After eight elk and two moose taken with the 180gr Ballistic Tip, launched at 3340fps out of my 300RUM, I most certainly agree. Most were pass throughs, and one bullet passed through both shoulders of a bull elk, and still weighed 118gr.
Deer & Nosler Ballistic Tips
- Thread starter Bitumen
- Start date
After eight elk and two moose taken with the 180gr Ballistic Tip, launched at 3340fps out of my 300RUM, I most certainly agree. Most were pass throughs, and one bullet passed through both shoulders of a bull elk, and still weighed 118gr.
Im mistaken here, im Talkin about the Nosler Ballistic SilverTip which is loaded in the Winchester Supreme line of ammo.. might be a difference
cheers
I have killed a metric truckload of deer with BTs over the years and have never had one fail. In fact, the only bullet I recovered was a 95 grain pill shot from a 6mm. That said, the vast majority of the were shot with a 7-08, so no "magnum" velocities. FWIW, I prefer the 120 grain BT to the 140 grain in 7mm. The 120s shot way more accurately in my rifle, and yet held together better than I expected.
I had 140gr BT's from 7RM blow up on the exterior of 2 deer shoulders, just leaving gaping wounds, not incapacitating the deer except for running off on 3 legs. Anothe rshot brought both deer down, but I quit using them after that.
That was some years ago, and I understand they have made their jackets thicker and work much better now, but I'm not likely to bother using them again for big game. I guess I would look at them if I was doing some long range deer shooting.
That was some years ago, and I understand they have made their jackets thicker and work much better now, but I'm not likely to bother using them again for big game. I guess I would look at them if I was doing some long range deer shooting.
I had 140gr BT's from 7RM blow up on the exterior of 2 deer shoulders, just leaving gaping wounds, not incapacitating the deer except for running off on 3 legs. Anothe rshot brought both deer down, but I quit using them after that.
That was some years ago, and I understand they have made their jackets thicker and work much better now, but I'm not likely to bother using them again for big game. I guess I would look at them if I was doing some long range deer shooting.
That was some years ago, and I understand they have made their jackets thicker and work much better now, but I'm not likely to bother using them again for big game. I guess I would look at them if I was doing some long range deer shooting.
I think that going through 1/2 inch OSB is like going through rib or shoulder blade.
I've stop using them when boiler room shot deer at 80 y had fist size entry wound and no exit from 7 STW 140 gr BT at 3450 MV and after picking them from snow in pieces.
Than I started to switch to tougher bullets.
You used one of the more "fragile" BT out there and then pushed it really fast - you should not be surprised that it caused a lot of superficial damage. A simple case of the wrong bullet for the cartridge. I shoot that same 140 BT at a little more than 2800 fps in my 7-08, and it works like a charm at that velocity.
As far as BT's go, the 150 would be a better choice in that cartridge as it's one of the toughter BT's - but something like a Barnes (T)TSX would be a better fit for velocity like that.
Yes. If you use inappropriate bullets for the job, you will get bad results, and your opinions about those bad results will be worth little. If you use any bullet for what it was intended, you will get good results. Almost all the stories of "bullet failure" that I have seen are either inappropriate bullet choice or bad shooting. I know my own cases of bullets behaving badly occurred when I demanded (mostly just due to hunting realities) more than I knew the bullet was designed to handle. The perfect bullet for all hunting situations does not yet exist. There are many great bullets right now that behave very well in quite varied situations, but none that are perfect for everything.
Ballistic tips are great bullets for deer if you drive them at the right speeds. They expand quick enough for the light frames deer have, and they are not "explosive" at the right speeds. They are often very accurate. I use them for deer all the time.
I bet the deer were dead in a hurry. I switched to TSXs in my STW to see what the fuss was about, then switched back to softer bullets after I got tired of following them around.
I used the 140gr Ballistic Tip launched at 3500fps out of my 7mmstw, to take around thirty deer, a bighorn, and a few pronghorns, with no issues at at. They usually dropped at the shot or within a step or two, and many bullets exited.
My wife has killed several deer with a 120gr btip out of a 7mm rm at 3300fps. She spine shot one at ~50 yards and that btip went right on through the deer. Friend of mine loves the 150s out of his 280. He killed a 63" moose, and tons of deer, with that bullet. I am using 162sst this year for deer.Another great bullet that is not "fragile".
Pathfinder
CGN Ultra frequent flyer
- Location
- Northeast Ontario
Going off track here but I think the SST is nearly on par with the BT for explosiveness, still need to stay away from solid parts. Twice now ive seen 150's for a 270 make a mess on Deer. Loaded to 2850 fps and hitting inside 100 yards. Both times very dead.
Northman999
CGN Ultra frequent flyer
- Location
- Southern Yukon
Exactly.
The OP is using a .270, and I've done well on big game with plain jane cup-and-core 130's and 150's of most any variety. Sierra, speer, hornady, remington bulk, etc. The trick is not to think your .270 is a medium magnum where double-shoulder shots can be on the menu. If you put a simple remington bulk 130 grain spitzer into a the boiler of even a very large moose, then you've got him, and surely the same could be said for a silly little deer.
Yep! 
We have put a ton of meat in the freezer over the years with 270s. In fact, it is my very distinct impression that I have had more one-shot kills on big game with the 270 than any other cartridge, including the second largest moose I ever killed.
Ted
We have put a ton of meat in the freezer over the years with 270s. In fact, it is my very distinct impression that I have had more one-shot kills on big game with the 270 than any other cartridge, including the second largest moose I ever killed.Ted
