Nosler E-Tip Bullets

[JKEEN33]

I've shot a few boxes of the xp3's and to be honest I didn't care for them. They were not a very accurate bullet. I've read the same complaint in a lot of reviews. That bullet is what got me into reloading. I bought one of the first 325's in WA and that was about all I could find to shoot out of it off the shelf.

I went from about a 2.5" group down to a .75" group by getting away from that bullet. They may work great on game, but I never trusted them enough to give them a try.

[engelwood]

I'm going to be running some tests, comparing the XP3's to some hand-loaded Barnes TSX 168's as well as some Nosler E-Tip 180's in the 300 WSM. My father in law's 300 WSM has put some nice holes in some good animals, but I too question the overall accuracy of the bullet/factory load. I personally think that his overall groups will improve significantly when the switch is made. Only time/testing will tell. One thing is for sure, the XP3 does do some damage when they hit an animal.

[JKEEN33]

I'm going to be running some tests, comparing the XP3's to some hand-loaded Barnes TSX 168's as well as some Nosler E-Tip 180's in the 300 WSM. My father in law's 300 WSM has put some nice holes in some good animals, but I too question the overall accuracy of the bullet/factory load. I personally think that his overall groups will improve significantly when the switch is made. Only time/testing will tell. One thing is for sure, the XP3 does do some damage when they hit an animal.

I have two 300WSM's also. The Remington does not shoot the XP3's well either. Never tried them in the Browning. Both like Accubonds, but haven't found anything yet that doesn't. 

[MDGrand]

I wish they would make the XP3's availabe for reloading 

ME TOO!!! That is an awesome bullet.

[Bob33]

I firmly believe there is no such thing as an "accurate" bullet or an "inaccurate" bullet.  Every guns has likes and dislikes.  You may find that a particular gun "loves" XP3, and another one of the same make may "hate" them.

I have seen far too many instances where a particular load in one gun shoots very well, but the very same load, down to the 1/10th of a grain of powder, shoots poorly in another gun.  Does that make the bullet "accurate" or "inaccurate"?

I believe it is a mistake to conclude that just because a particular bullet in a particular load does not shoot well in certain guns, that it is inherently inaccurate.  The same bullet with a different powder, or different primer, or different OAL may shoot very well in the same gun.  Then again, it may not.  You just have to ask your rifle what it likes and obey its wishes...

[JKEEN33]

I usually agree with you Bob, but not on this one. Tough to say it's the rifle when it will shoot two in what looks like it will be a nice group then throw the 3rd way out into nowhere. Maybe accurate is not the correct word, I Will use consistant. Just my experience with the XP3. I do agree, that some rifles will probably love them. Mine don't.