Ballistic Tip *Hunting*

DallanC · Site Admin Joined: Jan 18, 2005 Posts: 3572 Location: Utah

Has anyone found this bullet for sale? I've been looking all over since I learned of it and havent found it yet. Only the old nosler boxes marked Ballistic Tip. Supposedly they now make Varmit and Hunting BT's.

My main reason to try them is to see how well a 120grn BT Hunting would hold up at impact velocities of over 3,000fps.

-DallanC

BillPa · Member Joined: Mar 17, 2005 Posts: 89

Eve'n...err... morn'n DallanC

Funny you should ask........
I just bought a box last week at the local toy store to try outta the 270. My son and I made a trip to the club just to fireform some brass for two other rifles and shoot the 17s. He wanted to play with the the 270, so I brought it along left him zero it and shoot the BTs for group.
Now, what had to be the dumbest groundhog in Pa. stepped out just in front of the 200 yard targets. To make a short story long, he cranked the top over a bit and wam..one died paster poodle. What a mess! He took it just under the chin,no head,about half a body and parts scattered all around. It looked like the some I've takes with the 308 and 155 SSTs. I didn't clock the load, but it was 59.0/H4831/130BT assuming it would be in the 2900 range.
Now I realize there is a world of difference between a Rotzgortton and a whitetail, but after seeing what happened, I'll stay the Solid Base. From everything I've heard the newer BTs hold together better than the orginals I tested when they were first introduced, but after seeing what it did today, I'm a little skeptical.
I normally shoot the 7/140 SB at 3200+ out of the 280AI and 270/130 in the 270-08AI@3050 with perfect results and since I have a small stash( 800 or so 140s and about 700 130s) of the old orginal SBs, I'll stay with them.
Nosler just re-introduced the Solid Base after years of badgering from hunters,me included.
In my opinion, if you going to drive them over 3 grand, I'd try the SBs. If your want to try a 27/130 or 7/140, let me know. I'll send you 20 or so.

Bill

Zeeriverrat1 · Rookie Member Joined: Jul 24, 2005 Posts: 15

Dallan..you won't find any Nosler BTs with the box marked ballistic tip hunting bullets...they are all marked just ballistic tips..you just have to refer to the Nosler manual and look at their listing of calibers and bullet weights and their designation of either Varmint or Hunting BT... in .25 caliber the BTs of 100gr or more are hunting bullets..in the .243 all BTs 90gr and up are hunting bullets...all other larger calibers all BTs are made for hunting.

I have listened to people talk about how awful the BTs are..and I can understand if someone used a varmint type BT for deer hunting what the results would be..but I quit using partitions for deer years ago because I had such good luck with the BTs. I used the 100gr BT in my 25-06 and my 257RBTS, and the 140 and 150gr BTs in my 7x57, and my .280. I have shot a pile of deer with those bullets and never lost a single deer and seldom had them take more than a few steps after being hit. I have not experienced the the bullet disintegration that others claim. In fact, until last year, I never recovered a bullet..because they usually go on thru after wrecking the works...the deer I have killed have been at ranges from 40ft to 250yds and I have never had a bullet failure.

Last year, I shot a big doe with my 257Rbts...she was quartering towards me at about 85 yards, I shot her on the point of the shoulder.. The bullet broke bone on the way thru the left shoulder and I found it just under the hide at the front edge of the right ham....the bullet weighed 73grs and still had mushroomed quite nicely...starting out at 100grs...73% weight retention aint too bad.. Very Happy

That is the ONLY Nosler bullet of any kind that I have ever recovered.... My 257 Rbts load was running at 2970fps...

I won't hesitate to use the BT hunting bullets for deer and other thin skinned light boned stuff....but if I was hunting anything with thick hides, and heavy bones...bears, hogs, elk...I would just step up to the partition...the one exception would be the .338 BT..it was designed for the .338 winmag and the velocity that cartridge generates..so I would think it would really hold up well in the 338-06 AI I am building...I would be tempted to try that one on elk..just to satisfy myself....

If you have a 280..get a box of 140BTs and go shoot some deer...if you arent impressed I will be surprised.... My .280 hunting load is a hair over 3000fps with the 140s...and it works great.

Zeeriverrat1 Very Happy

BillPa · Member Joined: Mar 17, 2005 Posts: 89

From the Nosler forum....
Nosler Forum - Solid Base

If you've never used them, your in for a elightening experience.

Bill

Zeeriverrat1 · Rookie Member Joined: Jul 24, 2005 Posts: 15

BillPa..To be honest with you..I haven't seen them on the shelves around here, and I buy most of my bullets thru Midway because of my C&R discount, and they don't show the solid base bullets at all.... Where are you getting yours...I may be tempted to try a box...

