Ballistic Tips
 

Several years ago I bought a box of ballistic tips for deer hunting. After shooting a few deer it was obvious to me they were not designed for deer size animals. The bullets tended to explode on bone, change direction within the deer and not consistently pass through providing a good blood trail. Well a few of the fellows I hunt with thought they were too pretty not to preform. Now that the season is over they swear they will never use them again. Way too many wounded deer got away, and these are hunters that have killed hundreds of deer. They use .270 Magnums and 7mm magnums. Have any of you had similar poor results with the ballistic tips on deer?

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RE: Ballistic Tips
 

I have used 140 gr ballistic tips in my 7mmstw and 100gr ballistic tips in my 257 wbymag both launched at over 3500fps to kill about 30 canadian whitetails and mules,a few antelope and sheep.I have also used 180 gr ballistic tips out of my 300ultramag at just under 3400 fps to take two moose and two elk.I have experienced no bullet failures to date with most bullets exiting.If shoulders are struck they do more meat damage than some other bullets but have yet to fail to cleanly kill my game.

RE: Ballistic Tips
 

I have been reloading 165 gr. Nosler ballastic tips for my '06 for about 12 yrs. now. I have yet to hit a deer and not find it shortly. I can honestly say that the very few deer that I have had to track from point of impact were pass throughs. It was like rolling out the red carpet.

One thing you may want to consider is those magnum loads are traveling so fast that the shattering and deflection effect is multiplied. I have a buddy that had similar problems with a 270 mag with 130 gr. ballastic tips.

RE: Ballistic Tips
 

I used balistic tip reloads in my 30/06 for years with awsome results. Have heard some bad stories of bullet exploding from western states.

I'm just guessing, but maybe the balistic tip problems come from using balistic tip varmit rather than balistic tip hunting bullets. Or may be its just the smaller calibers (<7mm) being pushed beyond 3000fps. Don't know, just guessing,... but I did like very much, the Balistic tips in my 30.06.

I sold my .06 when I won a Browning 7mmMag in a raffle. I just finished reloading 100 balistic tips for my 7mmMag. I will be watching the performance closely on deer. I want to see for myself.

RE: Ballistic Tips
 

I've shot my share of deer with ballistic tips through my .30-06. I've always been pleased with the results. Dropped more deer with one shot=straight down with them than hevier powerpoints. I will admitt that they open like crazy, and damage a lot, but I've never had one shatter on contact or bone, and never changed direction. I took out both shoulders, the heart and both lungs in a 185# doe last season, the bullet came out huge, 8 inch diameter exit wound.

RE: Ballistic Tips
 

While these deer aren't the biggest up here, not one of them liked Ballistic Tips. They're the only bullet my dad and I reload! Accurate and the deer rarely move when hit with them!

Edited by - Canaduck on 02/01/2002 14:15:23

RE: Ballistic Tips
 

a good friend of mine uses them on his .270 we went hunting up in south carolina and he shot a 2 great deer and they dropped right where they were standing, one of the shots was about 175 yards.

Edited by - buckinthewoodz on 02/01/2002 14:27:37

RE: Ballistic Tips
 

Greets,
I am wondering if maybe the ballistic tip my freind used are different from the ones your guys said didnt work well. I have related this story here a couple times so I will be breif, He took a 200lb 5x5 buck at 400+ yards using a .270 winchester and Win ballistic silvertips in 130gr. Blew right thru both haunches ( lousy hit, embarrased the hell out of him ) but that dear didnt make it but 70 yards. In retrospect, the doe he took this year was extremely close.. less than 20 yards, shot her right in the locker, but when we followed the wound channel it was baffling, the exit holes ( yes thats plural ) were huge and not in line with the entrance wound. in fact one was on the same side as he shot it, the biggest hole, blown out ribs in a 4" circle.
We figured it was cause he was so close the bullet hit while still going at peak speed and just exploded his ribs from the shock of the hit.

Just my uneducated opinion!
Terry

Edited by - Adui13 on 02/01/2002 19:51:37

Edited by - Adui13 on 02/01/2002 19:53:15

RE: Ballistic Tips
 

I have killed 300lb+ deer at close range and the 140 gr ballistic tips out of my 7mm stw held together in spite of being launched at 3500 fps.Exit holes were fairly large but there was only one per animal.

