Is 85 Grains enough?

Okie Hunter

Okie Hunter

New member
I had been working on a 100 grain bullet/load for my Mod. 70, 25 WSSM and so far I have not found a bullet and load combination that the gun likes. Not being one to fix what is not broken, the Winchester really likes a Nosler 85 grain Ballistic Tip with 41.5 grain IMR 4895. I started using this load late last winter for coyotes (which it does a number on) and it shoots less than 1 inch 100 yard groups every time I pull the trigger.

My question is how will the 85 grain Ballistic Tip moving at about 3300 fps perform on whitetail, antelope and or mule deer? I understand it is “big enough” but the question is will it perform adequately, very good, excellent or should I continue to work on a heaver bullet that will fly from the gun of choice.

Your input is valued and appreciated.
 
It is big enough no doubt. I would suggest doing a lung shot to drop them in their tracks though....no reason to have to play hide-and-seek.
 
As tcman says...try to avoid a shoulder shot. The BT is not as strong a bullet as some others, from what I hear. Should be OK for antelope and smaller deer, but I myself would want something stouter for larger animals.
 
In my opinion (and that is all it is) the 85 gr BT is a VERY FINE VARMINT BULLET. Antelope, and smaller whitetail deer are, I believe, the uppermost limits for this fine bullet. With larger game, you over-run the design limitations of the bullet.
Mark
 
My daughter killed a whitetail doe last year with a 100 hor. from a .250 Savage, BANG FLOP Right Now at 75 yds.
I think with the 85 gr bullet you speak of and higher speeds you will have alot of blood shot meat and a off hit would be a tracking job. Yes it will work, but I would use 100 gr. bullets.

Just my .02 Coalminer7
 
Exactly like TCMan and Colorado Pete Said. On the shoulder that bullet will explode and you've got a risk of a seriously wounded deer. Double lung shot low in the chest will drop em like a rock though.

I shoot a 257 Robts and I can tell you that the 100 Gr BalTips has about the same performance when hitting solid bone. For Deer I try to stay will 100gr loads just in case I hit some solid bone. Nosler Partitions, Hornady 100gr SP and Sierra 100gr SP all shoot well in my rifle, but like you not as well as the 87gr blitzkings by Sierra.

Have you tried the Sierra 90Gr BTHP? They tend to hold together a little better, but some rifles just don't like them.

That's just my two cents.

Best of luck finding that best load.

NRA Life Member
 
I do not have any personal experience with this cartridge. That said, the 110gr Accubond seems to be becoming the bullet of choice in the 25wsm from all the reading/viewing I've done so far. Maybe you should give it a try--2MG
 
ONE MORE TIME - BT'S ARE NOT FOR GAME, VARMITS ONLY. great bullet but they do blow up. When ever I've had a 25 cal. act up I usually go the the 90 gr sierra (but thats not for game either) or the 100 gr speer. Normally the sierra outshoots the speer, but not always
 
Hello Okie

I agree with butchloc to a point, Nosler makes two types of bt one is the varmint bullet the other is the hunter bt. the 85 grain is for varmints, the 100 grain bt blue tip is for large game. Trust me at two hundred yards you will still get about a d size battery exit hole. They have yet to fail me. I called Nosler and found out that the hunting balistic tips have a 50% weight retention, I asked because I have never been able to find a bullet. Have you tried IMR 4350 yet? I would look into 100gr backed by 4350 run it a little shy of max and then work your way up. Then proceed with bullet depth adjustment.

Just my 2cents
 
I've shot a couple of deer with both, and the 85 + deer shoulder = bad news. The 100 grainer is much tougher, but I still shy away from any sub-30 caliber Ballistic Tip into heavy bone. If you want to shoot a bullet with high BC at game I would shoot the new Accubond. ~6mm
 
Thanks to all for your thoughts. 25 The Nosler 85 I am using is a blue tip bullet do you think it is the same construction as the 100 gr blue tip? If so how will it perform?
 
I believe the 100gr is a Hunting Ballistic Tip rather than a Varmint Ballistic tip---Should be slightly heavier construction like the Nosler 115gr. I think they call the 85 gr BT a Varmint slug. I wish Nosler would make a 100gr BT in the lighter construction for varmints, but neither they or Sierra, or Hornady yet have a 100gr BT for Varmints.
 
The hunting Ballistic Tips are 97% lead / 3% antimony core (if I remember correctly) and they have a thicker jacket toward the base. They are of very similar construction to the old Nosler Solid Base which was an excellent game bullet. The "Varmint" B-Tips are made with thinner jackets and pure lead core which makes them much more frangible. The 85 is a "Varmint" bullet and the 100 and 115 grainers are in the "Hunting" format. Hope that helps. ~6mm
 
I use the 100 gr Nosler BT in my 25-06 with Rel 22 and have taken a number of deer with this load and it put them down from 50 out to better than 300 yards. The 85 gr should work well on most whitetail with solid lung shots. I would use the 85 gr and not look back. /ubbthreads/images/graemlins/grin.gif
 
hey okie
Sorry with the referance to the blue tip it seems that nosler doesn't color code the different weights like other manu. From what I was told by nosler the 85 is designed for varmints the 100 is designed for larger game. If you have a nosler reloading manual, there is a teck number in it they are more then helpful at answering any questions. Personally, I would work up the load in 100gr, I haven't had a coyote complain and with the deer, hitting bone has not been a problem. I try for the engine room due to the fact that there is less meat damage. The 25 cal isn't furr friendly when you pass the 3000fps mark which you should be able to reach with 100gr. Have you tried 4350 though?
 
what bea175 said!!! iv'e shot 85gr. hp. bt. out of my 243 for a few years now and have taken afew deer and lope, some out to 400yds and never had to go looking for one. i gave my brother some hand loads to take back to ark. and he swears by them.. they are great for varmits but not real fur friendly but puts them down ,,4895 also.. having fath in your gun and knowing where it shoots is what works.. go get em
 
I shoot Nosler 90gr. Bal. Tips in my .243Win. as well as my 6mm Rem., but honestly don't like them for deer, just too thin jackets. I prefer the Nosler Partitions for this in a little heavier bullet. Just one mans opinion. Best wishes.

Cal - Montreal
 
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