Michael Eichele
Well-Known Member
Just an FYI, Nosler does now offer a 140 BT.
Really now, what bullet?
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Just an FYI, Nosler does now offer a 140 BT.
elkaholic
Well-Known Member
I've spent a considerable amount of time testing various bullets and have been making my own for 6 or 7 years now and have not yet found a perfect bullet for everything, because there isn't one, but there are some rules of thumb. Thinner jacketed bullets such as the Berger or A-max will normally kill quicker and more spectacularly but are also more prone to being more inconsistent as far as performing the same shot to shot when compared to heavier constructed bullets. Similar jackets with varying meplat sizes will perform differently and this is especially true if the bullet has a ballistic tip. Good examples are the Berger vs A-max. The Berger will penetrate farther before expansion takes place which is a benefit at higher velocities while the A-max will expand more easily and uniformly at lower velocities which is an advantage for extreme range. Obviously, the converse of each can be a disadvantage. B.C. always comes into play when you are talking long range for more reasons than drop and wind drift. Every bullet has a threshhold velocity for expansion to occur so a higher b.c. bullet will carry that velocity farther out and allow expansion past the range of a similarly constructed bullet of lesser b.c. Bonded bullets will begin expansion nearly as easy as non bonded (all else being equal) but will penetrate farther with less fragmentation. You can easily see making a case for all of these attributes (or flaws) as the case may be, depending on the intended game, distance etc. This is why there are soooo many arguments about which bullet is the best and also why there are so many bullets
. As many have stated in the past, shot placement is more critical than anything else, but that doesn't excuse using a bullet that won't perform. I've often told people if a Nosler partition had the b.c. of a Berger, I would use them for everything. In fact, I'm trying to work on something similar to that. The best thing I have found is to TEST at the range you plan on shooting. I've been testing reduced loads which duplicate intended range velocities a lot the last few years and this can be a real eye opener! One thing that I've found is (advertised expansion velocities are almost always inflated on the low side) for any reasonable media! Another factor of note is that the smaller the diameter of the projectile, the more important the bullet construction becomes. Conversely, the more frontal area and sectional density, the more forgiving as far as killing. (common sense)..........Richp.s. I'm going to add a qualifier to a statement that I made concerning "heavier constructed bullets being more consistent shot to shot". This is not to suggest that they are better or worse but merely are more predictable in expansion characteristics. It is also possible to be consistently bad for the intended use. Thought I might save some unneccessary discussion there!!
Thanks,
I checked their site and didn't see it. Only Accubond and competition bullets. BC for both are around .5. Similar design of the BT would probably be similar.
cornstalker
Well-Known Member
I have not run the numbers quite that fast. Most of my accuracy loads have been 2840 to 2950 with other bullets so far. 2840 is the velocity I usually plug in to the calculators.
It sounds as if the 130 grain Scirrocco II is pretty close to the BC of the 140 SST. Swift claims they will expand at 1700 fps.
That 140 NBT at a published .509 G1 BC looks pretty tempting. Old faithful got a BC boost....
I bought the Bergers and the Amaxes so I guess I'll try them. First hint of poor terminal performance and I'll be looking to the NBT's or Scirrocco's.
I want to thank all of you for your helpful insights.
Michael Eichele
Well-Known Member
Hornady does not advertise it but I called their techs and they claimed 1600'/sec for minimum expansion. Don't know if it is true or not but seems reasonable.
cornstalker
Well-Known Member
I may be mistaken, but I think I read somewhere along the way where Topshot tested them and had expansion down into the 12's. I'll be darned if I can find it now....
ETA:
Fount it. he was talking about 225 Grain Interbonds in .338. They expanded down to 1250 fps, but expanded well and reliably down at 1400. Sorry for the side track.
ETA:
Fount it. he was talking about 225 Grain Interbonds in .338. They expanded down to 1250 fps, but expanded well and reliably down at 1400. Sorry for the side track.
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elkaholic
Well-Known Member
They will!.....Rich
cornstalker
Well-Known Member
Great idea. Especially if the nose was smooshy enough expand at low velocity, yet the rear core would carry it through bone. If you get it done, I am interested. You are starting with .264" prototypes, right?
elkaholic
Well-Known Member
Great idea. Especially if the nose was smooshy enough expand at low velocity, yet the rear core would carry it through bone. If you get it done, I am interested. You are starting with .264" prototypes, right?
Sorry, all I make is .308! I have the nose part down to expanding at 1300' or lower and I'm pretty sure I can get the rear to hold together. I am working on the long range accuracy part when I get more time. The b.c. would be very near my SXR bullets (slightly lower).....Rich
Max Heat
Well-Known Member
The NBT120 is the lightest one available in 7mm, the other 2 available in that caliber are 150, and 175. But if I was to go heavier, for longer range performance and/or bigger game than whitetails, I would go with the A-MAX 162 (BC = .624).
By comparison, the 7mm NBT120 BC is claimed to be .417. But the bullet I'd really like to shoot doesn't exist yet, that I know of. It would be a 6mm (maybe 6.5) bullet of the same weight (maybe even lighter), with a very thin peal-off-sabot (thin so as not to compromise accuracy), designed to be shot out of a 7mm bore.
Maybe 120gr is a bit optimistic for 6mm (.243), but even a 100gr pointed boattail bullet of that caliber will exceed .430 BC, at high velocities. That would be ideal for stuff like coyotes and chucks, maybe even LRBR. The best 120gr 6.5 bullets come in at just about .5 BC. That, coupled with a sabot that would only be need to be .25mm thick, might make it the best LRBR/varmint bullet, considering how much harder it can be driven, out of a 7mm bore.
Could THAT bullet be close to reality, or am I just dreamin?
By comparison, the 7mm NBT120 BC is claimed to be .417. But the bullet I'd really like to shoot doesn't exist yet, that I know of. It would be a 6mm (maybe 6.5) bullet of the same weight (maybe even lighter), with a very thin peal-off-sabot (thin so as not to compromise accuracy), designed to be shot out of a 7mm bore.
Maybe 120gr is a bit optimistic for 6mm (.243), but even a 100gr pointed boattail bullet of that caliber will exceed .430 BC, at high velocities. That would be ideal for stuff like coyotes and chucks, maybe even LRBR. The best 120gr 6.5 bullets come in at just about .5 BC. That, coupled with a sabot that would only be need to be .25mm thick, might make it the best LRBR/varmint bullet, considering how much harder it can be driven, out of a 7mm bore.
Could THAT bullet be close to reality, or am I just dreamin?
