Polymer-Tip Ammo --- How Hard Is the Tip?

[Mike1234567]

I bought a 500 pack of 60gr V-Max reloads from Georgia Arms about three years ago. It was on sale. I was surprised by how hard the tips are. They're not brittle but are much harder than the poly-tip handgun rounds I own and have seen from Hornady and others.

Are the poly tips on rifle rounds much harder than those on handgun rounds? Or did I buy some defective .223 Rem? Please forgive my inexperienced/dumb question.

 

[HOOfan_1]

They are hard. My guess is the handgun rounds you bought are LeverEvolution and have soft tips so they can't set off a primer in a tubular magazine.

Standard spitzer type rifle polymer tipped bullets are hard. As in you could poke a hole in your finger if you pressed down hard enough

 

[Mike1234567]

Okay, good to know these are GTG. Thank you.

The HD handgun rounds I have/had are Hornady Critical Defense in 9mm Luger and .45 ACP. I had another make/type that escapes me at the moment. I've also seen other SD rounds in 9mm and .45 and these all had very soft polymer inserts. They were not hard like these .223 Rem tips.

These will make excellent coyote rounds. I initially bought them for safer home defense use due to a bit less barrier penetration but the approximately nine inches of bare gelatin penetration is of some concern for home defense so I guess I'll stick with M193 for that purpose.

 

[HOOfan_1]

Those polymer inserts are only to make sure nothing plugs up the hollow point and prevents expansion.

 

[jmr40]

The bullet is essentially a HP with a plastic tip. On contact the plastic drives into the hollow point to improve expansion. It also helps improve aerodynamics.

 

[hardluk1]

Those bullets if you don't know are nosler ballistic tip varment. Very good bullet for expanding in game. Very good loads to from Georgia arms. 60gr would make a very good coyote bullet.
http://www.nosler.com/ballistic-tip-varmint