Ballistic Tips
- Thread starter todbartell
- Start date
well I have only shot one deer with Nosler Ballistic Tips, it was a medium sized mulie buck @ 165 yards, 7mm 150 grain. Bullet impacted high on the spine and the bullet punched right through and exited, certainly not what I was expecting!
I've shot a couple wolves and numerous coyotes with the 55 grain 22 cal & 70 grain 243 (one wolf was 308/165 gr NBT) and they have always hit stuff hard and given me good results.
Ive found them to be very accurate bullets (more so than an SST/Interlock) and their price isnt too bad, a bit more than a regular soft point but if they give better accuracy than it is worth it to me
With the introduction of the Accubond I doubt I see any point in using a ballistic tip on game (in larger calibers), as the Accubond is everything the BT is and more, with the higher weight retention and deeper penetration for angling shots.
I've shot a couple wolves and numerous coyotes with the 55 grain 22 cal & 70 grain 243 (one wolf was 308/165 gr NBT) and they have always hit stuff hard and given me good results.
Ive found them to be very accurate bullets (more so than an SST/Interlock) and their price isnt too bad, a bit more than a regular soft point but if they give better accuracy than it is worth it to me
With the introduction of the Accubond I doubt I see any point in using a ballistic tip on game (in larger calibers), as the Accubond is everything the BT is and more, with the higher weight retention and deeper penetration for angling shots.
I use Hornady's A-Max ballistic tips.
In my 7mm Rem a 162g
In the 30.06 a 168g
Both with moly coatings, I have hit game with both rifles using these bullets, and yes there has been some seperations (not many) of lead and jacket, but what ever I hit either never got up from laying down (napping) or it went out of sight faster than I could plink (straight down to the ground).
No matter what it is I'm hunting I always go for the heart/lung area with these bullets, if they open up and seperate they do extreme damage to that area, and it's game over now. (with the exception of grouse they get to take it in the head). I only had one Deer with the 30.06 where the bullet missed bone went clean through, but what do you expect for a shot at 10 feet away and 2900fps, it sure slowed him down when he ran away from me though, made the second shot too easy.
I like the way they fly and pierce throught the wind with very little wind drift, they group amazingly.
The picture under my name is me with a Stone Sheep that I got with the 7mm at about 425 yards down hill shot, one time through the chest into the heart, retreived the bullet, and it was all in one piece, did it's job flawlessly.
Too Bad they're not made in .338 250g, I'm going to have to find something similiar for that application.
In my 7mm Rem a 162g
In the 30.06 a 168g
Both with moly coatings, I have hit game with both rifles using these bullets, and yes there has been some seperations (not many) of lead and jacket, but what ever I hit either never got up from laying down (napping) or it went out of sight faster than I could plink (straight down to the ground).
No matter what it is I'm hunting I always go for the heart/lung area with these bullets, if they open up and seperate they do extreme damage to that area, and it's game over now. (with the exception of grouse they get to take it in the head). I only had one Deer with the 30.06 where the bullet missed bone went clean through, but what do you expect for a shot at 10 feet away and 2900fps, it sure slowed him down when he ran away from me though, made the second shot too easy.
I like the way they fly and pierce throught the wind with very little wind drift, they group amazingly.
The picture under my name is me with a Stone Sheep that I got with the 7mm at about 425 yards down hill shot, one time through the chest into the heart, retreived the bullet, and it was all in one piece, did it's job flawlessly.
Too Bad they're not made in .338 250g, I'm going to have to find something similiar for that application.
- Location
- The Conservative part of Ontario
Used 'em on everything from deer to moose, no problems. But It was in a 338WM.
Now I've gone back to Hornady's. The interlock is all I need.
Now I've gone back to Hornady's. The interlock is all I need.
I agree with the majority, the Noslers have proven to be more accurate and consistent killers for me and I wouldn't give a nickel for an SST or an Interlock.
It should be mentioned that there are two different jacket designs/thickness's in Nosler ballistic tip bullets, the Varmint style and the Hunting style. These both perform well but differently as one is designed for game and the other for varmints.
dpopl8r makes a good point about practicing with the B/T's and hunting with Accubonds, as these bullets are identical in shape and fly the same.