RE: Ballistic Tips
 

Never ever had a problem with NBT,s in 7 rem mag,30-06,or 270.Complete pass throughs in shoulder or anywhere.

RE: Ballistic Tips
 

I use ballistic tips with my 30.06, and love them. I have had no bad luck with them. Every deer I have shot has dropped right down to the ground. Not to start a argument with you but you might want to consider shot placement. I used to shoot in the front shoulder and some of my deer were running off. I then moved my shot to just behind the shoulder a inch or so above the center and have dropped them ever since.. This might not work for you, but it has for me.

RE: Ballistic Tips
 

I have several guns but last year I bought a 280 cal. and bought some 140 grain ballistic tip. I killed three deer with it so far and all three hit the dirt in their tracks. They have really worked great. Hopefully they will stay that way.

RE: Ballistic Tips
 

I have killed several deer handloading the 150 gr ballistic tip for my .308 win. All have gone thru with incredible results. I have had the same great results w/ my .270. When I hit bone, like the shoulder, it really blows out an exit hole.

SOTHRDNK

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RE: Ballistic Tips
 

Im not nit pickin lazyarcher,im just wonderin at what point did the bullet fail in your deers death?

RE: Ballistic Tips
 

hmmmm kinda odd bein these are all good storys....i am usin them next year...my dad dropped a nice doe in her tracks at 40 yds with a 30.06...enter and exit holes wernt big...quarter size i belive...i expected more...but the insides were just mush...only thing ive seen work better is a hpbt in a 308...

mauser06

RE: Ballistic Tips
 

Here is a ballistic tip story you won't believe:

I was shooting my 270 at paper targets with the 145 grain ballistic tips. The bullets were hitting the paper and shattering to the sides, tearing the paper off the target holder, but they were not passing through the paper. I'm switching back to black powder and roundball in my 270!

Hunting is a right, treat it like a priviledge - respect nature

RE: Ballistic Tips
 

Well I have seen good and bad on these ballistic tips, from what I have read I will stick with my corloks! Pinky hole in, 3-4 inch hole out, deer knocked flat.

The Tazman

RE: Ballistic Tips
 

Sounds like there is a mixed opinion about the ballistic tips. Correct me if I am wrong, but a friend says that they were originally developed by the military with the plan being that a wounded enemy took more troops and time to care for them and that the ballistic tips had a higher percentage results. Anybody know?

RE: Ballistic Tips
 

I use ballistic tips for varmiting, I like the blowing up affect. as far as big game I have shot 4 mule deer each time droping them in there tracks. In a perfect world ballistic tips would drop each game animal first shot but this isnt a perfect world and that is why I dont usually use ballistic tip.

RE: Ballistic Tips
 

Corelocks all the way! I've used Nosler's, boat-tails, ballistics, Etc..and I keep going back to the 30-06, 150gr coreloks. They perform well, thier cheap and they do the job!

RE: Ballistic Tips
 

I shoot 140 grain 7mm-08 ballistic tips. My experience has been similar to what you describe on shots of less than 100 yards that are not neck shots. At 150 yards and out or a neck shot at anything under 100 yards, one shot dead deer.

RE: Ballistic Tips
 

This topic highlights one of the great things about reloading. These discussions give you reason to experiment with new loads and spend more time shooting!!!!!!!

RE: Ballistic Tips
 

i use 150gr ballistic tips in my 30.06 and 7mag. i hunt deer and hogs with both. i have killed many deer and hogs with both and have never had ANY problems. winchester says on the box what each load is for.

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RE: Ballistic Tips
 

MY UNCLE USES THEM IN HIS 338, THE FIRST DEER I EVER SAW HIMSHOOT WITH WITH BALLISTIC TIPS AND IT DROPPED IN ITS TRACK THE ONLY DOWN FALL WAS THEIR WERE 8 DIFFERENT HOLES IN THE DEER AND WHEN HE GUTTED IT OUT HE HAD TO SCOOP THE GUTS OUT, HE SHOT IT RIGHT BEHIND THE FRONT SHOULDER BUT WHEN IT WENT IN AND EXPLODED IT TOOK OUT EVERYTHING.

