Home Forums Hunting & Shooting Ask The Gunwriters 6.5 120 gr NBT

Does anyone know when they thickened the jackets? I had a partial box of 120 BTs in 6.5 mm from 97 or 98 I'm guessing that I just loaded up. I've got some newer ones too, and don't know if I should risk shooting the older ones on a whitetail doe. Thanks in advance.

Anyone know what the recommended twist is for the 120 BTs ?

I’ve seen them shot in 1-8, 1-9 and 1-10 and they shot great in all 3.

The 97s should say hunting BT somewhere on the box, if not section one as like others I was soured early on with the thin jacket BT and solid bases.
Tried to get a date but no info on the web came up. The BT was introduced in 1984 and I think that when Nosler partnered with Winchester on the Fail Safe and the Ballistic silver tip in the early 90's is when they made the changes. But this was done at different times for each bullet not across the board.

The 260 375 cal. BT was an anomaly it was the hunting type but the tip was so big it created a big hollow point. I had one stop on the neck of a small white tail and another come unglued on the shoulder of another the same day. I Emailed Nosler saying some one might get killed if they used these bullets on Cape Buffalo or Big Bears. I don't recall if they responded but shortly afterward the 260 Accubond was produced and they stopped selling the 260 BT. Other hunters must have had similar experiences.

Thanks for the info. I couldn't find a date either. The box doesn't say hunting on it. But had to be 97 or later as I never had anything in 6.5mm until then.

both my tikka t3 and ruger predator chambered in 260 rem are 1-8" twist and love the 120bt. i'd also love to see a comparo between the 7mm 120grain and 6.5 120grain sectioned side by side. i also doubt the 6.5 is a stoutly constructed jacket as the 7mm 120 but it prolly is close. all speculation by me as i've never section one.
Big Ed

Do you remember when that happened?

I took some .375 Ballistic Tips to Africa on a cull hunt in 2002, handloaded in a .375 H&H to around 2700 fps. They didn't act anything you're describing, among other things shooting lengthwise through a springbok (about the size of a pronghorn) and breaking both shoulders on a gemsbok bull weighing around 550 pounds on the hoof--and exiting.

Thx Bearcat74 , I have a .260 Rem barrel that I’m thinking of rechambering for 6.5 THE BlowHole Xpress forming duties.

Might as well have some fun while doing the tedious brass forming work.
A Longer 8” Lilja will come later

I think the Remington .260 takeoff is 9” , so plenty tight enough for my purposes

Not sure on the date of the 260 BT but I think around the 2002-2004 time period, not long after they were introduced. The bullets got good reviews and then were taken off the market after only a short time period. Whenever the 260 Accubond was introduced is when the BT was discontinued. Others of the same box of 260s worked as expected if they were soft body or broadside shots. I can't imagine that I got a bad batch of them. I wanted them to work but now with the Accubond there is not a need except for a less expensive deer bullet.

Me too
I’ve successfully taken deer and antelope with 120 NBTs and my Sakos chambered for the 260 and 6.5x55 at ranges from 50 to 400 yards. They can be a little messy at shots between 50 and 100 yards of you hit the shoulder bone.

Obviously best hoarded, and only used on charging Ground Squirrels ;-)