TESTED: Hornady 153 grain 6.5mm A-Tip Bullets

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One of my favorite things to do is testing bullets. I'm not sure why it's so satisfying, but it is! In this video, we'll take an in-depth and hands-on look at Hornady's 6.5mm 153 grain A-Tip bullets.
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Ultimate Reloader LLC / gavintoobe Material Connection Notice:
The following Ultimate Reloader partners are featured in this video:
Hornady
Hodgdon Powder
Lapua
Ultimate Reloader partnerships involve one or more of the following:
Product supplied for evaluation + testing + features in videos/articles, paid advertising and promotions, engineering and product development services, scientific testing and evaluation, external media production and related marketing services.
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For more information about Ultimate Reloader partnerships, please visit: ultimatereload...

[@THLR]

The cabin alone was worth the subscription!

[@Joe-lk6oc]

Wow, not only a great rifle, bullet, load combo, but congratulations to you the shooter! Every aspect is amazingly awesome!

[@lucasrose8272]

153 Atip runs great in the 6.5PRC been getting about 3140 average with these shooting .267 group size, have had great luck with them

[@Perjorativeterm]

Holy crap that's awesome. What powder are you running? What's the rifle?

[@danielforester6636]

Yeah what powder are you using to get 3140?

[@alexmills1329]

That’s a hot load, because careful with that, but good to hear you’ve had good luck.

[@georgepatterson5885]

Been running A-tips in both my 6.5 Creed (153 grn)and my .300 win mag (230grn) and they are outstanding...my 300 win mag has a terminus zeus action and a bartlein M24 barrel from southern precision and consistently shoots 0.25 MOA groups with A-tips...I am still tinkering with a few parameters (seating depth being the main one) as I believe it will even do better...strong endorsement of A-tips, terminus zeus actions and the barrel from southern precision.

[@jassonco]

Good to know, thank you! I haven't done very much testing with the 10# of StaBall I'v got, since when it was introduced.

[@justinpratt6439]

Thanks for putting out quality content. I’m glad you still chose the creedmoor for testing. People sleep on the the creedmoor now that the prc is in the picture. A 153 atip at 2700 to 2800 consistently with a low sd and small groups is money. I’m a firm believer that 6.5 is the more practical diameter in comparison to 6mm or even .257. With components becoming more and more progressively competitive I think there will be a sweet spot the same as a 105 Berger and varget with a 6.5 bullet powder combo that will supersede and become the competitive choice to spot impacts better and cheat wind.

[@cameronjaeger]

Would love to see a head to head with the Berger 6.5mm 153.5gr hybrids.

[@TAWier]

I'd like to see the same comparison in 6.5 PRC.

[@charlesmullins3238]

@@TAWier yep..I’m in the prc game now and testing with a carbon waypoint

[@DJ-3551-1]

Would you be interested in doing a video on powders and burn rates, what's used for what. Would be super educational. Thanks for the videos

[@Ultimatereloader]

Great idea!

[@cadillacvelocity]

I would love to see the 250 grain A-Tip in the 300 RUM PLEASE!🙏

[@MegaSloth]

Loved all these 6.5 videos!

[@Dfour]

Now I know why these are so pricey. I didn't know what I was looking at at 153g. Great video

[@MichaelDFarrellJr]

150 SMKs with that powder could be a winner, too. Enjoyed the video!

[@DanielBoone337]

So far I've never heard a single bad thing about these bullets definitely want to get my hands on some in the near future.

[@stepupauto]

Absolutely fantastic video. I’m always excited to see your new videos

[@chug-a-lug6842]

The Winchester staball 6.5 is working amazing in my 7mm-08 I’m getting over 2800 FPS with a 162 Amax

[@BlackOps-Ent]

Nice shootin', Tex

[@Ultimatereloader]

Thank you!

[@jimhans1]

Wish you had tested the 135gr A-Tip in the Creedmoor since that is the bullet designed for the Creed. The 153 works best in 6.5-284/6.5PRC and larger cases, as it was designed for them.

[@Ultimatereloader]

Did it! See: kzbin.info/www/bejne/d6DIYp5rq8p9qrc

[@paulmeek7964]

I'm thinking about the 135 atip in my 6.5 off on whitetail this year any info would be great

[@cjamonwilliams]

Right on time.. Im searching for bullets as we speak!

