Home Forums Hunting & Shooting Ask The Gunwriters Question for Mule Deer

John, you have written the 180 ballistic tip bullets are very stout. Is that comment unique for the 180 go or would it also be true for the 150 gr .270 and or the 175 gr 7mm.?

I'm not MD, but I don't think Nosler offers the 175gr 7mm bullet in their BT's. It's been my experience that current Nosler BT's made for game are pretty stout compared to their first versions. Also, the Nosler site claims BT's over 30 cal. have heavier jacket. I have seen a 180gr Nosler BT out of a 30.06 blow right through the chest of a large 6 point bull elk. I hope the reason John hasn't responded is because he's hunting or catching a big trout.

And, I've seen the older version 180 NBT blow up on hogs out of a .300 WM. Some of the newer ones seem about as tough as a NAB.

So, you gotta know which Ballistic Tip you have and from what vintage.

Confusing...?

DF

Forgot to add, John put out a list of stout NBT's, IIRC, the 7mm 120 NBT was on that list as well as the .30 cal. 180 NBT.

May want to do a search for that info.

DF

Yeah....who has time to figure this stuff out?

Just shoot a 180 gr Partition and forget about the gack.

Ha! When in doubt, go NPT...

Hard to beat that advice...

DF

The OP didn't ask my opinion about Partitions, but if he had it would be same as Bob's and Dirtfarmers. I have gone to NP for all of the hunting I currently do. In a couple of days I'll be looking for a bull elk and my trusty elk thumper will be loaded with a 160gr Nosler Partition at about 2950pfs. out of a .280AI. If I have trouble killing an elk, I'll need a better excuse than my bullet choice. Can't wait.

As I recall, the bullet weights where there is no Accubond tend to be the stout BT weights. I believe Mule Deer said that Nosler tested both in each bullet weight and if there was no significant advantage for the AB vs the BT in that weight they didn't produce an AB. So for example, in 7mm there are 140 and 160 AB's but no 150 or 120's. The 150's and 120 BT's are pretty stout. That's my understanding.

Accubonds in 7mm 140gr & 160gr have the heavy jackets.

superT I suspect that will work.

Forgive the indiscretion tossing the Partition into the mix.

My understanding is that Accubonds are generally similar to Ballistic Tips in construction except that they have the jacket bonded to the lead core.

No accubonds have a much thicker copper jacket at the base and middle

That's the way I understand it as well. There have been a few guys here at the 'fire that have sectioned and compared the two and they looked identical in the examples I saw.

Thanks all...I'm just looking to be a one bullet guy for each caliber that allows lots of practice and dual deer/elk capable

BCHunter666, I have found that Nosler Partitions and Sierras in the same weight shoot to the same(or close enough) point of impact that for practice and fun I use Sierras and for hunt'n I use Nosler Partitions. This practice has worked for me in .270's, 7MM and some 30cal's.

Holy cow, I never knew Mule Deer used so many screen names...

You forgot this one!

No, I knew about that one.

Muledeer might be hunting. Just people filling the gap.

http://www.nosler.com/accubond-bullet http://www.nosler.com/ballistic-tip-bullet

I have some boxes of ballistic tips but I have no knowledge of the manufacture date. I won't use them on game animals. But then bullets on my shelf are old.

I just loaded 100 partitions. The old were made by screw machine. The new ones had a label $14.07 on the box. Retail price at the time. Thus my hesitation on using my ballistic tips.

If you know these ballistic tips of yours are not the original design, they should be very good hunting bullets.

I'd rather the bullet over penetrate than not be able to enter the vitals.

Serious hunting for me demands bullets that penetrate to vitals.

I have a box of screw machined .30 cal. 180 NPT's.

Some claim those are better than current production. I think the new ones shoot just as well as those did.

DF

"I have some boxes of ballistic tips but I have no knowledge of the manufacture date. I won't use them on game animals. But then bullets on my shelf are old."

I think that if you box of Ballistic Tips are100 count, then they're the old ones. I think the newer ones came in 50 count boxes. Just my thoughts but I guess you could call Nosler and ask.
Paul B.

NBT's of unknown vintage, IMO, would be good sighting in or practice bullets.

I'd get current mfg. NBT's on JB's sturdy bullet list or use NPT's/NAB's for BG.

Just me.

DF

I'd never hesitate to use the old ones as long as they're of adequate weight and calibre for the game.

Put the bullet in the right spot and you'll be right.