Hornady's A-Tip Match Bullet Claims New Record

by
posted on April 27, 2023
Hornady A Tip

The Hornady A-Tip Match bullet now occupies the three top spots for longest impacts recorded in competition. The projectile claimed the top-two positions at previous events, but when Jaclyn Bryan connected at 4,227 yards at Spearpoint Ranch ELR Match—which took place March 25 to 26 in Barnard, Kan.—the trifecta was in the books.

The A-Tip Match bullet was only introduced in 2019 and, unlike the polymer tipped bullets designed to improve ballistic coefficient, uses aluminum up front that are precision machined and longer. The difference moves the center of gravity and enhances inflight stability, benefits that reduce drag variability during flight and, ultimately, shrink groups.

American Rifleman’s David Herman tested them with a 6.5 mm Creedmoor-chambered rifle the same year they became available. Using Hornady’s 4DOF app, he explained, “500 yards registered a hit first shot, as did every other range attempted out to around 1,550, with my first spate of trouble not coming until around 1,650 (I did achieve hits at this distance and further, simply with less consistency).” He concluded, “This is an impressive bullet—even more so when you see the results in person,” noting the Ruger Precision Rifle and Leupold optic were equally up to the formidable task.

Robert Brantley holds the top spot for longest shot recorded with an A-Tip with his 4,229-yard impact in May of 2021 using the .416-cal. 500-grain version. Bryan’s recent hit secures the projectile’s second-longest shot recorded and bumps Ryan Cheney and his April 2021 hit at 4,134 yards using the .338-cal. 300-grain A-Tip to third place.

“We had just impacted at the 2-mile target, so we knew our wind calls were good and we had ultimate confidence in the bullet,” said Bryan. “After a 10-second time of flight, we were ecstatic to see the scoring lights illuminated at 2.4 miles. Hitting targets at these ranges just wouldn’t be possible without the best shooting equipment and A-Tip bullets” she added.

Latest

heavy machine gun crew with DShK on tripod pointing in air above trees
heavy machine gun crew with DShK on tripod pointing in air above trees

Red Fifty: The Soviet 12.7 mm DShK Heavy Machine Gun

While the Browning .50-cal. M2 machine gun has been unequaled for more than a century, John Moses Browning’s genius design has had one significant 12.7 mm competitor: the Soviet DShK.

Support The NRA Youth Education Summit (YES) On Giving Tuesday

With more than 1,200 students having graduated from the program and over $700,000 in scholarships awarded since 1996, NRA's YES is an immersive leadership program for high school students eager to learn about the foundations of our nation, the importance of civic engagement and the role of the Second Amendment.

Rifleman Review: Remington 360 Buckhammer

Remington Ammunition's 360 Buckhammer is a straight-wall hunting cartridge that's designed to give deer hunters an ideal round for their Midwestern hunt.

New For 2025: EAA Girsan Witness2311 Brat, Match and MatchX

European American Armory Corp. (EAA) introduced an affordable variation of the double-stack 1911 design with their Girsan Witness2311 in 2023, continually adding additional chamberings and slide length options. New for 2025, the company is adding three new versions of the Witness2311 with the Match, MatchX and Brat models.

Review: Citadel Trakr

At less than 4 lbs., this repeating rifle is easy on the back while also being extraordinarily easy on the budget.

Freedom Munitions To Move Ammo Component Production To Idaho

Freedom Munitions has announced it will be consolidating its projectile component production from X-Treme Bullets out of Nevada into its Lewiston, Idaho, facilities.

Interests



Get the best of American Rifleman delivered to your inbox.