Nosler BT perfomance

[buckeye hunter]

I have shot three eastern whitetails with the 150 grain BT bullets out of a 30-06.  Muzzle velocity is around 2900 fps.  All three deer showed no sign of being hit and left no blood trail.  They simply walked off and laid down 20-30 yards from place of impact.  They were all lying down with their heads up looking around when I found them (I hunt in brush country).
After skinning I found that the entrance wound was caliber sized, but the meat inside the hide where the bullet entered was bloodied, and the heart lungs were nearly turned to jelly.  There was no exit wound and I was unable to find the bullets.  All three deer died and I was able to find them quickly, but the lack of blood loss for trailing purposes is troublesome to me.  I was wondering if anyone has any experience with the Accubond bullet, would it be more likely to leave an exit wound?  Nosler bullet really shoot good out of my rifle.  150 grainers seem better suited for the smaller deer that we encounter int he area we hunt in WV.

[cynrays]

I was just about to post the same question. What bullet could I shoot out of a 30-06 that would do massive damage and also exit. I also hunt in heavy cut over and I need a blood trail.
Please do just throw numbers out here without knowing for sure what will work.
I have been reloading 150 grain soft point Remington bulk bullets and some will pass through but most will not.
Thanks

[cynrays]

I meant to say do not just throw numbers out there just to be posting. We need help...

[Gregory]

I've shot a total of seven deer with a 30/06 before moving from upstate NY.
 
Four with factory Remington 180 gr RN  bullets.  All bullets exited and left good blood trails.  Longest shot was 75 yds.  One deer shot in neck, rest were heart/lung area.
 
One was shot with a 150 Nosler Partition handload, left a very small exit wound, but full penetration and good blood, lung shot.  About a 50 yd shot.
 
Two with 150 gr Nosler solid base soft points, handloads.  10 and 20 yd shots both full penetration.  One lung shot one heart shot.    
 
How far away are the deer you've been shooting?  
 
I can't imagine a 30/06 failing to penetrate with any good bullet of 150 gr or more at any reasonable range.
 
Don't overlook a 180 gr RN bullet if your going to be shooting at modest ranges.

[kenscot]

I to had deer shot with 150 grain ballistic tips in 30-06 where I did not get full penetration. But they knew they were hit and never went more than 20 yards most went down in their tracks. For me dead is dead but I have started to use the 165 gr bullets. Same results but now I always get full penetration. I just started using the Accubond and posted my first results in this forum under the " favorite 7mm-08 loads"
                                                                           goodluck
                                                                                   Ken

[Graybeard]

You sure must have gotten to the deer mighty fast if the lungs were jello and the head was up. A deer so shot is usually dead on its feet and for sure the head never rises after it falls.

But you bring up a good point and the reason I do not advocate light for caliber bullets even for deer. I use 180 grain bullets on deer and always get an exit when using the '06. I mostly use BTs or PTs and both exit leaving an excellent blood trail. It's also the reason I just refuse to accept the 6MMs as proper tools for my deer hunting.

[buckeye hunter]

where we hunt, if you don't get to them quickly another hunter might put his tag on your deer. From bullet impact to death took very little time, but death was not instant.  All three deer that I mentioned were shot at less than 100 yards as I recall (two of them were taken a couple of years ago).
Years ago before I began handloading shells, I bought and used Federal premium shells that were loaded with boattail soft points.  I never had a deer leave the bullet impact site if my memory serves me right.  The polymer tipped bullets are much more accurate in my gun.  I also like the fact that the tips resist deformation from the magazine.  

Thanks for the info!

[varmit_master]

Hi i have use only BT out of my 300 wby i load a 125gr BT. And i shoot them right in the shoulder Never had any to run! Thought i had miss 2 before because they drop so fast . lol VM

[myronman3]

i have shot many deer with a 150gr bt  out of a 270.  every deer hit has been slammed down to the ground violently as if a bolt of lightning had stuck them.  never even twitched.    our deer run pretty big,  between 150 and 250.   all deer were shot through the front shoulder; and one was in a full out run.    

i cant imagine what your problem could be.  if i were you,  i would use either 165's or 180's in that '06.  

the only bullet i shoot out of my 270 is the 150 grain nosler ballistic tip.

