Nosler 90 grain hunting 6mm. Weak!

brusso89

brusso89

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So this past December I harvested my first mule deer. He was no monster but my taxidermy friend thinks he's about 3-3 1/2 years old and was a 3x3. Shot him at 200 yards and got him in the lung and he went about 15 yards and was done in just a few minutes. I was unable to recover the bullet but it did not hit bone, it went between ribs and in at least one lung but no exit. Didn't think anything about it because it is a 6mm bullet so I really wasn't expecting an exit. This past weekend I was out javelina hunting, wind changed one morning on us so right as we were about to pack up a few yotes came in and the predator hunter in me took over and dropped one drt! Ranged him at 185. Got up to him and there was no blood and I couldn't find any exit or entrance wound! After giving him a good rub down I felt a bump, I thought no way but cut the bump open and boom. There's my 30 grain jacket! Jacket core separation... I'm shooting a ruger m77 mark 2 chambered in 6mm Remington. I'm loading the nosler 90 grain ballistic tip hunting bullets with 45.0 grains of imr 4831. I have not cronoed them yet but based on data they are going at very least 3000 fps. My question is am I pushing these to fast, are they just not a reliable bullet or was this a fluke?
 
You're hunting with a ballistic tip my friend. That's exactly what they're supposed to do. There are two general thoughts when designing hunting bullets.

Some bullets are designed to deliver their full punch on the animal, which usually doesn't result in an exit wound. The bullet fragments once it enters and doesn't retain much of its weight. This type of bullet design uses all of its kinetic energy once it hits the animal. This is very effective, and my personal preference. If you make your shot count, they usually are dead in their tracks.

Other bullets are designed to retain most of their weight, and pass through the animal. This results in a better penetrating bullet, and will generally give you an exit wound. This type of bullet does not however deliver its full kinetic energy on the animal, because the bullet passes through the animal. This type of bullet is preferred on heavy boned animals, where one might shoot an animal in the shoulder. Like and elk for instance. It will also give a better blood trail, since you have two holes vs one to bleed out of.

Both bullet types have their benefits and down falls. To each their own, as they say. Some swear by one type, and some swear by the other type.
 
Sounds like a fluke deal, I use them in every 6mm weapon I own on every kind of game all the way out to 750 yards. Most all travel plum through. That tip on that bullet is to aid in expansion with the thicker jacket. Stuff happens from time to time. If I could find a bullet maker that makes perfect bullets every time i would sure use them.

The 90BT is my favorite hog and deer bullet.

I have actually had more blow ups with soft point bullets than any but that doesn't keep me from using them either.
 
The Nosler 95 gr. .243 BT - Hunting is a tough little bullet. Make the change, you'll like it.
 
Originally Posted By: PowellSixOYou're hunting with a ballistic tip my friend. That's exactly what they're supposed to do. There are two general thoughts when designing hunting bullets.

Some bullets are designed to deliver their full punch on the animal, which usually doesn't result in an exit wound. The bullet fragments once it enters and doesn't retain much of its weight. This type of bullet design uses all of its kinetic energy once it hits the animal. This is very effective, and my personal preference. If you make your shot count, they usually are dead in their tracks.

Other bullets are designed to retain most of their weight, and pass through the animal. This results in a better penetrating bullet, and will generally give you an exit wound. This type of bullet does not however deliver its full kinetic energy on the animal, because the bullet passes through the animal. This type of bullet is preferred on heavy boned animals, where one might shoot an animal in the shoulder. Like and elk for instance. It will also give a better blood trail, since you have two holes vs one to bleed out of.

Both bullet types have their benefits and down falls. To each their own, as they say. Some swear by one type, and some swear by the other type.

Can someone else chime in? I've been loading and dealing with ammo for a few years now and I am no means an expert but the nosler 90 grain hunting bullet is not supposed to fragment correct?

Also, not trying to sound like a know it all but what would an extra 5 grains due to not cause jacket separation? As in the nosler 90 vs 95 grain?
 
Ballistic tips are somewhat fragile. I just used a 90 grain accubond on a javelina out of a 240 Wby at 210 yards and it went right through and even caught a rib on the way in.
 
Brusso,
It isn't the extra little bit of weight, it's the internal construction that matters. Research that 95 gr. .243 Nosler BT Hunting and you'll find it was designed from the get go to be a tough .243 bullet. Lots of guys are killing some pretty big deer, hogs and even larger animals with perfect results.
 
I guess I'm not sure what you want anyone to say? You used the bullet, got dead critters. I understand you didn't approve of the way the bullet performed so move on to a different bullet.

Many have shot more big game than I, but of what I have shot with Barnes TSX or TTSX, I felt bullet performance was ideal. Now if I'm planning on killing big stuff with a high performance round that taxes a normal bullet, Barnes gets the nod. Marginal caliber for the game hunted, Barnes gets the nod. Absolutely want to ensure there will be no bullet failure with a well-placed shot at any angle, yip you guessed it, Barnes gets the nod.
 
The 90 grain E-tips are pretty good as well if your shots are within 400yds. It's a velocity/expansion thing. I killed a wild pig with my .243 a few years back. The E-tips performed well with full expansion, but they didn't completely penetrate. I recovered both bullets.
 
Originally Posted By: brusso89
Also, not trying to sound like a know it all but what would an extra 5 grains due to not cause jacket separation? As in the nosler 90 vs 95 grain?

The majority of that weight is in the jacket, hence the tougher construction.

But, with what you are seeing, I'd consider that perfect performance. Dumping the energy in the animal is advantageous in killing (obviously) and the lack of exit on a fur bearer is very nice.
 
Originally Posted By: GCBrusso,
It isn't the extra little bit of weight, it's the internal construction that matters. Research that 95 gr. .243 Nosler BT Hunting and you'll find it was designed from the get go to be a tough .243 bullet. Lots of guys are killing some pretty big deer, hogs and even larger animals with perfect results.

Yep. Shot to Caribou with mine.
 
Maybe I should have titled this school me on bullet types! Don't get me wrong, I'm very happy with dead critters but with that bullet not beating up or exiting on that coyote it just made me think it was not the right choice for any animal bigger. Maybe this is the answer to the long debate on which 6mm bullet is fur friendly for predators if any.
 
I would rather have a bullet that expends all of it's energy in the animal that waste it on air on the other side.

How in the heck can you see Javalina at 200 yards. I can only see them at 50 or closer and only if they move.
 
I use both the 90 & 95g nosler HBT bullets in my 6x45, 6x6.8 & 243 & have yet to have issues.
Ive never found bullets, just fragments as that's what they are supposed to do, dump all the energy in the game. Everything Ive taken with them has been dead. No issues at 285-444 yards on antelope ever. Ive had a few exits on antelope, but they never made it 10 steps.
 
it does not sound like the 90 ballistic tip held together on the coyote. I would expect it to exit the coyote. my experience with the 100 grain hornady, sierra and 95 partition I would expect an exit on a deer shot broadside. do you want a bullet for both deer and coyotes or one for each?
 
I usually use 55 or 70 grain nosler varmint ballistic tips in the rare occasion I use the 6mm for yotes. They just do to much damage on pelts for me to really use them anymore. The 223 is a bit better for them. It was a rare situation that I used the 90 grain but man if they all performed like that one on yotes it would be a great fur saving round. I'll definitely try it again just to see what happens
 
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