Hornady A-­Tip Match – 2019 Innovation of the Year

The Hornady A-­Tip Match is about advancing bullet technology. The tip is precision machined aluminum and longer than polymer tips, which means that the center of gravity has been ideally adjusted to enhance inflight stability. The tip helps the bullet group tighter due to reduced drag variability. In comparison, some polymer-­type tips suffer from friction and deformation inflight, whereas Hornady’s aluminum tip does not. To add, the ogive, tip length, bearing surface and boattail are optimized according to caliber.

To verify a bullet’s optimization, Doppler radar was used in determining each caliber’s low-drag coefficient (high BC) with respect to a barrel’s twist rate, seating depth and muzzle velocity.

The science isn’t just about the tip. Hornady also considered the A-­Tip’s jacket and engineered uniformity and concentricity into each bullet. In fact, the bullets are sequentially packaged like clones off of the press to offer maximum consistency. There is minimal to no handling of each bullet throughout the manufacturing process to ensure a level of consistency between bullets.

Once made, the bullets are packaged with a polishing bag to prepare the bullets for loading. Unlike other component bullets, the A-Tip is never bulk washed. As a reloader, you receive these bullets as they are packaged off of the manufacturing line.

Offered for 6mm (.243) 110 grain; 6.5mm (.264) in 135 and 153 grain; and .30 (.308) caliber in 230- and 250-grain profiles, this level of precision and accuracy in bullet manufacturing and downrange performance has never been seen by handloaders or precision rifleshooters. It’s a win.

For more information: Hornady, 800-338-3220, hornady.com