120 grain ballistic tips for deer at less than 200 yards

[theduke]

Anyone use ballistic tips 120 grain in 7x30 waters 14" pistol.  will they be enough for deer under 200 yards.  If not do you use a better bullet that expands well.  thanks

[shot1]

It should make a perfect bullet for deer. I know people that have used them in 7-08 rifles with no problems. I even know one fellow that uses it in a 7mm STW rifle for deer. He has to pick his shots for broad side shots but it drops them in their tracks. As long as you impact velocity between 3000 and 1000 fps the hunting BT will do the job.

[SAS98M]

I took a doe at just around a hundred yds. this winter using a 14" 7x30 Waters Contender , clean broadside shot-aimed clean at the heart,touched it off,deer hunched up as if I'd kicked her in the guts,went nose in the snow for just 10 feet-stone dead !  I'd say the do the trick.  My advice-Load em'-shoot em'-love em'  Just my 2c     Shane

[SD Handgunner]

Yep I have used the 120gr. Nosler Ballistic Tip out of a 7-30 Waters in both 10" & Super 14 T/C Contenders at the ranges you are talking about and a couple a bit further with excellent results.

I also used the old 120gr. Nosler Spitzer Boat Tail Solid Base from a Semi Custom Remington XP-100 chambered for the 7mm IHMSA (.300 Savage necked down to 7mm) with excellent results.

Prior to that I had used the 130gr. Speer Spitzers in the Semi Custom Remington XP-100 chambered for the 7mm IHMSA with not so good results. That bullet was a little to toughy to expand at these velocities.

I think you'll do fine with the 120gr. Nosler Ballistic Tips if you put em in the right place.

Larry

[xphunter]

They work good!

[David D.]

I get excellent results with Nosler B-Tips from my 30-30IMP and my two 6.5JDJ's. Using one of the 6.5JDJ's from a 20" tube last season I killed a doe well over 300yds. with a Nosler 120gr. B-Tip.

Click the link below and read, the B-Tips made to work from 1600 to 3100 FPS MV. I don't think you will find a much better bullet for the 14" barrels.

http://www.nosler.com/ballistictiphunting.htm

[shot1]

Nolser BT's are designed to IMPACT velocities 3100 to 1600 not muzzle velocity.

[David D.]

Nolser BT's are designed to IMPACT velocities 3100 to 1600 not muzzle velocity.

Yes you are correct and I would say under 200yds most any rifle cartridge will still fall within that range and further. I dont know the IMPACT velocity of my 6.5JDJ at 300 plus yards but do know the Nosler B-Tip will perform flawlessly at that distance.

[gary/mt]

My Contender 7x30 Waters 12 in. Hunter bbl with 120 Ballistic tips and a max load of Win 748 with a chronographed muzzle velocity of 2374 fps is still travelling 1959fps with 1022 ft lbs energy at 250 yds, so the 120 BT is perfect for your 14 in. bbl which will have better velocity and energy than my 12 in bbl.  This bullet sure works good for me, and I have stretched shots at antelope to the 250 yd range with perfect results.  Most of my deer have been in the 25 to 150 yd range, with equal results.  Good hunting!

Gary

[theduke]

thanks for responses.  I am going to load up some and try them out.  I think at my ranges should work fine.

[sbhg]

All I use are the 140's, if you ever run out and can only get the 140's try them.
I have taken several deer and only 1 shot apiece w/ accuracy below 1MOA.

[kynardsj]

Can't speak for the 7mm 120 gr BT bullets as I've not shot them but have used 125 gr BT's in a 30-30 Contender. A boat tail spire point bullet gives a whole new life to a 30-30 round out of a Contender. The downrange performance is great and I wouldn't hesitate to make a 200 yard shot with it on a deer. For tougher critters like hogs I would use a bullet that expands slower and keep the shots 100 yards or closer.

[JD338]

The Nosler 120 gr BT is a very robust bullet due to its unique design.
The jacket is actually the 140 gr BT cut down to make a 120 gr bullet. This makes the jacket thicker all the way up to the polycarbonate tip. This bullet holds together very well, even at my 280 AI velocities.

I use this bullet in my 7x30 Waters with RL 15 and get excellent velocity and accuracy. You won't be disappointed with the results out of your 7x30 Waters on deer.

JD338