I've had some really stunning and excellent kills on deer-sized game with Nosler BTs, especially on Texas whitetails and pronghorn. Unfortunately, I've also had them blow up and ruin capes. My best Montana pronghorn was taken with a 130 gr. BT out of a .270 Win. and the cape was completely ruined. I had to obtain a cape from a taxidermist in Nevada to replace the one that was blown to smithereens.

I still like BTs for coyotes, rock chucks, and other varmints. For any big game hunting, I'd rather stick with something more predictable like Nosler Partitions.

AD

hey hot core! i see your from the carolina's. what part? i reside in lexington n.c. near charlotte. thanks to everyone for your posts. i shot again today after church and that 280 ackley is awesome with those ballistic tips. i think i'll take it. i can put that bullet where i want it. ive been pretty particular over the years about the shots i take. ive let some deer walk that i could have hit and most likely have tracked up. its not that important to me to take a bad shot just so i can say i killed a nice deer. don't get me wrong i like the bragging rights but hunting comes first. again thanks to everyone for your posts. i just wanted to hear of some practical experience you guys have had with this bullet. sounds more to the pro side than the cons. happy hunting to all.

Hey Snyder, I was in Belmont just West of Charlotte for quite awhile. Had to come back up to KY to look after some Family interests. But, I look forward to getting back down that way in a couple of years.

Do you shoot at Woods Ferry just Southwest of Chester, SC? Great Public Range that is open to everyone year round. Lots of Deer and Turkey tracks right on the Range. Good place to take a cooler of soda pops and spend the day.

Best of luck to you this coming Season. I guess you know that the S.C. Season is OPEN!!! And here I am in KY - pitiful!

Who cut the 280Ackley for you? Dave Tooley?

I have killed a pile of whitetails w/ the Ballistic Tips and I have seen a good bit more shot w/ them too. I have Never seen one "Blow Up" on a rib, shoulder, backbone. I have seen them make pretty big exit wounds after hitting big bones but, they have never blown apart upon contact and not made it through.

We all know that light bullets, high velocities, and close range is the ultimate bullet construction test so, I have some last season examples for you:

I shot a 240# 10 pt and a 210# 6 pt last year w/ a 7mm Rem. Mag. loaded w/ 140 grn NBTs @ 3210 fps. Both shots were slightly quartering towards me @ 50 yards. Both bullets entered behind the shoulder, broke ribs, detroyed lungs, destoyed liver, took out diaphram, and where stuck against the hide on the far side almost exiting. Both recovered bullets were nicely mushroomed and the core was still in the jacket. Both deer made it less than 25 yards (240# went 15 and the 210# went 23). Had the ranges not been so close the bullets would have exited. I don't know what more you could ask from a bullet, quick humane kills and great accuracy certainly does it for me.

I also shot a 500# Russian Boar w/ a 150 grain NBT at close range and dropped him. Bullets entered the Sheild behind the shoulder and made it to the other shield on the opposite side. Big Boars are much tougher than any deer.

Go w/ what you feel confident w/.

I know my NBTs are going to make their mark and do their job when they get there.

Good Luck!

Reloader

hey hot core: don't get their much. we have a range right at the shop we reload at. we call it the club. all the guys hang their on sundays and shoot. good place to adjust loads and do trial an error work. lot of fat chewwed during the shooting months and thru hunting season.

ac burgess in north wilkesboro cut this chamber for me. hes done all my custom work. always well pleased and his price is reasonable.

