Home Forums Hunting & Shooting Ask The Gunwriters 115 gr BTip vs 117gr SST

Anyone have any experience or opinion on the relative terminal performance to be expected on bambi from these bullets launched from a 257R, between 2900 and 3000fps?

I've read a lot of positive comments regarding the BTip. And have read that the SST has been toughened up so that it performs on par with the Interlock. If true that should make them perform similarly. Does that ring true? thanks!!

Have not killed anything with the SST. Have killed more than a few with the 115 BT running them about 2900 out of my 250AI. Depending on where hit, I`ve not had one go more than 80 yrds. Always had an exit on pocket shots, and DRT on high shoulder shots, and exit. Again, depends on where their hit, IME. Woods ranges, 50 - 90 yrds.
SST`s have shot well, push them about same MV, just wasn`t one in the gun when I saw deer.

I’ve always had great performance with the Ballistic tip in my 25-06

115 NBT out of my Roberts at ~2800 fps is a DRT killer. Shoots small groups too.

Mine too, with H-4350.

DF

I've used the Combined Technonogies 115 grain Ballistic tips in my .250 Savage and my .257 AI. The .257 AI gives me 3000 FPS and the .250 about 2900. That's with a healthy dose of RL-17. The Combined Technologies are some slick dudes.

Good to hear about the BTs guys. But there was this lonely box of SSTs on the shelf at the local Academy, saying, “Try me, try me!” Couldn’t help myself...😉

In my experience, while both were pretty tender when originally introduced years ago, the present versions work very similarly on impact.

Both also tend to be very accurate.

Curious how your getting 2900 feet per second velocity from the .250 Savage with a 115 gr bullet. Seems like R-17 is the holy grail of powder for the little savage case.

Thank you, men, for your input. I truly appreciate it.

I'd take a 115 BT any day.....

I’d like to know also.

Apologize for playing the BC card, but the fairly new 110 ELD-X has good numbers & could be a tic faster. If there have been multiple complaints about the X's performance on game I've missed them.

+1

Mine loves H-4350 with this bullet. It's deadly, for sure.

And, don't forget the 100 TTSX with H-100V at 3,250 fps. That's a killer combo.

DF

I have shot pigs with the 115gn Ballistic Tips at 2800fps from a Roberts and they killed very well. Even on a few good sized boars around the 75kg size with the texas heart shot. That doesn't always happen with 100gn bullets.

I haven't shot a deer with one yet. Based on their performance on pigs I'd aim to put one through the shoulder, especially on a smaller sized meat doe.

I wouldn’t bet on a 100 TTSX not penetrating about as well as a 115 NBT.

I’ve shot both, killed stuff with both but have no side by side penetration comparison.

Maybe someone can answer that question.

DF

The 115NBTs are ridiculously accurate from my 25-06AI. They also perform well on whitetails, but I can't remember ever taking a deer with them inside 300yds. Not sure how they would hold together at close range, but my AI is a bean field rifle.

Are the 115 ballistic tips/SSTs tougher than the SGK 117btsp? I've killed a bunch of deer/hogs with them and they do it with authority. However, they make a pretty good mess and often don't exit. Would the btips be a worthwhile step up or would I need to go to something like an accubond?

TxHunter80,

A few years ago my wife killed a whitetail buck with her NULA .257 Roberts at the vast range of about 15 yards, using a handload that pushed the 115 Ballistic Tip at around 2950 fps. The bullet landed in the shoulder muscle just behind the big joint, and exited just about the same spot on the other side.

Thanks, that's more inline with what I'm looking for