[@guardianminifarm8005]

Fantastic. Smart guys are great to have around. Smart guys that can shoot...even better. Keep it up my friend.

[@pstewart5443]

Amen on the Zeus. I run it as well, and haven't seen very many pressure signs across multiple powders in 6.5CM. I have run S6.5 up around those same numbers as well. Now if Hornady would just drop the price to around $55/100 then maybe more ppl would be buying these bullets. I just have a hard time swallowing a price tag of $75 and up on a box of these. The bullet really shines in 6.5-284 and 6.5-308.

[@glockparaastra]

I’d like to see some testing of the 153gr in the 6.5PRC.

[@TAWier]

Same👍

[@floridamike75]

Awesome Video as always!!!

[@Ultimatereloader]

Thanks Mike!

[@n1iex]

Great job Gervinho thanks!

[@The_MooseWhisperer]

Love the content and thanks for sharing the 6.5 a-tips. Can you do a video on load development and dialing in a 7mm Rem Mag!

[@knallis.hjemmelading]

Nice shooting Gavin

[@robertjackson1407]

Thank you 😊

[@TheFlanman10]

It seems natural given the burn rate that you should try this in the PRC. If it is as temp stable as they say and the burn rate is what they say it should produce decent results in the 150-180 GR range. Would be interesting to try. Not alot of people are playing with this powder yet.

[@TAWier]

Yes, I'd like to see this in a 6.5 PRC test also.

[@alexmills1329]

What 6.5mm bullet is in the 180 gr range? Or was that just a general statement outside the 6.5 PRC.

[@DW-35]

Thank you for the great content Gav and team. The rifle builds and detailed overviews of products are fantastic. Very curious, have you a plan in the works for any 6 & 6.5 x 47 Lapua builds or tests? Thanks again :-)

[@maxheadroom9014]

I now use 153gr A Tip in 6.5x47 for F Class. 30" barrel with 1:7.5" twist. Current load gives a 5 shot group of 0.1MOA (W 4mm, H 7mm) at 300m. ES was 3ft/sec, SD 1.78ft/sec. At 1,000yds A Tip is 0.75MOA hight than 147gr ELD M (ballistics is way better) so, getting there a fair bit quicker. WARNING: I have about 1 in 100-200 blow up. Possibly overheating in long barrels (30"+)...not sure

[@troy9477]

Nice. I have been wondering about Sta-Ball 6.5 powder, as i hear it is good for 7mm-08 and similar cartridges (and assumedly 308, 243, etc- maybe even 303 Brit and 7.62x54?). The bullets sound incredible, but pricey. Always learn a lot from your presentations, and you have the resources to do things i cannot. Many thanks for all the great info.

[@texpatriot8462]

Those things cost a fortune, but are one of the few 6.5 bullets available now.

[@keithlucas6260]

While everyone else was buying TP......after all the shower is next to it.

[@gregspangler5155]

good job

[@troy9477]

Update: as a result of many other videos and some research, i am planning to get a 6.5 PRC later this year. Looking forward to experimenting with it. And i still want a 6.5x55, preferably a Tikka

[@LegacyOutdoors88]

The Swede in a Tikka is an absolute tack driver. It’s even better when handloaded.

[@troy9477]

@@LegacyOutdoors88 So i have heard. I shoulda bought the stainless 30-06 i looked at in a shop some years ago. But I didn't really "need" it and wasn't ready to spend the money

[@michaelhoughtaling9889]

FYI...your chart is labeled 135gr on your initial data.

[@Tenpennycustoms4958]

I’ve heard good things about this powder. I am going to start loading for .270 with the staball

[@lars277]

It would be fun to see how they perform out of a 28 or 30 inch barrel.

[@jonlesher5116]

Has anybody used these bullets on Whitetail or Mule Deer? I've seen videos where people report great results.

[@RJWaffle]

Curious why Winchester says 42.9gr is max load, Hornady has StaBall 6.5 max load as 43.8gr in their handbook

[@FITFO]

Was actually just talking the other day to the guys about these I allready run stabal 6.5 but I want to get a pack just to see what I can do

[@calculusentropy]

Amazing results Gavin. BTW, I feel like I'm losing my mind, thought your last name was Geher... guess I'm losing it.

