Home Forums Hunting & Shooting Hunting Rifles Nosler Ballistic Tip 120 grain, 7mm-08 performance

JBcommented on this and "basically" said Nosler tested all their BT's and the ones that didn't pass the test, got bonded.
I dont know the jacket to lead ratio, but from a bullet jacket I pulled from the neck hide from a straight to me shot between the eyes which was weightd 53 grains...so even when shedding lead, the jacket sorta becomes a mono metal, and it diggs deep like one would also.

I've used them quite a bit, I've just never caught one. So that's about 45% weight retention after doing a lot of damage.

I run Steve's 120 NBT load in my .280AI ( 3325 fps) and so far it has killed 32 deer all dead in their tracks from distances of 15 steps to 300 yards and we have yet to keep on inside a whitetail.

This thread among many other 120 BT threads makes it hard for me not to try them in my 280.

Loaded up some 140 Partiton, Accubonds and 150 Ballistic Tips a little bit ago. I guess if they won't play I might try some of these 120s.

Any broadside shoulder pass through on whitetail?? At the moment I'm using 140 core-lokt in my 7mm-08 cause it put 3100yds in .3" but am very interested in using the 120 bt when they come back in stock at midway. Haven't busted a deer with it as of yet but just going on that particular bullets history I haven't made a bad decision. Just always looking for the better mousetrap.

Before you buy anything from Midway, check ShootersProShop.com for blems and overruns on Nosler bullets. I've never seen them for a lower price!

Ive killed 20+ at ranges pg 10 yards to 300 yards and at all angles.... This bullet has been the epitome of perfection for me. If you wonder how it works... picture claymore.... 44-45 grains of Varget and enjoy the show. I dont see me ever using anything else in the 7-08 with the performance this bullet has given me. The 95 gr bt in the 243 has been equally as impressive.

Yup 100 yd shot pass through both shoulders 40yd death run and crash

I have used the 120 NBT over 45 grains of Varget with less than stellar results. I was really hoping that they would be the do all bullet for me since they shoot tiny little groups but their performance on game has not been impressive at all. It is only a sample size of 2 but with all of the other good 7mm bullets available I decided to move on. As you can see there are many who praise it so I'm not sure why I had issues. The buck shot at 20 and 35 yards behind the shoulder. Both ran off like they weren't even hit and both were found after extensive tracking and following some ruffled/kicked up leaves with zero blood on the ground. We found them both after 125 or so yards. Both were shot behind the shoulder with no bullet exit. I have had such good luck with a standard cup and core bullet (core lok, power point) in 7mm-08 that I now decided to load up some hornady interlock 139s and I am hoping that they work better for me. With the lack of a blood trail we were very lucky to find these deer. I was hoping the first time was a fluke but after having the exact same thing happen again I am moving to a different bullet. I prefer having two holes and at least some type of blood trail to follow.

With that bullet, the absence of an exit hole as stated above is confusing, But 2 dead Deer 125yds from where they stood is Not.!

In the last three seasons I have used the 120 gr. BT in my 7mm-08, three bucks at 55 yards, 140 yards, 225 yards. All three had complete penetration from shots just behind the shoulder. None ran over 30 yards. No recovered bullet. That is my report.

I run 48.5 Varget in my 308, 155 Scenar's. I get 2900 fps.

45 gr don't sound too fast. What speed are you getting?

45 gr Varget in the 7mm-08 is the book max load per Nosler, which claims 3139 fps. I get close to this with 51.5 gr Big Game.





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Yesterday I averaged 3000 fps in a 20" barrel with 45.0 grains of Varget and 120 grain NBT.