Why Some Eley .22 LR Bullets Have That Odd “Nipple” Tip

Eley’s bullet design for match-grade .22 ammo sports a unique feature for rimfire accuracy.

Eley prints, “Patented flat nose” on the boxes of its top-ranked Tenex, Match and Team precision ammunition. A close examination of the bullet nose shows a large flat meplat with a small “nipple” raised in the center.

The tiny “nipple” on the noses of Eley’s patented flat nose bullets are a vestige of the manufacturing process that Eley says helps to retain the soft beeswax-tallow bullet lubricant, which contributes to the ammunition’s precision.

The company says this nipple has two essential purposes, both unrelated to aerodynamic flight.

“Firstly, it plays a key role in the lubrication process,” Eley’s explanation reads. “The nipple helps retain additional lubricant on the bullet itself, which is critical for consistent barrel performance, reduced friction, and improved accuracy over multiple shots. This is particularly important in high-precision disciplines, where even the slightest differences can have a significant impact on performance.”

Eley lubricates these flat nose bullets with a soft beeswax-tallow mixture (lubricant removed from the bullet nose in the photo to better show the nipple).

“Secondly, from a manufacturing perspective, the nipple is a byproduct of a refined engineering solution. During the bullet forming process, a small hole in the bullet punch allows excess air to escape, which prevents imperfections in the bullet’s shape and ensures tight dimensional consistency. The result is a clean, controlled extrusion that leaves a slight nipple at the tip.

“So while it might seem like a minor detail, it’s a deliberate feature that reflects both the precision and the innovation that go into every Eley round.”

In the world of competitive shooting, even the smallest design details—like a tiny nipple on a bullet tip—can make all the difference in achieving pinpoint accuracy.