Home Forums Hunting & Shooting Ask The Gunwriters Varmageddon vs Ballistic Tip Varmint

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.

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?

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.

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.

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

BT’s will most definitely penetrate farther than the Varmageddon.

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.

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.

Measuring the PD splash circle would be the most exact way to measure expansive/explosiveness of the two bullets.

Thanks for all the replies.

Vamageddon's shoot better on paper.

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...