I wrote some of the following message on another forum late last year. I think it fits well in this thread.
Almost 2 years ago, after learning of the passing of Swampy, I decided to switch to Hornady A-tips 230gr bullets on the strength of recommendations at that forum and the technical data.
It was not an immediate success. To be completely transparent, it was nothing short of a disaster. My scores took a nosedive and then they got worse. Everything that I had learned in 14 years of F-TR and 38+ years of competition shooting was out the window. Nothing made sense. One day I would have a great string then it would just blow up. After 1300 rounds of match ammo with 230 A-tips, I was ready to give up on these bad boys. Then I loaded my last 300 rounds for one club match and TSRA LR.
I shot a club match 2 weekends ago (when I first wrote this) and did ok, but not as I used to score. Then we got to TSRA last weekend (in October 2020). On Saturday, we started the individuals in bunny conditions (Delta had gone by that time, and it's quite calm after a hurricane has gone by,) I shot a master score. Not good enough to place, however. As the day wore on my scores got worse. I was watching my bullets jump up or down and not going where I expected them to go.
Saturday night, I toyed with the idea of sleeping in late the next day and not bothering going to the match. What was the use? But that's not my style; I was going to show up and shoot.
On Sunday, I started the first match, fully expecting to take about 12-14 rounds to stabilize after an din-depth cleaning but instead I went for record after 6 rounds and did OK. A couple hours later, after coming back from the pits, I started my last match. The mirage was up and running and the wind was nasty, once again. I took three sighters after putting 2 MOA on the gun to get me just to the left side of the 10 ring. I figured the wind was mainly from the front right, (northeast) and I would just hold one or 2 lines from the X and play from there. After the third sighter, which was a 9 at 3 o'clock, I declared for record and started my 20 round string. X, one on; X, two on; 10, three on. I was running my magnificent March-X 10-60X56 HM at 50X and I was watching the mirage in my Kowa on my left side. I kept up the rhythm and I was shooting fast. I was adjusting between center and 2 left. Then on shot 7, I got an 8 at 7 o'clock and I figured the A-tips were acting up again. Looking in my scope, I noticed that the mirage had actually switched around just as I shot and that was what caused the blowout left and low. Without hesitation I switched to the right side, holding 2 and a half lines right, favored high and cut loose. 10, nine on. I kept going. 10s and a few Xs. I was switching left and right, about 2, 2 and a half, and then I dropped another one, a 9 at 9 o'clock just outside the 10. Should I challenge? Nah, I'll lose the story of the conditions. I kept on going for the last few rounds, collecting a couple more Xs, and even aiming center at times. My last shot was a 10. I dropped two rounds, but 3 points for a 197-7X. I will tell you that I had some very fat 10s, but a 10 is a 10 is a 10, however fat it may be. I was elated with my rifle and the ammo. My scorer was impressed. I did not listen to the other scores, but he told me this was some fancy shooting and that others were struggling in these bad conditions.
I signed my card, my scorer turned it in and then I noticed I was the first one to finish. Looking back over my string, it seemed like I just could not miss; left hold, right hold, center, etc. Never more than two, two and a half lines out. It was uncanny.
I walked up and down the line looking at other shooters scores and it dawned on me I had done quite well. As it turns out, I won that match.
This is what the A-tips were supposed to do for me; I was holding one to two lines less than the other shooters as the A-tips were bucking the wind. I shot a club match following TSRA LR and the remaining A-tips were back to their usual unpredictable self. I did not buy any more A-Tips. I did find a box of 210gr JLKs, I had forgotten. Also, some very generous members here sent me some of their 210s, a gesture for which I am very grateful.
I loaded up my JLK 210s for the next TSRA MR and actually did quite well. I was still uncertain about the ammo and my shooting after such a long spell of bad scores and surprises. But that’s in the past now and with my stash, the generosity of members here, and the fact JLKs are back in production; I’m good to go.
It is my belief the 230s were too heavy and that may have affected my gun handling. I do know that I developed a blue spot about the size of a dime on my clavicle after each match with those bullets. I have also noticed that with the 210s, my rifle stays on or near the target instead of bouncing 2 targets left after every shot. I miss the BC of the 230, but not the pain, the surprises, and the bad scores.
But for one glorious string on a windy, switchy Sunday afternoon, I was able to coax the A-tips to shoot "sub-MOA" at 1000 yards for 23 rounds.
However, one must remember that Sic Transit Gloria; the b*tch.
When I started FTR back on the LR target, the 175 SMK was the go to bullet. Then the 180, 185, 190, 200 grainers and who knows came and will come along. All working to buy less wind and make it easier to score in less then ideal conditions. I have no issue with good quality actions and gunsmithing. FTR was evolved from Palma with their international limitations. Let’s see how good a rifleman you are, reading the wind and working to keep a 155 SMK in that little X ring at 1000 yards.