[@lapuafour]

hope you will try the A tip for the 224. Val

[@VictorFrench-bb5mx]

I have some federal fusion 6.5 creedmoor empty cases and I don't know why but I cannot get a primer to fit I'll talk to to have taken a couple other empties and they can't a large primer will not fit large rifle will not fit small rifle falls out what size primer is federally using in their fusion cartridges

[@markwillard4133]

why coulnt you give the barrel lenght and twist rate of the rifle you where using 3 other people have posted this question with no reply

[@superseries7007]

4:02... .264 is 6.7 mm. The land diameter is 6.5 mm.

[@longrange1114]

what's the address to that ridgetop? :)

[@TAWier]

Can you repeat this test using the 6.5 PRC platform?

[@jims261]

Did you get a chance to check base to ogive how consistent are they

[@indyvin]

At a dollar a piece, I don't even want to test them. Hornady needs to make a competitive 50 cent bullet.

[@MrNeverlost1]

My results were not so good. New 6.5 X 284 Criterion barrel, 7.5 twist, 153 gr A-tips. I do my ladder tests with 3 rounds at each step, fired round robin style. At a few of the steps, there would only be 2 bullet holes (or 1 perfectly went through a hole). I chose my velocity nodes then went to 5 shot groups. Found why I was missing bullet holes. at about 2950 fps, two of my groups had bullets either tumbling or coming apart. Wish I could add photos to the comment.

[@johanpotgieter4318]

Had the same problem with 6.5x06 with Sierra bullets. Jackets is not of even thickness and they disintegrate.

[@scottspagnolo-hye4628]

What is your elevation? I am at just above sea level on th east coast. Scored enough for the life of RPR proof research CF barrel. Waiting on an ECtuner brake to begin loading and testing.

[@johnholmes4960]

Nice work.....a lot of work....so, I have a question for you. You have the micrometer for dimensions and you have a very sensitive scale to measure with, what is it you are trying to achieve? You hit your target hundreds of yards away and hit the plate. Great. You put holes on paper. Excellent.....so.....what is the probability of you putting five rounds in the same hole? With all the standard deviation math, what will it take? Now, looking at your paper target, and hearing the “ping” of hitting metal target, one well placed round will dispatch pretty much any living thing. A one shot clean kill being optimum, if that is what you are aiming for, then why is there ......as it seems.....an odd shot or flyer always in a group? Is it the bullet.....the gun....or the shooter?

[@spartan7.628]

I see it all the time and I'm very curious why you would break cheek weld when testing for groups. Your methodology is perfection but why add a variable like your eye position and parallax into the equation? Obviously you know what you're doing and maybe you don't feel this is something to consider. Also if you notice your two groups at 43.2 and 43.4 impacts were essentially 1 flyer and 5rds into same hole. 43.2 and 43.4 both were stacked at 9-10 o clock on the target. What are the odds that 1 round low right was a flyer or was it cheek position/eye position/parallax?

[@markwillard4133]

You did not give Barrel lenght or twist rate please do.

[@laszlovandor4770]

In Commiefornia one shop asked for $130 / box of 100.

[@JacobTheGunNut]

You didn’t mention twist rates. What is the slowest you would recommend for 6.5 creed

[@Ultimatereloader]

1:8 for these bullets!

[@ommog4679]

Used them in my M96 in 6,5x55 (Twist Rate 1:9,5) worked great out to 1300m

[@ShastaBean]

Great numbers & results. Thanks for posting all the testing. Can't help but wonder what happens to the "ideal" charge-weight when a person starts moving the seating depth around. Do you believe it stays the same? I feel like I've seen you do this testing, but can't recall off-hand. Is there a video like that? Turns into an insane amount of rounds if a person wants to deviate through combinations of those two variables, though. More than I'm willing to throw down range, anyway.

[@briandavisson6567]

Want to say great job on all your videos!!!! I was wondering if you can give me some advice on my load set up? Christensen arms MPR 26" 6.5 creed LOADING THE hornaday 153g a-tip bullets with H4350 powder CCI LARGE RIFLE PRIMERS. recommendations on bullet depth, powder charge??

[@RileyD691]

Would like to see an in depth experimental test of staball 6.5. My experience is 70 fps gain with 30 degree increase. Hoping I just got an unlucky lot.

