Nosler® Introduces Lead Free Bullets - The E-Tip®

[Graybeard]

It looks like Barnes is getting some new competition in the unleaded bullet business from Nosler. Here is a new Press Release they forwarded to me along with the magazine writers.

Nosler® Introduces Lead Free Bullets Nosler, the world’s foremost bullet manufacturer, is proud to unveil a new lead free bullet for 2007. The E-Tip® is a revolution in bullet construction and performance. Nosler’s patent pending E-Tip® is built on a highly concentric gilding metal frame, which provides unsurpassed penetration and weight retention. The polycarbonate tip, much like those featured on AccuBond® and Ballistic Tip® bullets, prevents deformation in the magazine, boosts aerodynamic efficiency, and initiates expansion. Nosler’s exclusive E² Cavity™ (Energy Expansion Cavity™) allows for immediate and uniform expansion yet retains 95%+ weight for improved penetration.

Initiated by a unique OD green polycarbonate tip, the E² Cavity provides amazing stopping power and peerless penetration over a broad spectrum of impact velocities. Along with the E² Cavity and the polycarbonate tip, Nosler’s E-Tip® also features a precisely formed boat-tail that serves to reduce drag and provides a more efficient flight profile for higher retained energy at long range. For big game hunting or recreational shooting, Nosler’s E-Tip® is a step above today’s “pure-copper” bullets. The E-Tip’s® proven alloy provides less fouling, while exhibiting superior accuracy and consistent performance over traditional pure copper designs.

In the lead free world, the E-Tip® stands alone. Will be available fourth quarter 2007 in 30cal. 180gr. and loaded exclusively in Winchester® Supreme® ammunition. MSR Price = $35.00/50ct.

For a 2007 Nosler® and NoslerCustom® catalog featuring the entire line of AccuBond®, Ballistic Tip®, Partition®, Partition HG™, Custom Competition™, Sporting Handgun™ bullets, muzzleloading sabots, CT™ Supreme Hunting Bullets, NoslerCustom™ Cartridge Brass, and NoslerCustom™ Rifles

contact: Nosler, Inc., P.O. Box 671, Bend, Oregon 97709, 1-800-285-3701, www.nosler.com.

[Zachary]

I just clicked on the Nosler link at the bottom of your post.  WOW.  That is an impressive looking bullet.  From the photo, it appears that Nosler is trying to tell us that their bullet's petals will not break off like the X-Bullet often does.

There are pros and cons to the petals not breaking off.  On the one side, if the petals remain intact, then it can cause more surrounding damage.  However, on the other side, when the petals beak off after some initial surrounding damage, the bullet turns into a mini-solid and it will penetrate much more than the new Nosler.  As such, while it appears that the new Nosler bullet will seemingly out penetrate most, if not all, conventional and bonded bullets, it still may not out penetrate the X-Bullet/TSX Bullet.  Then again, there are probably limited situations where you really need a bullet to really fully penetrate an animal, and 2 or 3 trees behind it.

The Barnes-X had a reputation of having inconsistent accuracy.  For me, all of my rifles that have used them seem to love them as they shoot sub-moa.  However, there it is undisputed that many other shooters who have used the Barnes-X hate them because accuracy is so bad that you can't hit the side of a barn at 100 yards.  As a result, Barnes came out with the TSX which has seemed to make the bullet's accuracy much more consistent.  As such, the question therefore begs to be asked...all else being equal, how does the new Nosler bullet's accuracy compare to the Barnes TSX?  Only time will tell.

In any event, I am enthusiastic about this new Nosler bullet and look forward to trying it sometime in the future.

Thanks for the heads-up GB.

Zachary

[myarmor]

It looks to be a good design, and a tough bullet. It's going to be interesting to see what other weights and sizes they will introduce later on.
It was mentioned over in the handloading forum earlier:
http://www.gboreloaded.com/forums/index.php/topic,116806.0.html


-Aaron

[The Sodbuster]

I didn't go to the Nosler website, but the glaring omission from their press release is: If it ain't lead, and it ain't all copper, what is it?  I presume it's some proprietary alloy and they don't want to give away too many secrets; but, they could give some idea.  Is it a solid alloy or is there a heavier core? 

