One of my favorite things to do is to test bullets. I’m not sure why it’s so satisfying, but it is! In this story, we’ll take an in-depth and hands-on look at Hornady’s 6.5mm 153 grain A-Tip bullets.
About 156 grain 6.5mm A-Tip Bullets
Hornady’s 153 grain 6.5mm A-Tip bullets are an ideal choice for cartridges like 6.5 Creedmoor and 6.5 PRC. From the Hornady website:
TIP DESIGN
- Aluminum tip is precision machined and longer than polymer tips which moves the center of gravity and enhances inflight stability.
- Aeroballistically advanced tip design results in tighter groups and reduced drag variability.
- Perfect blend of ogive, tip length, bearing surface and optimized boattail by caliber.
PERFORMANCE
- Doppler radar verified low drag coefficient (high BC) bullets are forgiving of twist rate, seating depth and muzzle velocity.
- Refined design of the AMP® bullet jacket offers industry leading uniformity and concentricity.
MANUFACTURING
- Right off the press – sequentially packaged, one clone after another for the ultimate in consistent performance.
- Minimal handling throughout the manufacturing process ensures consistency from bullet to bullet.
- Packaged with a polishing bag to prepare bullets for loading (bullets aren’t bulk washed after manufacture).
153 grain 6.5mm A-Tip specs:
| CALIBER | 6.5mm .264″ |
| PRODUCT LINE | A-TIP® Match |
| SECTIONAL DENSITY | 0.314 |
| BALLISTIC COEFFICIENT | .704 (G1), .355 (G7) |
| TWIST RATE | 1:8” (Minimum Recommended) |
| WEIGHT | 153 GR |
| APPLICATION | Target/Match |
| BOX COUNT | 100 |
| ITEM # | 2638 |
Lab Tests
For bullets, my lab tests consist of weight consistency testing, bullet diameter consistency testing, and bullet length consistency testing.
Weight Consistency
For weight testing, I’m using the AND EJ-54D2 scale which can sense 0.003 grains! It also has a handy USB interface for recording results to my laptop.
Here’s the data I collected for the 20 bullets tested:
How about THAT! An average weight of 153.00 grains! That’s the most accurate result I’ve seen. In terms of precision, the SD of 0.07 grains is very impressive as well.
Diameter Data
Between length and diameter dimensions, diameter is way more critical for bullets. Here’s the measured diameters for the 20 bullets tested (each bullet measured twice, rotating the bullet 90° between diameter measurements)
An SD of 0.0001″ is phenomenal!
Length Data
Length was measured (base to tip) for each of the 20 bullets as well. Here’s the data from that testing:
Overall, these bullets tested as well or better in the lab compared to other bullets I’ve tested!
6.5 Creedmoor Load Development
The components used for load data were the following:
- Hornady 153 grain 6.5mm A-Tip Bullets
- Winchester StaBALL 6.5 powder
- Federal 210M large rifle primers (match)
- Lapua 6.5 Creedmoor cases (new, large rifle primer)
Also shown above is the test rifle used with Terminus Zeus action, Proof pre-fit 6.5 Creedmoor barrel, Foundation stock, and Athlon Cronus scope.
For charge weight, I worked up five loads (some are beyond Winchester’s load data, see disclaimer below!)
Disclaimer: Use load data at your own risk. Ultimate Reloader is not responsible for errors in load data on this website. Always cross-reference load data with manufacturer’s published data.
Here’s the results for each of the five charges tested: (initial 3-shot groups shown here)
I was very pleased with these results, the StaBALL 6.5 powder turned out some GREAT velocity numbers, and I’ll note that I didn’t see any pressure signs at all during testing.
Here was one of the best 100 yard groups from the 3-shot testing (43.2 grains StaBALL 6.5) measuring 0.262″:
I decided this 43.2 grain load showed the best combination of accuracy and velocity consistency, so I followed up my 3-shot work-up with a 5-shot group for the 43.2 grain load, and it shot very well!
I was very happy with the performance of these bullets. It didn’t take much time to get to a great performing load, and group-to-group consistency was very good as well. For fun- I put three-in-a-row on steel at 650 yards.
Get these Bullets at Midsouth Shooters Supply
If you’re looking for these Hornady 153 grain 6.5mm A-Tip bullets, you’ll find them at Midsouth Shooters Supply!
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Thanks,
Gavin