[@paulosullivan44]

Hi Gavin Did you ever get to the mile with the 153 Atip, 6.5 if so how did they perform . Atvb Paul

[@blute3085]

Using Hornady's numbers, If you go from a 140gr ELD-M to a 147 ELD-M, your G1 BC increases from .646 to .697 (a gain of .051 for an increase in weight of of 7 grains). Going from the 147 ELD-M to the 153 A-TIP your BC only increases from .697 to .704 (a gain of only .007 for an additional increase in weight of 6 grains). As you increase weight, you loose velocity. The decrease in velocity you get in moving up to the 153 isn't offset by an appreciable increase in BC. Thus, I don't see this bullet being adopted by competition shooters. In a Creedmoor class case shooting in the wind, you are better off with a 147 ELD-M pushed to a higher velocity.

[@theHSPCproject]

Think of this like a 147 but with aliminum tip that is more consistent and durable. The A tip bullets should have less variatoon around the .704 advertised BC.

[@blaserlongrange7616]

The bc on the 153gr is much higher than 147gr at low velocity (long range)

[@TAWier]

What about the 6.5 PRC?

[@blute3085]

6.5 PRC is a cartridge that a lot of people talk about but very few people actually shoot. It has too much recoil to be practical in PRS and is eclipsed by larger calibers in ELR. It brings nothing to the hunting community as anything that can't be killed with the popular Creedmoor doesn't need a bigger case, it needs a bigger bullet. I unfortunately don't foresee the PRC being around ten years from now. It just doesn't have a big enough role to fill.

[@TAWier]

@@blute3085 where did you get your information from? According to the recent Rifle Shooter Magazine website it is listed as #3 of the the top 7 modern long range cartridges. I shoot about 20 to 30 rounds through mine about once a week and sometimes more or less depending on my schedule and the weather down here in Southwest Louisiana. I was talking to a friend and fellow Krewe member yesterday and he was telling me how he just bought a new 6.5 PRC and how much he loves shooting it to the point that he says he's ready to get away from the 6.5 Creedmoor all together. I shot my 308 Win, 7mm-08 Rem, and 30-06 Springfield very regularly and I can tell you that I have come to favor the 6.5 PRC over other cartridges as well. I will link the article I recently came across in another follow up comment. I'm not saying you need to retract your statement based on your opinions of the cartridge, just that I disagree with your assessments and predictions and that my opinion is that it is actually rising in popularity and I am including a link to support my findings. Thank you!👆👉

[@nospam3409]

No pics of the steel? Com'on man... Can't leave us hang'n like that 😋.

[@breakerprepper]

What would you prefer for long rang 6mm arc or the 6.5mm🤔

[@nospam3409]

Define your version of "long range", what you're shooting at, and what conditions you normally shoot in.

[@patrickc1508]

I “want” to load these. But they’re just probably not going to be “my load” for my new 6.5 creedmoor. They’re just so darn expensive, even when comparing them to the other top tier bullets. I want it to shoot great, but I’m pretty sure that I could do good enough with an eldm, vld, scenar, tmk, etc, for less money.

[@raysimonds3927]

Not sure I caught this but are these loads 6.5 prc or creedmoor?

[@kubotamaniac]

Which scale are you using? I coud not hear the name, so I am having difficulty finding it... I am interested in an extremely precise scale...

[@tomcarvelli6464]

A lot like the old Winchester Silvertip.

[@stevemiller6044]

I would like any/all reports on these as a hunting bullet

[@Ultimatereloader]

Why would you not use a hunting bullet?

[@nospam3409]

@@Ultimatereloader yeah, these would be a terrible choice for hunting.

[@brentwinkelman1990]

Check out George Gardner hunting pics...6mm a-tips seem pretty damn good for deer sized game from what I've seen...idk why the 135gr a-tip in a creed wouldn't do any worse

[@Tophet1]

Do they expand ?

[@chadtekeky890]

What did you seat the bullet at and what was the over all length I'm looking to do the same thing

[@lovetoflylovetofly3843]

Love that action, is it a 60 deg throw? Nice shooting!

[@billstevens5277]

Yes, 3 lug.

[@TractorsNStuff]

Was just talking with a friend about these. Before the insanity, he was able to find them at $1.50 per bullet! A box of 50 was $80! But then he said, "Can you really put a price on fabulous accuracy?"

[@ej22twagon]

Dont think you were talking about the same ones. These aren sold as full rounds just the tips and they are still less than $1 each now. He was probably shooting the eld polymer tips.

