Author Topic: Testing Nosler's Ballistic Tip (Read 1622 times)

rickt300 · « **on:** December 12, 2005, 08:50:32 PM »

I loaded up two varieties of the 150 grain 7MM Ballistic tip. The Combined Technology and the standard Orange tipped version. I figured they would perform the same in the sand box test but I was wrong. I loaded the two bullets into Federal cases on top of 48 grains of H414 primed by a CCI 250 primer for my 7x57. I figure I am getting around 2700 fps out of my 19 inch barrel. The standard version was recovered inside out with a small amount of core remaining and around half of the front part of the jacket material missing. The Combined Tecnology bullet's jacket was also turned inside out but was basically all there, it also had some remaining core. I also have some Speer 160 grain Hotcor's and some Sierra 160 grain Gamekings loaded with the same powder charge. Hopefully further testing will include slamming one of the Combined Tech. bullets into the neck of another feral hog this weekend. I am not expecting the penetration of the corelokt just massive trama to the neck bones and a dropped hog. If I end up sneaking up on feeders under the full moon the rifle will be loaded with the Speer hotcors.

nomosendero · « **Reply #1 on:** December 12, 2005, 09:09:16 PM »

Interesting info., I thought the difference was the coating, I guess there's
more. Let me know if the hog problem gets too intense as I would not
mind helping out. Years ago I lived in South AR. & killed alot of bottomland
Hogs. I miss that! :cry:

rickt300 · « **Reply #2 on:** December 15, 2005, 07:16:29 PM »

Took the 7x57 to the range today and shot both versions of the Ballistic tip bullets I have. I used the orange tipped originals to get on paper and shoot several groups. I was surprised to see they did not group that well but I got them centered 2 inches high at one hundred yards. The Combined Technology bullets were much more accurate and hit a half inch higher than the others. I put five inone ragged hole in a group of less than an inch. Don't know if I like the "Lubaloy" coating though.

Reloader · « **Reply #3 on:** December 18, 2005, 12:58:28 PM »

I bought some CT bullets from the Nosler store that hadn't been sent in for coating. When I called up the folks at Nosler to see how to go about loading them they said they were the same as BT's with a different color tip. This was a couple of years back so something may have changed in that time. :eek:

rickt300 · « **Reply #4 on:** December 18, 2005, 01:00:26 PM »

Well I only saw two feral pigs and shot one of them. He was a 50 pound male that actually smelled so bad we threw him out of the truck far from the feeder. He smelled like boiled hog piss at a level comparable to a fresh run over skunk. Bullet performance wise; hit behind left shoulder just above elbow and exited a couple inches behind the other elbow leaving a 3 inch exit hole and a blood trail of immense proportions. The bullet pulled all kinds of lung bits out for ten feet and the little stinker ran 75 yards downhill toward the truck.

PEPAW · « **Reply #5 on:** December 21, 2005, 02:27:37 AM »

Sounds like great performance. What gun is that 19" barrel on?
My friend shot a Contender with a 7x30 W. barrel and used ballistic tips with good success.
Thanks for the report.

pepaw

rickt300 · « **Reply #6 on:** December 21, 2005, 07:01:55 AM »

It's on a short M98 action similar to a model 24/47 . This is the rifle I was going to rebarrel to 6MM Remington but I changed my mind and bought a Remington M700 243 instead. Hopefully I will have the 243 ready for my light bullet test on deer before the season ends. As to great performance the pig was pretty small so I need to shoot one at least 200 pounds for a real test. Problem is the freezer is already bulging.

kombi1976 · « **Reply #7 on:** January 08, 2006, 10:57:55 PM »

Rick, I'm surprised you need anything that heavy to knock over hogs.
A decent 140gn bullet should anchor them hard.
You got a 19" bbl on that 7x57, eh?
Must have some serious muzzle flash.
Is it loud?

rickt300 · « **Reply #8 on:** January 12, 2006, 08:59:23 AM »

