125 gr. Nosler Ballistic Tip For Deer??

06 October 2009, 22:45

Hope someone here can answer my question. I own an old Smith & Wesson Model "B" in.308 Winchester with a 1-in-12" twist. I can't get any degree of accuracy < 3" with my handloads using IMR-4064 or WW-748 without going over the max. loading. Factory loads work okay but not great and the bore & bedding is in excellent condition. I was wondering if I could use a lighter weight like the 125 grain Nosler Ballistic Tip bullets for hunting Deer. I consider this weight a Varmint bullet and was wondering if it would hold together well enough for Deer at ranges up to 150 yards. The Barrel on my S&W Model B is 20" and if it had a 1-in-10" twist rifling I would think it would fire 150 grain bullets @ around 2,700 FPS. My .308 Browning A-Bolt which also has a 1-in-12" twist has a 22" barrel and it shoots fine with my 150 grain handloads. <Thanks>

06 October 2009, 23:58

Buliwyf

You will have no problems with the 125 gr BT on deer.

07 October 2009, 00:34

Krochus

I like this bullet and have used it with grreat sucres all the way out past 250yds with my 7.62x39 ar. But in my opinion it's a little too fragile for 308 full power loads PARTICULARLY inside 150 as you intend.

I'd like to suggest you look at the 125g sierra prohunter instead.

I plan on hunting with the 125 nosler this year too, but again at reduced speeds 2730 fps from my or the wife's 30/06

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07 October 2009, 00:38

30378

125 NBTs will serve you well on a deer hunt. Finding a load for your rifle will be the challenge. My 308, 1x12 likes the 125 NBTs with 45.4gr of IMR-4895 or 48gr of Varget. Might give it a try.

07 October 2009, 01:06

DRS

Thanks guys! I have both brands of 125 grainers Nosler's BT & 125g sierra prohunter's. I plan to load them to 2,800 to 2,900 FPS or as close as factory 150 grain loads. May try 130 grainers too.

07 October 2009, 01:10

30-06 hunter

Have you thought of the 130 gr ttsx barnes.

07 October 2009, 01:32

seafire2

for my son's 06, I have both 125 grain ballistic tips and 125 grain TNTs loaded up for him, behind a charge of 30 grains of SR 4759...

within 200 to 250 yds, that is a very effective load for blacktail or antelope sized deer...

by the way, for those inquiring minds who want to know...

I dissected some Rem managed recoil rounds... they are using 36 grains of IMR 4198 burn rate powder, and a 125 grain SP bullet...

07 October 2009, 03:06

butchlambert

One of my Grandson's rifle is a 30BR with a 15 twist. He has used 125grn BT for the last 4 years. He has killed numerous deer and hogs up to 260yds. All of these were one shot kills. Gatogordo can verify last years deer kill at over 200yds in the neck and it didn't take a step. He will not let me touch his rifle to rechamber it or to try another load. It is probably going at 2850FPS.
Butch

07 October 2009, 03:27

DuggaBoye

Loaded them in a 30-30AI (H&R Topper) for a friends kid--
lethal & accurate.

07 October 2009, 08:25

snowman

I tried a number of 125 and 139 gr 30 cal bullets in my brothers 308.Not pretty on deer. Bullet would blow up on the surface creating a terrible flesh wound but very little penetration. We then tried the same bullets in an old Sav model 99 in 30-30. The 125 & 130 gr bullets did not blow up at 30-30 velocities and worked pretty well filling some doe tags. Hope that helps.

07 October 2009, 17:57

butchloc

they do blow up prairie dogs nicely

07 October 2009, 18:52

DRS

quote:
Originally posted by snowman:
I tried a number of 125 and 139 gr 30 cal bullets in my brothers 308.Not pretty on deer. Bullet would blow up on the surface creating a terrible flesh wound but very little penetration. We then tried the same bullets in an old Sav model 99 in 30-30. The 125 & 130 gr bullets did not blow up at 30-30 velocities and worked pretty well filling some doe tags. Hope that helps.

Thanks for the "Head-up" on the rapid expansion as I was uncertain if this brand or the other 125 grainer would fail to penetrate & expand too much on impact. I think I'll just use this S&W Model "B" 125 gr. loads for Coyotes and use my Browning A-Bolt for Deer with the proper 150 grain load. I'll have to just find a proper bullet & powder for the S&W inorder to use 150 grain bullets. <Thanks Again!>

07 October 2009, 20:37

DMB

I plan on using that same 125 gn BT bullet for Deer up here in my 300 Savage. It sure delivers accuracy.

I shot the same powder charge and primer with Speer's 125 gn TNT and shot a similar group with it last week. The first two shots at 100 yards went in the same hole, and the third shot was slightly left, cutting the same hole as the others for a group of .312 c-t-c. I doubt that I can shoot any better than that.

Target and rifle:

07 October 2009, 21:24

DRS

That's a great group you got there, DMB! My Browning .308 A-Bolt shoots the same grouping with 150 grain bullets, both handloads & factory ammo. I certainly like your Remington M-722 rifle too. Does it have a 24" barrel & a twist rate of 1-in-12"??

07 October 2009, 22:12

jeffeosso

1: light weight bullets tend to break up more than heavier bullets, even at same speed
2: BTs are DESIGNED to breakup even more than other designed
3: light for caliber BTs WILL result is bullet destruction ..
4: this means the most POSSIBLE lead particles sprayed all into meat

these are indesputable

Use a better bullet for deer

like a light for caliber TSX or TTSX .. first and foremost .. NO LEAD

opinions vary band of bubbas and STC hunting Club

Information on Ammoguide about
the416AR, 458AR, 470AR, 500AR
What is an AR round? Case Drawings 416-458-470AR and 500AR.
476AR,
http://www.weaponsmith.com

07 October 2009, 22:31

wrongtarget

quote:
Originally posted by DRS:
Hope someone here can answer my question. I own an old Smith & Wesson Model "B" in.308 Winchester with a 1-in-12" twist. I can't get any degree of accuracy < 3" with my handloads using IMR-4064 or WW-748 without going over the max. loading. Factory loads work okay but not great and the bore & bedding is in excellent condition. I was wondering if I could use a lighter weight like the 125 grain Nosler Ballistic Tip bullets for hunting Deer. I consider this weight a Varmint bullet and was wondering if it would hold together well enough for Deer at ranges up to 150 yards. The Barrel on my S&W Model B is 20" and if it had a 1-in-10" twist rifling I would think it would fire 150 grain bullets @ around 2,700 FPS. My .308 Browning A-Bolt which also has a 1-in-12" twist has a 22" barrel and it shoots fine with my 150 grain handloads. <Thanks>

Keep the impact velocity under 3000fps and Nosler says it will work fine. http://www.noslerreloading.com...viewtopic.php?t=1347

07 October 2009, 22:50

Stonecreek

Shoot a whitetail in the thorax with a 125 grain Ballistic Tip and it will die, sooner rather than later. If you like eating heart, then shoot it in the head; otherwise, don't worry about it.

Nobody here has told you about the deer that was shot by a 125 gr B.Tip that got away, only the dead deer that suffered more trauma than the shooter desired.

BTW, the solid base of the B.Tip makes it penetrate all out of proportion to its effusive expansion. Thorax-shot deer are usually penetrated fully. It may not penetrate fully if you are able to place it squarely on the shoulder bone, but then that bone itself becomes deadly shrapnal that kills rapidly.