Author Topic: ballistic tip on deer??? (Read 1111 times)

buckslayer · « **on:** July 14, 2004, 09:50:04 AM »

will a ballistic tip round expand reliably on BIIIIIIIIG deer(250 lbs) at ranges out to 350 yds?

?? thanks y'all
later

buckslayer :wink:

scruffy · « **Reply #1 on:** July 14, 2004, 10:09:43 AM »

What type of ballistic tip we talking about here? A vmax (varmint max), no. A horniday SST, yes, at appropriate ranges. What's appropriate depends on the cartridge, bullet weight, velocity, and many many other variables.

So what cartridge are you shooting? Bullet weight, velocity, rifle, etc?

And why are you shooting deer at 350 yards? When a buddy of mine and I were planning an out of state deer hunt he was taking his 7mm mag because he could kill so much farther out than my 270. :roll: I told him I didn't need to be able to kill a deer that far away. My legs ain't broke.... :wink: (meaning I stalk closer) After all, it's hunting, not shooting... Alas, it's a lost art.

later,
scruffy

mitchell · « **Reply #2 on:** July 14, 2004, 10:34:15 AM »

just like scruffy said which ballistic tip bullet are you talking about ? the noslers are said to be pretty good (i've never tried them) the hornady sst are very good bullet's at all ranges the sst-ib is IMHO the best of the bunch penetration is great and expansion is radical and don't get me started on its knockdown power. although i would do just what scruffy said and stalk a bit closer (like 200 or so) and then shoot

Leftoverdj · « **Reply #3 on:** July 14, 2004, 01:35:51 PM »

Assuming you mean Noslers, yes, indeedy, they do expand. Some say too much. As always, the devil is in the details. What caliber, what weight, and what load?

I'd say "Fine choice!" if you are talking about 165 grains in a .308 or .30-06. Might say something different about some other combination.

hvacman · « **Reply #4 on:** July 14, 2004, 04:39:51 PM »

I've shot several deer [none the size you're talking about] at ranges of ten yds. to 100 yds. with the 140 gr. 270 ballistic tip and had good results. All bullets exited the deer, all shots were in the chest no major bone involved. All deer went less than 20 yds. Exit holes were the size of a half dollar or smaller. Everything in the chest wash reduced to mush. I thing they work fine for me.

ratherbefishin · « **Reply #5 on:** July 15, 2004, 03:30:05 AM »

I knew a guy who used to use his father's old 25-35 and shot a lot of deer with it.He decided to step up and so bought a 7mm magnum- figured it would be a lot more efficient.Heshot a mule deer and nearly lost it- the bullet didn't expand, pencilled right through.He concluded the 25-35 was a better cartridge for deer and the 7mm mag should be left for moose and elk.

Wlscott · « **Reply #6 on:** July 15, 2004, 03:39:01 AM »

I've shot three deer with a 150 grain Ballistic Silvertip hand load at ranges from 150 yards to 250 yards. If I remember right, I think I was getting about 3200 fps out of this load.

Not a huge base of information, but maybe enough to contribute to others experiences.

The gun was my Winchester Model 70 in 300 WSM, and I had pass through on every one of them.

The first one was a Muley Buck that weighed about 175 lbs. Hit him right behind the shoulder, and he went about forty yards and collapsed. This was a 150 yard shot. Exit wound was about the size of a half dollar.

Second one was another Muley Buck that went about 150 lbs. He was hit in the center of the shoulder at about 175 yards, and dropped like a sack of taters. That one was one of those "Where the heck did he go" situations. The exit wound was pretty big on this one. Bigger than I cared for.

Third one was a whitetail doe that weighed about 125 lbs. She was 250 yards away, and was hit behind the shoulder, and the bullet didn't hit any ribs. She ran about ten yards and went down hard. The exit wound on this one was smaller than a quarter.

Remember, the faster you push a ballistic tip bullet, the faster and more explosive it will open up.

aulrich · « **Reply #7 on:** July 15, 2004, 04:27:04 AM »

I have used nosler 200gr in my 338 I have to say they Kill great but if you need to be carfule on your shots or you could ruin alot of meat, according to Nosler ballitic tips above 30 cal are tougher, even so I stilll grenaded a shoulder at 200 yards on a mule buck.

One thing about the balistictip is that every gun I have tried them in has loved them accuracy wise.

mag41vance · « **Reply #8 on:** July 16, 2004, 03:53:25 PM »

Quote from: Wlscott

I've shot three deer with a 150 grain Ballistic Silvertip hand load at ranges from 150 yards to 250 yards. If I remember right, I think I was getting about 3200 fps out of this load.

Not a huge base of information, but maybe enough to contribute to others experiences.

The gun was my Winchester Model 70 in 300 WSM, and I had pass through on every one of them.

The first one was a Muley Buck that weighed about 175 lbs. Hit him right behind the shoulder, and he went about forty yards and collapsed. This was a 150 yard shot. Exit wound was about the size of a half dollar.

Second one was another Muley Buck that went about 150 lbs. He was hit in the center of the shoulder at about 175 yards, and dropped like a sack of taters. That one was one of those "Where the heck did he go" situations. The exit wound was pretty big on this one. Bigger than I cared for.

Third one was a whitetail doe that weighed about 125 lbs. She was 250 yards away, and was hit behind the shoulder, and the bullet didn't hit any ribs. She ran about ten yards and went down hard. The exit wound on this one was smaller than a quarter.