[Graybeard]

Nope no ommission it's rat there for all to see. Here is a quote from my above post:

Nosler’s patent pending E-Tip® is built on a highly concentric gilding metal frame

Note the bullet's composition highlighted in BLUE. Gilding metal is what the jacket of most bullets are currently made from. Now I'm sure it's slightly different in composition but not all that much so than the jacket on most conventional cup and core bullets today.

There have been rumors floating on this and "unofficial" leaks of it in the press already but the "official" press release to me and all the magazine writers didn't come out until yesterday. I got the same e-mail they did with my e-mail address and all of theirs on it. Yeah we've known but Nosler asks that the info be held confidential until the "official" release date and I've always honored that request even if it means some others have the info out first.

As to other bullets and weights I'd say look to the Accubond line and that's what will follow next. Whether there will be more selection or less of this one will no doubt depend heavily on its acceptance by the buying public.

My primary objections to the X has always been lack of accuracy in the guns I've tried it in and that's a bunch and it copper fouled rather badly. This one is made of the same metal as current jackets so at least in theory shouldn't foul any worse than conventional bullets.

I've never felt really comfortable the X would open since they had a LOT of early problems with that and I still hear folks say current production at times doesn't. I guess deep down inside I just don't trust the X. I'm not sure I can get past that. But really not much of anything I hunt requires a bullet so hard anyway. Should I ever get another 6MM to use on deer size game that would be a potential use but as long as the bullet diameter is 6.5 mm or larger I don't feel I need a super premium for deer. But then I sure do like those Nosler PTs and just can't help using them even when not needed. But in my rifles conventional cup and core bullets from Hornady, Sierra, Remington and such have worked fine for deer and even hogs.

[myarmor]

Nothing wrong with an official introduction and I meant no disrespect. I have yet to load any of the Barnes X fired out of a rifle, but have seen some of the Federal I believe in 500 S&W that were fired and recovered from a maple log. 275gr HPs yes not exactly the Barnes X, but basically the same. These hardly expanded at all. Impressive for a tough skinned animal, but not exactly needed on a deer like you and Zachary said:

...... .. Then again, there are probably limited situations where you really need a bullet to really fully penetrate an animal, and 2 or 3 trees behind it. ......

Zachary

[Graybeard]

I tried some of the Barnes 250X for handguns and I wasn't able to get the kinda expansion I had hoped for from them. In water jugs I got none that I could see. I did finally get some in water soaked newsprint. They "might" work OK on game but the bullets I've been using for so many years have worked so well most of the supply of them I have is still sitting on the shelf. I was pushing them really fast from a .454 Casull in my tests. I might give them another try in my .45 Colt rifle.

I fully agree with there being no need for such bullets for deer size game. Conventional cup and core bullets work fine for that especially from non magnums and that's all I shoot is non magnums. The only real "premium" bullet I use much is the Nosler PT and I just like those so well and they work as well on light game as on heavy that I am prone to use them a lot even if not really needed.

[beemanbeme]

The release said "a gilded metal FRAME"  That would be the outside wouldn't it??  If so, what is the core made of? 
You folks understand don't you that all of these various "tipped" bullets are just clones from the old Remington Bronze Point bullet.

[Graybeard]

If I recall correct this bullet is made up only of two pieces so the frame is the bullet and then it has the plastic tip. Those are the only two components of it.

I'd not call them a clone of the Bronze Tip but are perhaps imitators or follow ons to it. To the best of my recollection it was the first tipped bullet but I think I've read of others even before it. They can't be called clones exactly since it was a conventional cup and core bullet with the tip added ala the Nolser Ballistic Tip with plastic rather than the Bronze Tip of the old Remington.

But yes they are all somewhat similar for sure.

[Cheesehead]

I love the Remington Bronze Point in 150 grain 30 cal for 308 in my M1A, The deer love them, well, not so much. The Bronze point is very durable for multiple feedings in the M1A.

Cheese

[jvs]

In the not too distant future, you may not have a choice as to whether you want to use a Composite Bullet or not. 

I dont blame Nosler for wanting to come out with something 'new', but the reasons underneath it may not be so good.  Nosler does and always did make a good bullet. And since the U.S. Military is supposed to go to a non-Lead round soon, Nosler may be a competitor for a Military Contract.

For now, all I will say is that Premium bullets usually aren't worth the higher cost to me, regardless of performance, and I will use composite bullets only when I am forced to.

The same goes with Sinkers for Fishing. 

It is hard for me to be positive about this new round and not worry about the Enviornmentalists twisting Political Arms.  But that's another story...