http://www.shootersproshop.com/28150sb2nds.html

For those of you who think the Nosler Solid Base (Pre-Ballistic Tip for you youngsters) was a heckuva deer bullet, the 150 grain 7mm version is available again, at least until these are sold. Go to the link listed above and you'll find them for sale.

Cheers!
Bigiron

ALLLRRRIGHTTTT!!! Order's been placed.

I was just looking in my carefully hoarded stock the other nite, and bemoaning the fact that I'm down to about 25 of the originals. This is like Christmas a month ahead of time!!

Now, if they'd just bring back the 308/150 S.B.

R-WEST

Just got a call from Shooter's Pro Shop; they saw me whining about 308/150 SB's, and called to tell me they actually do (or did, till I scarfed them up) have 308/150 SB's. Man, is this 'net great, or what?

R-WEST

So are these Nosler Solid Base bullets similar to a Sierra GameKing?

Todd,

The Nosler Solid Base is the direct ancestor of the Ballistic Tip. They are a jacketed boattail spitzer with a really thick base - much thicker than on a Sierra bullet.

Chief differences between Solid Base and Ballistic Tip are the polycarbonate tip and hollow spot in the lead core into which the tip is forced to start expansion - the Solid Base has neither.

I don't know if the original Solid Base bullets had thicker jackets than the original B-Tips or not. Lots folks thought the Solid Base was a great deer bullet at less than Partition prices.

BigIron.

Hey Guys:

Cold Bore has some old Nosler Solid base bullets for sale in the classified forum.

cwilson

I don't know if the original Solid Base bullets had thicker jackets than the original B-Tips or not. Lots folks thought the Solid Base was a great deer bullet at less than Partition prices. Yes, the original SB's had thicker jackets than the original B-Tips. My understanding is, the reason the original SB was deleted was it was too expensive to draw the heavy, tapered jackets that the design was dependent on. New technology has, supposedly, changed that. Now, will the "new" SB's be the same as the old ones? I have some of the old ones in each caliber/weight as the new ones, so, I'll have to section them and compare. Hopefully, they just updated the old tooling!!

The SB's weren't just "deer" bullets. They were designed to achieve deep penetration with controlled expansion on all types of game. Nowadays, we've become programmed to choose a different bullet type for each 100# change in game weight, or any change of 1/2" in atmoshperic pressure, it seems. Back in the SB era ('70's), if you wanted a "premium" bullet you used a Partition, and that was pretty much it. Bitterroot offered a bonded core bullet, but they were about as rare as an honest politician. No X's, no A-Frames, just basic cup/core bullets. When the SB came along, it was viewed as just another version of the same old thing, until a few guys tried them on elk and such, with excellent results. That thick base did help the bullet hold together and penetrate. In my mind, tho.., the single biggest attribute of the SB has always been accuracy. I've yet to see one that wasn't superbly accurate.

When the B-Tip came out, it was called the "Solid Base Ballistic Tip", so a lot of guys figured they were the same thing, just with a snazzy colored plastic tip. They aren't, at least the ones I've looked at. The base isn't as thick, nor are the jackets as thick at the base. That, in combination with the hollow point and expansion initiating plastic tip has led to the claims of too-rapid expansion and bullet failures of B-Tips in calibers 30 and under.

BTW - it seems Federal is going to be loading the SB's in their OEM line, according to the new Shooting Times issue, so, that's where the overrun SB's are coming from.

R-WEST

[ 11-28-2003, 21:55: Message edited by: R-WEST ]

R-West,

Thanks for the info. Please section & compare new/old SB's and comment. I'm quite interested to see if they are still what they used to be.

Things tend to change over time, especially when bean-counters start running the show. Note the picture of an old RP Core-Lokt in the most recent Handloader. The newer ones aren't the same.

Hopefully, Nosler didn't repeat Remington's mistake.

BigIron

[ 11-30-2003, 07:14: Message edited by: BigIron ]

the 270 130gr solidbase was my favorite deer bullet, really performed well. I still have a small horde of .243 .257 .277 and .308 solidbase bullets.