Nosler "varmint" bullet for "hunting"

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Nosler "varmint" bullet for "hunting"

Post by schink » 31 Mar 2014, 7:05 pm

Guys,

Nosler do their Ballistic Tip Varmint and Ballistic Tip Hunting like you know.

In their varmint range though they do a 80gr .243 bullet which is legal for the small deer here in VIC.

And a 85gr in .257 Roberts. Legal for the smaller deer again.

Either of these would do the job on deer though even though they're under the "varmint" label, right?

The "hunting" label bullets aren't build any different, right?
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Re: Nosler "varmint" bullet for "hunting"

Post by Chronos » 31 Mar 2014, 7:28 pm

I don't have any experience shooting these bullets but in general hunting bullets hold together longer for penetration than varmint bullets which fragment on impact, not desirable on a large animal.

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Re: Nosler "varmint" bullet for "hunting"

Post by Apollo » 31 Mar 2014, 9:00 pm

If Nosler or any other company market bullets under varmint or hunting I would investigate or even ask them what is the difference between the two.

In general I would think that perhaps the materials used for the "ballistic tip" may differ. One may be harder / stronger than the other. Again in general, varmints have thin skins and the bullet tip may be designed to expand / explode after entering the skin but with a hunting bullet it may be a lot stronger being designed to break the much tougher skin / hide.

A varmint tip might just explode on hitting a much tougher hide and not penetrate hence just causing an injury. Not what you want.
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Re: Nosler "varmint" bullet for "hunting"

Post by Skadoo » 01 Apr 2014, 11:08 am

The bullet composition looks the same according to the website, but they don't really go into detail...

The place where you might come undone is jacket thickness which may be less on the varmint than the hunting family bullets.

Just a guess though TBH. I'd email Nosler.
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Re: Nosler "varmint" bullet for "hunting"

Post by Lorgar » 01 Apr 2014, 11:12 am

They could just be grouped into lighter and heavier bullets for branding like you said.

Take this with a grain of salt, but in the past I tried the 80gr BT varmint in my .243 and pulled a few from the dirt. Weight retention on them was pretty good so they may be the same as the hunting bullet. End result on recovered bullets was similar to 150gr BT Hunting bullets.

Obviously not a perfect test there though... just an casual observation so do with that info as you will.

I'd email Nosler too, get an answer from the source.
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Re: Nosler "varmint" bullet for "hunting"

Post by schink » 01 Apr 2014, 11:13 am

Righto, thanks guys.

I'll see what info I can get out of Nosler.
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Re: Nosler "varmint" bullet for "hunting"

Post by Streamline » 01 Apr 2014, 11:14 am

schink wrote:Either of these would do the job on deer though even though they're under the "varmint" label, right?


Assuming the bullet composition is appropriate, those legal weights will definitely do the business on the deer you're talking about.
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Re: Nosler "varmint" bullet for "hunting"

Post by paps » 01 Apr 2014, 11:16 am

Streamline wrote:Assuming the bullet composition is appropriate, those legal weights will definitely do the business on the deer you're talking about.


Yup.

My Ruger is chambered in .257 Roberts and I love it ;)
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