Home Forums Hunting & Shooting Ask The Gunwriters Old Nosler Solid Bases - HPs?

G'day,

I just bought half a box of old Nosler Solid Bases in 150gn .308 calibre. I was surprised to see that they are hollow points. I have several different Solid Base projectiles in different weights and calibres but they are all soft points. I never knew Nosler made hollow point Solid Bases and have never come across any reference to them either.

Does anyone remember them or have experience hunting with them? The hollow point is rather small and looks like a target bullet. I'm used to the large hollow cavity in the Speer 130gn .308 bullet.

Are these a hunting bullet or were they Nosler's first attempt at making a target bullet? I just read the story of John Nosler (Going Ballistic) where he recalls the production of the various bullets and there was no reference to a hollow point Solid Base.

Thanks for all, and any, replies.

I think I have a box of them. If they shoot good for you, and you want mine,let me know.
My guess is that they were for varmints, but don't really know.
Guess you have to shoot a deer with one and let us know.
Tim

They were Solid Base Match bullets. They also came in other calibers and in some were available in various weights. Never had any myself so can't comment on performance.

So they are match bullets. They certainly look like it. That's good to know.

I'll put a few through my .30-06 to see how they go and keep the rest as an oddity.

Thanks.

I have some 6mm/70 grain Solid Base Boat Tail Match. They're in the old black box of 100 with the red & white label. Never tried them.

Yep that's the box except mine are .308 150gn. There is nothing on my box to indicate that they are a match bullet. The only difference in this box and some other Solid Base boxes I have is on the end of the box where it gives the calibre and weight it has HP tacked on to the end of the Solid Base name. (Solid Base HP). I guess at the time they were made people knew what they were for.

I won't hunt with them but I'll have to load a few up and try them just to see how they shoot. Some old 100gn Solid Bases I put through one of my .257 Roberts rifles last year shot as good as any other .25 cal bullet I have ever fired (3 shots into 1/2 inch in a nice triangle pattern). Considering they were probably made in the 80's that's a pretty good effort on Nosler's part. Even 100gn Ballistic Tips rarely shoot that good.

My son and me shot many a deer and groundhog with the 100gr and 150gr SB bullets in a .25-06 and 300mag. Both at near 3400fps. IMHO it's still the best C&C bullet made to date. Still have some of the 150's.

By the way the BC on those 150 SB Match bullets =.381

Got a deal on some old inventory.
Nosler item# 28472 168 gr. 308 BTHP
Been working up loads for my 30 Herrett. Trying to duplicate 300 BLK performance.
Constrained to a slow twist barrel (1:14) so I gotta step 'em up to speed for stabilization.
Subsonic ain't gonna cut it. Too many keyholes! The BC on these is around .450
Curious as to bullet performance on game inside of 100 yds.
... just target shooting for now.

These have much less taper and thickness to the jacket than current Hunting BT. I haven't shot the match version but the original soft noses were explosive in a 7RM. I would bet they would be great for Coyotes but would go cautiously on deer with them. But they may be just the ticket and the base at least will usually exit.

I too have some vintage Solid Base .308, 168gn HPs. I posted on a couple of sites yet found no answer it they were match bullets. Nothing on the box indicates they were match quality, still they are accurate. I've used the old solid bases before the Ballistic tip. Heavier weights gave better performance. The old 165gn gave good performance on deer at 30-06 velocities.