Thanks for the input. I will give-em a try.

My experience with them is similar to Stone Cold. They should come with a warning on the box that says "Danger - High Explosives". I heard, however, that the newer generation Ballistic Tips bullets are made a little tougher than the original bullets - which came in a green/red box of 100. The newer ones are in boxes of 50 and are in a black/gold box. I quit using them for big game quite awhile back, but still think they are one of the better varmint bullets.

So can we assume that you have never even used one of the newer versions of ballistic tip on game?As a matter of fact depending on the caliber and weight,there are up to four versions of the ballistic tip with each one being tougher than the last.If you are basing your opinion on the old ballistic tips that were sold in the green and red box you have no real idea of how the newer versions perform on game.That would be like buying a new vehicle based on ten year old test reports.Neither the new ballistic tips nor the new vehicles are the same product that they were ten years ago.

I shot some of these in 95...didnt have good performance at all with them. Have they improved them since then or when did they change them?

That depends on the particular caliber and weight.For instance a big change was made with the 180gr .308" ballistic tips about three years ago.The new bullet is much tougher than the old version.If you were using the bullets that came in the red and green box you were definitely using the older versions.

Hmmm . . . seems odd Nosler would change a bullet that much and not call it something different. Even "New and Improved" or "Generation II". However, I did some further checking into this, and you are right. Might have to revisit these bullets.

How does one know whether the bullets you are buying are Generation II, III, or IV? Sometime these bullet boxes sit on the shelves for quite awhile . . .

Thanks Stubble..i was using the 165's.


Ridge Runner..they have started selling the solid bases again.

ABSOLUTELY NOT!!!!! They are excellent in my wife's 7mm-08 and friend's .270. In high velocity rounds they are terrrible. Slammed a buck in the shoulderopening day 4 years ago at 350 yards. It rolled twice and got up dragging it's leg and ran 3/4 of a mile where someone else shot it. My 150gr bt broke the shoulder but never penetrated.

Same year I used a .243 w/100gr bt during doe season. shot a doe4 times at 50 to 100 yards before she stopped getting up. two of the slugs were completely opened up against the ribs with no penetration other than the hide. the third hit the shoulder and was also completly flattened against the shoulder bone. The fourth was high and took out the spine and backstraps. This is what put her down. The shards of shoulder bone perforated the lungs, which was what finally killed her.

Both setups were handloads at about 3200-3300fps.

After thorwing all of my Ballistic Tips in the garbage, I went out and bought Nosler partitions for both. Iv'e taken deer from 40 to 550 yards and a running antelope at 75 yards. All were quick kills and all completely passed through leaving excellny blood trails.

The Savage .243 groups just under 1" and the 7 mag Sako will do legitamate .5" groups.

I guess after taking a doe at 550 yards with one shot with a complete pass thru, i no longer see the need for a little plastic tip.

I've only seen the effects of a couple of BT's on deer and both were good. One dropped at the shot and never moved (heart) and the other was hit too far back, just clipping the back of 1 lung and hitting most of the liver. It ran almost 100 yards but was dead when we found him.

I think it's a good bullet for deer. Not recommended for Elk or Bear though.

Since I hunt them also I've swapped my 7mm RM to the 160g Accubond. Still waiting to try it on a live critter but my hopes are high that will be my do-all bullet.

The newer BT's should be fine for deer at &mm Velocities. The early ones had problems but the have gone through 4 updates since they came out. I would use the heavier ones< Probably the 150 grain but they should do fine. I use the BT's in almost every caliber and I think they are a near perfect deer bullet. In most calibers, the lightest BT's are intended for varmits and small game and the heavier ones are intended for big game. That is from Nosler and not just my opinion.