I'm just an average loader, but I have forty years experience doing so, I've loaded thousands of rounds of ammo but never encountered this problem. I've been loading ammo for a Local gun shop owner for several years, he owns quite a collection. He also loves Barnes bullets. I've loaded many of them for him without a problem. He bought100 rounds of120 grain tipped TTX, from midway, not blaming midway. The rifle was a Remington700 from their custom shop, great gun shoots sub half inch groups with143 ELDX . best I could do with the Barnes was there inches. Tried four different powders and seating depth. Ladder loads, the works. Shot like, well, bad. My caliper is dial, a good one but got a digital caliper and bullets ranged from.258 to .263 being the best. Who's making Barnes now? Don't own a Mic. I'd like to see what it says.