I shot this button buck with a 14 inch 257JDJ Contender. I want to tahnk Bobby Tomek for providing me the load for Reloader 15. I still can't believe the damage a 100 gr Nosler Ballistic tip did. I shot it in the neck (right side) from 30 yards away. BANG! FLOP!

Wow, that did a lot of meat damage! Congratulations on the successful hunt!

I'm a big fan of the .257 JDJ. On the other hand, a Bal Tip @ 2600 fps @ 30 yds. is ...well, damaging!

Congratulations on your hunt, but I would look for a different bullet. I never really liked the Nosler Ballistic tip bullets. Sure they will work, but they cause a lot of damage and waste. JMHO

A graphic reason I gave up rifles and rifle calibers in handguns.

Congrats on the buck -- and you are quite welcome for the load data.

The BT did exactly as is was designed to, but almost any bullet would have done a good bit of damage with that type of impact. That is not something exclusive to the BT itself, as some may have you believe.

The Nosler BT at that velocity is a terrific performer and will generally exit given any broadside presentation. I have used a .257 JDJ to shoot through the shoulders of a large, heavy-bodied ram, another completely through a medium-sized aoudad at 190 yards and others through a number of deer and other exotics. Even the 85 grain BT and 87 grain Hornady give excellent penetration at JDJ velocities.

The .257 JDJ in a Contender and a .250 Savage in an XP served me well for many years and put lots of meat on the ground. For those unacquainted with them, the two are virtually ballistic twins. Given 14" of barrel, either will push an 85/87 grain bullet to 2875/2900 fps and a 100 grainer to 2650 fps.

Congrats again on taking the deer, and here's hoping to see many more in the future...

Here are a couple of photos of game taken with quarterbore handguns:

As to the naysayers of the BT, here are a couple recovered 6.5mm 120 grainers.


The bottom line is that they work and work well. And they'll expand down to velocity levels where others will fail. For single shot pistols, there are few projectiles that are truly suited to the purpose at hand.

Even JD Jones calls the Ballistic Tip "THE" bullet for his lineup of JDJs designed for the Contender. And his experience spans more than just a few animals...