has anyone used these bullets in the past? I recently picked up a few(3) boxes of 100 in 180 grain. The bullets are .308 BTHP (boat tail hollow point). I'm a little - OK a lot- let down with the quality of these bullets to carry the "match" title. Overall bullet length varies as much as .060", weight varies from 175 to 183 grains within the same box.

I loaded a ramp using these bullets and they shot very well. But I seperated them by weight and loaded using a comparator - very time consuming.

[ 09-19-2003, 00:11: Message edited by: T/C nimrod ]

Return those bullets to Hornady.....I'll bet they'll replace them. Their standards are far more stringent than that.

I have to go along with Vapodog. Send 'em back. I have a batch of their 190 gr. HP match bullets which I use to test the accuracy of any new 30 caliber rifle I buy and those bullets are excellent. One rifle, a J.C. Higgin M50 in 30-06 does .25" consistantly with that bullet. I was planning on making something else out of it, but it's such a tight grouper, that I'll leave it alone.
Paul B.

You've run into a common misconception about BTHP match bullets. They ALL vary in length, it is a result of the way they are made, ass first closed at the nose. Measure a box of Sierra Match Kings and you will find the same thing. It matters not a bit to accuracy, they are all the same bearing length surface and if measured on a comparator from the ogive are consistent. Trust me I shoot about 4000 of them a year.

[ 09-19-2003, 00:39: Message edited by: KevinNY ]

Kevin - that part I can accept - the length difference, and yes they are easy to keep within .0005" when measuring off the ogive. It's the weight descrepancy that really bothers me. I'll back Hornady's 7mm bullets till I'm blue in the face - I fell in love with them(Hornady) because of how exact their 7mm bullets were. But these .308's are the worst I've ever had to deal with. The box I opened is sealed with the old paper tape, so I don't know how old the bullets really are.

T/C, I can't find a .308cal 180gr Match bullet in my Hornady catalog, these must be really old, and maybe whoever you got them from mixed them up some other 308cal bullet of similer constructon, .060" diff is way too much for these to be from the same company, unless they're factory rejects, that shouldn't be sold in the first place, I'd take them back from hence they came, I bet you got them from a GUNSHOW, didn't ya, Jay

Something is WAY outta whack or you have bullets of different makes and pedigrees mixed together.

I've shot tens of thousands of Hornady match bullets (almost to the exclusion of all others) over the couple decades in both .30 and .224 cal. I'm a big fan of Hornady and my scores haven't suffered one bit. For position shooting, they're as good as anybody's. Just bought a bulk of 75 A-Max's yesterday, in fact!

Redial

The idea they may be gun show repackaged seconds might be the answer here. But the big question is "How do they shoot" all else is academic if they still perform.

Nope, no gunshow involved. They are listed in Hornady's fifth addition reloading manual Book #1. I don't remember the number off the top of my head - #37211 maybe?. Boxes are/were sealed with the Hornady label seal. Shoot good.