Catastrophic Nosler/Winchester CT Bullet Failure!

[Sharpsman]

The below shown photo is the result of what I consider catastrophic bullet failure. The bullet used was a Nosler/Winchester .200 gr. CT out of a .338 Winchester Mag that was loaded to around 3020 fps using 75.5 grs. RL-19 fired from a M70 Winchester that has a 26" barrel. This was fired into the middle of the left shoulder of a 270# 8 pt. Missouri whitetail from a distance of 175 yds. The buck was standing in the middle of a wide open bean field with no obstructions between the buck and I when the shot was fired. The area immediately to the left of the hand in the photo about 6" shows a crater-sized hole where the bullet disentegrated upon impact. Bullet went below the exterior of the hide approximately 2" and came apart with no entrance into the chest cavity whatsoever! IMO....Nosler/Winchester bullet designers need to go back to the drawing board and rework their design because this bullet has one of several possible flaws and primarily a jacket that is TOO THIN & a lead core that is TOO SOFT!! This bullet is extremely accurate but I will not be shooting any more of them until this problem is corrected! It took another shot through the bucks neck to put his lights out for good!

 

[FOTIS]

hell of a hole!

 

[TRIC]

Sharpsman, what version of the CT were you using. I also load them in my 338 Win. Never had results like that!!!

 

[Sharpsman]

Sharpsman, what version of the CT were you using. I also load them in my 338 Win. Never had results like that!!!

TRIC

This was the Ballistic Silvertip! Nosler/Winchester Product #51200

 

[Bigwheels]

I tryed the same bullet in my 338 Win.& after test fireing some into wet newspapers etc. decided that they were just too explosive for my tastes.I switched to a 250gr. Sierra GK,& used them for a while before I discovered a major magazine deformation problem.I now use the 225 AB,& have a few kills with them.They are a little explosive,but they put the game down hard.If you don't like the 200 Silvertip,I'd recomend the 225 AB.& you won't have that problem again.

 

[Mighty Peace]

Use the Acubonds and you wont have any problems. I found the BST as mentioned - too explosive especially in larger calibers. In my opinion, the BST's are best used for varmint hunting, 243 caliber and smaller.

 

[Sharpsman]

I tryed the same bullet in my 338 Win.& after test fireing some into wet newspapers etc. decided that they were just too explosive for my tastes.I switched to a 250gr. Sierra GK,& used them for a while before I discovered a major magazine deformation problem.I now use the 225 AB,& have a few kills with them.They are a little explosive,but they put the game down hard.If you don't like the 200 Silvertip,I'd recomend the 225 AB.& you won't have that problem again.

Bigwheels

I normally shoot Scirocco which give me GREAT RESULTS but I 'shot out' of them and when I ordered from Midway....they were backordered!! Nice to know that someone else found this out prior to shooting a head of game the way I did!! IMO...Nosler/Winchester needs to correct this problem....BIGTIME!! :evil: :evil:

 

[Bigwheels]

Sharpsman
I cn't say how they worked on game,but in several of my tests,I had the lead seperate in bulk from the jackets.I am supprised that they would effectivlly ricochett off a bone,& blow up like that .They are a 200gr. bullet going scary fast from a magnum rifle.I would switch to the AB if I were you.I have hit 3 bucks,& a Bull elk with them so far,& have had NO failures of any kind.In fact the bull was hit from 516yds.with 2 rnds.Both exited the other side with fist sized holes.The 2nd. shot penetrated over 30" of elk after hitting a bone.Actually 2 ribs quartering toward me.I was impressed to say the least.

 

[Richracer1]

I have a 338 WM as well, but I have never and will never use any sort of B-tip for hunting big game. I use the 225AB from my 338 and have had excellent results. The cow elk I took this year was shot at around 75 to 100 yards. It had a small hole entering and about a fifty cent piece sized hole for an exit. My first kill with this set up was a 125lb hog, at about 150yds. It didn't know what hit it. Again, minimal meat damage. I load my 338 with 72.5gn of RL-19 (Nosler published max) with GM215M primers and then used the BOSS to improve group size.

 

[Richracer1]

Nosler provided bullet expansion information in regards to velocity.


http://noslerreloading.com/phpbb2/viewtopic.php?t=1347

 

[WVhunter]

I have taken three deer with the CT Ballistic Silvertips in my .270 Win. Only one of these bullets failed to exit the deer. That was a 245 YD shot with 130gr .270 Win. Center of the chest. I found the bullet in the left leg when cutting it up. The bullet was still carrying its lead core that had mushroomed perfectly over the bullets base. 8)