I generally pickup bullets here an there at garage sales, from friends along with over the counter. Came across some of the older style Nosler solid base with the lead tip. They are .30 caliber 180grn, what can I expect for penetration out of curiosity in the .30-06 on medium to big game? Velocities out at the muzzle should not be over 2650fps when ever I get to reloading these.

thanks,

Wonderful bullet. My carefully hoarded stock of 150s is my go-to semi-premium bullet for the .308.

Way back when, so the story goes, Nosler crafted three bullets. They had their Old Faithful Partition, and they invented their Ballistic Tip for varmints and thin-skinned game. To fill the gap, they created a bullet similar to the BT but with thicker jackets - and to tell them apart, they left the noses lead.

The problem was that three choices just confused people. Shooters went gaga at that plastic tip and wowser ballistic coefficients and thought, "MAN! Here's my 700-yard deer bullet!" And all would have been well, except that those shooters didn't pot their deer at 700 yards, but 70 - and the BTs detonated on those deer.

That red-headed stepchild in the middle got ignored as even Nosler fans went back to the Partition. Nosler threw up its corporate hands and discontinued the Solid Base. Except that they didn't.

Instead, they took the Solid Base, added a plastic tip and just added some heavier "Ballistic Tips" to their line. The new Ballistic Tips (just Solid Bases with different hats) are a success.

If you can find original Solid Bases bullets at a bargain, scarf them up. Any Nosler bullets at bargain prices are a...well, bargain.

(For a while they continued or reintroduced SB bullets specifically for two cartridges, the .22 Hornet and the 7-30 Waters. I understand that both of those are now defunct as well. A shame.)

Rocky, you are saved! Go to the Nosler website then the online store. Solid bases are back in production and priced reasonably. Their factory blems are available one notch down on the Sportsmans Pro Shop and closeouts are sold directly on eBay.

As said, it's a great hunting bullet. Don't shy away from it.

Use them in my .257 Roberts and they work great.

Thought the Solid Base predated the BT?

I'm glad to hear they are back. Never did like the BT for things I planned on eating.

Use them in my .257 Roberts and they work great.

Thought the Solid Base predated the BT?

I'm glad to hear they are back. Never did like the BT for things I planned on eating.

Way early were the Zippedos...which were a type of solid base (a very long solid base, with lathed little bands around the solid part to reduce pressure of engravement).

Then the Solid base.....then the Blaistic tips.

So far, they've all shot well. Although the Zippedos were likely to lose their cores, nearly 1/3 the bullet length was a solid chunk of jacket material and it would tend to penetrate.

I think the 150 gr 30-30 solid base bullet was perfect for that cartridge.

I used the 50gn solid base in place of match bullets in a pair of .222s I used in 200 yd bench competition for 3 yrs (The shot better) Very glad they are back.

I think the 150 gr 30-30 solid base bullet was perfect for that cartridge.

I prefered the 170 grain version myself. I must admit that I never tried the 150's though. My Winchester 94 allways shot better with the heavier version of anyones bullet over the lighter one. So I never tried them!
I still have a few paper targets in my files to prove it. My remaining stock of bullets is guarded closely. I won't shoot them on paper. I know the loads that they work with. I save them for game.

I have an amigo with an H&R single-shot rifle in 30-30 that he has proven to me works to 200 yards at 1/2 MOA with the same bullet. He hords his "stock" as well.

Cheezywan