[MickinColo]

I’ve shot 5 antelope with the Nosler 7mm 150 grain Ballistic Tip. All 5 went down quickly if not right where they stood. The bullets never exit and they’re reduced to bits and pieces usually on the inside of the chest cavity or just under the skin. I have also used the Sierra 7mm 160 HPBT and a sierra .257 caliber 117SBT on a number of other antelope, deer and elk. The 160’s except on elk almost always exit and the 117 exits about 50% of the time (never have shot an elk with the 25-06). These bullets all did what they were suppose to do, kill animals.

I’m amazed how the thin shinned Ballistic Tip has turned into a shotgun blast after hitting the target.

As far as 30 caliber bullets that kill deer, I’ve used the Sierra 165 SBT in a 300 Win Mag, and the Sierra 150 SBT in a 308 Win with good results.

[cwlongshot]

I have used many different Nosler Ballistic Tip bullets. I have always found them to be violent expanders. I do like them for long range situations. I am also not a fan of light fast bullets and also do alot of hunting in terrain like you describe. My FIRST CHOICE is a ROUND NOSE BULLET!!

My favorite for the .30 cals is a now discontinued SPEER 165gr RN. EXCELLENT performance in my 300 Savage and my fathers 308Win as well as my '06 handi. Velocities in the mid range for the 300/308 and close to 2900 for the '06. ALWAYS thru and thru penetration with quarter sized or larger exits. Between those three guns and ten years of seasons,  thats better than 20 deer to this bullet!!

If you must use the spitzer profile, the SIERRA 165 & 180 BTSP is one I also like.

Good luck,

CW

[Ranger J]

I and #1 daughter both shot deer this year with bulk 150 Remington in a .308 and both deer dropped in their tracks and both had large exit wounds.  Of course both were at about 60 yards and they didn't have chance to leave blood trail.  In past I have shot a deer with factory load in a 30-06 and it ran about 100 yards gushing blood all over the place.  It made trailing easy.  Not bad for a cheap bullet.  As with all shots bullet placement is key.
RJ

[varmit_master]

My dad uses a 270 and i got him to shooting the BT in the 130gr a few yrs back . And he has drop every deer he has shoot at in ther tracks with the BT. VM

[Coyote Hunter]

Buckeye –

Like you, I like an exit wound.  Generally that means a bullet that sticks together even after encountering bone.  I stared hunting with a 7mm Mag and Hornady 162g BTSP’s for elk and deer.  After taking my first elk and seeing the recovered bullet I went to 160g Speer Grand Slams.  Didn’t recover another bullet for 20 years as all exited regardless of range.  Finally recovered one that took out both shoulder joints of a 5x5 bull elk.

These days my recommendation would be to use Nosler AccuBond, Hornady InterBond or Swift Scirocco bullets.  All are reasonably priced for hunting purposes.  If you were hunting animals larger than whitetail I would go with Swift A-Frame, Speer Trophy Bonded or North Fork bullets.  (And in fact I do – I use North Fork, my buddy uses Trophy Bonded.)

The thing I like about the A-Frame, NF and TB's is that they have a mechanism for limiting expansion.  With the A-Frames it is the crossmember while with the NF and TB's it is the solid rear shank.

[buckeye hunter]

Just the info I was looking for.

[varmit_master]

Hi i am going to try some Barnes Triple Shock 100gr for my 25 06 . All i have seen about the bullets is good news. VM

[Zeke Menuar]

I found a web page that has some really good information about hunting bullet performance.

http://www.seahook.com/bestbullet.jpg

ZM

[cal sibley]

I use the Nosler Ballistic Tips in .224, .243 and .257 and am quite happy with them.  However, there seems to have been complaints about them not holding together well in the larger calibers.  I understand Nosler has returned to the solid base bullets and thicker jackets to solve the problem and may well have done just that.  Best wishes.

Cal - Montreal

[varmit_master]

Hi i have used my 22 250 with a 55gr BT to fill my doe tag over the yrs. And i have some of the time a buck would show up and i would take him. The last one i killed with it was a buck at 218 yrds. The deer ran 40 yrds or less and there was blood every where. Any body could have fount that deer. VM