FMJ or Ballistic Tip for accuracy?

[slowr1der]

So I'm considering buying some more bullets to reload as I'm getting low. These will be used for target shooting from 50-1000 yards, and that's about all. I'd like to take this gun varmint hunting which is why I originally was considering ordering the ballistic tips. However, the more I thought about it, the more I realized I do 99.9% target shooting with this rifle and I don't really varmint hunt at all. Then I found a deal where I can get 1000 Hornady FMJ bullets for the price of 500 Nosler Ballistic Tips.

So my question is, from a pure accuracy standpoint is one usually better than the other?

 

[cfullgraf]

FMJs generally are not as accurate as other bullets due to the exposed lead base.

Match bullets probably give the best accuracy although different rifles have different appetites.

Match bullets such as Sierra Matchkings are not great varmint bullets. They tend to not expand unless that is what you are looking for.

Great accuracy at shorter ranges do not necessarily need the expensive bullets. The longer the range, the need for better bullets.

 

[longdayjake]

What caliber are you looking for? Also Sierra Match Kings make great varmint bullets. Very accurate and they are great at killing smaller animals. I wouldn't use them for anything bigger than a coyote though.

 

[Tim the student]

So my question is, from a pure accuracy standpoint is one usually better than the other?

Yep, generally. If precision is your goal, look for about anything other than FMJ. I'll bet you two fat babies and a jelly donut that the ballistic tips will shoot way better than the FMJ. But, I can recall at least one guy here that has a rifle that will shoot FMJs as well as ballistic tips. He is certainly an anomaly though.

You may find out the FMJs shoot well enough to please you. I can get them to shoot a bit more than an inch, but not under, while I have no trouble at all getting V-maxs to shoot well under an inch.

 

[45ACPUSER]

Well, 22 cal 55 FMJ is not 1000 yd rd! period!

For blasting the Hornady, Montana Gold, and IMI 55gr FMJ are the rulers of ther roost!

1000yds with 223, requires 80 or 90gr VLD bullets seated at or near the lands with with a healthy dose of N540....

 

[ArchAngelCD]

For accuracy a Boat Tail Hollow Point (BTHP) bullet is probably the most accurate configuration. Sierra and Hornady make very good Match Bullets for killing paper and most are BTHP.

 

[rcmodel]

Ballistic Tips, V-Max, JHP, or most SP's will out-shoot any FMJ.
Because the jacket opening is in the nose, not the base.
Uneven FMJ bullet bases left from the forming process can tip the bullet and start it wobbling as it exits the muzzle.

Whether the differance in price is worth it for 100 yard shooting is up to you, and how small your 100 yard targets are.
If you extend that to 1,000 yard target shooting, you better get something besides a .223 & 55 grain bullets!

55 grain Nosler BT's vis 55 grain Win FMJ.
Same load except for the bullets


rc

 

[slowr1der]

Sorry I should have clarified I guess. I was looking for 6mm bullets to load in a .243. However, I'm assuming the results you all have had are going to be similar even though it's a different caliber. I appreciate the info guys. Thanks.

One last question. I know you all said soft pointed bullets are generally more accurate. How do those compare to the ballistic tips? They are also quite a bit cheaper. Which of those two would likely be more accurate?

I've looked into the match bullets, but they are a lot more than I want to spend for just paper punching.

 

[rcmodel]

Which of those two would likely be more accurate?

As I said in post #7, any bullet with the jacket opening in the nose will generally be more accurate then one with the hole in the base.
For the reason I stated.

Your mileage may vary, depending on the quality level of the bullets.
I would expect Lapua FMJ match bullets to shoot better then "Bubba's Bullets In A Bag" soft-points for instance.

Perhaps the thing to do would be to buy a single box of 100 of each and test them in your rifle before you buy 1,000 of them.

Yea! Thats the ticket right there!

rc

 

[MrOldLude]

Quality bullets make for tinier groups. You pay extra for MatchKings, but there's no doubt they make for some of the most accurate shooting. if I shot varmints at longer distances, I'd probably load Vmax.

My AR uses iron sights. It gets cheap non-uniform 55gr rounds. I feed the same to my bolt gun just for screwing around. When I really want to test myself, I give it the 69gr MatchKings.

 

[xmanpike]

I second the vote for Sierra MAtchKing Hollow Point Boattails. HAve had very good luck with them and they are reasonably priced.

 

[Maple_City_Woodsman]

It is not the tip, my friend, but the base!

Speaking of bases, if you want to shoot your 243 at 1,000 yards, a scope mount with some significant elevation built in will probably be as important as the bullet you choose.

 

[BullfrogKen]

In my .308 I use them all.


I use 110 gr Hornady V-max on groundhogs. But it's really only about a 600 yard round. Beyond that, the poor ballistic shape of a bullet designed for rapid, explosive expansion gets overcome by the forces acting on it as it flies through the air. The wind really affects it past 600, as does the loss of velocity. By 700 yards it's too erratic to group well.


I use 175 gr Sierra MatchKings at the range. They perform very well. So has the 155 gr Lapua Scenar, but those are probably more expensive than you'd want to spend.

Hornady competition bullets, the A-max, is a good projectile. FMJ, well if you want to just make your rifle go bang, it'll do that for you. You will find yourself very frustrated if you want to get nice groups while using bargain projectiles.


You're going to be burning powder and using primers. If you want to enjoy your time at the longer ranges, I strongly encourage you to use a bullet intended to perform well at extended distances.

 

[slowr1der]

So now it looks like my choices are down to the Hornady Amax, the Nosler ballistic tips, or the Hornady BTHP Match. Any preference between these three? I'm also still considering the Match Kings, but am not sure if that's what I want to get or not.

 

[BullfrogKen]

Sierra MatchKings perform exceptionally well, and are a good value. I buy them in 500 box lots when MidwayUSA puts them on sale. I personally go through about 1,000 a year.


I like Hornady's products, and when I'm out hunting groundhogs I'm using a V-max. But when I'm on a square range, or shooting a match, I use Sierra's MatchKings.

 

[BullfrogKen]

FYI - MidwayUSA has SMK's on sale until the end of the month right now.

 

[ArchAngelCD]

Like Ken I really like the Sierra Match Kings but when I can't find them on sale I will buy Hornady Match bullets too. (especially in .308")

 

[Bwana John]

If I could afford it all I would shoot would be Ballistic Tips (except for elk).

As it is I shoot a lot of FMJ pulls, and they aint 1/2 as precise..