RE: Ballistic Tips
 

I use ballistic tips on groundhogs and they vaporize chucks pretty good.

I would think they would be just about the best deer bullets with a perfectly placed shot behind the shoulder. Definitely not my first choice for head on or quartering towards shots.

RE: Ballistic Tips
 

I shoot a 280 and use B.T. loaded by GA. arms. I have shot this same load/rifle for 8-10 years and am entirely satisfied.I switched to this from Nosler Partitions because of lack of expansion on good chest hits. This isn't a problem now.

RE: Ballistic Tips
 

I recently bought 5 boxes of Federal Premium 7mm 150 gr Ballistic Tips. I shot several rounds at the range in my new Ruger M-77 with excellent results. I haven't shot any deer with it yet.I must say some of the comments I read have me very leery about using them for deer size game.My hunting partner uses Federal Ballistic Tips in his 7mm08 and swears by them. Although this last year he shot a big Buck, found pieces of shoulder bone and blood everywhere.He followed the trail & he never did find his buck.I'll give them a try. If I'm not satisfied with them there's always Core Lokts to go back to.Ruger Redhawk

RE: Ballistic Tips
 

I do not care for Ballistic tips for Elk sized game but I think they are the best deer bullet made. I have made good and bad shots using them and they always performed better than could hope for. Awesome exit wounds. Vital look like jello and massive amounts of trauma. Use them in a 30.06, 7 mm mag, .300 Win mag and .270.

RE: Ballistic Tips
 

Im so glad that this topic was brought up & replied to so swiftly. I had my 1st experience with the NBT this year & as i previously read it will be my last! I use a Rem m700 in 25-06 & i loaded 50 Win. standard brass with 54 grains of H-4831 & 100 grain nbt's. The 5 shot groups were so good that i had to reload another 50 just in case they worked well on deer. Well they work good alright, but if yer like me & hate to waste the meat, they suk!!! The bullet failed in my opinion, in 250 yds from muzzle to shoulder the bullet did'nt mushroom. It went in the front shoulder just as it left the case,when it hit bone it exploded, commencing to bruise this deer all the way down it's left side & never leavin the body,,,when i cut the deer up that night i fgound 6 different pieces of the bullet lodged anywhere & everywhere. So for deer size game im done with them. maybe i'll use these other 99 that were left on coyotes & groundhogs

Have a great day
mike

RE: Ballistic Tips
 

The deer dies but the bullet failed? Hows that?

RE: Ballistic Tips
 

I haven't used them but from what I've seen I wouldn't use them on deer . Way to much damage for me . I started using Barnes X this year and recommend them over NBT's .

RE: Ballistic Tips
 

Would the weight of the ballistic tip have anything to do with how it performs on deer?

RE: Ballistic Tips
 

my son shot a doe at approx 125 yards. a 6mm rem 70 gr bt. doe ran 10 yards , fell , kicked a bit and soon died. blew a hole that would make you believe a 300 win mag was used. i now load the same bullet in his 243 win. i do prefer speer gran slams though and i like sierra bullets. so many bullets so little time.

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RE: Ballistic Tips
 

SShunter:yeah the deer died thank God i got a good shot! there was no blood trail to the deer at all, But if the deer would have been running & i might have pulled ahead towards the lung area,, who knows???? In my opinion if a bullet fails to mushroom,,,IT FAILS! no questions asked

RE: Ballistic Tips
 

Rem 700 a ballistic tip isnt meant to form a perfect mushroom,they are designed to violently explode expending all its energy inside the animal.They are not a controlled expansion bullet.IMO a deer isnt that hard to put down.Its just a matter of personal preference.Yeah sometimes it runs meat ,but they have never gone more than 40-50 yards even on marginal shots.Ill take a little meat loss if it means not losing the animal.

RE: Ballistic Tips
 

I have been killing deer with hand loaded BT bullets for the last 6 years in .308,.270 and 30-30 out of a 16" contender. I have shot them from 20 yards out to 180 yards and have yet to recover a bullet but never lost a deer with them. These are great deer rounds but I wouldn't use them for anything bigger. I like partitions for elk and bear.

SOTHRDNK