Actually the muzzle blast and flash are pretty reasonable. Possibly the military surplus powder WC852 has a formulae that inhibits flash anyway.

rickt300 · « **Reply #9 on:** January 12, 2006, 09:03:08 AM »

Actually the muzzle blast and flash are pretty reasonable. Possibly the military surplus powder WC852 has a formulae that inhibits flash anyway. I used the 150 grain Ballistic tips because I had two boxes of different variations to test. My rifle seems to like the 150-160 grain bullets and they perform well at 7x57 velocities. I have a ful box of Hornady 139 grain flat based interlocs that may be tested on Hogs next. Out lease has an extraordinary numbers of over 300 pound feral hogs so a bit of weight doesn't hurt any.

kudzu · « **Reply #10 on:** January 12, 2006, 05:34:49 PM »

rickt300 - try the 150 scirrocos. I have had great results with them in my 7mm rum. They seem to be between a BT and a (hard bonded bullet). I get great penetration and great expansion. IMO one of the best bullets for midsize game and are very accurate in everything I've tried them in.

rickt300 · « **Reply #11 on:** January 13, 2006, 04:56:21 AM »

I have ried a bunch of bullets in my 7x57. As soon as I shoot all the bullets I bought cheap at an auction sale I am going to stock up on Speer 160 grain Hotcors. That bullet at 2600 fps expands and penetrates to perfection. Course I have to wade thru several Hornady bullets of various weights first and a box of 175 grain Mag Tips also from Speer.

TexasNimrod · « **Reply #12 on:** January 13, 2006, 02:49:37 PM »

I have used the 160 gr Speer HotCore's in my 7x57 for 15 years. Been my go to pig load.

kombi1976 · « **Reply #13 on:** January 13, 2006, 05:19:46 PM »

Interesting that the Speer should be a goer.
I'm using the 8mm 170gn Hot Cor Semi-Spitzer in my bubba'd Kar98k(No, I wasn't the person who bubba'd it! ) and it's been very accurate so far.
It gets proper 100yd and 200yd trials next week which should give a better idea than the plinking I've done with them so far.
Mind you I had fun picking a soda can off a fence post with it at 60yds.

Not an astounding shot but the way the can wavered after the bullet passed through it and then kinda tumbled to the ground was very cool.
Tore a huge hunk out of the top of the fence post too & I found this load perfect for blowing up blocks of sandstone! :twisted:
All scientific of course..... :wink:

killdeer · « **Reply #14 on:** January 23, 2006, 04:18:35 PM »

Quote from: dancoman

rickt300 - try the 150 scirrocos. I have had great results with them in my 7mm rum. They seem to be between a BT and a (hard bonded bullet). I get great penetration and great expansion. IMO one of the best bullets for midsize game and are very accurate in everything I've tried them in.

I second that motion, holds together and dumps energy in the target like nothing else I've used so far. Wish I had some 7x57s to send you for further testing..............KD

rickt300 · « **Reply #15 on:** January 30, 2006, 04:39:00 AM »

The Scirroco's are a bit pricey. They might be just right for really high velocities but so far I have not had a bullet perfirm poorly at 7x57 velocities. Havent recovered but one and the amount of work it did was outstanding.

killdeer · « **Reply #16 on:** January 30, 2006, 07:41:56 AM »

Rick,
your point is spot on.
The price of Sciroccos is what keeps me from loading them up in my other rifles. I suspect the 7x57 velocity is the major factor in your ability to use BTs to great effect.
There is a price to pay for shooting a magnum, expensive bullets, more powder, shorter barell and brass life, more noise and recoil, bloodshot meat, and probably a few other drawbacks that escape me at the moment. Oh well, variety is the spice of life!

KD

kudzu · « **Reply #17 on:** January 30, 2006, 08:58:41 AM »

I also shoot BT's in varies rifles. However, in the ones that I choose to shoot the sciroccos in is not based on price but what kind of performance I am looking for.

