Winchester Silvertip.....exposed.

[bobm]

Lately I have read a few comments that the new Hornady A-tip bullet may be just a spin off of the WW Silvertip bullet. Nothing could be further from the truth. I have always known the silver tip is nothing more than a soft aluminum cap serving some protection over the soft lead tip. It does practically nothing on impact to promote deeper penetration or aiding expansion characteristics. It will however provide some magazine bashing nose protection when firing the rifle.

To prove this I sacrificed..."in the name of science"...one of my WW .30-06 factory rounds. It clearly shows nothing more than a formed thin aluminum cap incorporated into the nose. Cold blue darkened the lead core for better contrast. The cap length ends just ahead of my cut above the cannelure.

Hornadys new A-tips are constructed nothing like the WW Silvertips.

 

[pirate ammo]

Is that crimp normal for Winchester now,it just looks strange to me?

 

[dolek]

Thanks for the sacrifice "in the name of science" .I used the silver-tips many years ago,I was always wondering just what the construction was. They did a great job on Whitetails for me .

 

[Bill K]

Very interesting and informative. It is different for sure. Nothing like I and others thought re: the new A-tip. Now you or someone will do a cut away of the A-tip so we see how it is. Thanks.

 

[mike a]

Very interesting and informative. It is different for sure. Nothing like I and others thought re: the new A-tip. Now you or someone will do a cut away of the A-tip so we see how it is. Thanks.

I'll cut some if you send me a box of the 6mm

 

[bobm]

Very interesting and informative. It is different for sure. Nothing like I and others thought re: the new A-tip. Now you or someone will do a cut away of the A-tip so we see how it is. Thanks.

Bill, years ago when Hornady released the Amax line of bullets I cut open a 7mm 168 gr. sample. This had the longer plastic insert, later ones had shorter tips. At point 3:00 in the Hornady video the A-tip bullet graphic shows very similar construction. I will need you to supply me with 7mm samples to cut if they become available.

 

[nso123]

Is that crimp normal for Winchester now,it just looks strange to me?

I have seen some once fired Winchester brass that had that same crimp, so apparently it is common.

 

[Bill K]

If I had a 6mm I would buy one box and either send a couple to someone, as mentioned, or cut one myself. But I bet they would be about like the one A-max, and the other tipped bullets, they make.

 

[wboggs]

The old 300gr .375 cal silvertip was one of the strongest and most accurate bullets I ever used in a .378 wby.
Very, very good hunting bullet.
Bill

 

[pirate ammo]

I have seen some once fired Winchester brass that had that same crimp, so apparently it is common.

But the OP said this was factory new stuff,it's got me wondering. I'm not a reloading professional, it don't look right.

 

[bobm]

The old 300gr .375 cal silvertip was one of the strongest and most accurate bullets I ever used in a .378 wby.
Very, very good hunting bullet.
Bill

No argument there, Bill. Any 300 grain bullet traveling at 2900 FPS is a formidable game stopper. But, the Silvertip bullet is just a soft point bullet with a thin aluminum cup over the lead core. The heavy gilding metal jacket is much stronger than the thin aluminum cup.

Pirate, that was a three year old box of 180's I found in my Christmas stocking. Love my grand daughter. They get tossed into my day pack when elk hunting in case my supply of hand loads runs out. Yep, that is an ugly six place stake crimp they use.

 

[pirate ammo]

Pirate, that was a three year old box of 180's I found in my Christmas stocking. Love my grand daughter. They get tossed into my day pack when elk hunting in case my supply of hand loads runs out. Yep, that is an ugly six place stake crimp they use.

thanks,that was driving me nuts trying to figure it out,,,never shot Winchester ammo.

 

[msinc]

But the OP said this was factory new stuff,it's got me wondering. I'm not a reloading professional, it don't look right.

That bullet cut in the first post is an old original Winchester Silver Tip bullet...I didn't know they still made those. Everything I have seen lately, which goes back quite a few years now, I thought was nothing but a Nosler Ballistic Tip bullet with a gray plastic point. Even seen those with moly coating....it was somebody's "factory" hunting ammo. {C-T technologies???}
Interesting though, I always took for granted that the original silver tips were like a Remington Bronze Point bullet and just had an aluminum point with a stem stuck down in the hollow point of the bullet. I know Remington anodized the gold onto the "Bronze Point" and I just believed Winchester had the same design just without the fancy {and worthless} color.
I didn't know they still made the older style, hadn't seen them in a while...but then again, I don't use Winchester components either.

 

[dave@aDave]

Is that crimp normal for Winchester now,it just looks strange to me?

Found some ammo for my grandson's 6.5 Rem Mag that was crimped in that fashion. I believe it is called a collet crimp. Lee had dies to perform the crimp. They may still sell them.

 

[GaryL1959]

Is that crimp normal for Winchester now,it just looks strange to me?

That crimp looks exactly like the crimp on every piece of factory loaded centerfire Winchester ammo I've ever shot...and that's quite a bit over the last 50 years.

 

[bobm]

I am not sure when Winchester dropped the original Silvertip ammo from their line, but not too long ago. This box I have was probably older inventory at the shop where purchased. The current catalog only has Ballistic Silvertip bullets as in Nosler Ballistic Tip style bullets.

https://winchester.com/Products/Ammunition/Rifle/Ballistic-Silvertip/SBST3006B

That bold crimp does get ironed out upon firing but is still quite visible.

 

[ckaberna]

That bullet cut in the first post is an old original Winchester Silver Tip bullet...I didn't know they still made those. Everything I have seen lately, which goes back quite a few years now, I thought was nothing but a Nosler Ballistic Tip bullet with a gray plastic point. Even seen those with moly coating....it was somebody's "factory" hunting ammo. {C-T technologies???}
Interesting though, I always took for granted that the original silver tips were like a Remington Bronze Point bullet and just had an aluminum point with a stem stuck down in the hollow point of the bullet. I know Remington anodized the gold onto the "Bronze Point" and I just believed Winchester had the same design just without the fancy {and worthless} color.
I didn't know they still made the older style, hadn't seen them in a while...but then again, I don't use Winchester components either.

I would like to know where to find them if it’s the “old metallic “ original.

 

[ckaberna]

As far as I know they haven’t made the original “silvertips” since the mid 90’s. Would love to find a case.

 

[bobm]

I would like to know where to find them if it’s the “old metallic “ original.

As far as I know they haven’t made the original “silvertips” since the mid 90’s. Would love to find a case.

With the huge advancements made in bullet technology, I would have to ask this. Why?

 

[ckaberna]

Back when I hunted quite a bit, these were the best performers on whitetails I ever used.
There are probably better nowadays, I just am not aware of them. About all I shoot now is paper anyway.