It should be mentioned that there are two different jacket designs/thickness's in Nosler ballistic tip bullets, the Varmint style and the Hunting style. These both perform well but differently as one is designed for game and the other for varmints.
dpopl8r makes a good point about practicing with the B/T's and hunting with Accubonds, as these bullets are identical in shape and fly the same.
- Location
- The Conservative part of Ontario
Interlocks have never failed me, and they are chaep enough to pratice lots with. I'll continue to use 'em. If I were on a long range hunt, yes, the BT would be among my first choices for lighter big game, or small game.
Mystic Precision
CGN Ultra frequent flyer
- Location
- Summerland, BC
Please note that bonding does not reduce bullet expansion nor increase weight retention. Jacket design does.
The only difference between the BT and accubond will be that the accubond will more likely have a smear of lead on the jacket petals vs the BT which could be wiped clean.
Weight retention, and expansion should be almost identical since they use the same jacket profile.
Cores leaving their jackets only happen after a bullet has tumbled 180deg and that happens at the end of it travel and almost slowed to a stop. At that point, there is little more work that bullet would do whether bonded or not.
Sorry, but bonding is one of todays great gimicks.
I have used both Interlocks and SST's at moderate impact velocities. In all cases, bullet expansion and penetration have been plenty. No bullets to show because none have been recovered.
Jerry
The only difference between the BT and accubond will be that the accubond will more likely have a smear of lead on the jacket petals vs the BT which could be wiped clean.
Weight retention, and expansion should be almost identical since they use the same jacket profile.
Cores leaving their jackets only happen after a bullet has tumbled 180deg and that happens at the end of it travel and almost slowed to a stop. At that point, there is little more work that bullet would do whether bonded or not.
Sorry, but bonding is one of todays great gimicks.
I have used both Interlocks and SST's at moderate impact velocities. In all cases, bullet expansion and penetration have been plenty. No bullets to show because none have been recovered.
Jerry
longbranch*
CGN frequent flyer
- Location
- Victoria,BC.
Noslers
Took two Mulies last Sept. with .338 225gr. Accubonds (looking for Elk) and a good Whitetail in November with 7m/m mag 150gr BT's. The whiteail was at less than 20 yards, high shoulder,quartering away shot. Buck never moved,bullet retained about 65% weight and most of jacket. Not bad for 3,200FPS at less than 20 yards taking out lots of bone.
Geoff
Took two Mulies last Sept. with .338 225gr. Accubonds (looking for Elk) and a good Whitetail in November with 7m/m mag 150gr BT's. The whiteail was at less than 20 yards, high shoulder,quartering away shot. Buck never moved,bullet retained about 65% weight and most of jacket. Not bad for 3,200FPS at less than 20 yards taking out lots of bone.
Geoff
Mystic Precision
CGN Ultra frequent flyer
- Location
- Summerland, BC
Sorry, but sectioned new gen BT and Accubond of same cal/weight showed identical bullet profiles. I doubt that Nosler would use different jacket and core material so can assume they perform the same at impact.
Bonding is no different then 'gluing' the core into the jacket. Only the material in contact with that bonding agent will adhere to the jacket (that it does very well). The rest of the core is free to disintegrate per usual.
Bonding the core in a varmint bullet will not change how the bullet blows up. Except each jacket fragment would have lead on one side.
There is a misconception that the bonding makes the entire core more stable. it doesn't. Only changing the lead alloy and how much is exposed will limit that material loss.
Exposure of the lead core during penetration is controlled by the jacket's thickness, alloy, and internal structure. Lead used in cores is very soft (compared to the jacket) so offers little structural strength to any bullet.
please refer to a previous post re: empty jacket cup. That happens when the bullet is pretty much stopped, goes unstable, tumbles and spits out the lead core (interlocks/SST tend to hang onto their cores when this happens due to internal ribs). The work has already been done.
I am sure you found that cup on the offside of the animal shot.
Also, since you were digging in a dead animals body to recover the jacket, the bullet killed 'enough'. Sounds like the bullet worked just fine.
Jerry
Bonding is no different then 'gluing' the core into the jacket. Only the material in contact with that bonding agent will adhere to the jacket (that it does very well). The rest of the core is free to disintegrate per usual.
