I had some old Nosler Solidbase Ballistic tip Boattail .308dia 165grn bullets and loaded them for my 30-06sprg. They were outstanding bullets. I went to my local reloading supply store and picked up the modern packaged version of this bullet called Nosler Ballistic tip Boattail Spitzer .306dia 165grn. The weight and design of them are the same as the old ones but they were longer by .020" +-.002". When I loaded them the same as the old ones I had to adjust the seating depth to compensate for the longer length to make my COL the same as the set with the old bullets. They were more difficult to get to the right depth because some of them wouldn't seat as deep and I had to set them aside and reset my Lee Loader to get them in tolerance with the others. All said and done when I chambered them (testing the fit) they are tighter in the chamber and some touch the lands. What's the deal? I like the old bullets better because they seemed to be more consistant. Haven't fired the new ones yet, yes the case lengths are the same ad the run of old bullets. I used the same loaddata for all bullets, I'm worried about these new ones, they require a little more umph to chamber in my bolt action than the run of old bullets.
Nosler bullets old vs new quality?
- Thread starter 84jeepj10
- Start date
rick smith
Handloader
- Apr 6, 2005
- 1,249
- 0
You need to measure to the datum line on the shoulder and not use OAL for bullet seating. They shouldn't be any harder to seat in the case but length and ogive can vary between production runs. If you think they are "tighter in the chamber" you need to find out why before you shoot them. Have these cases been fired in "your" rifle before? Neck sized? FL sized? Check the bullets for land marks.Rick.
- Nov 4, 2004
- 25,195
- 8,475
I agree with Rick Smith. Also keep in mind that Nosler is striving for perfection. This means that there could be some improvements made to a product such as the BT. As we know it today, the BT is an excellent bullet.
Let us know how the new BT's shoot for you.
JD338
Let us know how the new BT's shoot for you.
JD338
- Thread starter
- #4
I have a Lee Loader which only neck sizes cases, but I check everyu case with a dial caliper and have a hand case trimmer to keep stretch in check. The ones I'm having problems with trhe cases haven't been fired in my rifle yet, they're new. I loaded the old ones first in these same new cases with no problem. I think I'm gonne just set my Loader to seat deeper to compensate. as I stated before I'm new to reloading and have alot to learn but my bullets thus far have proved to be extremely accurate as I'm very perticular about quality control. Thanks for the help.
