I have used these for years and actually find them to be incredibly accurate, once you play with teh powder a little. I have taken elk at shorter ranges (under 150 yds.) and deer at varying distances (nothing over 250)

I currently am shooting a .280 with 150 Grain bullets.

Am curious if any of you have had experience with these bullets on Elk at distances greater than 150 yds?

My 280 will shoot little tiny groups with the 150 ballistic tips over 54 gr of reloader 22, and I have shot several deer with them, but I wont shoot any more game with that bullet. I dont like the way they fly apart and sometimes fail to penetrate. Its probably the most accurate bullet you can get, but for my 2 cents worth, they are sorely lacking as a game bullet. I never lost a deer with one, and as long as you stick it in the right place it will kill anything. I just prefer to use a bullet that will retain some weight and penetrate. You can do that by using a bigger bullet, or a tougher design. Like partitions, failsafes, or x bullets. These bullets will offer you a little more latitude in the shot placement department. I mean you can get to the vitals from more different angles with something like an x bullet.

I would have to disagree witht the above statement. I have found these not only to be extremly accurate bullets but theyll put a deer down just as well and in my opinion better than other bullets in its class/Caliber of choice. I mean what I hate to see is people pushing thier bullet at like 3000fps and shooting deer at short to moderate ranges and saying that the bullet will not retain. IT NOT FREAKIN MADE TO RETAIN A LOT OF WEIGHT! Just back off the velocity some and man they perform beutifully! I push em at 2600 fps and they do an excelent job and Im tellin ya they put a deer down fast. I dont really believe all this crap about having to hit them in just the right spot. Those things expand so well and deliver a heck of a lot of knockdown. Gee Look at the design in any of the cut away photos. This is exactly the way they are designed. "The Ballistic Tip is desgned for explosive expansion and deadly accuracy. The jacket thickness is taperd up from bottom and is thicker in higher calibers." Thus says the Nosler reloading manual. This is one well made bullet but I do agree with the person above with the statement that you cant expect it perform like a partition: with its exelent penetration through heavy bone. The Nosler book says to load em for light skinned medium sized american game and they didnt mention Elk in the "optimum species for use" column. WEll, I kinda went off on a tangent there. Good Luck

Curtis J. Graf

If you want a bullet that will drive tacks and retain weight give the Hornady SST a try. I have been shooting the SST 150grn in my 30.06 around 2900fps for several years now with excellent results on deer from close range out to 300yds. Two of my best friends shoot them also with the same results,one in his 300 mag and the other in his .270 I've never shot an elk with one but i would have complete confidence with this bullet if i ever go elk hunting.

At ranges of over 150 yards, they have slowed down enough that their penetration and weight retention will be better than at shorter ranges. If they worked OK for you on elk at ranges shorter than 150 yards, they should do even better beyond that distance.

Keep yore powder dry!!

Have any of you used the Barnes X bullets? I have not tried them as I have been so impressed with the groups on the Nosler BT's. Am curious as to accuracy etc.

I recently switched from the Nosler brand to the Combined Technology ones that are the Nosler BT's but have the moly coating. They create a significant amount less heat in the barrel, and my rifle is a mountain rifle (light barrel) this is very important for me.

The barnes havethe coating too but did not see any of the SST with that coating....I want to get something that will match accuracy or near the Nosler BT's.

Thanks for the help and great to see a good forum with people who know something!!!

Hornady do offer Moly bullets, but I am not sure if they have it SST or for a 280. Best bet would be to contact Hornady or check their wesite @ www.hornady.com. I saw some in shop here but can't remember what caliber.



Edited by - skeeter 7mm on 10/24/2002 00:09:52

Im with larry, i used them out of my 7x57 all last season and killed a nice bull elk and a big whitetail with them, and they are very accurate, but they lack penetration, im using a barnes X this year and so far have got an elk, 300 yds in, and out, the bull didnt go 10 yds.

Scott

e-mail me [email protected]

I also shoot NBT both out of my 300RUM as well as my 7mm. My favorite game to hunt is wild boar. I have shot boar in excess of 300 lbs with the 150/165 NBT and have never experienced anything but complete devistation to all internal organs with very little meat wasted. Even at close range out of my 300RUM, I have never had a bullet fragment or fail to to penetrate. Every thing I shoot is custom loaded by Chris Rhyne out of South Carolina. Not very valuable, just my 2 cents worth.

I have killed two elk with Barnes X bullets. One I hit in the spine, and it died before it hit the ground. The other one was hit behind the shoulder traveled for 30 yds. and piled up. Good luck.