Zeeriverrat1 Smile

calsibley · Super Member Joined: Jan 28, 2005 Posts: 317

I use Ballistic Tips mainly in .224 and .243. They've always been boat tails and very accurate. There were questions asked about them being strong enough for hunting bullets. Some shooters felt the jacket was too thin to hold together in the larger calibers. Then I bought a box and surprisingly they turned out to be solid based. I understand Nosler also made the jackets a little thicker. Now I have some Ballistic Tips that are boat tails and some that are solid based in the same weight and caliber. It'll be interesting to see if they are equally accurate. Best wishes.

Cal - Montreal

shrpshtrjoe · Posted: Sun Aug 07, 2005 4:14 pm Post subject: Re: Ballistic Tip *Hunting*

Howdy Dallan I have shot a few deer with the ballistic tip 150gr in my 308 and on lung shots they work fine BUT on shoulder shots i get entrance wounds you could put your fist in, they are very accurate though.. I have recently switched to the 150gr accubond with great range results will see how they do on deer this fall Very Happy

BillPa · Member Joined: Mar 17, 2005 Posts: 89

I bought 400 of the initial run of the 270/130s.
They can be ordered directly from Nosler's site .....
Nosler Solid Base Bullets
Buy

How they work? Here is a picture of a doe taken at 60 yards with the new run . It was a 270/130 @3050 fps mv. The spot on the shoulder is the exit wound through the shoulder bone.

This is the second day's deer taken at approx. 125 yards,same load. The little tuft in the front shoulder is the entrance. The exit was just behind the opposite shoulder, same results as the doe in picture 1. It appears they have reproduced the SB in its orginal form.

Neither animal took a step.

This is one of a doe taken by my son. It was a 180SB from a 30-338WM at just over 3100 at a range of about 75 yards. That boy has a tendency to shoot a smiggen high and caught the lower portion of the backbone on this one.
The little guy is the next generation of hunter in the family. He wuz help'n Dad and Pop!

These pictures are very typical of my expericences and the three other nuts that are brave enough to hunt with me with the SB performance on deer sized game. Two of us shoot the 270/130s, 7/140s, Tom , the 30/165s and my son, either the 30/150s or 30/180s.

Bill

LittleMagnum · Member Joined: Jul 05, 2005 Posts: 105 Location: Vermont

I have had great luck with ballistic tip's. I have shot 4 bucks with 150gr 7mm rem mag, one with 180gr 300win mag, and another with 225gr 35 whelen.

popgun · Posted: Sun Aug 07, 2005 10:46 pm Post subject: Re: Ballistic Tip *Hunting*

You can find the Nosler Solid Base bullets on the Nosler website and you can buy them direct also but at suggested retail. You might try other sources to find the Solid Base Bullets.
www.midsouthshooterssupply.com/
www.lockstock.com/
As for the Ballistic Tips you will hear good and bad about them. My experience with the 7mm Nosler 140 gr BT is marginal in my 7mm-08 Rem. In this cartridge the Ballistic Tip either blows up to soon or expands poorly. Not looking for a comparison fight, they just don't work for me in this cartridge. I have changed to the Nosler 140 gr Partition in the 7mm-08.

BillPa · Member Joined: Mar 17, 2005 Posts: 89

Here is another source for Solid Base bullets. They have a limited number of calibers and weights.

ShootersShop

yotunaman · Rookie Member Joined: Aug 10, 2005 Posts: 2

TRY SST'S THEY EXPAND GOOD AND SEEM TO STAY TOGETHER FOR COMPLETE BLOW THROUGH
YOTUNAMAN

Gonzo2112 · Rookie Member Joined: Sep 16, 2005 Posts: 1

Dallan, I've had good results with the BTs in 95g .243 and 150g 30-06 on whitetails here in Texas.I always wait for a lung shot and get complete penetration,even when taking out ribs on both sides. That having been said I have switched to the 95g Ballistic Silvertip in my .243 and love them ! The last 4 deer and 1 hog ( over 300lbs.)shot with them tipped over like they had been struck by lightning !!! I've never seen a heart shot hog drop like that,and I've shot a pick-up truck bed full of hogs !(they're like rabbits here in N.E.Texas the last few years) You might give them a try. Gonzo

DallanC · Site Admin Joined: Jan 18, 2005 Posts: 3572 Location: Utah

Welcome yotunaman & Gonzo2112.

For the .243's I personally love Nosler Partitions. Have had excellent luck with them and my wife downed a 350BC Caribou with her .243.

I was looking into the 120 BT Hunting as possible rounds out of my 7STW but I just dont believe anything 120grn traveling +3600fps will hold up short of a Barnes X... and my gun doesnt shoot those worth a crap LOL.

At the moment for my big fall hunt I will be using Factory Remington Safari grade ammo that uses the 140grn Swift AFrame bullet due to its sub half inch grouping at 100 yards. Extremely accurate ammo in my rifle.

-DallanC

Tusero · Rookie Member Joined: Aug 26, 2005 Posts: 19

This prolly don't count for what you're looking to do, but I have used Nosler Ballistic Tips in 40 through 55 grains for prairie dogs and they really make em pop! Just my 2 cents worth. Wish they were a little cheaper too!