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Introducing a New long range bullet by Barts Bullets

There is no question that Bart's 105 will be great. From the picture, it looks like a Secant ogive (VLD). I hope I am correct. Also, in about the middle of the picture, there is a bullet whose meplat is facing to the left as you view it and the meplat "appears" to be quite large. That has nothing to do with quality but does influence BC. It is a function of the die design and the knock out pin function. The larger meplat will also allow custom meplat modifications or modifications by any shooter with a meplat closing die and the correct closing insert.

I expect the bullets to be very accurate at 600, while, from a view of the bullet I mentioned, I also expect long range improvement to be easily had with a meplat closing for 1000 -- where you need all the help you can get.

Keep in mind that the 7mm 180 grain Berger Hybrid also has a large meplat. They hold a lot of long range and F-Class Open records and respond very nicely to meplat modification -- not only in fact but in Bryan Litz's opinion as well.

It seems that everyone is eaten up with BC, which is very important. But a "bad" bullet can have a great BC. A bad bullet cannot and will not have waterline vertical at long range. The great bullets will give you waterline vertical at 600 and 1000. Without that, you have nothing -- absolutely nothing.

With the Vapor Trails and Bart's 105 -- as well as great commercial offerings by Berger -- mid and long range shooters are in a very good place. Congrats to Bart for the offering and an advance congrats for the testing results we expect to come at 600 and 1000.

Regards,
Jim Hardy

Hardy Custom Bullets, Inc.
Passion + Precision = Perfection

Shop: 770-886-1997
Cell: 770-855-8960
 
Many shooters have commented on the high price of elite competition bullets. I understand -- it hurts. But I will tell you what hurts more: "Hey honey, I am going to a long range regional this week. It will last two days plus one day going and one coming back home. Sorry I have to dig into the family income to pay for fuel and lodging -- and maybe a few of my vacation days and/or sick days. I know you support my shooting, but you are not really interested in attending as that is not your thing. Tell the children I love them and I will make that ball game and dance recital next time around. I am sure the dog will be OK without my walks and play time. No big deal"

When you come back with a victory and or a record, your family can stomach some of what many say behind closed doors -- "it is all about you . . . spending thousands over time . . . just selfish gratification." I don't have that problem, but if you think that many shooters don't have that problem to some degree, you are kidding yourself.

If you want to be a winner at long range, you better have a great shooting package. Everything tested, adjusted and of the best quality you can buy. In that package are bullets and barrels -- which will always be the major part of the game.

As I start up my new bullet making business, fulfilling a dream I have had for decades, I understand big time the expense and efforts involved. Thousands of dollars spent on custom carbide dies, components, modified presses -- and yes -- perfect cores and jackets. Oh, you think there are no politics at play getting this on the road. Wrong! A few will offer to mentor you -- and some will not give you the time of day. You are the competition -- or at least potential competition. This is how many make their living. It is rough and dirty work. Not appreciated by most until they shoot that knot hole or high score or World Record.

When I do a 5 step meplat modification on 400 bullets, it takes me about six (6) hours. Yes, I charge for the modifications but not nearly enough -- no one would pay me for the time and skill set I put into the modifications -- do the math. But, I love making great bullets shoot better for great shooters.

Back to the expense of great bullets -- and the extra expense of custom meplat modification -- you will never pay what it realy costs in time, knowledge, experience and "secret" skills. It is like eating fine BBQ. You love it and ask the cook how he makes his sauce. He tells you he has sauce for sale on the counter -- but YOU want his recipe. He ain't going to give it to you!!! If you like the BBQ sauce, be happy. If you shoot personal or national records with costly bullets, be happy. Otherwise you get to go home -- after spending all the time and money away from family, work, church and friends -- a big loser -- what a great ride home. Why, because you did not have your shooting package together and don't really know how to analyze the results of each shot because your barrel and BULLETS are not having a truthful conversations with you. You did the unthinkable -- you told yourself "that is good enough." Was it? "Good to have you back home my loving husband. The children sure missed you. The dog got sick, but I took care of it and just charged it on the AMX so we can pay it next week. How did you shoot." What will your answer be?

If you want to be elite or if you are already an elite shooter, pay the price on each part of of shooting package and that includes the best bullets you can get your hands on. Life will be a much happier place with small groups and big scores and championships.

Just my very raw opinion to anyone it might help,
Jim Hardy

Hardy Custom Bullets, Inc.
Passion + Precision = Perfection

Shop: 770-886-1997
Cell: 770-855-8960
 
Very well said Jim. Yes the large meplat is there for any type modification one wishes to do if deemed necessary. Meplat services are in place and could possibly be offered to the public at a later date. Testing currently being done is going to include those numbers for folks interested in doing it themselves or having it professionally done if they deem it necessary.
 
