Anyone load these? I picked some up to play with and they group extremely well over Varget. Pushing slightly over 3000. They are rated for deer and antelope. I like the looks of them over my Sierra 120s, which also shoot well. No matter what I try, can't seem to get the Barnes TTSX 120s to group, so will try the Noslers this year. Should be a potent combination with good ballistics.

Barnes are very finicky bullets I've only had one load that was a 140ttsx in my 7 mag that shoots excellent. All the rest 223,an 243 I tried were bad groups of 2" @ 100 were average. Killed quite a few deer with the 140ttsx an all were drt shots. Also used the 140 combined tech, another accurate load but I have never shot any 120 in .284 caliber.

I've had various experiences with Nosler but my Rem 700 in 7mm-08 likes them and shoots 0.5" MOA@100yds with the 120gr ballistic tips. All the data I've read say they work well on deer.

On a side note, just noticed Barnes changed their load data again for the 7mm-08. They now list the COAL at 2.800" for the 120 TTSX. That's a whole lot different than their previous load data. Interesting 2.800" is the same COAL for the nosler too.

Barnes are favored by all my rifles. They like to jump. Sounds like you need to measure your OAL and seat them about .050 off.

I load 120 BTs in front of a reduced load of H4895 in my 6 yr old's 7'08. Accuracy is outstanding with consistent sub moa groups. No on game experience (yet) but I assume that bullet moving 2500 fps will be wicked on Bama whitetails.

They will be ok as long as you don't push them to fast. A fast moving, light for caliber NBT is a recipe for disaster. I've experienced to many times and it broke me from ballistic tips.

Unfortunately Barnes are too doggone expensive to tinker much with. I happened across a good deal and got 4 boxes for $20/ea. That's still plenty expensive and I've already burned up one box just trying to find a load. Doesn't help when their original load data had a COAL of 2.735, which is no where near what the COAL is for their factory loaded round with the 120 TTSX. Someone on the forum measured that to be 2.764. Now their load data says 2.800". I'll try a couple loads at 2.800 and see what happens.

As far as the nosler 120. I looked at the load data. Worked up a batch at their most accurate load for Varget and did a second batch a little higher. First load was slightly under MOA, but the group wasn't what I consider exceptional. Second load had all but one touching, which expanded the group to 0.5" MOA. Wrote that one off to pilot error and signaled touchdown.

truth^^^^^

I wouldn't shoot a BT in a light for calibre load.

Last doe I shot with 120 was out of a 7mm STW with Nosler 120s , that were screaming. I was set-up for ELR but made the mistake of shooting a doe at last light at 65 yards. Didnt find her to the next morning. I watched as she ran off over 200 yards. I could not beleive I could not find any blood! Didnt go threw, just blew up! Last time I shot ballistic tips was YEARS ago~!!!

Shooters, you're a knowledgeable guy so no offense intended. Shooting a 120 BT out of an STW traveling north of 3500 fps with a close impact is a recipe for disaster. Did you honestly expect that bullet to stay together?

if he was expecting to shoot a deer at 4-500 yards the velocity would of been way lower.

I used to shoot a 25/06 with 100gr Hornady SPs at 3400fps at the muzzle. At 200 yards they did ok, but I did shoot a buck at 25 yards once, hit the shoulder and EXPLODED. DRT, but what a messy entrance that MAY of been 2" deep.

Almost same thing with a 270Win and 130 NBT, hit a rib and exploded. Took another shot to stop him. Entrance hole was 5" across and 2" deep....nasty.

I'd shoot a yote with a BT, but that is about all. Deer deserve better.

I was hunting a 40 acre feild of some sort of crops, I had seen the deer during bow season and ranged it at 450 yards or so. PLUS the side I was sitting on was against a 40-50 acre cutover. Logger friend left me a BIG WhiteOak to climb . Their were no closer shots than 450. AND I could shoot 600 plus In cutover. This was 10 years ago plus. I learn my lesson on BT bullets! thumbup:

I shoot BTs in every rifle I own. 243 to 300mag and have never had an issue with any of them dropping deer. Had a core separate one time before impact but that just meant it got two holes through the deer ha.

and you think that separation BEFORE impact is not an issue????

In the 7mm-08 the 140 BT do just fine. Never had one "blow up". Just dead deer. Been stacking them up for years with one.

I think a lot of time people claim they "blow up" when actually the bullet hit something like a sappling or limb before it met the deer. I have had that happen and you would think... Bullet blew up....

When in fact it didn't. Unless you are looking for an impact they are not as noticeable as you think.

Ballistic tips sure are purty though!

glad to know that. I shot a buck several years ago and hit a rib on entrance with a 270Win and a 130NBT. Entrance looked like the bullet blew up on the rib. BIG hole, very shallow, slight damage to entrance side vitals. Nothing but air between rifle muzzle and the deers skin. But what the hell do I know???? I thought the bullet blew but now I know it didn't.

If your that concerned about performance take a look at nosler e-tip, 140 gr.http://www.nosler.com/e-tip-lead-free-bullet/
or Hornady GMX or Barnes TTSX
It's boat tail and very reliable. I've shot 25 deer 3 elk and 20+ pigs with the 30 cal. 150 gr never had an issue. Most were pass through pencil size entrance and quarter size exit

Duh, you should have been using 140s. Woulda been DRT. All honesty I have shot a good many with NBTs, and SSTs. Never had a problem. Only bullet I ever did was the Interbonds in a 308 at short ranges, punched right through.

I've probably killed well over 100 deer with a 270Win and 130NBTs. I'm not basing opinions on NBTs from something I read or something someone great Uncle told me. A high percentage of the deer were does, either on a greenfield or in open prarie land. Shots ranged from 75 out to over 400 yards.

Several times up close shots had less penetration and too much expansion for my tastes. And just because the deer died does NOT prove it was good bullet performance. I changed to NPs because I believe "I" should shoot a bullet that will perform well at any range/velocity/angle/size game that I "may" encounter.

A bullet that will do well on a broadside 80 pound doe at 100 yards may NOT do well on a 250 pound buck hard angling away at 35 yards.

Light for calibre NBTs don't make that grade....