With the sciroccos being only about 12 cent apiece more than the Nos. BT, I see no need to skimp. If you shoot 100 rounds a year, you are only looking at 12 dollars differance. If I shot over 100 rounds per year, it probbally would'nt be in a situation where I would need the scirocco performance.(varmit, paper, etc.).

IMO, don't let 12 cent sway you into shootin something with something you really don't want to shoot something with.

Use the cheaper bullets for practice and such.

Again this is JMO - Every bullet has it's place.

Good luck and happy shootin, DM

kombi1976 · « **Reply #18 on:** January 30, 2006, 12:39:38 PM »

Quote from: dancoman

IMO, don't let 12 cent sway you into shootin something with something you really don't want to shoot something with.

Use the cheaper bullets for practice and such.

Dancoman, no offence but I've seen this written before and I don't prescribe to the "cheap bullets for plinking" theory.
If you can get milsurp rounds for cheap then fine but a different bullet will perform differently to the pricier one you use for hunting.
And how do you learn how this prefered hunting bullet behaves if you don't practise with it?
I have loads I don't shoot often, and they are Nosler BTs, but the regular load, Speer Hot Cors, is my regular hunting load.
I save the BTs for other stuff and so by practising with the Speer bullets, which will see the most action in the field anyway, I'm learning how they will behave.
So If you are only intending to hunt with one bullet load then practise with this load.
I can't see that you do yourself any favours by mucking around with anything else at the range only to pull out the more expensive loads in the field.

kudzu · « **Reply #19 on:** January 31, 2006, 04:02:00 AM »

I somewhat agree. I have bought bulk ammo just to plink around with, not really doing anything but paying.

However, when I'm gettin ready for "THE HUNT", I allways use what I will be hunting with.

I do know a lot of guys that will load cheaper bullets just to shoot up and practice with. Then go back to their hunting round when the times right.

TO EACH HIS OWN, DM

kudzu · « **Reply #20 on:** January 31, 2006, 04:05:53 AM »

I somewhat agree. I have bought bulk ammo just to plink around with, not really doing anything but paying.

However, when I'm gettin ready for "THE HUNT", I allways use what I will be hunting with.

I do know a lot of guys that will load cheaper bullets just to shoot up and practice with. Then go back to their hunting round when the times right.

TO EACH HIS OWN, DM

Slamfire · « **Reply #21 on:** January 31, 2006, 04:23:38 PM »

It wouldn't break the bank to test some ordinary 154 grain Hornady spire points. You might like 'em, and if you do, you'll save some money for gas. :wink:

rickt300 · « **Reply #22 on:** February 01, 2006, 07:07:27 AM »

I shoot a lot more than 100 rounds thru each my rifles in the course of a year. I also like to try a lot of different bullets. I tend to stay away from bullets heralded with fanfare and hype. In fact these Ballistic tips are the first I have played with due to all the bad press. Next hog hunt is going to be just before the full moon in February and I bet they will be out. When the BT's are gone next up are some 154 grain Hornady RN's. Also how much a bullet costs is a poor indicator of it's abilities and I tend to have more confidence in bullets that have been around for years without going thru recent yearly changes. I have over the years had excellent performance from "standard" bullets named after their maker and not given some lofty name like Scirroco or Triple shock.

kudzu · « **Reply #23 on:** February 01, 2006, 03:52:59 PM »

C'mon rickt300, I know you have some "lofty names" in the ole gun room somewhere!!!!

Not saying that they would'nt work, but I would opp for something besides the BT for Hogs. Deer yes Hogs NO. JMO

Good luck and let us know how it turns out, DM

rickt300 · « **Reply #24 on:** February 01, 2006, 07:40:56 PM »

Well I have got some Nosler Partitions and some Hornady SST's in my bullet collection but mostly it's your basic soft points from the big three. I have the Ballistic Tips backed up with some Speer 160 grain soft points if I can't get the perfect shot for the BT's. They will be gone soon as I only have 30 or so left then the 154 grain Hornady RN's are up.