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Equipment & Gear => Guns and Ammo => Topic started by: Dave8pt on November 20, 2010, 02:27:38 PM


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Title: Winchester Ballistic Silvertip Reviews
Post by: Dave8pt on November 20, 2010, 02:27:38 PM
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.
Title: Re: Winchester Ballistic Silvertip Reviews
Post by: demontang on November 20, 2010, 03:03:32 PM
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.
Title: Re: Winchester Ballistic Silvertip Reviews
Post by: longknife on November 20, 2010, 03:24:04 PM
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!
Title: Re: Winchester Ballistic Silvertip Reviews
Post by: DeerThug on November 20, 2010, 04:24:49 PM
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.
Title: Re: Winchester Ballistic Silvertip Reviews
Post by: Jason on November 20, 2010, 07:01:05 PM
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.
Title: Re: Winchester Ballistic Silvertip Reviews
Post by: carpsniperg2 on November 20, 2010, 07:08:50 PM
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.
Title: Re: Winchester Ballistic Silvertip Reviews
Post by: SemperFidelis97 on November 20, 2010, 07:10:48 PM
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.
Title: Re: Winchester Ballistic Silvertip Reviews
Post by: Dave8pt on November 20, 2010, 08:08:32 PM
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
Title: Re: Winchester Ballistic Silvertip Reviews
Post by: Rick on November 20, 2010, 08:46:50 PM
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.
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