Bonding the core in a varmint bullet will not change how the bullet blows up. Except each jacket fragment would have lead on one side.
There is a misconception that the bonding makes the entire core more stable. it doesn't. Only changing the lead alloy and how much is exposed will limit that material loss.
Exposure of the lead core during penetration is controlled by the jacket's thickness, alloy, and internal structure. Lead used in cores is very soft (compared to the jacket) so offers little structural strength to any bullet.
please refer to a previous post re: empty jacket cup. That happens when the bullet is pretty much stopped, goes unstable, tumbles and spits out the lead core (interlocks/SST tend to hang onto their cores when this happens due to internal ribs). The work has already been done.
I am sure you found that cup on the offside of the animal shot.
Also, since you were digging in a dead animals body to recover the jacket, the bullet killed 'enough'. Sounds like the bullet worked just fine.
Jerry
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mysticplayer said:
Yes bonding sounds similar to 'gluing' but is certainly different than not gluing or bonding! The way I see it is that bonding or gluing is there to slow down jacket separation which has been identified as one form of bullet failure, especially when there is evidence of extreme damge but the inability to penetrate the vitals. I don't think all the bonding in the world will guard against all core destruction.
I never dig for bullets when I am field dressing, and I in no way suggest that the hollow cup was an indication that the bullet failed, but that it came apart from the core. Actualy I was surprised to find it because there was a very clear exit wound. Its hard to argue bullet failure of any kind when a deer is stopped in its tracks. I think that the best way to not have separation anxiety is not have anything to separate!
I skimmed Chuck H's article on bonded bullets and while I was surfing, I read Craig Boddington, the Nosler site and Federal stuff on the differences between their various premium bullets. I am never sure of what is gimick or fad and if you can ever learn anything from these guys. They seem to be in bed with the manufactures!
I base my comments on what I have actually seen and experienced. During hunting season I come in contact with successfull hunters every day and have examined many extracted bullets. I have seen all sorts of so called premium bullets in varying degrees of weight retention but other than one
.338, I have never seen a ballistic tip that was much more than a cup. I am not saying that is bad, because 6 of my last 7 deer shot with BT died without leaving anything behind. I don't buy the idea that a bullet must expend all of it's enery inside the animal, but better to inflict a leathal blow and have enough left for a good exit wound. Whenever I find a bullet under the skin, I alway wonder if the kill would have been as good if the animal was further away or the animal was thicker?
hi guys
if i could just say ,as i see things a little different. not to say that BT.s are not great hunting bullets cause if you want to stop the animal quick they will do it .....however when i see the game, its not to hard when there it 100 or so deer hanging in the cooler to tell what ones were hit with BT.s or quick expanding bullets...just keep this in mind as you will get you animal in the field,,,you will get less back from the butcher..the shock they deliver and hemridge in the meat is quite substantial ....
just my view....
wild game processing
if i could just say ,as i see things a little different. not to say that BT.s are not great hunting bullets cause if you want to stop the animal quick they will do it .....however when i see the game, its not to hard when there it 100 or so deer hanging in the cooler to tell what ones were hit with BT.s or quick expanding bullets...just keep this in mind as you will get you animal in the field,,,you will get less back from the butcher..the shock they deliver and hemridge in the meat is quite substantial ....
just my view....
wild game processing
What 9,3mm do you have?I love the 250gr BT in my 9,3x64 and they work well on game up to Elk,as they Jacket is supposed to be thicker,but sadly Nosler stopped producing them.I shot deer from 25 yds to 320yds and they are a reliable performer with instant kills.BwanaDave said:
In my 270WSM,using 150gr BT,i have mixed feelings at close range,as the Jackets definately seperates from the core and at 30yds on a big Muley,i had no exit hole and found the mangled remains of the bullet.
Super accurate in all my guns.
Varminter its the Cz550 lux and the 250 bt's chrono 2712 avg @12 ft, zero pressure signs and like everything else I feed this rifle are incredibly accurate. I was lucky enough to snag a few boxes before they stopped production, Im sure the accubond will be just as good though probably twice the price.
