I keep reading about people saying the nos. bt explodingon impact at high velocities. I load almost exclusive nos. bt. I load 7mag140/150gr bt at over3000ft per sec. and with that load I have taken deer/ muley's from 15 to 150 yrd. I have not noticed what some call exploded. I have seen where the energy caused a lot of damage exploded I personally think not. I also load the 150gr nos. bt in my STW at 3400 ft. per sec. After recovering these bullets at the 100yrd. which I work my loads, with a wall of dirt as a backdrop I have found them to perform as the NOSLER manual pictures for the bt at high velocitys. The front of the bullet peels back forming petals to the shank but holds together. I think at a very close range the if a bone is hit the petals would/could part from the bellet itself. I know there will be some disagreement with this post, but I thought I would put my experience with this bullet, since I see on different boards someone asking about the nos. bt's. fws

I have killed over thirty big game animals(including moose and elk) with nosler ballistic tips out of my 257wby,7mmstw and 300 ultramag and have not had one bullet failure to date.Muzzle velocities ranged from just under 3400 fps to 3540 fps.

I've long lost count of the animals I have taken with the Nosler BT. But I do know that a large percentage has been with the 6.5mm, 120 grain bullet in guns/cartridges as diverse as a 10" 6.5mm TCU to a 24.5" 6.5-06 -- and several calibers in between as well. Used as the manufacturer recommends, the BT is one of the best medium game bullets ever developed. I've heard claims of failure -- some rather ridiculous, if you will -- and feel as some simple stemmed from a hunter perhaps using a varmint weight BT -- and things simply snowballed from there.

One of the most outrageous -- in my mind, at least -- is the claim of a 180 grain BT from a 30-06 exploding on the ribcage of a pronghorn at 100 yards and failing to have any apparent effect. Even if the 180 grain BT was a varmint bullet (section one and you will see it is NOT), simple physics will tell you that a 180 grain projectile, launched at 30-06 speeds, will have enough momentum to make it through the thin ribcage and into the lungs to result in the pronghorn's demise.

No, it's not the best bullet for all situations. But again, as a medium game bullet that can be placed into the boiler room, it has few peers when it comes down to putting the game down quickly and humanely. And, of course, the accuracy is generally match-grade.

Another of its attributes -- and one that gives it special appeal for me -- is its ability to expand at velocities at which other bullets will simply punch a caliber-sized hole and not open up at all. I hunt with single shot pistols quite a bit, and the BTs are just the ticket. In fact, I can generally count on expansion down to 1650 fps or so in the .25s, 6.5s, 7mms and .30s that I do much of my hunting with. This means starting velocity is less critical, and instead, one can concentrate on putting together the most accurate loads without quite as much for concern with MV (generally an all-important item when dealing with single shot handguns as most other bullets have a narrow window for optimum performance.)

Hi the BT Faithfull
What are you defining as bullet failure?
I have used them on deer and foxes and won't be using them again.tried the 87gn and the 100gn in 25-06.
didn't get an exit wound on the fox at 150yds.
and got to much meat damage and no exit wounds on fallow deer at much shorter distances, all dead though.
and at twice the price you can keep them!!

griff

toto,

I'm left scratching my head, dumbfounded, and generally lost for words when I hear derogatory claims about the NBT. I just don't get it. Personally, I've pushed the BT to the extremes (high velocity, lighter bullet weights, close ranges, robust animals, etc) and found them to have exceptional performance in all shooting situations. Right now, it's the only big game bullet I use (lower 48)

Other hunters have the exact opposite experiences.

But like I said, I don't get it. The best explanation I can give you is that different golfers will use different clubs and balls. According to their phisical abilities, judgement, and skill. Some combinations work better in some situations than others or in the hands of different players.

That said, I find that the lighter NBT's, in a given caliber, are the most effective bullets for ME. That is, for what I hunt, what I shoot, and how I shoot it. If you have similar success and experiences, then welcome to The Fraternal Order of the Ballistic Tip!

Griff-
Maybe you had bad results because you used the WRONG bullet.....

The 85 grain BT (there is no 87 grainer, by the way) is a VARMINT bullet, not a game bullet. Take a look at the Nosler manual.

If more people heeded the manufacturer's advise, there's be less of the BT bashing and more good results.

