Home Forums Reloading Big Game Rifles Those 'Ol Sorry Nosler BT's

I use the ballistic tips and have no argument against them'
I do however have a variety of caliber and weight old Solid Base.
I use and really like them.

That should be a sig line...

My family had some bad experiences with the first version of BT, right after Nosler came out with them. There were two rodeo hunting seasons using 150's in a pair of 280's that made a mess of a deer and an elk. The elk was the most dramatic failure I've ever seen. The bullet came apart on the onside scapula at the first shot, and made a hell of a gaping flesh wound. It was a mess, but the big cow didn't react noticeably to the shot. Two more shots were required. That box of bullets was saved for targets after that, and we switched to Partitions.

I have no qualms with using BT's now, but they aren't often the most accurate bullets for me. I've loaded them up for others though. The 180 in a 308 has taken some fine bulls for a father and son I used to load for.

Those bt's in the 90's really made me leery of them as well.

A buddy jumpshot at 50 yards a running big muley buck with his 55 year old Win M100 .308 with 150 NBTs over Varget. Centerpunched him in the right lung and it folded like a bad hand. Recovered bullet was textbook mushroom.

I have at least a thousand at home, I think will throw the sorry things in the creek.

Awesome results...

Highoctane: I have used Nosler bullets since I was 13 years old and taught myself to "hand-load" (58 years ago now).
I have as yet to be disappointed in either a Nosler Partition or a Nosler Ballistic Tips performance - and that is saying something, as I am a high volume shooter/Hunter/Varminter.
I even used some Nosler Zip-E-Dos for a time way back when!
I have loaded and been VERY happy with Nosler Ballistic Tips in the following calibers: 20, 22, 24, 25, 26, 27 and 30.
Accurate, lethal and reliable - no need to try anything else IME!
Long live Nosler Inc.
Hold into the wind
VarmintGuy

The first 7mm 150 BT I recovered from a sizable Axis looked exactly the same. At first I was vexed. But, then it dawned on me regardless of the missing lead core, it still went on through to do its job. I certainly did not have to walk too far to recover the animal.

Exactly. Looks identical to the jacket I found against the tip of the sternum of a big heavy whitetail. No measurable lead to be found. The offside body cavity looked like it had chicken pox,lol. Like you,I was pretty disappointed with what I found,but the buck bounced when he hit the dirt. Didn't have to go looking for him that's for sure. I think these days we expect everything to perform like bonded offerings. It is just a cup and core bullet,with a plastic tip to insure expansion at longer ranges. While retaining as much velocity as possible. Up close things can still get pretty violent.

I would have liked to have had an exit. I've come to expect it on deer. I've got lots of bullets on the shelf better suited to doing just that. Still,you can't argue the speed at which that buck died. Impressive.

I too soured on the first bt's. 150gr 7mm in a 7-08 through the lungs . Yes shot was close and the deer was dead. This was loaded down due to the probility of a close shot. Will have to try the newer ones. Currently using 150gr eldx. Only sample of one deer so far but good results. On the other hand I am still using 140gr Nosler solid base bullets in my 280REM. They still kill deer.

the 140 Ballistic Tips I have bought from Shooters Pro Shop on sale.....

Well the more I get the better..

those in my Featherweight 7 x 57, and 44 grain of 4895 or 4064....

I could be pretty much set for most larger game hunting I'd ever do...

I need to load some of those sorry things tomorrow.

HighOctane,
I had a 180 BT disintigrate on the onside shoulder of a big Axis. The only penetration I found was the green polycarbonate tip imbedded in an interior rib. Left a fist sized hole, knocked him down & he was trying to get up. Second shot put his lights out at 185 yards. That was in the 90’s. Aint scared of ‘em now. I still use them. I love the 7mm 150, it is my absolute favorite.

I have been shooting Nosler Ballistic Tips for years now, in fact, save for one or two rifles, BT's are my bullet of choice for each rifle's pet load. I have yet to have one fail on deer, 2400 fps or 3200 fps, 10 yards to 300, they always work, penetrating sufficiently and expanding dramatically. As a rule, they group tightly, and accurate loads are easy to come by.

I love trying different components, but I always come back to the Nosler Ballistic Tip. For my hunting, it's about as close to the perfect bullet as I have found.

Lots of bullets I like but the old nosler ballistic tip has always been one of my favorites.

The 115 Ballistic Tip has been my go to bullet in my 257 Wby for quite sometime. I've found nothing kills quicker or is more accurate. I've always been amazed at how well the bullet holds up at 257 Wby velocities. Here's a 115 NBT I recovered from an 8 point Whitetail buck shot through the shoulder at 160 yards. The bullet was found lodged under the skin on the offside shoulder. Starting velocity was 3450.

I could live happily forever using nothing but Ballistic Tips...



The bull:

You keep showing pictures of the same sorry-assed little bull and the same sorry-assed 7mm-08, let’s see something new.

Sheesh.





P

I have used Nosler 120gr BT in my .264 Win Mag with a max load of IMR 4350 since the 1980's it was my go to Western Deer & Antelope bullet.
I am switching this year to Nosler's 130 AB because I'm going Caribou hunting next year and there just a little bigger. I also want the option of being able to also hunt Elk with it as well if needed.