Home Forums Hunting & Shooting Hunting Rifles 139 Grain Hornady SP or a 140 Grain Nosler Ballistic Tip

Was thinking about deer season this fall and looking at my bullet drawer in 7 mm bullets, find I am getting pretty low on both of these bullets...

the rifle is a 7 x 57, Model 70 Featherweight...

which one of these bullets would you guys prefer, for deer?

MV is 2800 with the load I use...

thanks for your inputs...

I've used them both; perhaps the NBT was an earlier variation than what is current. My rifles certainly trust that 139 SP more than most everything else, and they sure work reliably when plowing flesh.

139 Hornady!

my rifle shoots the bt slightly better,but either works fine.

No experience with the Hornady although I have two full boxes just waiting to be tried!

The Ballistic Tip 140gr has worked great on several whitetails, two pronghorn and one mule deer. All these have been in the last five years, so they were with the current bullet design. The BT's in my Ruger #1 7x57 are running mid 2,800's on the chrono.

In the end, don't think you would go wrong with either choice.

I've used the 139 gr Hornady for over 30 years in the 7X57 and 7mm08 with absolute trust. It hasn't failed me yet. However, the handful of 140 BTs I've used have performed equally as well. All of this was on whitetails only.

Take your pick, but I like those Interlocks.

I've used both in a 280 and they both work well. Toss a coin.

I've only shot one muley at 385 with the 139...and he had no issue with it. I've not put the 140BT into an animal yet so no comment there.

Have used both with equal success. I'd pick the one that your rifle shoots the best.

139 gr Hornaday FP SP is my favorite bullet in my .280, under loads of either IMR 4831 or H4831. Velocity is around 2885 fps with little variation. Works great on Whitetail, Muledeer ,Antelope, Black Bear, and Moose.

Flyer

Hand loaded loaded, both bullets turned in very similar performance. The NBT have been slightly more accurate but both turned in sub MOA accuracy.

Factory ammunition has been a different story. For me there has been a huge difference in accuracy; especially the Hornady Superformance. That stuff is super hot and gave me a 3" group at 100 yards under the Arizona sun.

YMMV

SF: I've been using the 139SP out of my 7mm Weatherby for years on hogs, White and Axis deer and the bullet flat out works at ranges as close as 50 to as far as 400 yards. Pretty good little bullet.

YES, except mine is 7 RM.

What's 100 fps betwixt friends...

I have been killing deer with the 139 Hornady for many years. It shoots 1/2 minute in my 7 mags.

For a while I alternated between these two bullets in a 280. I really tried to determine a difference in how they performed on game. The results were so universally excellent that I finally gave up on my little experiment.

They both are accurate and are very quick killers. Both generally exit on broadside shots or wind up just under the offside hide looking more or less like perfect little mushroom shapes.

In short you have in your hands the two practically perfect bullets for your rifle,shoot them both.

With the Hornady's, are you guys referring to the boat-tail or FB or either?

Seafire,

Are you asking about the SP or the BTSP? Just clarifying.

Have you done any reduced load work with either of them? I appreciate the reduced loads you've posted in the past.

Thanks

The one I've been using is the 139BTSP. I hear some say the flat base is slightly more accurate. I haven't put that to the test yet.