ORIGINAL: Ridge Runner
vapo, I forget what year it was but used to be the BT was just a hollowpoint with a plastic tip, then when nosler discontinued the solid base boatail, the heavy for cal bt's were changed to the same makeup as the SBBT's, then to differentiate between what they were uses were intended, they were boxed differently, 50 per box for hunting bullets, 100-250 per box for varmint bullets. I know the 243/55-70 grs are varmint bullets but the 95 is for big game, in 25 cal the 85 gr is a varmit bullet the 100-115 are hunting bullets.
Also the SST is a bonded core bullet so it is somewhat controlled expansion. Why do I like BT's, well rick jamison who we know from shooting times reloading fame says if he wants to see how good a hunting rifle will shoot, he starts with a nosler BT, they work well for me.
RR
RR, I believe you hit it right about the history of the ballistic tip. Originally a varmint bullet and then some became designed as a hunting bullet in larger calibers.
About the SST....I doubt that it's a bonded bullet. Hornady had that bullet on the market for almost ten years prior to their making interbonds.....their first bonded bullets.
Further about Jamison.....agreed again...the Ballistic tip has a record of accuracy that is hard to beat.