Ballistic tips v's partition

[MarkH]

The 70-80 gn NBT are varmint bullets and designed to disintigrate on impact. On light game such as a roe this is fine but bloodshot meat splattered with small paticles of lead is not ideal. The limiting factor is that the calibre is 243 but generally I would recommend go as heavy and well constructed a bullet that shoots accuratly in your rifle.

Mark

 

[325wsm]

"On light game such as a roe this is fine"

It is not fine - Varmint style bullets disintegrate - explode - break up in an aggressive manner and are NOT either suitable or legal for deer.

Irrespective of legalities you owe more consideration to your quarry.

 

[MarkH]

Hi 325WSM

The problem is that it is 'not illegal' to use such a small fragile bullet in England or Scotland. Ireland sets the limit at 100gns. The bullets are predictably fragile as opposed to FMJ's which tumble.
The argument here is aesthetic and ethical. If the bullet hits a rib in a roe the results can be very messy but due to the small size of the roe depth of penetration is not as significant as a large fallow buck. Penetration is usually poor as there is no residual bullet mass.
I personally dont like standard ballistic tips due to their fragile nature and would refuse to let anyone on my land shoot deer with less than 100gn in 243@ moderate velocity. I prefer 7mm and above with premium bullets as I shoot only for meat/cull purposes.

Mark

 

[300wsm]

xxxxxx

 

[325wsm]

The Deer Act requires that “soft nosed or hollow nosed” ammunition, or in the case of Scotland ammunition “designed to deform in a predictable manner”, must be used for shooting deer.

Ballistic Tip Varmint bullets do not expand in a predictable manner.

 

[swampy]

bullets

I am with .325 on this.
I don't go as far as markh. I don't use premium bullets i have used speer hot cor, gamekings and hornady interlocks. I am going to use remmington cor lokt next in both my 243 and 30-06. they get good reviews on american sites.

if you look on

http://www.hawkbullets.com/

there is an interesting page on wound channels.
the light "varminting" bullets might kill most of the roe that you hit but not all, they are not designed to give the full penetration and controlled expansion that gives a decent depth to a wound channel.

swampy

 

[remmy7]

Ballistic Tip Varmint bullets do not expand in a predictable manner.?

Hi 325wsm,

Whilst I am in complete agreement with you on the unsuitability of the lighter varmint style ballistic tips can I just enquire whos opinion the above statement is. Is it your own opinion or has someone from either your local Force or a member of the Scottish Exec stated this (the ultimate decision lies with the Secretary of State under advice). I know that any kind of fragmentation is undesirable on heavy skinned game but, merely as devils advocate you understand, how much more predictable can expansion be than instant guarenteed fragmentation. I suspect the key is in the definition of the expansion(control/predictability etc) but as aforestated I would like to know if this has ever been tested in Scottish law.

Regards Remmy7

 

[308boy]

Pulled of the Deer Commision for Scotland web-site

For the shooting of roe deer only, a bullet of an expanding type designed to deform in a predictable manner of not less than 50 grains (3.24 grams) with a muzzle velocity of not less than 2,450 feet per second (746.76 metres per second) and a muzzle energy of not less than 1,000 foot pounds (1,356 joules) must be used.
.

325, I understand your point of view. The reason i am home loading 55gn noslers BT is that my 22-250 will not group with the normal ammo I was using Federal soft point. I use Federal in 243, 308 and 223 without issue.

SO my rifle is now more accurate than me and i am happy to take the shot, knowing i can hit what I am aiming at. I am happy with the round.
If i pull the BTip of the bullet am I not left with a soft point or hollow point round?

this rifle is also used on foxes with same load.

Lets just keep hunting and be happy.

308

 

[MarkH]

If i pull the BTip of the bullet am I not left with a soft point or hollow point round?

What your left with is a knacker ballistic tip

Mark