85gr Nosler Ballistic Tip in .25-06?

[DannoBoone]

Is anyone here using the 85gr Nosler Ballistic Tip in your .25-06? If so, how deep are you seating
them, and what does your OAL turn out to be? What powder/grains gives your best accuracy?
My rifle is the 112 in the VLP model (no longer made). It is very accurate with 75gr V-Max bullets
but can't find any, and a couple guys with other calibers said they get their best accuracy with
lighter bullets with Nosler Ballistic Tips.  Thanks!

[pozoutdoors]

Thats all I have shot in my encore barrel sence I bought it!!! OAL 3.200". I use IMR 4350. It is super accurate and has light recoil!! I shot a nice big buck in Mo. and have shot several does with it too!!! They put them down hard or they don't go even 30 yards!!! Yes, I know it is a varmint bullet!!! But, it is all I need!!! I shot two does at 400+ yards. Shot the first one and the second didn't know what was going on or where the sound came from and I shot her too.

[Wyo. Coyote Hunter]

  Over the years I shot 85 grain Noslers in several .25-06's, in the present one, I haven't developed a load for this bullet. But IMR 4831 was always the top performer both in acc. and speed, next I would try IMR 4350. In this rifle with slower powders, I have been using mag. primers. I like these bullets, just right now I have many others to shoot, before I resupply. 

[DannoBoone]

Thanks guys. All rifles may be different in areas like throat lengths, but
I just wanted a starting point for this rifle. The 75gr V-Maxes have made
a few ragged one-hole groups, and if the 85 BT's are at least that
accurate, I'll be tickled pink.

pozoutdoors, yea, tell me about it being a varmint bullet. Even Nosler
states the ballistic tips will perform well if impact is 3000fps or less,
down to 1800fps. As for me, I'll have to limit it to paper and varmints,
since we are limited to shotgun, ML, and a few pistols in Iowa for
deer hunting.

[pozoutdoors]

I live here in Iowa too. But, down here we can use rifles the last week of the antlerless only season in january!!!

[charles p]

Should be fine on varmints.  My personal opinion is that it is too fragile for a whitetail.  May not deliver good penetration.  I've had problems with "light for caliber" BPs in a few calibers, including 25-06.  Each to his own.  Velocity does not solve all problems.

[DannoBoone]

I live here in Iowa too. But, down here we can use rifles the last week of the antlerless only season in january!!!

Although I would love to hunt deer with a .25-06 again, I hope DNR does not open up this area for CF. There are
too many slob-hunter shot-gunners. I have heard over 30 shots go off, just to find out only one deer was
recovered.......from the very first shot. I later found a dead gut-shot doe on our place. Can't imagine what
could occur with CF's in the hands of morons like that. It could be said the gene pool might be improved by
doing so, but they would probably hit someone outside their group, 5 mi away. 

[Lone Star]

yea, tell me about it being a varmint bullet. Even Nosler states the ballistic tips will perform well if impact is 3000fps or less, down to 1800fps...

You are confusing Nosler's varmint BTip bullets with their game bullets.  There can be a big difference in jacket thickness and sometime core hardness, meaning a big difference in terminal performance.  IME BTip varmint bullets are way too fragible at impact speeds over 2300-2500 fps.  Below that speed they work okay out of handguns.  "Too fragible" meaning they will not penetrate well compared to real game bullets.  Placed into the lungs they will kill quickly - just like any other varmint bullet.  But try to make an angling shot and you'll probably make a large, shallow wound, a suffering deer, and have a rough trailing job on your hands.    Unless you want to limit your hunting to "perfect" broadside or head shots - stay clear of varmint bullets for big game. 



.