Ok Called Hornady. Their technical service guy said that yes they have had bullets fly apart mid-flight. He noted that most often it is caused by the rifling and or the crown, but could be caused by a couple other things. He said for me to check for excess copper build-up in the groves which creates friction causing the hollowpoint to rip open. He also said a sharp land that cuts or fractures the jacket can cause a mid-flight failure.

After reading some of these post I was beginning to think I was imagining things, and none of this happened.

If you had been using a normal hunting bullet, it wouldn’t have separated.


I’ve never heard of a bullet flying at .308 speeds comming apart mid flight. However, if it did in-fact happen, why would you want to that fragile a bullet on a deer?

Order their ELD-X bullets if you want match accuracy in a hunting round.

Did the Hornady tech service guy also tell you to use a hunting bullet?

No, but I could tell he was thinking it.

Never heard of these issues with old fashioned lead tip bullets. I always thought they were extremely effective.

You should ask about this in the ammunition and reloading section.

Why, is there a whole other group over there that will tell me to use a Hunting Bullet. lol
Actually, I didn't even know there was a Ammo and Reloading section?

This is going to be my new Sig line

This will probably go over like a lead balloon......

Get yourself a real deer hunting setup and not something a flat brimmed wearer would show up with at the gun range and commence spraying ammo all over creation. It starts with a good, reliable rifle, good optics and not electronic crap, and good bullets of which there are many.

Because there is countless people over there that use match bullets hpbt's etc. to hunt with and do fine. And then maybe the point will get across.

Agree, there are a lot of handloaders that use the match bullets with success. I also believe that a lot of them use the match bullets for head and neck shots. Most will probably tell you that for shoulder shots where you are likely to encounter bone, a hunting bullet that is designed to hold together would be a better choice. Without differing opinions, we wouldn't have anything to argue about.

Using the 130's in my Creedmoor and they are VERY accurate. Sub MOA and for the most part sub half MOA and SD's in the 4's and 6's. That said I had some Sierra 130's back in the 70's blow up just under the skin at 30yds. After he got out to 100 and the last bullet dropped him. I expect these to do much better and the reports have been good.


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+1. It would be quite unlikely for a bullet to disintegrate in the air. My guess is for some reason you missed. It happens to all of us occasionally. Lord knows it’s happened to me!

Last minute scope adjustments I speculate had something to do with it. But who knows

This is exactly what will happen.

In my mind, I conclude with absolute certainty bullet separation fits the facts as I know. When this happened the first time, I sent the rifle to my gunsmith and the scope to Sightmark trying to find the cause. If you have access to the archives of this forum you will see me asking if cold weather can make the POI in the Apex Thermal move. Both checked out perfectly. My scope was still in warranty, so if it was the scope, I wanted it fixed or replaced. Both times this occurred, I was using same ammo possibly out of the same box and the temps were in the 30's.

As far as me pulling a shot, that far, well that's absurd. I have killed multiple hogs including one that weighed 200lb's with a pellet gun at 125 yards out of the same deer blind. Shooting them in the heart no less. So to suggest I missed the shot is well ignorant to say not knowing me nor my ability. Additionally, we have the factory saying that it does happen and gives several reasons how, makes me wonder about some folks ability to comprehend what is written?

I think the stress of a cold barrel and bullet cracked the thin jacket causing it to rupture shortly after leaving the barrel. That's why I heard bullet fragments hitting the brush 40 yards behind feeder. The second shot was accurate and didn't separate because the barrel was warm. It is the only thing that fits the facts

The hell kind of pellet gun are you shooting?

It's an .257 AirForce Condor, that has a custom valve, airtank, a R&L shroud/silencer shooting a 80gr Ranch Dog Hollow Point. It is tuned to shoot 4 shots at around 1050 FPS producing 200 FPE.
It is 50" long from Stem to Stern.





Basically, it is an AirForce Texan Prototype.

^^^

Is that a match pellet or a hunting pellet?

The only facts are that you or your equipment screwed up. You know the saying 99% of mechanical failure is operator error.... After you claim to hear bullet fragments hit 40 yards behind a feeder at 115 yards so at 155 yards after the shot and hear a bullet going through mesquite leaves lol I know which I believe.

Went back to the lease and looked for any sign of the buck. Climbed up and down that dang Mountain going through the nastiest bunch of briar and thorns I've ever seen. I checked the gun and scope and all was good. Anyway, checked my gamecam and I guess this is the only trophy I'm gonna get on this one.

You should have just let this thread DIE!

I'd go to the store and get me a deer rifle and some ammo made for hunting...JMO

I better steer clear of this one....