconsequential unless the deformation actually sheared off a significant amount of weight. It is possible that at distances exceeding 500 yards a measurable effect could be demonstrated, but at any closer distances the effect would be negligible.

 

[DaveA37]

Same here, never had any issue with PT's with a little deformed tip. They get bunged up a little in the magazine any. I think you will be good to go with them. Good luck, what are you loading for? Scotty

Scotty:
I plan to use them as a few test rounds and compare them on paper with a similar load to see how they shoot. I do NOT plan to use them for hunting.

 

[JD338]

Same here, never had any issue with PT's with a little deformed tip. They get bunged up a little in the magazine any. I think you will be good to go with them. Good luck, what are you loading for? Scotty

Scotty:
I plan to use them as a few test rounds and compare them on paper with a similar load to see how they shoot. I do NOT plan to use them for hunting.

Thats exactly what I do. :wink:

JD338

 

[onesonek]

I have seen a test done where the tip was deformed on purpose to varying deggrees. The groups had very little change, the worst opened up .020". POI did not change. Purposely place nicks in the heel of the base was a different story and more dramatic however. I haven't run the numbers, but suspect if one were to flatten to create a wider meplat, the trajectory would be greater, but not enough to worry about untill like mentioned, 500 yds or so. Normal hunting ranges will pose no issues.

Dave