Ive heard on several occasions that nosler made some changes to the ballistic tips since they were originally introduced. Ive not found a lot of information on when those changes were made. I recently purchased some 150g .277s and failed to ask if they were new production or old and ended up with some older stock. Was my own fault so not complaining. Based on another recent post i just had to know if they were the same. I cut an older one and newer style bullet and found they are significantly different. The newer style is on the left and older style on the right. You can clearly see the jacket is much thicker onear the base than the older style bullet.
Nosler ballistic tip jacket changes
- Thread starter sksshooter
- Start date
jepp2
Gold $$ Contributor
When the first Nosler Ballistic tips came out, I loaded some 100 gr in my 257 Roberts. Probably late 80's. Shot first 3 whitetails with them and all the bullets failed to penetrate the rib cage. Hits were not on the shoulders, but just the rib cage behind the shoulders. So I switched to a bullet Nosler had just introduced, a solid base spitzer bullet. It performed well. Stayed away from the ballistic tips for many years.
After I moved to CO I started using some of the newer ballistic tips in my 25-06 on deer and antelope and they worked well.
Ive had great success on whitetails with the newer style as well.
I have limited experience with BT in big game since I prefer Sierra bullets for big game hunting. However, I did shoot a large mature doe with the 90 BT in 243 Win in the 90's. It was a broadside shot behind the shoulder. She ran about 20 feet and piled up. Bullet did not exit. Seem to work well but this a small sample size.
Years ago I shot a boar hog that weighed (per the rancher) almost 400 pounds. It was indeed huge. The 130 gr 270 Ballistic Tip, a first generation version, penetrated into the cartilage shield on the offside of the hog. I never had any problems with that generation of bullet or the tougher later version. And I killed probably 100 or more with that bullet before switching to a 260 and the 120 gr BT and another 100 or so, and plenty hogs. A great bullet. Messy. Effective.
Never, not even once, has a Ballistic Tip failed to do the job. Except when using a 55 gr BT on a hog, which didn’t work so well.
If you don’t like them, quit buying them. I need some more 100 gr BTs for my 6.5 Grendel, and I can’t find any.
And I should mention that The Nosler Solid Base Boattail preceded the Ballistic Tip. Nosler quit making the SBBT when the BT was introduced.
Never, not even once, has a Ballistic Tip failed to do the job. Except when using a 55 gr BT on a hog, which didn’t work so well.
If you don’t like them, quit buying them. I need some more 100 gr BTs for my 6.5 Grendel, and I can’t find any.
And I should mention that The Nosler Solid Base Boattail preceded the Ballistic Tip. Nosler quit making the SBBT when the BT was introduced.
I have 360 or so of these SPBT 7mm 120grn that I bought off of an older man at a little gun show along with dies for a 7TCU. I have only shot them at targets in a 14" 7TCU contender barrel but I can tell you they shoot so good that I wouldn't trade them for double the No. of new bullets.
I can still see that old guy (just a small card table). Now I see myself as him and i've only shot 40 or so of them.
They are great bullets, Gary
B23
Gold $$ Contributor
Without a mill it's not all that easy to cut them in half but I think you're only seeing the differences that you are because they both weren't cut in half equally the same. Again, I understand it's certainly not an easy thing to do but I think if those two bullets were cut equally the same you wouldn't see much difference at all.
i considered that when devising a means of cutting it. however the more i thought it through, the jacket should be the same thickness all the way around no matter where it is cut. the lead core is visible wider on the older bullet and the jacket thinner, that should not matter no matter where it is cut. it would likely be even more apparent if it were sectioned from tip to base.
Orr89rocz
Silver $$ Contributor
Contact nosler with the lot number and they can tell you when they were produced and may know about the jacket thickness.
Direct from nosler
“If you’re able to get us the lot #, we can see when these bullets were boxed. Early versions of the Ballistic Tip bullets had thinner jackets and over the years, the jackets have been thickened to increase weight retention and to reduce fragmentation at higher impact velocities.”
I had asked about .308 180 gr because i had two old boxes and bought two new boxes and they seemed different to me.
Direct from nosler
“If you’re able to get us the lot #, we can see when these bullets were boxed. Early versions of the Ballistic Tip bullets had thinner jackets and over the years, the jackets have been thickened to increase weight retention and to reduce fragmentation at higher impact velocities.”
I had asked about .308 180 gr because i had two old boxes and bought two new boxes and they seemed different to me.
Upgrades & Donations
This Forum's expenses are primarily paid by member contributions. You can upgrade your Forum membership in seconds. Gold and Silver members get unlimited FREE classifieds for one year. Gold members can upload custom avatars.
Click Upgrade Membership Button ABOVE to get Gold or Silver Status.
You can also donate any amount, large or small, with the button below. Include your Forum Name in the PayPal Notes field.
To DONATE by CHECK, or make a recurring donation, CLICK HERE to learn how.
Click Upgrade Membership Button ABOVE to get Gold or Silver Status.
You can also donate any amount, large or small, with the button below. Include your Forum Name in the PayPal Notes field.
To DONATE by CHECK, or make a recurring donation, CLICK HERE to learn how.