Nosler 120 gr Ballistic Tip performance

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  • arizona98tj
    Bloodstained
    • Feb 2013
    • 47

    Nosler 120 gr Ballistic Tip performance

    This being my first hunting season with the 6.5 Grendel, I thought I would turn to the forum for some analysis and input on what I experienced.

    I took a nice sized 6 pointer (small rack but then, I don't eat the rack) yesterday morning. He was @ 110 yds. My handload was a Nosler 120 gr BT with a muzzle velocity of 2546 FPS. By my calcs, it was doing around 2350 FPS when it hit the buck.

    The shot hit the left shoulder blade, broke the back, perforated the lungs, and passed through the right shoulder blade. The BT, what was left of it, lodged just under the hide on the far side. We found pieces of the lead core and jacket here and there in the meat. The copper jacket in the photo contained bone and flesh, no lead.

    Did the Nosler do its intended job? The buck dropped right on the spot, so yes, it did. It was dead by the time I got to it (about 10 minutes), blood from its nose. One thing I noticed right off, I couldn't find the entry point of the bullet. No blood on the hide, clean as could be. At the time, I didn't know there was no exit point. I probably looked a little silly rolling the buck back and forth looking for bullet holes.

    Having never hunted with the Nosler BT nor the Grendel cartridge, is the condition of the bullet typical? I realize it had a hard life for those few milliseconds it broke the skin and then ground to a halt, but it leaves me wondering if I should be looking for something that maintains more of that mushroom shape I've come to expect from using heavier bullets from a .308 Win or similar.

    Many thanks in advance for your input.





    Last edited by arizona98tj; 11-07-2016, 01:07 AM.
  • Redomen
    Warrior
    • Jun 2016
    • 568

    #2
    I reload ballistic tips in 130 Gn for my .270- they tend to explode when they hit bone. I live with it and try to punch the lungs without going through the shoulders. I have had numerous hog and deer kills drop in their tracks.

    Comment

    • dman62
      Unwashed
      • Sep 2015
      • 4

      #3
      That's typical Ballistic Tip performance. Nosler's Accubond and Partition are what you seek if you want exit holes.

      Comment

      • GSPHunter
        Warrior
        • Jun 2014
        • 106

        #4
        Hi AZ,

        I think thats pretty good performance for non bonded bullet. If I read your post correctly, the bullet made it through both shoulder blades and the spine.....I'm guessing he went down pretty quick. My experience with the 123sst's are that they completely disintegrate when you hit heavy bone.

        Comment

        • Clarence
          Bloodstained
          • Dec 2015
          • 53

          #5
          Similar performance to a large axis buck I shot a few years ago, with a 150 BT from a .30-06, starting at ~2850 fps. Found the jacket under the far shoulder after it broke the near shoulder, messed the lungs, and killed the buck within 10 yd. Exactly what the BT is designed to do.

          Clarence

          Comment

          • Les
            Warrior
            • Oct 2016
            • 337

            #6
            This may not be very scientific but as long as it imparts all of it's energy inside the target and anchors it I can't see that being a problem especially on a critter that size. Looks like it did exactly as intended.
            Nebraska Firearms Owners Association. https://nebraskafirearms.org/wp/

            Comment

            • LRRPF52
              Super Moderator
              • Sep 2014
              • 8569

              #7
              If you want more controlled expansion, use the 123gr Hornady SST.

              If you want rapid expansion but a lot of retained weight and still lead core, use the 129gr Nosler ABLR.

              If you want to punch shoulders with minimal damage to the meat, use 100gr TTSX or 120gr TSX.
              NRA Basic, Pistol, Rifle, Shotgun, RSO

              CCW, CQM, DM, Long Range Rifle Instructor

              6.5 Grendel Reloading Handbooks & chamber brushes can be found here:

              www.AR15buildbox.com

              Comment

              • arizona98tj
                Bloodstained
                • Feb 2013
                • 47

                #8
                To all that responded, thank you very much. As I mentioned, it was my first hunt with the Nosler BT. From your comments, it worked as designed. The buck dropped where he stood when the back was broken. This winter I intend on doing some coyote hunting. I'll think I'll try with this particular handload and see how it does with them.

                Thanks again for all of your input.

                Here is my wife skinning our buck.

                Comment

                • Kilco
                  Chieftain
                  • Jan 2016
                  • 1201

                  #9
                  ive always had great results in NBTs in my 243 win. Shoot the 70gr at 3600 fps and its quite the fireworks show on varmints/coyotes

                  Comment

                  • Rugerfan.64
                    Warrior
                    • May 2014
                    • 213

                    #10
                    Nice buck. Typical Nosler BT performance. What I want to know is how do you get your wife to skin them? Mine says that's my part of the job.

                    Comment

                    • Scatterbait
                      Unwashed
                      • Dec 2016
                      • 10

                      #11
                      Good write up and good information.

                      Comment

                      • howl
                        Warrior
                        • Nov 2015
                        • 236

                        #12
                        Hornady SST will do the same, except you'll get an exit. They expand plenty quick, but they're just a little tougher than the NBT. I base this on having compared the similar NBT and SST in 120gr .260 and 165gr .300 Mag on whitetails. The 120gr SST was sold as Remington AccuTip. (Hornady makes the AccuTips for Remington.)

                        Comment

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