I don't understand the Nosler Ballistic Tip dislike I have seen in general. That is our main round in 7mm-08 (120 grain), and we have a great track record with critters being dead on delivery. And we kill a lot of critters, typically at least 5 per year not counting hogs.

There have been a couple who went a short distance, but nothing over 25 yards or so, and that was directly attributable to shooter error.

When I set up a new rifle for hunting, we use whatever the rifle likes. Usually, Nosler Ballistic Tip, Accubond, Hornady SST, Berger VLD Hunter, or Barnes TTSX/LRX, and occasionally Norma soft point. Once we settle on a round, we lay in a supply for that rifle that keeps us from wondering if we have enough.

They first came out with the Ballistic Tip in the mid 80's.... I shot a deer maybe around 1990 and got the magic and mythical bullet blow up. Well... not really. Killed the deer but definitely fragmented like a Match bullet. That's not that difficult of a concept to understand. They had a problem with them and they changed the construction of them as I remember. That is the only time in my life that I have had that happen to me. 30 years later and seemingly 1,000's of deer and hogs later. Still the only one. But the issue was wider spread than Nosler wanted to admit. The bullets were manufactured by extrusion and that was something new. They got it right but took a bit of time.

Unfortunately Nosler has never gotten over that first impression with the Ballistic tips and their ineffectiveness has become some sort of "Internet Folklore". As have a lot of things.... but this is on prime example and IMO part of where this entire conversation stems from. That was the first time I ever heard widespread claims of magic bullets that vaproize in mid air. That situation set us on a course littered with hyperbole that remains to this day. People love to read someone on one internet site and get on another and act like they have first hand knowledge. Thus the birth of the mythical vaporizing bullets. Embedded into Internet Folklore for eternity it appears.

Out of all of the people on the forum who I would have guessed that would shoot ballistic tips, you would have been the last. I'd have expected 200 grain trophy bonded bearclaws out of a 330 ultra mag at minimum. Color me pleasantly surprised Goat.

Oh, and I have had a 150 BT fail out of a 300 WSM

My dad loaded 130 BT's in a 270 back when they first came out in the eighties. They were definitely softer back then with thinner jackets but a blind man could blood trail a deer shot with them. I think the first BT bullets were just the old Nosler solid base with a plastic tip. Those old solid base bullets were very good and similar to the Sierra GK bullets.

Nosler responded to the issues and thickened the jackets on the BT. One of BT bullets mentioned by Huck is the 7mm 120 gr BT. It was made even thicker specifically for silhouette competition and can withstand higher velocities when used on game.

The BT has definitely had a difficult time shedding it's original performance issues due to innerweb keyboard warriors who have probably never shot anything with them. I had one fail years ago but i still use them in other guns. I wish Nosler still made the 338 gr BT, it would be great in my 338 06 AI.

When the tipped bullets came out the manufacturers didn't realize it caused them to act as hp bullets due the the opening for the plastic tip.that was part of it . probably dumped on market like every other thing

Maybe they have improved Ballistic tips and toughened them up. I honestly haven't hunted with anybody using one in about 10 years now. But as recently as ten years ago the performance I saw out of them was still massive fragmentation and over expansion. When did this beefing up process supposedly take place? On a broadside shot and keeping your shot behind the shoulder you may never have an issue with them. I personally just don't trust them on angled shots or shots that need to pass through heavy bone to reach the vitals. And since I see no advantage to them (besides the tip being a pretty color) I have no reason to take a chance on them again.

Lol….I love the mythology of BTs that keeps a group of folks from using them. It helps find some in stock easier when needed. Give me a BT over a Hornady SST any day….and nothing against the SST. It’s a good bullet. The Accubond is more refined with profile and modern bonding techniques, but I’d take either on up to elk/moose and not lose sleep. Quibbling about it over deer is goofy, considering how many think a silvertip or blue box special is the ticket.