Nosler custom comp. bullet blowups

[JohnWayne]

A couple friends and I were out yesterday getting a our rifles ready for the vintage bolt gun match next month and we ran into some trouble. Two of us were shooting 6.5 swedish mausers and 140 gr. nosler custom comp. bullets and we both experienced the bullets breaking apart. We weren't pushing them over 2600 fps and we didn't have any troubles with lapua, sierra, or hornady bullets driven by the same powder charges. Has anyone else had trouble with these bullets?

 

[Gerry Nordmann]

I shoot the 140 gr. Nosler comp. bullets over 2,950 fps with no problems yet - in my 6.5-284 rifles. However, I have all mine Boron coated by Dave Tubb's company. I have used over 500, so far, in three different rifles. You might have a spot in the bore that is groving the jacket and weakining it. "Badlands"

 

[distinguished]

I had a problem with 69gr Noslers blowing up several years ago, cost me a match. I contacted Nosler about it and NOT happy with their response. Since I had several hundred more bullets [different lots] I continued shooting them. It must have been a bad lot because I haven't had a problem since. I did trash almost 1000 bullets from the "bad lot" since Nosler made no offer to replace them.

 

[RonAKA]

What is your barrel twist? May be too high for that bullet design.

 

[JohnWayne]

Swedes are a 1-8.5 twist which should be great for a 140. Again we had no trouble with sierra, hornady, or lapua bullets of the same weight and they blew out of both rifles so I doubt if it was a twist rate or barrel quality issue. If anyone wants what I have left (200-300) I would sell them cheap.

 

[MQ1]

John,

Are you shooting a "long" swedish mauser, or a carbine? I ask only because I have a 1917 that has a near perfect bore and box of the Noslers you are having problems with. I just have not gotten around to working up a load yet.

PM me the lot number on the Noslers and let me know what your load is, and I'll see if I can replicate the same problem...

MQ1

 

[JohnWayne]

PM sent, Thanks

 

[boltman13]

I have used 69 gr 22's in 1:9, 1:8, and 1:7 twist AR's, 168 gr 30's in 1:12 and 1:10 bolt guns and never had a problem and excellent accuracy. Have not tried the 6.5's and thanks for the heads up. Will only buy one box of 100 to see how they do in my 6.5 Creedmore if I buy any at all.

 

[1000yardstare]

I shot 77 gr Noslers in a .223 and 168 Noslers in a .308 at an F Class match three weeks ago and had excellent scores at 300, 500 and 600.

Is your rifle a small ring 1896 Mauser? Groove diameters are a roll of the dice proposition in some of those old rifles.

I have a buddy who is proud of his 1896 complete with medallion on the butt stock but he has had bullets keyhole at 100 yards.

To be honest, I think that modern bullets have to be shot in modern rifles to properly evaluate their performance.

 

[JohnWayne]

I just got back shooting some of the bullets in question through a M70 6.5 creedmoor with a 8.5 twist krieger. At speeds as low as 2550 fps these bullets came apart. I talked to the nice people who made these yesterday and was told I must have a bad barrel. I told them that the bullets in question came apart in two different rifles that had no trouble with three other brands of bullets and got silence. After trying them in my 6.5 creedmoor and getting the same results I think the argument of barrel quality is off the table. Noslers bullets and customer service are of equal quality.

 

[rogn]

I dont think Nosler bulets are bad You aparently have a batch thats defective or has been exposed to some environmental issue(NH3, etc). y second step on any phone issue is to go up the chain and see what that gets. Sometimes its an indivdual ctton bar in the ear of QC and CS.

 

[JohnWayne]

I think I'll load the rest of them pretty lite and let the neighbor kid burn them up. Next time I will just buy hornady, lapua, berger, or sierra. If they can't make them right the first time I don't want any more, and they made it clear I wasn't getting a refund. I had some hornady v-max bullets that had problems with the tips coming out, I called them and they couldn't take care of it quick enough.

 

[boltman13]

Will for sure only risk 100 of the 6.5's in my 6.5 Creed. I am suprised at your response from Nosler, I would expect they would stand behind their product better. I have never been disapointed by any of their bullets in the past, hunting or targer.

 

[Beau]

What is the lot #?

 

[750k2]

The service you got seems to be a trend in todays world.
Makes a good company really shine though.
Wouldn't be the first good company to go south.

 

[PVI]

John,

PM me the information on the Nosler bullets including the item code, lot number, when and where purchased, how many you have left and I will contact Nosler personally to see if I can help you out.

Bryan