Tried these out in my 303-25. I was expecting a more explosive result but the effect on turkey was somewhat disappointing! Are these bullets supposed to be explosive or not? Two other bullets for camparison are 100gr 257 Sierra SP's which blew the turkeys up. The other was 180gr sp 303 Brit bullets at a rather modest velocity. Blew the turkeys up!

Never shot any of the Nosler 85 grain BT's in 25 caliber rifles.
The bullets that consistently deliver great accuracy in the 25's I've shot them in are: Sierra's 90 grain HPBT, Speer's two 87 grain offerings, the TNT and the SP, along with Nosler's 100 grain Partition.
I did just buy a Vanguard in 25-06 during the snow season, and haven't shot it yet. This will be, hopefully, a 25 caliber heavy bullet rifle. I have several different heavy bullets and powder combinations that will get slung down range when the snow goes..

Don

In 2001 we 4 guys bought 4 Lothar Walther light varmint barrel blanks and a 257 Roberts Ackley Improved reamer.

We cut chambers and threads and put them on 98 Mausers.


I get 5 shot group averages at 100 yards:
72 and 75 gr ............0.8"
100 gr .................1.0"
115 and 117 gr............ 1.2"
Heavy bullet groups print 1" to the left of light bullet groups

Another one of the 4 guys gets the opposite results with respect to accuracy vs weight.

My theory is that I am better at making concentric ammo and he is better at making a consistent reaction to recoil.

My reasoning is that light bullets make less recoil, and ameliorate the sins of a guy that has inconsistent reaction to recoil [me].

My reasoning is that long bullets get forced into a more concentric path in the process of going down the bore, and ameliorate the sins of a [the other] guy that always has an expander ball in his sizing die, and thus brass with bend necks, and thus starts the bullet into the bore cockeyed. But the center of angular momentum of the longer bearing surface heavier bullet is then forced closer to the center of the bore, making the spin off accuracy error smaller when the spinning bullet leaves the muzzle.

I have taken the expander ball out of my Forster sizing die. It has a neck honed out at the factory to .284". I seat with my sliding sleeve seater die.
The other guy has an RCBS die set with expander ball deployed.

I weigh 180 pounds, have a bony shoulder, and shoot with bags.
He weights 270 pounds, has some soft tissue over the shoulder, and shoots with a bench rest, and envelops a rifle.

What does it all mean?
Shoot turkeys in the neck or head.

I think it's funny as hell that you want to blow turkeys up!

Are they a nuisance down there?

Did some looking for ya, I about shit myself when I found that Varmint Grenade are not made in 25cal! I also have a hard time getting .264 bullets other then a very select few. I was told for these to calibers to check with Europa bullet smiths to buy these cal's.
Sierra makes a Varmint bullet that seems it may work. I recommend anything hallow point.

quote:

Originally posted by 303Guy:
Tried these out in my 303-25. I was expecting a more explosive result but the effect on turkey was somewhat disappointing! Are these bullets supposed to be explosive or not? Two other bullets for camparison are 100gr 257 Sierra SP's which blew the turkeys up. The other was 180gr sp 303 Brit bullets at a rather modest velocity. Blew the turkeys up!

Interesting.
I have shot 11 white tails with the Sierra bullet with a .25/06. My velocity was probably about 3150. It penetrated through and though from every angle except head on through the brisket. Ranges were 60 yards to a little over 300.

If you want to blow something up with a 25 caliber 100 grain bullet the 100 grain Speer has a huge open hollow point. I am sure it might do it.
Your 25-303 may not be speedy enough to make a 85 grn BT blow up a bird.
I suspect that most 25 grain bullets are designed for 25-06 speeds.

I know you may be limited as to what bullets you can get in NZ. I've never found a rifle that shoots the 85 BT's anywhere near as well as they will shoot the Hornady 75 gr Vmax.

I know you weren't asking for that, but I think the 75 Vmax may open better for you and give you a little more speed anyway.

I've tried both bullets in a 257 Roberts, a 257 Ackley Roberts, a 25 wssm, and a 257 Wby mag. In each case, the 75 Vmax was more accurate.

I've never shot a turkey with a 25 cal rifle, but I've sure blown up some jackrabbits and left big holes in coyotes with them.

Dunno if that helps you any?

quote:

I think it's funny as hell that you want to blow turkeys up!

Are they a nuisance down there?

Yes! It's not that I want to blow them up but it is quite impressive when I do!

quote:

Interesting.
I have shot 11 white tails with the Sierra bullet with a .25/06. My velocity was probably about 3150. It penetrated through and though from every angle except head on through the brisket. Ranges were 60 yards to a little over 300.

That is interesting! I found they penetrated all the way too and with little 'explosive' effect. Compared to the 87gr bullets I was using they are tame! But importantly, I want to use this rifle for deer and so that is good news to me! (It's just interesting that they blow a turkey up. So does the 303 bullet I mentioned and that bullet penetrated well without 'blow-up' on goat).

quote:

I've never shot a turkey with a 25 cal rifle, but I've sure blown up some jackrabbits and left big holes in coyotes with them.

Dunno if that helps you any?

Yest it does, thanks! They do work well on Hares and things!

It's not that i am wanting to blow up turkeys, it's just that the bullet that I thought would be better for bigger stuff did more damage than the bullet I thought would be too explosive for bigger stuff. The turkey died on the spot with no hesitation. It's just odd - this bullet was faster!

quote:

I've never shot a turkey with a 25 cal rifle, but I've sure blown up some jackrabbits and left big holes in coyotes with them.

Dunno if that helps you any?

Yest it does, thanks! They do work well on Hares and things!

I use my 6.5x55 on everything! I have been asked why use a 140gr bullet on coyote? 1 its more accurate in my rifle and 2 I try to keep the furs and so the 140 makes a smaller hole on exit! a friend of mine used a Varmint Grenade on one, that was a mess. But on the same scale as another using a 300win mag one one!

I would try one of the bullets with the polymer tips that will help with expansion! Been eating a lot of Turkey recently?