Reloader: great information and just what i was looking for. im slightly under that velocity. i too know without any doubt where that bullet is going. all i need to do is hold it and pull the trigger. part of what's swaying me is that i have a 7mm ultra mag that shoots as well if not better than the 280 ackley. i have made 2 awesome shots with that gun on muledeer in gilette wyoming on those open plains. 1= 447 yards and 2= 410 yards. my buddy's give me a hard time about the howitzer as they call it (the 7mm ultra). they say i can't express my true shooting skill with that cannon. i tend to agree but if it ain't broke don't fix it. your info has encouraged me to take the 280 ackley. i recently read an old article on the 280 being a unknown or kept secret for a true long range gun and one that can excel at 400 yards. i'll keep you informed on how i do. thanks again.

i have killed a pile of deer with balistic tips but quit using them 5 years ago..i had penciling problems on 2 deer and got a tennis ball size crater that stopped penetration at the ribs on a 3 # hog.. there are so many bullets that are more dependable i see no reason for bal. tips.. I use 139 & 154 hornady flat bases in 7x57 & 280's now.

Guess I'm gonna ruffle some feathers here but oh well. A nosler bal. tip bullet is nothing more than a thick jacketed varmint bullet. Those that report finding perfect mushrooms or complete pass thrus are the exception rather than the rule. Been there...done that. If you have a load that works with the nbt, get the new nosler accubond in the same weight. U should have to make very little if any change to your load recipe. I refuse to hunt anything larger than crows or yotes with a nbt. I am a die hard barnes x slut. But after hearing all the superb reviews on the accubond i just had to see what all the fuss is about.

How much does the average Texas whitetail weigh?

Chuck

I am not speaking from personal exp. as I won't hunt deer size game w/ a bullet that can't get the job done from any reasonable angle. A good friend of mine guides in Montana, another in Africa & there combined exp. of the NBTs lack of integrity & my own testing in wetpack, puts me off trying them on live game bigger than a yote. To each his own, but I think there are better bullets for big game. Hell, that's why we have so many choices in our great country.

Well after harvesting nearly 100 whitetail over the years...the results speak for themselves. Although I am aware that Texas does occasionally turn out a large bodied buck...they are not commonplace there(large meaning 240lbs and up). I have shot deer with the nbt. And I have tracked every one i have shot. And no i dont need to learn where to shoot deer. Have that part pretty much down pat. If in doubt bring yer rifle and yer wallet. . After losing a book buck to schitty bullet performance from the nbt. I switched to the barnes x. Difference was like night and day. Puff of smoke from the barrel...puff of dust from under the deer when it hit the ground. Game over. I shoot all my deer the same. Wall decorations get it thru the shoulders. Meat animals get it thru the ribs. And the x has yet to fail to drop one in its tracks. And that includes one Mississippi river bottom buck that went 304 on the hoof. Its is a known fact that guides cringe when they learn their clients brought nbt bullets. Not all of them....but that nunber is growing. There are better bullets out there....use em.

I am very surprised you find the Barnes X better than the NBT for anchoring game.

I take this "NBTs won't penetrate" CRAP w/ a grain of salt.

I know they will and I have seen dozens of game animals taken w/ them. From 50-500 Pounds, You can't beat em'.

I will say I have seen alot of animals lost to the "Hard to Destruct" bullets.

If you like to go on long tracking sessions looking for very sparse blood. Go ahead and shoot those tough bullets. I try to hunt in a humane manner.

Good Luck and God Bless!

Reloader

Your statement is fact, a NBT will penetrate more than 6". I don't think that's enough, I like complete penetration on rib shots, always. I think there is a place for the NBT, longer range or reduced vel. You nailed it when you talk about "speed freaks". Alot of guys recommend NBTs w/o concidering what cart. they are used in. Fired from a .308, a 165grNBT may be an awsome killer @ 200yds, from a .300wm @ 100yds, I would want more bullet. My own test show impact vel. much above 2600fps are likely to cause a bullet than almost comes completely apart, thus limiting penetration. My tests in wetpack show lighter NBTs to give barely 12" of penetration, not enough for an any angling shot to me. I yield to your exp. level though, I haven't hunted them only tested them. Everyone has to use what works for them, I just don't recommend them to people that ask & I'm fine w/ my choice.

sorry pal....B&C doesnt go by body weight. AM fully aware that Texas produces some awesome racks....but as a general rule their deer are NOT large bodied deer. But i still wouldnt risk a shot to a bullet i deem less than suitable for harvesting them.