I have loaded hundreds of .308, just not ballistic tip. What could be causing the crushing of the tip? Is it the dies? Are there special dies for the plastic ballistic tips or is it an adjustment problem? By the looks of the dies, they will never work with these bullets. Nosler 165 gr. ballistic tip Varmint. One pic is just a fresh bullet, the other is a completed round, notice the crushed tip. I guess getting to my real question, are these few rounds completed safe to shoot? What can I expect on accuracy? They are in spec, OAL is 2.75
First time loading ballistic tip .308
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primalmu
Member
What brand dies are you using? I've got Lee .308 dies and load Nosler ballistic tips without a problem.
RCBS
Kachok
Member
Hate to break it to you but that ain't no Ballistic Tip, all BTs are color coded and 30 cals are green tipped, that looks like a SST.
I load Ballistic Tip and SST in my 308 RCBS die with no issues, probably defective or you have something lodged in there.
I load Ballistic Tip and SST in my 308 RCBS die with no issues, probably defective or you have something lodged in there.
Well screw me then. didn't know that.
Kachok
Member
Try REAL Ballistic Tips their poloymer tip is tougher then the one on the SST which are known for breaking, I doubt it will cause any safety issue though the tip has nothing to do with pressures. I load BTs in five different rifles and calibers with different brand dies and never broken a tip.
Kachok
Member
Because you are pushing against the very tip of the bullet and not the outer edge, check to make sure you don't have something lodged in the die, I am curious what packaging those came in, Nosler does not make a 165gr Varmint bullet, largest caliber they make the Varmint in is 25 cal and those are blue tips, BTW red tips are 7mms.
Yes
It won't affect accuracy enough to worry with.
Either the seater stem has something in it, or it isn't deep enough to allow the tip to not be contacted while the seater pushes the bullet down by contacting the ogive. You can drill a small diameter hole in the center of the seater stem just deep enough to clear the tip.
Strongbad
Member
Assuming you don't have something lodged in the die, and I'm guessing that you don't, call the die MFG and see if they'll send you a stem for a spitzer bullet, as the one you have is likely for a round nose. RCBS is likely to do it for free, but even if they don't a stem for spitzers will only run you a few bucks. What you're seeing is the same thing folks run into with the FTX bullets from Hornady when loading them in 30-30's etc. The standard 30-30 stem is for RN bullets, but the FTX's are pointed.
41 Mag
Member
I have an older set of RCBS dies that did that to the SST as well as a few non tipped bullets like the Bergers due to the profile of the seater plug. I recessed it with a small drill like was mentioned and problem solved.
If you don't want to mess with that contact RCBS and they should send you one that will work just fine.
If you don't want to mess with that contact RCBS and they should send you one that will work just fine.
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