Anyone have experience with them you would like to share? I have some Federal Premium NBT in 165 gr for my '06. They shoot pretty good and was wondering how they performed on game. What type of exit hole and wound channel have you gotten with them? Do they hold together ok? I really like the Partitions but was just wondering since I got a box of these and they shoot well.

I use the nosler ballistic tips in my .270 (130gr) for whitetails with great satisfaction.

My son often uses the .270 on the occasions he hunts with me and has taken bucks out to 150yds and I've gone out to 165.. When hit out beyond 100yds mark we have not seen exit holes....the bullet is buried just under the hide on the far side when hitting the shoulder. That translates to nearly 2000ft lbs of energy completely dumped into the deer.....and they drop right there on the spot.

For accuracy.....they are hard to beat. They will maintain good velocity way out there. I like them and wont be changing anytime soon. I'll load them up to max levels with R22.

Sorry I cant tell you about bear except being you'll probably be in the woods I'd stick with something tougher like a partition or similar.

The Nosler BT's are an accurate bullet, and I worked up a great load in my '06 with the 165's - 57.5 gr of IMR-4350. I can't recall shooting anything that bleeds with them, but they make a nice pattern on paper. My brother has shot cow elk with them. They worked fine, and I think they're fine for deer (you'll get more bloodshot meat if you shoot them where there is edible meat) but I prefer something a bit more stout, as Perforator indicated. I usually get fine accuracy from the partitions as well.

For bear, your dealing with a more stout frame, and I'd be looking to the 180's for that, just my opinion. I've only shot two black bears in my life - one with a 257 Roberts, and the other with a 25-06. So long ago that I can't even remember the bullets used, but they ended up dead bears with one shot (both right in the noggin), but they weren't big bears by any measure either.

I personally wouldn't use the 165 balistic tips for bear, for deer I would. For the bear I'd take some partitions or as far as factory stuff goes some winchester supreme balistic silvertips in 180 grain. Thats what my 300 wsm launches when I go a bear huntin. That is if im not packing my 45-70 with 410 gr jhp ammo

if you are sold on the 165 gr. weight try the barnes triple shock, they are accurate and they'd kill anything you ought to point your '06 at.

Have tried the Barnes TSX's in several chamberings. Find the accuracy is acceptable, but not as good as the Hornady SST's.

I'm not really sold any 165, although I love 150 and 165 for whitetails. This year I am going on a moose hunt and will be hunting black bear and deer around my own house. I got a box of the NBTs and just wondered how they would be for deer and bear since they shot pretty good in my rifle. I still like the 180 NPs for all-around use, although the deer certainly don't need it.

Used BT in my 6.5x55 last season and couldn't be happier on their performance on two whitetails. I wouldn't hesitate to use them if I thought I would be shooting black bears at long range....

Jim

Anyone have experience with them you would like to share? I have some Federal Premium NBT in 165 gr for my '06. They shoot pretty good and was wondering how they performed on game. What type of exit hole and wound channel have you gotten with them? Do they hold together ok? I really like the Partitions but was just wondering since I got a box of these and they shoot well.

You won't get an exit hole with BTs, and it'll be one gruesome mess inside. Don't hit the parts you plan on eating and don't plan on a blood trail if it runs.

Use Partitions, my opinion.

i'd have to agree, i'd just use your 180 gr partition load on everything since you're going on a moose hunt later this year.

So many good bullets on the market now. Black bear isn't nearly as big or tough as grizzly and you don't need super power to kill one. The 180G or is a good choice for moose and anything that brings down a moose quick will kill a black bear just as fast. I have had excellent luck with Win failsafe in 180 GR from my 30-06. You already have your 165G bullets so use them on your moose hunt or save them for deer and buy 180G ammo for moose and bear. Place your shots in the vitals and the critters will be dinner with the 165G or the 180G. Next time you buy ammo for moose and bear buy the 180G but use what you have for now if they shoot well for you.

I have used, or seen used, the Nosler Ballistic Tip in a few different calibers: 150 grain in the 30-06, 140 grain in the 7x57 and 280 Rem, 130 grain in the 270 Win, and 120 grain in the 6.5x55.
Altogether, I'd guess I've seen about 50 kills made with Ballistic Tips on whitetails. Since the group I hunt with does all their own butchering as well as field dressing, I've had a pretty good chance to see what BT's do/don't do.
IMO, the BT is a superb deer bullet. They are likely in some cases not to exit (where a Partition will), and they will damage meat if you hit a shoulder. However, you will be standing over a one shot kill when you complain about the meat damage ;)
Would I use 165 BT's for black bear in a 30-06? Sure would. As long as you don't try a Texas Heart shot, the BT should work fine, IME.

A shot that breaks a shoulder will stop most critters in their tracks. Meat damage will be a bit more than a lung shot but I have seen deer run out of sight and lay down to hide after a good lung shot. They die soon after but they can be hard to find. Tracking is not always easy. A good shot that break the shoulder ensures they are not going anywhere.Bears don't move as quickly as deer and a chance for a head shot is more likely on bear at close range. The only place they run when head shot is one step straight down. Again caliber, velocity, bullet performance all mean nothing if shot placement is not right.