Ballistic tips on deer
 

You know? I used to be a big fan of ballistic tips for game up to deer size. In fact, I've even taken a deer sucessfully with a BT and thought they were just fine for deer.

That changed this year.

My sister-in-law got a 181-class mule deer with her .308 a couple weeks ago. She made some poor hits on the buck (2 hits in both back legs) but eventually slowed him down. She made 1 more shot, that upon initial inspection, looked like a perfect shot through the shoulder into about where the heart would be. She stated the buck kept going after that shot and she had to shoot him in the neck to finish him.

When we skinned him out you could see how the bullet failed. She'd hit the leg bone of the front shoulder. The bullet broke the bone but never even penetrated past the leg. There were no pieces that made it through the leg at all, zero, zilch. If she'd been using a better bullet he'd most likely died at that shot.

Like I said before, I have always been a fan of the ballistic tips but after seeing this I've lost any confidence in using them for deer or larger game. Oh, the shot was about 120 yards away so we can't really blame ultra-high velocity I'm afraid.

I guess I'm glad I switched to Accubonds in my 7mm this year.

RE: Ballistic tips on deer
 

http://www.huntingnet.com/forum/tm.aspx?m=1273114&mpage=1

RE: Ballistic tips on deer
 

THUS WHY I ASSUME IT IS CALLED A BALLISTIC TIP ..IT EXPLODES WHEN IS HITS SOMETHING LIKE A LEG BONE .... I TOOK A CANADIAN BUCK LAST YEAR THAT WEIGHED 335lbs ON THE HOOF .. I SHOT THE BUCK IN THE RIGHT REAR QUARTER ANGLING AWAY FROM ME ( AND BEFORE ALL YOU GUYS COME DOWN ON ME YOU WOULD HAVE HAD TO HAVE BEEN THERE TO UNDERSTAND THE SHOT) ...I USED A 7mm08 139 GRAIN BALLISTIC TIP ...THE BULLET WENT THROUGH THE REAR QUARTER ..INTO THE STOMACH AND EXITED AROUND TALLYWACKER .... HAD IT NOT BEEN FOR THE BALLISTIC TIP I DOUBT I WOULD HAVE RECOVERD THIS DEER AND THE ONLY REASON I BROUGHT BALLISTIC TIPS WAS BECAUSE THE OUTFFITER SUGGESTED IT ...

ROLL TIDE
DD

RE: Ballistic tips on deer
 

Quote:

---

...I USED A 7mm08 139 GRAIN BALLISTIC TIP .

---

The "ballistic tip" is aspecific bullet made by nosler.Were you using a 139gr noslerballistic tip or a 139gr hornady sst?

RE: Ballistic tips on deer
 

I SHOOT FACTORY FEDERAL PREMIUM BALLISTIC TIP AMMO 7mm08

DD

RE: Ballistic tips on deer
 

I see why it didn't make sense.The federal premium loads use the 140gr ballistic tip while the sst is 139gr.

RE: Ballistic tips on deer
 

3 CLICK HERE!

RE: Ballistic tips on deer
 

I'm not coming down on you, but am wondering if that was a shot that you intended to take or if the outfitter told you to shoot it there?

RE: Ballistic tips on deer
 

Wow...I have punched thru the scapula or shoulder bone both facing and opposing side with 150gr NBT out of my 7mm rem mag on several occasion on our larger canadian bucks and have yet to see a deer maketo many yardswith such a shot. Oh they do make a mess of the shoulder but never failed to get it to paydirt! Although I have had one expolde of the same shot with 130/.277 the shot was about 100 yards and I yanked it flush into a bucks shoulder(poor shot on my account), it broke the shoulder and bone fragments got a single lung. I knew I screwed up and the signs left in the snow made me back off till morning as it was right near the end of the day. I came back the next morning and found my buck approx200 yards deadin a blowdownbut had I pushed him I have no doubt he would have made more yardage than this.

That is really too bad, glad she got him. What grain bullet was she shooting? Just out of curiosity.

Power what grain AB are you shooting in the 7mm rem mag?Also if you get a chance to use them, let us know how they fair? I have been thinking about buying some 140's to give a whirl for deer hunting, will have to wait till next year now though. Season is in full swing and I am planning on using my ML mostly this year, if i do go out with the rifle I just stick with 140 TSX( I admit I am a leary about a broadside rib shot on deer but won't know till I try. They shoot nice and worked well for both my elk/moose harvests this season.) Best of luck!

RE: Ballistic tips on deer
 

Seke I was sitting in a very narrow shooting lane ...from the time I saw the buck until the time he had crossed the shooting lane was about 5 or 6 seconds .... I had to make a split second decision... you can read the story on my web site if you like ...at the link below ...
http://www.thereevesbuck.com/

DD

RE: Ballistic tips on deer
 

Ya, saw that post SJ. I didn't like either option really.

Skeeter, I'm shooting a 160g. out of my 7mm Mag. Only chance I've had so far was a running coyote at 100 yards broadside. Smoked him (1/2 coyote lead) with my handloads. Right through both lungs about a quarter size hole on the far side. Elk hunting right now so keep your fingers crossed and if I get one I'll show results like I did for my 2002 deer (http://www.powerandfury.com/j02deer.html). Just scroll down to the bottom fora link on bullet performance from a 150g Scirocco out of my 7mm.

I'm not sure what bullet weight she was using. I'm guessing 150 out of her 308.

RE: Ballistic tips on deer
 

Another lesson learned. Nosler partitions, Barnes X or failsafes will bring home the venesion everytime and not let you down. Others are good but if you want penetration stick with the above listed bullets. I took a 180" class mule deer a few years back when I lived in Saskatchewan. He was about 300lbs on the hoof running straight away. When my 7mm STW barked the 140 barnes X bullet took him just to the left of the rectum, ran slightly above the gut sack and punched out his shoulder area. Complete pass through lenghwise! I use 95 gr noslers in my 6mm and have never found one yet in any whitetail buck I have taken. I gues I am saying that if you have the availability to purchase these bullets or cartridges and they are accurate out of your rifle then stick with themand you will never be upset!

RE: Ballistic tips on deer
 

I havegreat luck, with B.tips and it's my goto Deer bullet. I think they are a great DEER Bullets Now are all B.tips hunting bulletsgreat bullets ? I know 150gr 7mm bullets are, they will expand fast loose 1/3 there weight and are deadly. I have 5 one shot kills from my 7mm rem mag, have recovered only one. 4 dropped in there tracks, the last one went 40 yards. They are a very accurate bullet and will break through bones on a deer. Now will a .243 b.tip do that ?.....................no sure but, 180gr Btip from my 300 mag have and 225gr B.tips from 35 whelen have too.

RE: Ballistic tips on deer
 

I know that 160g Accubond's work great on running coyotes out of my 7mm RM.... ;-)