Nosler Ballistic Tips

[TwoSixFourWins]

Who uses them and in what? They always seem a topic of hot debate. I personally love them and have had outstanding luck and performance with them. What do you all think? Post any personal experience with them good or bad. Mine has all been so good that I am always surprised by bad experiences even though I know they happen. Here is what I know so far.

1. Not a super velocity bullet without explosive results

2. Newer ones in the 50 rnd boxes are tougher than the older 100 rnd boxed ones

3. Shots through heavy bone especially at high velocity can result in a blow up.

4. Nobody seems to be "on the fence" with them, they either love or hate them.

5. Usually seem to shoot well with proper load workup

6. Much cheaper than other premium bullets

Please add your experiences including approximately how far the shot was, cartridge, velocity if known, type of critter shot, where on the body, and what the result was. I will add some of my experiences later as this post is already long.

[addicted]

I would put them on any game in washington with the correct application of accuracy and weight.

Gonna order some 120's for the wife's 7mm-08 here soon. 


I understand the 7mm 120's are tougher than the 140's because they maintained the same size of bullet, just a thicker taper of copper in the walls rather than thin taper and more lead. There are several bullet "cut aways" that show this on th interweb.  Honestly I trust my wifes accuracy to put that combo up to elk.

 

[Wazukie]

I use the 55grn in my 243 pushing 4000 fps for yotes

[Smith_22]

140 gr ballistic tips in my 7mm-08.  2850 fps, kills em' dead, excellent groups, not too hard on the wallet. 

[gasman]

I use them in all my guns, .243, .257 and .270....

I have had great luck with them and only once had a bullet separate on me. A few years ago with the .243, i had one enterance hope and the lead and jacket separated in the body cavity. Did the damage to drop the deer on the spot 

There's a video out on the web. on the comparison of the BT and other bullets and the BT did very well and even beat out some of the more premium bullets. Cant remember who did it but its worth a look at if you can find it. It may have even been posted up on this forum before, I cant remember that far back 

[bobcat]

6. Much cheaper than other premium bullets

That's because they're not premium bullets. At least I have never considered them to be. I have shot a lot of 150 grain ballistic tips out of my 270. I like them for their accuracy, and yes, the low price. There is no way I would use them on elk. But for deer and antleope they are good, just be careful and don't hit a shoulder or that shoulder will be wasted.

The one incident that sticks in my mind, it was about 10 years ago on an antelope hunt in eastern Montana. I shot a nice buck antelope at 320 yards with my 270, dropped him on the spot. Great performance, and I was happy, but the issue is the bullet did not exit. It clipped a rib on the way in and destroyed both lungs, and I would have expected the bullet to exit but it never even reached the far side of the body cavity. At over 300 yards that 150 grain 270 bullet was not moving all that fast and what this tells me is that this bullet is definitely not one you'd want to try killing an elk with. But I would definitley use them again for antelope.

[400out]

6. Much cheaper than other premium bullets

That's because they're not premium bullets. At least I have never considered them to be. I have shot a lot of 150 grain ballistic tips out of my 270. I like them for their accuracy, and yes, the low price. There is no way I would use them on elk. But for deer and antleope they are good, just be careful and don't hit a shoulder or that shoulder will be wasted.

The one incident that sticks in my mind, it was about 10 years ago on an antelope hunt in eastern Montana. I shot a nice buck antelope at 320 yards with my 270, dropped him on the spot. Great performance, and I was happy, but the issue is the bullet did not exit. It clipped a rib on the way in and destroyed both lungs, and I would have expected the bullet to exit but it never even reached the far side of the body cavity. At over 300 yards that 150 grain 270 bullet was not moving all that fast and what this tells me is that this bullet is definitely not one you'd want to try killing an elk with. But I would definitley use them again for antelope.

well put bob

[AWS]

I use the 40gr in my 22-204 at 3900+fps for pelt hunting coyotes, it is a tough bullet that doesn't splash on the surface but doesn't exit, DRT.  As far as I'm concerned that is perfect performance.  I use the 50's in my 223 and have the same performance.  I use the 55's in my 6mm-204 at 3700fps and they will exit leaving nasty exits, I switched to the 55gr Lead Free BT's and they have proven to be pelt friendly but I've only killed a few befor I ran out and have been waiting for almost a year for them to be availible again, they say June now.

I'm going to try the 40's in my 5.6x50R Mag, if I can get them to shoot will use them this coming season .

[PA BEN]

Just shoot AccuBonds

[lokidog]

I've had good luck with them.  30-06, 165gr, sub moa groups at about 2800 fps.  These are 80's vintage bullets.

Three instances I can think of, mule deer at about 90 yards going up a hill, spine hit about 6" below the head, exited front neck, DRT, exit hole was fixeable for the shoulder mount.

Elk, 400 to 500 yards (three people's estimates), before range finders... behind the shoulder, mid-height.  Hit a rib and "shotgunned" through both lungs, dropped in tracks, got up, went 12 yards downhill and piled up dead.  No exit but seemed to work.   

Same bullets, last fall, saskatchewan WT, 100 yards, entered a little high, below spine, DRT, took out two ribs on way in, clipped a lung, and broke one rib on the way out, no meat wasted.

These are all I can remember details on, I think I dropped an antelope with same and several other deer.

[couesbitten]

Just shoot AccuBonds

   Used Ballistic Tips for a few seasons, was NOT impressed with the results, lots of better options out there, but best advice would be to use the Accubonds, much better bullet, great wheight retention.

[uplandhunter870]

i shoot the factory federal loaded nosler BT's out of my 243 and 22-250.  243-- 55gr for coyotes and 95gr for deer and black bear, the 55ers simply put coyotes to sleep hard.  the 95 gr work just as well for deer and bear, started shooting them 3 years ago and have since killed a black bear and 2 deer with them black bear was a head shot at about 60 yds, DRT, the deer were at +/- 200yds and 265yds both shot in the pocket both complete pass thrus and both deer ran less than 100yds before they piled up

in the 22-250 i shoot 55gr and there is little to be found on a solid hit on a prairie gopher and rock chucks just leave a bigger mess

both calibers and all weights show superb accuracy can consistently get sub moa groups and can get one ragged hole if im having a good day on the trigger.

going to use a 150 or 180 gr in my 270 once i get it all put together.

[KopperBuck]

I've shot 150s and 180s through my .300 WSM. Killed both elk and deer with both. I switched to 180s because they flew better. Both killed em deader than dead. Had a couple go through, and a couple stick. I'm shooting Accubonds now to mix it up just because I get bored.

[Biggerhammer]

I've killed my share of mule deer with the 7mm 140's and the .30 cal. 180's.

[JohnVH]

Use them in my 6.5 Grendel AR. Über accurate


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