Home Forums Hunting & Shooting Hunting Rifles Nosler 125 AB .308 vs. 120 BT 7mm

Looking for input on this bullet in comparison to the 7mm 120 BT for its intended purpose. I know DogZapper has had commendable success with the 120. I am wondering if the 125 would be of equal effect on Whitetail in my 308 Winchester.

Yes. The deer will die.

People are killing deer with .300 Blackout and the 125g BT at 1950-2300fps. My guess is it will work fine in a .308 Win.

The only drawback I see is that it might be more frangible than I'd like at close range using the top velocities (3000-3100fps with a 24" barrel) a .308 Win is capable of reaching (per Hodgdon). While I load the 125g BT to ~1950fps in my Blackout, they should reach close to 2900fps in my 16" Ruger Scout. (Haven't tried the 125g BT in the Scout but a 130g TTSX chrono's 2868fps.)

Try the 110 Barnes Blackout bullet. It's devastating in 308.

Try the 110 Barnes Blackout bullet. It's devastating in 308.

I've not used them but did research them -never read a bad word about the combo .
One guy loaded them up for wife/kids and decided to make them his full time bullet after seeing their performance .

I know the 7mm 120 BT is of toughened construction compared to other BT's. I am curious if possibly the .308 125 AB is the same.

Does anybody have a cross section photo of it?

Take a look over at Nosler. Quite a few folks have incredible luck with the 125 Ballistic Tips in 308's and similar. It is another thick jacketed bullet. I have some loaded up in the 30-06 and suspect it'll be pretty danged good for deer and such.

Another interesting factor here.....

DogZappers 280 AI load runs over 3200 with the 120 BT. I am seeing Nosler stating 3260 with Big Game & same bullet in the 7-08.

Are any of you getting such speed in your 7-08 with the 120?

The 7mm 120 NBT is a tough bullet.

The .308 125 NAB should be tough, probably along the lines of the 120 7mm NBT. Would like to see comparative data.

Never tried the 110 Barnes Blackout in a .308, although I have some for my .300 Whisper.

I do like 125/130 gr. bullets in '06/.308's. I've used the 130 gr. Hornady and it blows thru a WT chest with good amount of internal damage, good bleeding from exit and entrance wounds, DRT.

DF

DF,
Didn't even think about the 130 Hornady. May have to add that to the mix.

I'm getting 3015 fps with the 120 BT out of a Tikka in 7-08. That is with 45 grs of Varget. It hammers Whitetail.

It's a good one and in the 3K fps range, very effective on WT at the typical killing distances. I would like better B.C.'s for longer range targets.

Hunting bigger critters, I'd go with heavier bullets. But, for Southern WT's and hogs, 125/130's are very effective, a real sleeper IMO.

DF

I've used the 120 gr. Ballistic Tip for whitetail deer the last two years with good results. One was a small dink that went about 20 feet and dropped. Behind the shoulder shot that exited. Number two was a large 250 lb. buck that ran about 20 yds. Angling slightly away, again behind the shoulder. The BT exited thru the off shoulder. Internal damage was awesome, but meat damage was minimal. I have a feeling that the 120 gr. BT and the 125 gr. AB will probably perform about the same. As far as velocity, my 22" Montana gets a little over 3100 fps. with what I consider a maximum charge of Big Game. I might be able to squeeze a little more speed out, but it shoots great so why push that limit. Oh, and Nosler's numbers are out of a 26" barrel.

Here is another interesting option. Kills like a Partition.



Big Game is good stuff. These Ralph Council bullets are very accurate. They are mainly target bullets, Ralph says they work well on W.T.'s. I used 130 gr. Hornady, not these on deer. But wouldn't hesitate to use these.

Evidently, I'm going to have to try some of these lighter weight bullets.

As I always say, "if the bullet goes all the way through it don't matter what it weighed."

I haven't found the 120 to be as tough as others have claimed.

I shot a dog and a mule deer with the 125gr. Nosler out of my .308 this year. Expansion was wicked. Schit died.

Very accurate too.

I really like the 110gr. V-Max for higher volume .308 fun.




Travis

Give us your 120 NBT report.

DF

My point.

And running them over 3K fps is a good thing.

And they kick less.

And they're spectacular killers.

And they don't get fair play, are sleepers.

And they change the .308/'06 performance profile.

DF

I have had the 120 gr 7mm bt come apart on several deer when launched over 3200 fps with big game in my 7-08. Devastating, with lots of meat damage. Switched to the Barnes 120 and saw less meat ruined, but saw the petals break off on a few. Might go back to the BT and keep it under 2800 fps.

I do like the 125 gr bt for 30 cal at about 2600 fps. Dupes the Remington managed recoil load. Easy to shoot and in my limited experience with it stuff dies quick.