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A photo of the bullets I purchased for reloading.
These are what arrived from Hornady for me to reload. Will these still be accurate?

Unless you paid for damaged bullets, i'd send them back.

Depends on the size of the target. If you are trying to hit the ocean, I say good luck and send them back.

I have some Hornady 68 gr BTHP so I took a look and mine do not show the irregular meplat shape like yours. However, I have some 69 gr and 77 gr Nosler HPBTs that look almost identical to what you have there in Hornady. In discussing the "problem" with Nosler, they told me "There will be a slight variation in the Meplat which will make no difference in accuracy". I haven't noticed any problem shooting them, so far, they have grouped well out to 200 yds. Check out my Sept 9th post "Nosler 69/77 gr quality, Broken? HP edge"

I wouldn't care if they affected accuracy or not, i'd be sending them back. If hornady wont take care of the problem make sure and let us know. I cant stand a company that wont back their product, especially in a case like this.

I sent this picture to Bob at Hornady yesterday (Mon) he called me back today and explained the tipping machine must have had debris in it, apologized for any inconvenience, asked for my address and said he would send new ones right away. Props to Hornady!

I was going to post................................."Looks like Sierras to me not Hornady"

Those look pretty beat up. Now to prove something to yourself work up a load with the NEW bullets and get some god accuracy. Now load the damaged bullets and shoot some groups. I have a gut level feeling that you won't be able to see any statistical differences. I look at what happens to some of the front ends on AR's and am amazed that the things will still shoot.

I hope you post a note with the comparisons. I've seen several articles that damaged the bullet tips on purpose and surprisingly virtually no difference in groups is noted. The BASE of the bullet makes more of an impact on accuracy if it is damaged.

Greg

We're of the same opinion.

I mentioned this in a PM to knot on a different but related topic. That HP on the HPBT is to create a mushroom wind motion that goes back on the bullet side creating just a tad faster air flow which assists the boat tail vacuum effect which helps stabilize the bullet in longer flight.

Though theoretically it would make a difference, there's a good chance even better than average, by the time it would see the difference it would be out there far enough, you would never notice due to all the other variables like cross winds. Even in the damaged areas, you would still have the natural venturi effect of the bullet body working on the boat tail.

I've found when looking at bullets, its often best to think of them in terms of airplanes and the same aerodynamics are involved. From here to the wall, a round bullet does very well. Its from one side of the house to another that wings become important. On a bullet just as the name implies, the boat tail is basically a rudder thus its name.

Tj

TJ and Greg, now you both have me curious, I'll definetaly load some of those "damaged" bullets. Dakotadad posted he ran into this and didn't see much difference.

There was a write up in a Reloader magazine. If I can find it I'll get a reference for you.

Greg

I have dove into the blemished bullet world a time or two. I like em. Cheap as hell and they make great bullets for function testing guns, crono data and the occiasional bump firing