Remember, the faster you push a ballistic tip bullet, the faster and more explosive it will open up.

What would they do on a poor hit. That is the true test of a bullet. ( or a broadhead)

vance

mitchell · « **Reply #9 on:** July 16, 2004, 04:44:35 PM »

i do not like to tell this story but ! once opon a time there was a doe and a mitch the mitch was hungry and had a 30-06 with 150gr sst-ib's in the chamber. the doe walked out 130 yards away from mitch this was his chance and he took it. mitch raises his rifle put the crosshair just behind the shoulder and just touches the trigger and OOPS he flinches (the stupid dork) the bullet lands far away from where it was told (right in the gut in the middle between the last rib and the hip) but to mitch's surprise the doe dropped butt first then tried to get up but the bullet landing about 6 inch below the spine and still broke it with the shock and the doe could not get up . mitch later walks over to the doe and shoots it in the head with a 380 and starts to yell at him self all the way back to the truck .

the moral of this story is don't flinch but if you just happen to do have a bullet that will still put them down.

mag41vance · « **Reply #10 on:** July 17, 2004, 02:32:38 AM »

Quote from: mitchell

i do not like to tell this story but ! once opon a time there was a doe and a mitch the mitch was hungry and had a 30-06 with 150gr sst-ib's in the chamber. the doe walked out 130 yards away from mitch this was his chance and he took it. mitch raises his rifle put the crosshair just behind the shoulder and just touches the trigger and OOPS he flinches (the stupid dork) the bullet lands far away from where it was told (right in the gut in the middle between the last rib and the hip) but to mitch's surprise the doe dropped butt first then tried to get up but the bullet landing about 6 inch below the spine and still broke it with the shock and the doe could not get up . mitch later walks over to the doe and shoots it in the head with a 380 and starts to yell at him self all the way back to the truck .

the moral of this story is don't flinch but if you just happen to do have a bullet that will still put them down.

Don't be too hard on Mitch, Mitch.
That is obviously a good hunting bullet. Which is what this thread is about.
We've all been mitched like that before, but not always with good ending.
Good post!
vance

Haywire Haywood · « **Reply #11 on:** July 17, 2004, 05:30:58 AM »

If you visit a few hunting forums there will most likely be a carbon copy of this thread there somewhere on every one. BTs are like Lee reloading equipment, you love them or you hate them depending on your experience.
From what I read, BTs are great if you put'm in the boiler room but aren't as suited to penetrating hard bone as well as the bonded/partition bullets are.

If I were hunting 250lb deer I wouldn't shoot beyond about 150yds. I know my limitations on reliably putting that bullet where it needs to go. I would use my 30-06 and buy the bonded/partition bullets. My hunting rarely is beyond 100yds tho, my last deer was about 100lbs on the hoof and I took her at 40yds with a 45colt carbine.

Ian

mitchell · « **Reply #12 on:** July 17, 2004, 05:52:01 AM »

haywire i have a slight disagreement . that same summer that i had the kill permits i had a doe about 100 yards away standing straight at me and i shot her and the bullet (150gr hornady sst-ib) went all the way through and came out the top of the left hind quarter waisted a lot of meat but the bullet penetration was great .

BTW i love lee reloading stuff

Haywire Haywood · « **Reply #13 on:** July 17, 2004, 06:27:12 AM »

Hehe.. those SSTs must be built Ford Tough... I've only shot one deer with a Nosler BT, about 6 years ago. 150lb-ish 8pt buck, 150gr NBT, 30-06, 120yds or so. Complete penetratation thru the heart/lung area but missed the ribs coming and going. He stood up on his hind legs and collapsed on the spot. This was Federal's premium ammo, I bought a box last year and it seems they're using Sierra Gamekings now. I haven't tried them yet, don't need an '06 in the brush. :grin:

Ian

Wlscott · « **Reply #14 on:** July 17, 2004, 08:28:27 AM »

Quote

What would they do on a poor hit. That is the true test of a bullet. ( or a broadhead)

You are absolutely correct Vance. The only poor shot I've had in the last several years has been with a broad head (Knock on wood), and that one turned out bad (My fault, not the broad head's).

The only other shots with Ballistic Tip bullets that I have taken on deer have been head and neck shots with the .223 and a 55 grain Nosler BT handload.

buckslayer · « **Reply #15 on:** July 17, 2004, 12:53:04 PM »

sorry it took so long to get back :oops: . it will be a handi-rifle .280 rem w/remington ballistic tip 140gr or winchester ball silver tip 140gr. thanks for ALL the info :-D :-D
later

buckslayer :wink:

mitchell · « **Reply #16 on:** July 19, 2004, 07:21:32 AM »

buckslayer i don't have any experience with the remingtons but i have heard that they are very fragile for thus reason i would go with the winchester (looks like a lot tougher bullet). but if you haven't yet decided on what bullet your going to use i would highly recommend the hornady light magnum bullets (with and sst-ib bullet not a sst) these bullets will most of the time be the most accurate factory load IMHO and will kill with authority Highly recommended

mitchell · « **Reply #17 on:** July 20, 2004, 06:32:26 AM »

oops sorry my last post was in error they don't make a sst-ib for a 280 in the light mags sorry ,but you may want to try the light mags anyway they seam to shot good in all the gun i've tried .