Winchester Ballistic Silvertip Reviews

[Dave8pt]

I'd like to get some input from hunters who've used this ammo for hunting large game (whitetail deer specifically) and see what you think.  In Washington I'm mostly a bow hunter for deer and elk, but every year my dad and I go to Arkansas and go whitetail hunting.  We're part of a hunting club down there.  For the past 5 years I've been hunting with a Weatherby Vanguard using 150 gr ballistic silvertips in .300 WSM and my results have been mixed.  I consider myself a decent shot and out of the five years have only gut shot one deer (327 yds, quartering away...I screwed up...).  Sometimes they drop on a dime but most of the time I end up having to trail 'em a little.  I've only managed to recover one bullet, or I should say the pieces of it.  Doesn't seem like the round stays together very well.  Anyone else have a similar experience with this round?  Anyone shooting a similar setup to mine?  Anyone had better, consitent results with this round?  I'm just wondering if maybe this year I should try a new round, maybe something that stays together better.  I might bring a box of the Federal Premium Fussion in 165 gr this year too.

[demontang]

I have used the 200gr 338 sliver tips and at 100yds they a come apart but once the speed slows at 200 they work pretty good. If your looking for a little tougher bullet look at accubonds I've have very good luck with them shot a elk bear and two deer and they have always held together up close and opened up when way out there. I hot my elk in the shoulder and it broke the ball of the should and still exited with very little meat damage. The bear I hit twice one broad side which I believe exited and one straight on which was just under the hide.

[longknife]

My father swears by them, so i have used them my whole life. The one thing that he liked about them, if theres a discrepency on who shot the animal, they are a distinct round when they break apart like that. I like the fact they spread out, and destroy interior soft tissue like that. Some say they destroy meat, but i want it down imediatly.
Now their brass quality is piss poor!! I shot the Win. Brand x, and the casing started to split in the throaght of the casing. The Remington casings are all dinged up,(new boxes of shells here). So i went to fedral, first shell i pull out, the brass is crimped on the lead way off, and bent the brass casing. I dont get the thought of letting these hit the market if safty isnt the factor!
At a $1 or more a shell, they better be rite!

[DeerThug]

I shot a buck with them one shot high in the shoulder.  Puched a 30 cal hole in one shoulder blade and a 31 cal hole in the other.  My son dumped the buck with one shot from his 243 core lokt.

Had a similar experience with white tail.  They are accurate but that is about it.

Don't wast the money.

[Jason]

I shot a buck with them one shot high in the shoulder.  Puched a 30 cal hole in one shoulder blade and a 31 cal hole in the other.  My son dumped the buck with one shot from his 243 core lokt.

Had a similar experience with white tail.  They are accurate but that is about it.

Don't wast the money.

I have had similar experiences with them, I don't use them anymore.
if any one is looking to reload their own I have 2 boxes of Ballistic Silvertips .30 cal 180grain NIB $40 shipped.

[carpsniperg2]

i use them in my 7mm-08's 25-06 and load them for my cuzz in his 308. i have had very good results with them both in testing and in the field. my grandmother shoots them in her 30-06 and she has killed 4 bucks with them and the bullets have worked well on all of them. they have always been great shooting bullets. the one thing i have found is not to run them to fast, a little slower is better with them so they don't come apart as much. but for a ballistic tip of that design, they have been a good bullet for us.

[SemperFidelis97]

I have had bad experiences with them as well I like to be able to get a little meat from the deer I shoot, and it seems these bullets explode when they hit bone.  I wouldnt buy them again I dont think Winchester Supreme makes the failsafe anymore, but that was a fantastic bullet.  I have been using the fusions of late they seem to hold together quite well usually only about a 4" circumference bloodshot area for the price they seem to be a great bullet.

[Dave8pt]

I shot a buck with them one shot high in the shoulder.  Puched a 30 cal hole in one shoulder blade and a 31 cal hole in the other.  My son dumped the buck with one shot from his 243 core lokt.

Had a similar experience with white tail.  They are accurate but that is about it.

Don't wast the money.

I agree they're accurate, I can shoot tight groups all day with 'em on the range...seems like other folks are having the same issue I'm having with them coming apart when they hit an animal

[Rick]

I've used 130gr .270 caliber Ballistic Tips for years. Both the standard version and Winchester's fancy silver and black model. I've never had one come apart or stay inside a deer. Absolutely perfect performance every time.

My brother has used the 150s from his '06 for years also. Never an issue for him either.

IMO,you couldn't design a better bullet for deer.