Just my .02

Hi Bobby
my mistake! 85gn not 87gn.
BUT that bullet is designated "game".
the reason you can't find it in the nosler manual is it comes under C.T. ballistic hunting silvertips. Which if i am not mistaken is a nosler with a lubalox coating.

griff

The nos bt's work for me in my 30/06 if I want a tougher bullet I use woodliegh's.

I used the 150gr@2850fps in my .280 Rem last year to take 2 deer. This year I plan on using 120gr@3050fps in a 6.5-284 norma for deer hunting. My son has been using 120gr@2650fps in a Ruger 6.5X55 with exelent results. I am sold on the Nosler Ballistic tips!

Griff-
I never remember the 85 grain .25 caliber being listed as anything but a varmint bullet. But memory can be wrong...

So, I opened up the brand new Nosler manual -- and guess what, under every .25 caliber load page, they list the 85 grain BT ( and even the CT Ballistic SilvertipT) as a "varmint" bullet.

[ 06-09-2002, 18:42: Message edited by: Bobby Tomek ]

Bobby
After Looking on page 9 of the cabelas catalogue,and reading that the 25 cal "ballistic sivlvertip Hunting bullet" is for game and not designated varmint, we ordered some from our local dealer, on the box it says hunting bullets and part no 51045, now I can only go on what it says on the box,now if these are indeed varmint bullets they are Excellent! but if they are not, then enough said!
The 100gn nos bt performance also leaves a lot to be desired, between 35-40%bullet weight retention,copper/lead fragmentation over a wide area, if your putting meat on the table dont put ballistic tips in your gun!!

Griff

Does anyone know what the Lubalox coating on the CT bullets is? Is it the same as moly? If not do you have to load them differently?
Ed

I'm only using BTs for varmints, not on large game. Two years ago I shot a yearling whitetail through the ribs at about 30 yds with my .270 Winnie loaded with 130 gr BTs over a large dose of RL22. Bullet did not exit the 75 pound animal. When field dressing, I only found about half of the jacket, no core and it looked like a grenade went off in it's chest. I know, "at what part of the animal's death did the bullet fail". Had I struck the shoulder of a large buck under the same conditions, the deer would more than likely run off to die from horrific surface wounds. I'll stick to Partitions and Hornady's.

The only ones I had fail were VERY early 165 308 bullets and Nosler replaced them with no questions asked. They were from a batch that did not always expand at all. Other than that they have been great. The 120s are perfect for deer. I have used them in my 6.5x55, 6.5-284, and 6.5-06AI with great success from 2300fps to over 3000 fps without a failure of any sort.

I believe placement is the difference between a satisfied Nosler BT customer and a horror story.
I have used 100gr BT in a .257 Roberts and thought they worked great. I saw a huge Mulie taken with a .270 and BT's and wasn't impressed but then again it was dead and shot placement wasn't perfect either.
There are times when a bullet has to be placed and I think the BT is one of the bullets that require placement. If your style of hunting yields snap shots at moving animals then a stiff/heavy round nose would probably far out perform a fast light pointed bullet.
I just got a box of 200gr. BT's for my .338 WM because of tests I've seen on the penatration and wound channel. I think they would be great for shooting into the ribs of Elk and Moose both. When I hunt in the thick stuff I'll go to Barnes X's to ensure deep penatration on a less than perfect angle shot.
Trapping bullets to see how they expanded is both fun and educational. You'll either decide you like the performance and gain confidence or change your mind about what you're using. I haven't recovered many bullets from animals.
Last year I took a Mule deer with 140gr. Sierra Gamekings out of a 7mm RM at a little over 100 yards and the bullets passed through. (two shots, first quartering away and second broadside) Both shots passed through vitals and made mush of the lungs and heart and liver. The deer didn't collapse on the spot but would have tipped over quickly from loss of blood if I had waited. Impatence won and I popped him again within seconds. These bullets are fairly soft and open quickly but still exited. I think they worked fine. I don't shoot for the shoulder so can't say what happens shooting bones. If that is your thing heavy stiff bullets would be a neccesity!

Griff,

I don't think the 2506 is suited to BTs - too fast. Where they come into there own is MV of 2,900fps down. I have used the 100gr 6.5mm ballistic tip at MV 2,900fps and they are excellent on fallow. If I had a camera I'd post the results of ones I've recovered after shooting front on - excellent expansion and reasonable weight retention.