After conducting my admittedly non-scientific test, I have all the confidence in the world in these bullets, even with mashed tips. I figure I'm just giving them a head-start on expanding.
FWIW, the rifle I shoot them in, an A-Bolt II Hunter, is one of the most accurate rifles I own, (not really picky about what ammo you feed it) and this particular load is the most consistently accurate handload I've put together for it. 3 shots is about all I can get out of it before barrel heat becomes an issue, but it'll usually put those three into 3/8" of an inch.
That surprised me, because the 160 grainer is generally considered too long for caliber to stabilize in the 10 twist common to most factory .270 Win barrels. But, mashed tips or not, it's proven to be a real performer for me. Performs on elk just as well as it does on paper.
Mike
