Nosler RDF Bullets

[sparker]

It would seem the thing to do is to to compare drops same day, same conditions for two bullets. After that, the BC value really doesn't matter. One bullet will be ballistically superior to the other. If this has been done, then all laboratory testing is moot.
S. Parker

 

[Willow]

I gave the 6mm 105gr pills a decent run recently in my 6BRAI. Jumped them 30 thou and ran them at 300 metres. Grouped ok with RL15 but not exceptional. I also ran Berger 105 hybrids and 95gr VLDs. Conditions were consistently calm across all 3 stages. The 95gr VLDs produced the tightest group followed closely by the Hybrids. I'd consider the RDFs if I ran out of Bergers, but they won't be my primary bullet.

 

[JLT]

I gave the 6mm 105gr pills a decent run recently in my 6BRAI. Jumped them 30 thou and ran them at 300 metres. Grouped ok with RL15 but not exceptional. I also ran Berger 105 hybrids and 95gr VLDs. Conditions were consistently calm across all 3 stages. The 95gr VLDs produced the tightest group followed closely by the Hybrids. I'd consider the RDFs if I ran out of Bergers, but they won't be my primary bullet.

I have not yet had the opportunity to give the 6mm RDFs a run, but I have run 120 or so of the 70 gr. .224 through my .223 and I found these to be tolerant of a wide range of seating depths. They grouped very nicely .015 into the lands and all they way out to .015 off, but they grouped best for me .005 to .007 off the lands. I did not try jumping them any further than .015. Have you tried them a little closer to the lands?

 

[Willow]

I have not yet had the opportunity to give the 6mm RDFs a run, but I have run 120 or so of the 70 gr. .224 through my .223 and I found these to be tolerant of a wide range of seating depths. They grouped very nicely .015 into the lands and all they way out to .015 off, but they grouped best for me .005 to .007 off the lands. I did not try jumping them any further than .015. Have you tried them a little closer to the lands?

No, my initial reading up on them suggested they like to be jumped a bit, but I'll give them another go slightly jammed and slightly jumped and see if there's much of a difference. It's a very nice looking bullet so I'm hopeful I can achieve better results than what I have so far.

 

[JLT]

No, my initial reading up on them suggested they like to be jumped a bit, but I'll give them another go slightly jammed and slightly jumped and see if there's much of a difference. It's a very nice looking bullet so I'm hopeful I can achieve better results than what I have so far.

Yep, read the same stuff - I was quite surprised they did so well jammed. .015 in, my two five shot groups were in the high 3s, which is pretty good for my rifle. FWIW, I rarely end up going that far into the lands, but I start there and work out.

 

[Pigdog]

does anyone here with inside info know if nosler is planning on releasing a 6.5 bullet in the 120g range???

 

[SamLS]

How far can you track a bullet with the lab radar.

 

[Eric Leonard]

I gave the 6mm 105gr pills a decent run recently in my 6BRAI. Jumped them 30 thou and ran them at 300 metres. Grouped ok with RL15 but not exceptional. I also ran Berger 105 hybrids and 95gr VLDs. Conditions were consistently calm across all 3 stages. The 95gr VLDs produced the tightest group followed closely by the Hybrids. I'd consider the RDFs if I ran out of Bergers, but they won't be my primary bullet.

do you think the 105 RDF needs a faster than 8 twist??

 

[Terry]

Does anyone have 600 or 1,000 yard groups with these bullets?

Pics Please!

 

[dmoran]

@Terry -
I had a couple teasers and a few okay groups, but decided the 8-twist barrels (6Dasher) may not be enough for them. Plan on testing them in faster twists (7.75 + 7.5) but haven't had the time to yet. Around 4" at 1000 was the best I was able to achieve.
Donovan

 

[Terry]

Thanks Donovan

 

[Dubya]

@Terry -
I had a couple teasers and a few okay groups, but decided the 8-twist barrels (6Dasher) may not be enough for them. Plan on testing them in faster twists (7.75 + 7.5) but haven't had the time to yet. Around 4" at 1000 was the best I was able to achieve.
Donovan

4 in. at 1,000 aint to shabby Donovan, sounds like the 8 twist will stabilize them ok.
Let us know when you try the faster twist barrels.

Gary.

 

[Willow]

do you think the 105 RDF needs a faster than 8 twist??

Hard to say. I ran mine through an 8 twist 30" Krieger. As others have suggested, I suspect I may just have to play around with seating depth, at least before I come to a more definitive conclusion. At 300 metres I did not have to make any elevation adjustments between the RDF and Hybrid (which were pointed), but the Hybrids were definitely more consistent in their grouping. I'll look to jam them .010 and jump .010 to see if that tightens things up. If not, then maybe those running faster twist barrels may be able to chime in with some data.

 

[NortexDM]

Does anyone have 600 or 1,000 yard groups with these bullets?

Pics Please!

Not exactly 600yds but 555yds 5rd group with 105 rdf's. These are jumping around 30thou and going 3003fps from a 6 creed. Conditions were less than ideal with very heavy mirage to try at 1000 but connected on a 1 moa plate cold bore with the advertised .280 bc.

 

[Terry Altom]

If anyone is still looking at the RDFs, Cabela's has them on a pretty good sale right now.

 

[Fast14riot]

I picked up a 100ct box of 6.5 and 6mm for 23.99 and 21.99 respectively last weekend, in store.

6.5 I'm going to run in a new 260AI, 6 is feeding a new 6rem (244), both rifles are being built currently. Hoping to push both right around 3000 in 8 twist 26" barrels.

 

[Terry Altom]

I picked up a 100ct box of 6.5 and 6mm for 23.99 and 21.99 respectively last weekend, in store.

6.5 I'm going to run in a new 260AI, 6 is feeding a new 6rem (244), both rifles are being built currently. Hoping to push both right around 3000 in 8 twist 26" barrels.

I've got 1000 6.5mm 140 RDF on back order for my 260AI. Hope they work out.

 

[Berger.Fan222]

How far can you track a bullet with the lab radar.

This depends on the area of the bullet base and how much you fiddle around with the alignment of the LabRadar. 30 cal bullets are much more forgiving of imperfect alignment than .224 boat tails for tracking to 100 yards. Just about everything 22 cal and up is easy to track to 50 yards.

 

[ASbobcat]

Since very few bullets are EXACTLY the correct diameter, I always measure every new batch.
I just measured some Nosler 6mm 105gr RDF's with a micrometer and found them to be .24285 (+/-.00005). Compare this to a recent batch of Berger's at .2431.
Obviously this could be a factor in accuracy, and potentially velocity/pressure, depending on your particular bore diameter.
Curiously, the bearing surface of the Berger's also appeared to be very slightly tapered, about .0001 or less fatter toward the base. Has anyone else encountered this?

 

[dmoran]

@ASbobcat -
Bearing surface taper on Berger's is a common thing that I see.
Myself, I prefer skinny bullets over fat bullets, have had better success with them. In my own experience; I typically find skinny bullets like lighter neck tension and fat bullets like more tension.
Donovan