Polymer tipped bullet newbie=dumb question

S

Smokey 92

New member
Never used them before. There is a loading tip that is supposed to prevent the polymer tip on the bullet from being disfigured. My question is, after starting the bullet with a "short starter" using the special loading tip, do I have to then put it on the long ram rod?
Sheesh, or do I have buy 2 to save time?
 
It might depend on the particular bullet and tip that it has.
I don't really know if any and every tip can be very easily damaged.
Some plastic tips can be easily removed without affecting performance much.
At least one member removed a plastic tip and replaced it with a steel BB that he glued into the hole.
In some states like Colorado, the plastic tips are sometimes cut flat or removed to meet legal maximum length requirements for projectiles.
So it really may not matter much or at all whether the plastic tip is accomodated with a special starter attachment or not.
IMO it's possible that it could be damaged, but depending on the specific bullet, not absolutely or necessarily since the plastic tip of some bullets may be made to be harder and more durable than is realized.
Would it matter much if the plastic tip was cut flat and at what range and by how much?
So if the tip wasn't cut flat or really damaged during the loading process would that affect performance and matter much? How much and at what range?
I think that it's very possible that a plastic tip can at least be somewhat accommodating.
 
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Put one on the floor, and press on it with your ramrod with about the same pressure you would use to load it in your rifle. Then you can look to see if any damage occurs.
I tried them for a while, but could not tell any improved accuracy or trajectory differences from the Hornady XTP's I had been using before. The XTP's are considerably cheaper here, and inside 150 yards, I don't see any big advantage to them.
 
Hornady SST's (red polymer tip) is what I'll be trying. Also going to try Powerbelt's. The floor trick is a good idea, will give it a try. Thanks.
 
robhof

You can modify your ramrod with a drill bit; take a small bit and drill in the center of the concave to about 1/4" and then use a larger bit to approx 1/8". That's what I did and it doesn't affect ball seating and doesn't deform the tip. I did smooth the area with a diamond tip dremmel bit.
 
I shoot Hornady SST's. I use a normal ramrod attachment that has a conical shaped end. Works just fine for me.
 
Man, this is a great site. Drilled the tip on my rod, so simple, works perfectly. Didn't even hurt the threads. Thanks for the great idea's.
 
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