difference 55gr ballistic silver tip/ ballistic varmint?

[freestylmx]

On the box of the .224 55gr ballistic silvertip it looks like the silver tip to be a regular ballistic tip bullet with a stronger construction than the ballistic tip varmint, according to their velocity requirements and the pictures of the bullets at different velocities.
I cross sectioned both and cant tell a single bit of difference once cut in half. They both look exactly the same.
Are they the same, even though the box explains them as different? If they are different, the only thing I can think of is that the jacket is made of different material because the jacket thickness looks to be exact. The silver tip must have a srtonger made jacket?
Anyone know?

 

[JD338]

Its the same bullet. Nosler makes the CT bullet with a different color polycarbonate tip for Winchester, who adds the Lubalox coating and loads it in their ammunition.
You can somrtimes buy seconds from Shooters Pro Shop but they will not have the Lubalox coating.

JD338

 

[CatskillCrawler]

SPS has the 55gr BT for sale currently.

 

[freestylmx]

Its the same bullet. Nosler makes the CT bullet with a different color polycarbonate tip for Winchester, who adds the Lubalox coating and loads it in their ammunition.
You can somrtimes buy seconds from Shooters Pro Shop but they will not have the Lubalox coating.

JD338

I know they are the same in all other calibers but I do not think they are the same in .224, in fact I know they are different. The jacket has to be of different construction in the BT varmint. It must be softer or more brittle.
The box shows the BT varmint to fragment at 3000 fps and the BT silvertip to stay together.
Also it shows the silvertip at lower velocities to mushroom less than the varmint ballistic tip, so they have to be different. Look at the box and compare and youll see what Im talking about.
I know, for instance, in the 308 they are the exact same bullet as well as all others that do not say varmint

 

[Ridge_Runner]

Its the same bullet. Nosler makes the CT bullet with a different color polycarbonate tip for Winchester, who adds the Lubalox coating and loads it in their ammunition.
You can somrtimes buy seconds from Shooters Pro Shop but they will not have the Lubalox coating.

JD338

I know they are the same in all other calibers but I do not think they are the same in .224, in fact I know they are different. The jacket has to be of different construction in the BT varmint. It must be softer or more brittle.
The box shows the BT varmint to fragment at 3000 fps and the BT silvertip to stay together.
Also it shows the silvertip at lower velocities to mushroom less than the varmint ballistic tip, so they have to be different. Look at the box and compare and youll see what Im talking about.
I know, for instance, in the 308 they are the exact same bullet as well as all others that do not say varmint

they can print anything on the box, they are the same bullet.
RR

 

[freestylmx]

Its the same bullet. Nosler makes the CT bullet with a different color polycarbonate tip for Winchester, who adds the Lubalox coating and loads it in their ammunition.
You can somrtimes buy seconds from Shooters Pro Shop but they will not have the Lubalox coating.

JD338

I know they are the same in all other calibers but I do not think they are the same in .224, in fact I know they are different. The jacket has to be of different construction in the BT varmint. It must be softer or more brittle.
The box shows the BT varmint to fragment at 3000 fps and the BT silvertip to stay together.
Also it shows the silvertip at lower velocities to mushroom less than the varmint ballistic tip, so they have to be different. Look at the box and compare and youll see what Im talking about.
I know, for instance, in the 308 they are the exact same bullet as well as all others that do not say varmint

they can print anything on the box, they are the same bullet.
RR

They are different (and I dont think Nosler is going to print just anything on the box, or something false about their own bullets), I found out the silvertip is the same as all the other ballistic tips, and the varmint has a different jacket.
I knew the CTBT's were the exact same as the regular BT's, but they are not the same as the ballistic tip varmint

 

[JD338]

They are different (and I dont think Nosler is going to print just anything on the box, or something false about their own bullets), I found out the silvertip is the same as all the other ballistic tips, and the varmint has a different jacket.
I knew the CTBT's were the exact same as the regular BT's, but they are not the same as the ballistic tip varmint

What is it you found out that makes them different?

JD338

 

[338 Ultra]

Have shot them both in the 40 grain weight in 220 Swift and they performed exactly the same when they hit varmints. The BST gave a bit more velocity with the lubox coating and the standard BT was a bit more accurate. The Lubox coating is a pain in the butt to get out of a barrel if you are using a fast stepping .22 centerfire outside of that they are the same bullet and both explode and kill equally well at over 4300 fps from my 26" Swift.

 

[freestylmx]

They are different (and I dont think Nosler is going to print just anything on the box, or something false about their own bullets), I found out the silvertip is the same as all the other ballistic tips, and the varmint has a different jacket.
I knew the CTBT's were the exact same as the regular BT's, but they are not the same as the ballistic tip varmint

What is it you found out that makes them different?

JD338

go here and compare: http://www.nosler.com/Product-Comparisons.aspx

One is "hunting" and the other "varmint" you can compare the velocity chart to see the difference in how each one performs. I guess the varmint BT vs the "hunting" BT has a thinner jacket at the mouth but I couldnt tell when cutting them open, both jackets look the same as far as thickness

 

[freestylmx]

Have shot them both in the 40 grain weight in 220 Swift and they performed exactly the same when they hit varmints. The BST gave a bit more velocity with the lubox coating and the standard BT was a bit more accurate. The Lubox coating is a pain in the butt to get out of a barrel if you are using a fast stepping .22 centerfire outside of that they are the same bullet and both explode and kill equally well at over 4300 fps from my 26" Swift.

