Reloading Mystery - Accurate Tumblers?

doc540 · Feb 27, 2013

How is this possible?

Savage M12
1/9 twist
.223
55gr Varmit Nightmare X-Treme HP
24.5gr IMR 3031

Out of 65 rounds today, I had 5 tumblers.

All other shots were tight and accurate.

Four of them were tight in their groups.

I left this one alone to show how accurate it was.

What is up with this??

SMSgt · Feb 27, 2013

Need a longer bullet?

doc540 · Feb 27, 2013

SMSgt said:
Need a longer bullet?

I've shot about 500 of them so far with only about 10 tumblers.

Maybe the Natchez bulk bullets are seconds and include a few smaller than .224?

rwsmith · Feb 27, 2013

Same here

doc540 said:
I've shot about 500 of them so far with only about 10 tumblers.

Maybe the Natchez bulk bullets are seconds and include a few smaller than .224?

I think I would mic the bullets to see if some are not undersized.

Fishinfool · Feb 27, 2013

I'm going to guess bullet defect of some type also. Don't know the velocity of that load, but is it possible its fast enough, combined with the twist rate, and thin jackets that the bullet is deforming / coming apart enough to effect stability?

Larry

tappedandtagged · Feb 28, 2013

55 grains and 1:9 twist go fine together. I see no reason to go with a heavier/longer bullet. I do strongly believe the varmint nightmare bullets are made by Hornady. You may be onto something with the seconds theory.

Very neat photo. I'd hang that sucker on my wall if it happened to me.

Cdog · Feb 28, 2013

Most likely undersized bullet.

Make sure your barrel not saturated with copper too.

The way the winds been blowing here lately, nothing would surprise me.

pownal55 · Feb 28, 2013

I would be very interested in knowing what the problem is, please keep us updated if you figure it out.

mtgianni · Mar 1, 2013

Doc, are these 55 gr or the 50 gr ones mentioned in another thread?

doc540 · Mar 1, 2013

mtgianni said:
Doc, are these 55 gr or the 50 gr ones mentioned in another thread?

Yes, Midsouth Shooters Supply 50gr sp and 55gr hp, "Varmit Nightmare X-Treme", which I think are Hornadys.

Shot 50 of each today without a single tumbler.

125JHP · Mar 2, 2013

Now you know how they got the name Nightmare (and it isn't a dark horse).

were they on sale? I bet they were a big batch of 2nds also, with a few undersized.

doc540 · Mar 2, 2013

125JHP said:
Now you know how they got the name Nightmare (and it isn't a dark horse).

were they on sale? I bet they were a big batch of 2nds also, with a few undersized.

Not on sale, but they're the standard, bulk bullets from Midsouth.

Strange that I didn't get a single tumbler out of the next random 100 I loaded.

Not really concerned since they're grouping. More curious than anything.

Engineer1911 · Mar 2, 2013

Awesome knockdown power with good accuracy. Dirty barrel, undersize bullets, or worn barrel. My tumbler groups were a 4 foot group at 100 yards.

Reloading Mystery - Accurate Tumblers?

doc540

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