[@c.raynor7723]

What where the groups of these projectiles, at range, when compared to a similarly shooting projectile from the same rifle? So if some 140s grouped in the .3-.4" area at 100, once you got out to that 650, and beyond, area how do these projectiles stack up against a similarly (in precision) set up load in the same rifle? Someone could tune a custom built rifle like that to shoot 123gn 6.5 bullets to groups that small at 100. That just doesnt tell us much about why I would want to drop that much money per projectile other than they are all the same size. To someone who shoots small groups with bullets that dont cost over $1 per, what can they really gain shooting these projectiles?

[@rickwillard378]

Is that an 8 twist barrel? 26"?

[@michaelmurdza8517]

How would you compare Hornady 153 to the Berger 153?

[@wvlongshooter3912]

For my two cents, the Berger 153.5 grainers give me unreal tight vertical spreads way way out there, past a mile and then some. Using 6.5 CM , h-4831 sc 46.7 grains, Lapua srp brass, cci 450’s and the 153.5 Berger’s. Ammo mv temp variations MV- 2810/34 degrees , 2839/93 degrees. My chamber may differ from others or yours so please do not use my charge weight of 46.7 grs.

[@zgennaro]

@@wvlongshooter3912 . I use 44.1 grains 4831-sc in my 243 with h 107 smk. That is a lot of powder you're using there!

[@Longshothawk]

Midwesterner here, what causes the trees to grow on one side of the mountain and not the other? Is that a northern face or is something else going on?

[@Ultimatereloader]

Yes, north facing sides only! :)

[@LunaRendezvous]

One measurement you missed was bullet base to ogive, and what was the barrel twist rate?

[@wbwhite22]

1:8

[@withoutfurtheradoforever]

What's the barrel twist rate, Gavin?

[@chucklesmchaggis3682]

How is your magnetospeed attached?

[@stevoeight]

What about the rounds you loaded up for the prc with h1000 in the triebel dies video?

[@jerryhall1541]

156gr EOL Bergers?

[@billyarnold5467]

Love your channel! 6.5 prc with these , what do you think?

[@bsb1191]

@gavintoobe what primers were you using? And was it large or small primer?

[@Joe-lk6oc]

How well do you like Winchester StaBALL 6.5 in the 6.5 Creedmoor using bullets in the 140 grain range? Does it compare to H4350, RL16 in terms of accuracy and velocity in your experience? I'd like to try it for hunting loads in my 6.5 Creedmoors.

[@joejr9653]

Are you going to do a 6.5 prc load for these bullets too?

[@Ultimatereloader]

Yes!

[@LonelyRavenProductio]

Gavin, what are you using to measure velocity? I'm thinking about a Lab Radar, but wanted to ask around first.

[@ronniebaker3036]

Do you still have the budget 300prc build ?

[@behindenemylines7623]

What scope did you use?

[@pow9th]

What primers do you use?

[@Ultimatereloader]

Federal 210M large rifle match!

[@Minecraftstanley]

Great video! Would love to see this bullet in ballistic gel testing? Pretty please with a cherry on top!

[@danieldillon6005]

Sadly due to components being almost unicorns I've switched to hard cast 6.5 pills and they seem to work for 600yards

[@jarredlkling]

What mold do you use? I saw a co mpany making custom 130 grain for grendel but what grain and brand mold you use? What fps, any issues with leading or you powder coating?

[@danieldillon6005]

@@jarredlkling a australian company sells boxes of 500 140gr pills for the same price as 147 eldm

[@glockparaastra]

135gr would be too heavy for the Grendel. Grendel likes 100gr to 110gr bullets. Heavier than that is just too slow unless you have a 24” barrel.

[@metalifann42]

Let me guess. Gavin loves them like everything he gets for free??

[@endutubecensorship]

10:41 Officially jealous

[@tinfoilsombrero1439]

I thought McMillan stocks were expensive....

[@jamesmooney5348]

Great bullets? Looks like it. But I believe they're copying Rocky Mountain Bullets, are they not? Again, y'all can thank Nathan Foster...

[@mdk777s6]

Ok Mr wizard, 1st you didn't calculate for the amount of inaccuracy in your Chinese made micrometer, second, no base to ojive variation or bullet run out and lastly, why the creedmoor and not the PRC!

[@metalifann42]

Those sd's aren't great. Stick with h4350.

[@H.R.6688]

They are cool bullets, but to much for me.

[@Gunner40Five]

Nice bullets...............but falls into the stupid expensive category. Sorry I'll pass.