I think any 40gr lead core bullet going 4300 fps is going to explode on impact lol

 

[Ridge_Runner]

ok, one more time, when nosler first came out with the ballistic tip, they were a polymer tipped thin jacketed spitzer bullet, the guys shooting them in high intensity cartridges reported massive jacet core separations, about 1995 or so nosler changed part of the ballistic tips, the varmint bullets were unchanged, the bullets heavy enough for med game hunting were changed to the exact same make-up as the nosler solid base boatail, except the retained the polymer tip. those bullets are packaged 50 per box, the varmint bullets are packaged 100 and 250 per box. the smallest bullet packaged 50 per box in the BT line is the 243 95 gr, all the 22's, the 243's less than 95 gr, and the 85 gr 25 cal are still the thin jacketed varmint bullet. the WBST's are the exact same bullet as the like cal./weight BT.
RR
BTW according to your provided link, both bullets have the exact same description, exact same BC's and SD's, and the exact same reccomended velocity range, now other than the color of the tip and the coating, what is the difference?

 

[JD338]

go here and compare: http://www.nosler.com/Product-Comparisons.aspx

One is "hunting" and the other "varmint" you can compare the velocity chart to see the difference in how each one performs. I guess the varmint BT vs the "hunting" BT has a thinner jacket at the mouth but I couldnt tell when cutting them open, both jackets look the same as far as thickness

You are misreading the CT information, the chart shows both Varmint and Big Game bullets.
All the .224 cal BST bullets are BT varmint bullets. The Game bullets start at .243 cal.

JD338

 

[300WSM]

Is the 25 cal 85 grain thin jacket or not?

Packaged 50 per box....
However the intention of Nosler on this was for varmint and not deer size game. 114 is for deer size game

Sooooooooo?

All 22 call bullets are in fact the original thin jacket. This we know.

After that it is a little gray.

Same with the 95 grain 243 bullet. Is it a thin jacket or not?

 

[muleman]

I spoke with Mike at Nosler a couple of days ago about the 40gr BTs and the 40gr "varmint" BTs. I was told there was no difference. The B/Ts up to and including the .243 80gr and 85gr .257 are designed for varmints. Above those weights they are designed for medium/big game. The only difference in the CTs are color of tip and the coating - same bullet. All good bullets just a matter of preference.

Scott

 

[SJB358]

Is the 25 cal 85 grain thin jacket or not?

Packaged 50 per box....
However the intention of Nosler on this was for varmint and not deer size game. 114 is for deer size game

Sooooooooo?

All 22 call bullets are in fact the original thin jacket. This we know.

After that it is a little gray.

Same with the 95 grain 243 bullet. Is it a thin jacket or not?

Here is the 243 95 BT, 277 150 BT, and 338 180 BT. You can see the 243 is pretty thick. It is a tough bullet. A pretty awesome little bullet in the 243's.

 

[300WSM]

People are gonna say where is the 22 cal bullet to compare thin jacket to heavier jacket.

Just saying.


I still have the 85 gr 25 cal in suspect. Loaded factory ammo by WInchester supreme has been using the picture of a game animal on their box to help the consumer know if the bullet is going to work for what they are intending it for.

25 wssm 85 gr loaded ammo by WIN is using a varmint for the picture. They are not using a deer. 25-06 using the 85 gr is using a varmint as well.

The 243 95 gr is using the Deer.

See what I mean?

The 115 gr for 25 cal is for Deer sized game but I don't believe that all bullets from 243 cal 95 gr and all the 25 cal and beyond are the thicker jacket. I think the 85 gr 25 cal is the thin variety

 

[muleman]

300WSM,
You are correct the .257 BT/CT in 85gr is a varmint bullet. The .243 95gr is a game bullet.
Scott

 

[SJB358]

300WSM,
You are correct the .257 BT/CT in 85gr is a varmint bullet. The .243 95gr is a game bullet.
Scott

What Scott said! Also, the 90gr BT is a game bullet as well.

 

[freestylmx]

ok, one more time, when nosler first came out with the ballistic tip, they were a polymer tipped thin jacketed spitzer bullet, the guys shooting them in high intensity cartridges reported massive jacet core separations, about 1995 or so nosler changed part of the ballistic tips, the varmint bullets were unchanged, the bullets heavy enough for med game hunting were changed to the exact same make-up as the nosler solid base boatail, except the retained the polymer tip. those bullets are packaged 50 per box, the varmint bullets are packaged 100 and 250 per box. the smallest bullet packaged 50 per box in the BT line is the 243 95 gr, all the 22's, the 243's less than 95 gr, and the 85 gr 25 cal are still the thin jacketed varmint bullet. the WBST's are the exact same bullet as the like cal./weight BT.
RR
BTW according to your provided link, both bullets have the exact same description, exact same BC's and SD's, and the exact same reccomended velocity range, now other than the color of the tip and the coating, what is the difference?

which ones are you looking at? What I saw was that under the 55gr CTBT it has two choices, either "hunting" or Varmint" and each has a different descriptions..it says the jacket is thinner on the varmint. Unless the "hunting" description isnt talking about the 223 and just using that as their general hunting BT description? Maybe thats what was confusing me? I know this all really doesnt even matter because it isnt going to make a bit of difference between the two (probably). Although I tested the ctbt vs the bt varmint today in the same 223 hand load and the ctbt was more accurate in my rifle. Im going to test them in gel to see if they end up the same or if the varmint fragments, just to prove to myself if they are the same in terminal ballistics or not. I just get the feeling that the silvertip is going to mushroom and stay together and the varmint fragment...we"ll see Ill probably end up just proving all of you right and me wrong lol

 

[Wincheringen]

Why don't you guys just look at Nosler's website? It clearly says the 6mm/.243" 90 and 95 grain bullets are hunting bullets, and the 85 grain .257" is a varmint bullet.

http://www.nosler.com/Bullets/Ballistic-Tip.aspx

http://www.nosler.com/Bullets/Ballistic ... rmint.aspx

Either way, I know the varmint bullets will harvest deer pretty easily.