Nosler Seconds

idcwby said:

Has anyone had any performance issues on game from Nosler seconds? I got to get more 142LRAB and the seconds are $10 a box cheaper on Shooters Pro Shop than the normal ones.

Thanks
idcwby

Click to expand...

I used them for years hunting and target. They functioned fine.

Partitions, accubonds, and B-Tips and never an issue with accuracy or on game performance. On a side note I have never seen a Partition fail 1st or 2nd.

I can't tell the difference between the 2nds and 1st.

I scarf em up when ever I get the chance. I use the ammo-seek app and put the word "Blem" in the key words box. LG outdoors has some 7mm 168g Accubond LR right now that are $20 less. I will buy these bullets and hunt with them too...there isn't anything wrong with them. Not just nosler either, midway sells blems in a plain blue box. They won't say who made them, but It's never been hard for me to figure out. I use the 6 and 6.5 in my PRS chassis rifles. Great for load development and some relaxing trigger-time. Plus I don't see a difference in the group size at all. Do I save money? Not really, but I get to shoot a lot more for the same money.

I have been shooting the Nosler blems for years. When I asked Nosler about them, most are taken off line for QC and once removed they become seconds.

I shoot them for load development, target, and hunting.

I used to shoot long range regularly between 600 and 1000. If I do my part sub.0.5 MOA.

Hunting, I've used them to take 100s of whitetail (I was in a game managerment group on the East coast and would take 50 to 60 deer a year...all donated to charities).

This is my first year using them for pronghorn and elk. Both nice and clean. 165 308 BT for the PH at 612 yds and 165 308 AB 367 for the cow.

In my 6mm Rem I have wasted many many ground hogs, crows, and prairie dogs.

I use the 458 BT in an AR15 458 SOCOM for pigs.... devastating!

I shot them in just about every caliber from 17 to 458... hands down NO issues!

Nosler is in my backyard so have shot many of them with no issue...accurate as any other.....but.....for long range precision I would not risk it with all other costs, work considered to hang on the "blem". If you really wanted to know. work up the load then add the blem bullet to it....shoot at 800yds...see what happens. If not good, add your non blem to the equation and your done. The blems I have used in the past from Nosler have never looked any different than new. I wonder if they are just catering to those who like deals and will buy more.....?

My one and only elk I killed with a second it was less than 50 yards away Perfect performance I bought over a thousand of them and shot about half of them before selling the rifle My friends were jealous at how well that rifle shot I only shot blend As for midway they don't carry Nosler blems only shooters pro shop I'm not sure what other manufactures consider blems but bowlers are cosmetic I've had tips fall off and Nosler replaces them I would not worry about them
Corey

I have nearly 400 factory second Accubond Long range 168 gr in 7mm if you are interested. Text me 405-432-9906. SOLD

Bullet brand etc to bullet brand etc, I've never noticed a difference in firsts or seconds. To me it's no difference in the blemishes from the factory (never seen a deformed bullet in the lots I've bought) to the blemishes that get left from the acid on your fingers when bullets are stored for a year and then shot. I hardly ever shoot an animal more than 300 yards though. Lots of dead animals with a blemished bullet.

I don't mind blems for plinking... but when an expensive hunt or just having the buck of my lifetime out in front of me... I don't want to question anything. Blems have their place, and likely most people using them wont see an issue. But why risk it? If you are spending thousands on a custom rifle and top tier optic, what is an extra $10 to get normal bullets?

A hearty second to many of the posts already penned. I've used the Partitions, Accubonds, and Ballistic tips in my 243AI, 250AI, 25:05AI, 260, 7:08, as well as my 240 Gibbs and 6.5 Gibbs. All have performed as well as their premium bullets, and the Blacktail and Whitetail's never knew the difference.

stephenthesuave said:

I bought some 150 e-tips (.308) last year to shoot in my .300wm. I couldn't see blemishes on them and they shot sub-MOA without much drama so I was very happy.

Fast forward to a few months before a trip to Wyoming this past October and I needed some more but couldn't wait for the blems to restock. When I bought the "1st quality", they had a different ogive and I had to adjust seating depth and shoot a half a box of them to get dialed back in. I didn't really compare weights but I can do a comparison now since I have a few of each.

So no complaints about the quality of the blems, but it alerted me to the fact that I can't just do load work with blems and then switch over to normal for hunting without doubling my efforts somewhat. Probably didn't end up saving much money when I consider the extra shooting and loading.

Click to expand...

Follow up- here's my info. I only pulled one "1st" but there are 3 blems. All 4 bullets are .3065" diameter.

Weight-
1st- 149.8
B1- 149.2
B2- 149.3
B3- 149.2

Bullet Length-
1st- 1.311"
B1- 1.303"
B2- *1.299" (I deformed this one by dropping it just now.)
B3- 1.302"

Bullet Base to ogive W/ Sinclair comparitor-
1st- .608"
B1- .582"
B2- .587"
B3- .586"

Packages shown for reference. I'll still buy them for sure, but I'll make sure I get a couple hundred at a time. I don't think it's wise to mix them with 1st quality without testing.

Groot said:

I maybe the only one whos had issues with seconds but the first and only time I ever bought factory seconds a quarter of them had significantly deformed tips or no tip at all. This was from midway. They appeared to be 55 grain Sierra blitzkings so I ordered 400 and after sorting 100 of them had issues. I had been under the impression that blems were mainly cosmetic but perhaps it was a fluke experience. When your counting on performance the bullet is the last thing Id want to skimp on, will you really know exactly what you are getting with seconds? Even if the appearance is ideal, mechanically it could be flawed. I would pay the extra 10

Click to expand...

Your talking about "factory seconds" from Midway. Those are WAY different than seconds from Nosler. I've bought a lot of seconds from Nosler and they set an expectation for me on what a second would be. I then bought "seconds" from Midway, that happen to be Sierra's, and they we're absolutely horrible!

Yup I agree every manufacture has different criteria for blend or 2nds. I've shot Nosler 2nds since 2004. Taken two bucks one with 30 Cal 165gr BT and another with 180gr AB. Shot out past 1k with 30-175gr CC. Good enough for minute of rock or chuck.