To reload or toss

C

cwellsgo

Inactive
Hello all. I'm new to this site so forgive me if I'm in the wrong place.

I'm relatively new to reloading, about two years, but I feel pretty good about reloading straight walled pistol cases and accurately dropping powder. Probably because straight walled pistol cases are easier. I'm starting to get into doing some rifle reloading with .223 and 30.06. Maybe some .308 and .243 also.

I'm able to purchase factory blems from the my local sierra outlet. What I have found is that they "blem" the whole batch if a few are boogered. So you can get plenty of perfect bullets for a discounted price.

However there are those "boogers". I have about 150 Sierra 55gr BlitzKing Boat Tail Polymer Tipped (very similar in appearance to Hornady V-max if you are familiar) that most of which have no polymer tips but otherwise in tact. Which leaves a relatively cavernous hole. Larger than standard BTHPs that I have encountered. The "hollow-point" opening is .085" in diameter. You can see the lead pocket inside and the cavern is not a uniform cylinder. Part copper jacket, part lead pocket from the center.

My question is could these be safely loaded an fired somewhat accurately, maybe at reduced velocity? Thoughts and suggestions?
 
Hi. Factory seconds are fine for reloading. Been using 'em for eons in .243. They get rejected primarily for cosmetic reasons.
"...no polymer tips..." Makes it an HP without the wee tiny weak points in the jacket to help control expansion. No reduction is anything is necessary when loading 'em.
The only part of a bullet that matters is the base. The point makes no difference to anything.
 
You should be fine loading these bullets to the same specs and loads as loading them with the tips. Your overall length may be a little different due to the tip missing but otherwise fine.

Is that bullet source a public offer or do you have an inside contact? I'm always looking for a source of cheap plinking bullets.
 
It is public source but I don't know if they ship or not. Their factory is in Sedalia, MO about an hour an a half west of Kansas City. I'm close so I'm able to walk in. Their phone number is 660-827-6300 if you want to check into it. They only have on hand what they have blemmed, so the stock and quantity is roving.
 
cwellsgo wrote " I'm close so I'm able to walk in. They only have on hand what they have blemmed, so the stock and quantity is roving. "

Cwells.... Who do you talk to when you walk into their factory, is there a retail entrance? I travel quite a bit to Whiteman AFB, and can stop in if its open to the public.

Thanks
 
You have to visit to buy them, AFAIK. I've seen them on Commercial Row at Camp Perry in the past from one vendor who picked up a bunch of them.


cwellsgo said:
I have about 150 Sierra 55gr BlitzKing Boat Tail Polymer Tipped (very similar in appearance to Hornady V-max if you are familiar)…
Click to expand...

What? Similar? Are you color blind? :D ;)

The only practical issues with the missing tips will be possible failure to feed smoothly in some guns and it will lower ballistic coefficient a little. For the latter reason you don't want to mix them with the tipped ones if you are shooting far enough for wind and drop to be a significant concern (say, 300 yards and beyond). I wouldn't worry about them at 200 yards and closer.
 
Ben, I recently retired out of Whiteman. Just past the main entrance parking lot on the side of the building their is an entrance specifically for their blems department. You can even call ahead to see if they have what you are looking for. They also do a factory tour (main entrance) but I have not done one of those, so I don't have the details. They are all super nice when you call. They will even bring out a bullistition (sp) if you have questions about what might be a good bullet to select based on your specifics.
 
All I would do is shoot the ones lacking plastic point on separate target.

I bought a lot of pistol blems, obviously Hornady, nobody else makes a 9mm roundnose boattail, but the flaws kept getting worse and the discounts less, so I went plated and coated for bulk loads.
 
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