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Joined: Aug 2008
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Campfire Regular
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OP
Campfire Regular
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For those that have used both on small varmints (gophers, prairie dogs, etc): can you comment on the differences in expansion? I know the Ballistic Tip is a boat tail vs the Varmageddon's flat base but is the Varmageddon more explosive at impact. Nosler's website seems to indicate the Ballistic Tip has a tougher base, does this translate into any tangible effect on expansion and terminal small critter explosiveness? I have shot both with good success at the range and prairie doggin' but never both of the same weight/caliber to have a valid comparison.
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Joined: Oct 2002
Posts: 13,401
Campfire Outfitter
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Campfire Outfitter
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It translates into a disc of metal leaving the scene for a short distance. Are you asking us to measure how big a spread the two bullets make out of PD's?
Dog I rescued in January
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Joined: Jan 2005
Posts: 22,884
Campfire Ranger
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Campfire Ranger
Joined: Jan 2005
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Yes, BTs have a tougher/larger base metal. It is especially noticeable in penetration scenarios such as on a coyote.
For prairie dogs, I don't think you can notice much.
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Joined: Aug 2008
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Campfire Regular
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It translates into a disc of metal leaving the scene for a short distance. Are you asking us to measure how big a spread the two bullets make out of PD's? I wasn't asking anyone to measure anything, just perceptions from those that might have used the same weight of each type under the same conditions. Was one noticeably more explosive on small varmints if so? Thanks, DakotaDeer.
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Joined: Jul 2008
Posts: 727
Campfire Regular
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Campfire Regular
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I use .223 Rem with the 40 gr Tipped Varamageddon on Coyotes. At just shy of 4000 fps, they make a tiny entrance, and don't exit. The internal damannge the do is impressive, yet the pelts never show any damage, other than the .223 entry.
Respects, Richard
Cat, the other white meat!
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Joined: Apr 2005
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Campfire 'Bwana
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Campfire 'Bwana
Joined: Apr 2005
Posts: 30,895 |
BT’s will most definitely penetrate farther than the Varmageddon.
I got banned on another web site for a debate that happened on this site. That's a first
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Campfire Kahuna
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Campfire Kahuna
Joined: Jul 2001
Posts: 60,065 |
JSH,
I've used more than a few Varmageddons (both tipped and hollow-point) and Ballistic Tips on gophers and prairie dogs in cartridges from the .17 Hornet to .223 Remington. The tipped Varmageddons are the most explosive, noticeably more than Ballistic Tips, and the hollow-point Varmageddons the least explosive.
“Montana seems to me to be what a small boy would think Texas is like from hearing Texans.” John Steinbeck
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Joined: Jan 2010
Posts: 5,817
Campfire Tracker
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Campfire Tracker
Joined: Jan 2010
Posts: 5,817 |
I have only used the 40-50-55 tipped Varmageddon and not the HP's but in my experience the Varmageddon is more expansive / explosive than the like weight BT's at all velocities I have shot them at. From 22K Hornet to 22-250 AI.
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Joined: Oct 2002
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Campfire Outfitter
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Campfire Outfitter
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Measuring the PD splash circle would be the most exact way to measure expansive/explosiveness of the two bullets.
Dog I rescued in January
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Campfire Regular
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Thanks for all the replies.
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Campfire 'Bwana
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Campfire 'Bwana
Joined: Nov 2011
Posts: 30,945 |
Vamageddon's shoot better on paper.
You didn't use logic or reason to get into this opinion, I cannot use logic or reason to get you out of it.
You cannot over estimate the unimportance of nearly everything. John Maxwell
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Joined: Apr 2004
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Campfire 'Bwana
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Campfire 'Bwana
Joined: Apr 2004
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For what I have used them on, the Biggest Difference for my needs is strictly based on price... besides that, in the field.. they both do the job I bought them for...
I'm not saving gopher or prairie dog pelts...
and "Over Penetrating", that's a Jeff O thing..
myself, I don't care if they 'over penetrate' on gophers, sage rats, chipmunks or prairie dogs...
actually I enjoy it more when they do...
"Minus the killings, Washington has one of the lowest crime rates in the Country" Marion Barry, Mayor of Wash DC
“Owning guns is not a right. If it were a right, it would be in the Constitution.” ~Alexandria Ocasio Cortez
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