Nosler Introduces High-BC, Closed-Meplat RDF Match Bullets
Nosler has introduced a new line of RDF™ (Reduced Drag Factor) bullets that feature very high BCs, hybrid-type ogives, and tight, factory-closed meplats. Based on initial specs, Nosler’s new RDF bullets should be very competitive match projectiles for their respective bullet weights. Nosler claims its new RDF bullets have “the highest BCs and smallest, most consistent meplats of any hollow-point match bullet line on the market.” RDF projectiles will be initially offered in four calibers: .224, 6mm (.243), 6.5 mm (.264), and .308.
NEW Nosler RDF Bullets:
· 22 Cal 70 grain — G1 Ballistic Coefficient 0.416 | G7 Ballistic Coefficient 0.211
· 6mm 105 grain — G1 Ballistic Coefficient 0.571 | G7 Ballistic Coefficient 0.280
· 6.5mm 140 grain — BC field verification in process
· 30 Cal 175 grain — G1 Ballistic Coefficient 0.536 | G7 Ballistic Coefficient 0.270
High-BC RDF Bullets Feature Compound (Hybrid-type) Ogive Profiles
Nosler designed RDF bullets to have very high BCs for flatter trajectories and reduced wind drift. Nosler achieved high BCs by adopting a modern hybrid-type compound ogive, which bridges traditional tangent and secant bullet shapes. Another benefit of the compound (hybrid-type) ogive, is that this shape is normally less sensitive to bullet seating depth than a pure VLD-style, secant ogive shape. That allows hand-loaders to seat off the lands and still get excellent accuracy, which can be maintained even as the throat moves out over time. RDF bullets also feature a long boat-tail for aerodynamic efficiency.
Factory-Closed Meplats — No More Trimming and Pointing Tips
Compared to conventional match bullets, Nosler’s RDF bullets look quite different because the tips have been tightly closed up at the factory. Nosler claims a a 40% average reduction in meplat size vs. conventional hollow-point bullets. With Nosler doing the work on the tips, hand-loaders no longer need to point and trim tips, a laborious task done to improve BC and, more importantly, to make BCs more consistent for every bullet in the box. Consistent BC translates to reduced vertical spread at long range.
John Nosler Talks about RDF Bullets:
“Long-range competitive shooting [is] one of the fastest-growing shooting activities in the world, and quality bullets are the cornerstone of the sport” said John Nosler, Executive V.P. for the company. “Our engineers were challenged with delivering a bullet that would drastically reduce aerodynamic drag and increase ballistic consistency, providing shooters with an indisputable advantage. What we achieved is a leap in match bullet technology….”
Similar Posts:
- Nosler Delivers High-BC, Closed-Meplat RDF Match Bullets
- RDF Bullets from Nosler — High BCs and Uniform Meplats
- Berger’s New 6mm 105gr Hybrid Match Bullets — First Look
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Tags: bullets, Closed Meplats, Compound Ogive, G7, Hybrid, Nosler, RDF
Paging Bryan Litz…
Prices?
This new bullet could be interesting. Should be able to get good velocity. BC right up there with the 80`s
Nosler 22 Cal 70 grain — G1 Ballistic Coefficient 0.416.
These are usually priced right also.
Interesting to me is the .30/175 Berger has a G1 of .512, compared to the Nosler .536. The Berger’s G7 is .262 compared to the Nosler’s .270 (much closer). Wonder what measurement tech was used in each case.
What’s that they say about imitation…
$29.00-$35.00 per hundred.
Keen to see the BC on the 6mm 105gr. Hope they introduce some 7mm options too.
Where can I buy them?
Here’s the Nosler link with quit a bit of information and pricing on the new bullets.
http://www.nosler.com/rdf-bullet
Their web site says available in 2017
well, the Cubs are going to the world series. Anything is possible…
The 105’s are $140 for 500 and they are posted and tipped.. Buy a thousand and sort to your specifications…lol
Disappointing Performance. I bought a bag of 6mm cosmetic “blems” that claim to have no effect on performance. All of the bullets looked fine – I didn’t notice any cosmetic blemishes at all. Here is how I tested these bullets: I measured 8 bullets pulled at random out of the bag with micrometers and a Sinclair bullet comparator to get this data. I found the bullets to be about 5 times more inconsistent than Lapua Scenar 6mm 105 grain bullets. Here is the data for the RDF bullets:
Bullet diameters averaged 0.2431 with a max of 0.2433 and a min of 0.2430 for a range of 0.0003 and standard deviation of 0.00008. Lapua ave was 0.2431, max 0.2431, min 0.2431, and SD of 0.00003.
Bullet length averaged 1.2533 with a max of 1.2623 and min of 1.2449 for a range of 0.0174 and SD of 0.00627. Lapua ave was 1.2515, max 1.2537, min 1.2497 for a range of 0.0040 and SD of 0.00133.
The next number is just a number that indicates how consistent the bases to ogive distance of the bullets are. The numbers only indicate how consistent the bullets are – the numbers themselves are meaningless. The bullets are placed in the Sinclair comparator and then a dial indicator measures off the bullet base. The RDF average was 0.2325 with a max of 0.2345 and min of 0.2300 for a range of 0.0045 and SD of 0.00144. Lapua ave was 0.2731, max 0.2735, min 0.2725 for a range of 0.0010 and SD of 0.00030.
So the dimensions of the Lapua are about 5 times more consistent than the RDF bullets. If you reload by using cartridge overall length only, these RDF bullets would be giving you bullet jump distances that vary by 17 thousandths! That is a very big variation in a 6mm bullet that is designed for outstanding accuracy. That much jump would guarantee your groups expand a lot. Your velocities might be inconsistent because of inconsistent depths of the bullet down into the case neck. If you can measure your seated cartridge by measuring the ogive to cartridge base you would have more consistent jump distances from the ogive to the barrel lands, but you would still have the issue of the bullet base being different depths down into your case neck and powder.
I tested 3 different cartridge lengths at 100 yards. It is a very short distance so inconsistencies will be minimized at such a short range. Shooting was done from a rest in calm conditions. Rifle has a 26” Shilen select stainless match barrel with 1:8 twist.
Group 1 was loaded with H4895 29.2gr Lapua brass trimmed to 1.555 and bullets seated to touch the lands. 5 shot group was 0.52” group, average velocity 2825.6, high 2835, low 2816, ES 19 and SD 7.6.
Group 2 was loaded with H4895 29.2gr Lapua brass trimmed to 1.555 and bullets seated to have 0.005 jump to the lands. 5 shot group was 0.98” group, average velocity 2816.6, high 2822, low 2810, ES 12, SD 4.8.
Group 3 was loaded with H4895 29.2gr Lapua brass trimmed to 1.555 and bullets seated to have 0.010 jump to the lands. 5 shot group was 0.95” group, average velocity 2830.4, high 2841, low 2825, ES 16, SD 6.4.
These groups are very large for my 6mm. Groups with Lapua 105 grain bullets are much smaller. Factory Lapua ammo with 105 bullets had groups between 0.49 and 0.68. My handload with 105 grain Scenars is 0.35 with the bullets touching the lands.
In my opinion after testing, these Nosler RDF bullets look nice but they do not perform well. My guess is the dimensional inconsistency contributes to the poor performance.
I have to question using blems for testing. Id imagine the 6mm bullet needs a 7 twist looking at the BC.
You’re comparing what are likely pre-retail release blems with factory firsts?