I have been experimenting with the Nosler 125 gr. 30 cal ballistic tips for four years on deer. I have been shooting it in my 308 with 46 grs. IMR 4895 and getting 3050 fps from my 21 1/2 barrel. With a 3 inch high zero at 100 yards it will fall 3 3/4 inch low at 300 yards. I have also been using it in my 30X47 HBR at 2850 fps. I have shot around 15 deer with this bullet and I have not had a single one take a step after being hit. My shots have all been either through both front shoulders or entering or exit angle through a front shoulder. A couple of weeks ago I was hunting in East NC and I had not been in my stand but five minutes and this big 9 point buck steps out of the cut over into my shooting lane at 112 yards. I was hunting that day with my 30X47 HBR and the 125 BT. I got my scope on him and centered his front shoulder in the cross hairs and squeezed the trigger. There was some knee high grass around where he was standing and he dropped so fast it looked like he vanished from where I was. I stayed in the stand because you can kill two deer a day and I am glad I did. About 10 minutes latter a big body deer stuck it's head into the lane from the other side at about 120 yards. At first I thought it was a doe. When I got the scope on it I saw cow horn spikes. This was an older deer that need to be culled. When this deer saw the 9 pointer on the ground it lowered it's head in a submissive pose and started side stepping away. It must have tangled with this bad boy before. When it got 135 yards away I took the shot. I placed the 125 BT on the back edge of its on side shoulder as it quartered away from me and he hit the ground like a ton of brick fell on him. I am sold on the 30 cal. 125 gr Nosler Ballistic Tip for my deer hunting.
125 Ballistic Tip is green tip death.
- Thread starter 1Shot
- Start date
- Oct 30, 2004
- 24,373
- 3,274
Welcome to the forum! Congrats on your success. I have been using the 125 Bt's for years from the 30-06.
- Nov 4, 2004
- 25,437
- 9,245
1Shot
Welcome to the forum, glad you are here.
Congratulations on your success with the BT's. They are an awesome bullet for deer hunting. With a good hit you will rarely have much if any, of a tracking job.
If you can, post some pictures.
JD338
Welcome to the forum, glad you are here.
Congratulations on your success with the BT's. They are an awesome bullet for deer hunting. With a good hit you will rarely have much if any, of a tracking job.
If you can, post some pictures.
JD338
Larry in SD
Handloader
- Nov 8, 2004
- 426
- 1
The .30 Caliber 125gr. Nosler Ballistic Tip is my GO TO BULLET for Whitetails in .30 Caliber Contender Handgun Cartridges. I have used the 125gr. Nosler Ballistic Tips in both 14" .30-30 Winchester and .30-30 Ackley Improved T/C Contender Handguns with excellent results. In the .30-30 Ackley Improved Contender Handgun I was pushing the 125gr. Nosler Ballistic Tips at 2600 + FPS and never had a Whitetail get away from me.
This year I used a 14" 7-30 Waters Contender Handgun with 120gr. Nosler Ballistic Tips. 2 shot 2 one shot kills so far.
Larry
This year I used a 14" 7-30 Waters Contender Handgun with 120gr. Nosler Ballistic Tips. 2 shot 2 one shot kills so far.
Larry
- Thread starter
- #6
Here is a picture of the 9 point buck I killed with the 125 ballistic tip.[/img]
He had a real high but narrow rack.
This is another 9 pointer that I killed the next day with my 25-06 and a Sierra 117 Pro Hunter bullet. It drops them in their track also. The 8 pointer on the left is a deer that my hunting buddy killed the same evening.
He had a real high but narrow rack.
This is another 9 pointer that I killed the next day with my 25-06 and a Sierra 117 Pro Hunter bullet. It drops them in their track also. The 8 pointer on the left is a deer that my hunting buddy killed the same evening.
- Oct 30, 2004
- 24,373
- 3,274
Nice bucks....I never got a whitetail! 
Guy Miner
Master Loader
- Apr 6, 2006
- 17,830
- 6,293
Hey congratulations! Nice bucks.
That little ol' 125 Nosler Ballistic Tip is a real zinger isn't it! :grin:
That little ol' 125 Nosler Ballistic Tip is a real zinger isn't it! :grin:
Greg Nolan
Handloader
- Nov 25, 2004
- 2,143
- 18
Good load history and a real nice buck. Congrats and welcome. :grin:
Good Hunting
Elkhunt :grin:
Good Hunting
Elkhunt :grin:
- Oct 30, 2004
- 24,373
- 3,274
JDMAG":3euimpzw said:
God bless you man!
Ridge_Runner
Handloader
- Sep 29, 2006
- 1,390
- 741
I tell ya since nosler revamped the ballistic tips, unless your burning alot of powder at very high velocities, they're all the bullets deer hunters need. they're perfect in standard calibers.
RR
RR
cottonman1973
Beginner
- Nov 19, 2008
- 24
- 0
I killed so many deer with a 100 gr. Ballistic tip out of my 257 wby It's scarry. Out of 50 plus whitetails at ranges from 5 to 500 yard I only had 1 take a step and it was due to a bad shot by me. He was running at 450 yard and I hit him right in front of the hams. That bullet running 3700 to 3800 fps is instant death
- Oct 30, 2004
- 24,373
- 3,274
Not too shabby for a BT huh? :lol: :lol:
cottonman1973
Beginner
- Nov 19, 2008
- 24
- 0
Not at all, The BT has been my primary bullet for hunting here in mississippi since I started Loading back in 88. I have always gotten excelent performance and accurracy..... My custom 257 wby would shoot pretty little .25 groups all day long with 74.4 grains Reloader 22 and 100 gr. BT's
I too like the lighter bullets from the 30.06 and have killed lots of deer using them. I use to shoot the Hornady 130gr SP and had good luck with them but i wanted to try something different. Having said that, i love Nosler bullets and thats what i shoot in all my rifles with the exception of my 30.06. The 125gr BT was on my list to try but i have been a little weary to try it in fear that it would come apart on me from all the negatives i've read over the years about BT's. I'm currently shooting the Barnes 130gr TSX and they have performed well on deer here in NC but man they are expensive. I like to shoot and practice alot from the bench but i just can't afford to do it with these bullets. After reading this post i think i'll buy a box of the 125gr BT's and do a little experimenting myself. :grin: Thanks for sharing. Mike
bullet
Handloader
- Dec 26, 2007
- 4,975
- 18
Awesome bucks, man those are nice
As long as it shoots well it should be my wifes deer bullet. I loaded some 150gr Hornady SST's over some Varget. Even though they shoot well, it hits her kinda hard. I wanna load something that will be more gentle on her during the summer shooting season. Plus, she will get comfortable with the rifle. I hope she hammers something this fall. It helps when she likes to hunt with me. Scotty