Im Stephen Hall some of you that shoot 600yd benchrest may know me as i have been playing that game for about 4 years now. I know Tom Jacobs and Clay Spencer and know that both of them are capable of making very good bullets on that particular set of dies. I have some wood on my walls from Clays bullets however I have not shot Toms bullets in competition. I have tested Toms bullets enough to know that they capable of winning at the highest level as was proven at last years nationals with i think 8 of the top ten places using them.
With that said I am one of the people that asked Bart to get into this market due to the shortage of truly competitive bullets. Tom does a great job but he cannot always keep up with demand and the cold hard truth is that someday that die will wear out and he is dependent on getting good jackets from J4 which I know that he inspects and will reject if not up to standard as he is a quality driven person.
Bart however has some heavy input into jacket quality and is the sole distributor for his jackets this means that it will take more than just an increase in demand of Berger bullets to keep us from getting competitive bullets. I have known Bart for quite a while and have a lot more wood on my walls from his bullets than any other as I have shot much more short range BR. Bart has made it clear with every bullet project that he undertakes that he will not be satisfied with good enough, he wants to be the best. He has had bullets in the past that were world beaters the "Ultra" to be exact. When that 1st die was ready to be retired he and Billy Stevens were already underway with testing bullets in competition off of new dies.
I have no doubt that Bart is already working on plan B if this die is not all of what he thinks it can be.

Now with the background information over Bart sent me some of the bullets to test and i tested them side by side with several different bullets from known good lots from Berger, Robinett, and Vapor Trail in a known barrel. (the one that broke the Light gun score record a couple of years ago to be exact) During this test session with a 15mph switch head wind the witnessed 4 consecutive groups after tuning were as follows. 1.151, 1.238, 1.984, 1.738. For a 1.5278 agg. I did have the luxury of being on my home range with ability to make tuning adjustments on the spot and the heat of competition tends to open groups up.

As far as price people have been paying that much or more to get bullets of this quality for some time.

The bottom line is more options are always better and I believe Barts new bullets are going to be HIGHLY competitive at the very least and I know that if this community will support his efforts that he will not rest until they are the best available as he has proven in the short range game.
 
Thanks for your information, comments and testing. That sure answers a lot of questions about the bottom line of how they print on the target. I am sure all the posters on this thread love the results and real world feedback.

Thanks again,
Jim Hardy

Hardy Custom Bullets, Inc.
Passion + Precision = Perfection

Shop: 770-886-1997
Cell: 770-855-8960
 
Some posters have asked questions about the rebated boat tails. There is a lot of opinions about the merits. If we take a look at what Bryan Litz says, there is no up side or down side to the rebated boat tail. On the other side, carbide die makers find the rebated boat tails easier to make. Usually, the rebate is .015 or less. It is also stronger. So, one could argue that if it is easier to make, and is stronger, with no down side, it is easier to get a precision bullet. All is good with the rebated boat tail, even if there is no ballistic advantage.

Jim Hardy

Hardy Custom Bullets, Inc.
Passion + Precision = Perfection

Shop: 770-886-1997
Cell: 770-855-8960
 
Let me side step,I am no record holder of any thing.But for the common slob like me that just want's to shoot his best struggling with a finicky barrel,these bullets offer another option to make that happen.That being said I just pointed up some of them and they look good!
 
When I started shooting BR a few years ago I had no idea how this sport and the quest for smaller and smaller groups would consume me. Ive spent a good bit of money on annealers, dies, rests, barrels, optics, precision measurement tools, bullets, brass, etc, etc, etc all in a quest to shoot small.

Most purchases have paid off in some fashion in an effort to shrink groups and add to consistency. I will be one of the many who will pony up an extra $.20 or so per bullet if they out perform products currently available.

We are very fortunate to have folks like Bart, Dusty, Jim Hardy, Randy Robinett, and others who share the passion for the sport and are willing to put in the labor to produce the best bullets possible.

Good Shooting.

Rich
 
Dusty brought one of these bullets to our Match Saturday. I must say they look very well made. Might need to rethink the cost/results angle.

George
 
I started about three years ago and the 600yd has grown to new levels of accuracy. At big piney yesterday f open was a three way tie broken by one x apart only the best equipment will get you there. I got to be good friends with Jim Hardy last winter and he is committed to making the best bullet and nothing less will do he has helped me in so many ways I cannot thank him enough .A magic bullet will not win matches but a complete shooting package will get you a chance.As for Barts bullets I have tried anything that might help me shoot better and I can't hardly wait to get some Barts 105 to test and continue the quest to be better at my passion for the sport of benchrest. Dannie Wake
 
Thank Dannie. I am just a tool to help you out if I can. You get all the credit because your alone test and prepare your shooting package. As always, glory be to God.

Jim Hardy

Hardy Custom Bullets, Inc.
Passion + Precision = Perfection

Shop: 770-886-1997
Cell: 770-855-8960
 
Wanted to update my results using Barts new bullets..I have found them to be very consistent in measurements all around...I believe leadslinger was wanting results...here are some. This target ties the national record and if not for my mistake, would have broken the record..there are three 10's on the target..one right two left...two of these are sighters, while the one circled my 15th shot. As you can see, all 22 shoots held less than 1/2" MOA vertical at 600 yards. It doesn't get much better...this should settle the questions to whether the bullets will shoot or not..

 
There were people there that own them in the names that got called out but not sure who were actually using them there. The winner was using bergers in this particular barrel.
 
If you knew, why didn't you just say so ,and make your spill for Tommy's bullets..it would have sounded much better.

You should look here..

http://forum.accurateshooter.com/index.php?topic=3884003.0
 
Like i said, most names that got called have bought bullets from us but its hard to tell what theyll be shooting at any given time as a top level competitor will own and test every component available and will use what works best at anytime even swapping mid-match if need be. You have to test, test and then test again to be the best- on a continuous search for an edge. If you dont try everything available youll never be at the top tier. Im sure richard didnt just screw a barrel on and work up a load- id bet he has a pile of barrels, bullets, powder, primers- all tested and the combinations evaluated for performance.
 

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