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Nosler Trophy Grade 6.5 Creedmoor 120 gr Ballistic Tip

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Ammo Reports Team 3 6.5 Creedmoor

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Official Specs

ME note: The listing publishes 2,251 ft-lbs; the calculated value at 2,900 fps and 120 gr is 2,241 ft-lbs — a 10 ft-lb discrepancy likely due to rounding differences. Both figures are within normal tolerance. This page uses the calculated 2,241 ft-lbs as the ballistics reference.

Ballistics Table

Calculated. Zero: 100 yards. Sight height: 1.5″ above bore. BC (G1): 0.458 (Nosler Ballistic Tip 120 gr, published).

Key takeaway: at 2,900 fps with a BC of 0.458, the 120 gr Ballistic Tip delivers a flat, fast trajectory well-suited to deer and antelope hunting at 100–350 yards. At 300 yards the load carries 1,525 ft-lbs with only 19 inches of drop from a 100-yard zero. The thin-jacketed Ballistic Tip design provides explosive expansion on thin-skinned game — the defining terminal characteristic that makes this bullet both excellent for deer and less appropriate for heavy game like elk.

The Nosler Ballistic Tip Bullet

The Nosler Ballistic Tip is one of the most widely used polymer-tipped hunting bullets in North America — introduced by Nosler in 1984, it was the original commercially successful polymer-tipped hunting bullet and set the template for the entire category:

• Color-coded polymer tip — orange tip for the 6.5mm / .264 caliber; Nosler uses color coding to identify caliber; the tip initiates expansion on impact
• Thin copper jacket — specifically engineered for rapid, violent expansion on deer-sized game; the thin jacket peels back quickly to maximize energy transfer
• Boat-tail base — reduces base drag for the published BC of 0.458
• Not bonded — the Ballistic Tip is a cup-and-core design; the core can separate from the jacket on impact; this is intentional — the fragmentation releases energy quickly, which is ideal for deer but can reduce penetration on heavy game
• Lead core — this is a lead-core bullet; not lead-free

The Ballistic Tip is best understood as Nosler’s deer hunting bullet. It is not their elk bullet (that’s AccuBond) and not their long-range bullet (that’s RDF). The thin jacket and rapid expansion are features, not flaws — they are precisely what makes the Ballistic Tip effective on deer.

Ballistic Tip vs AccuBond vs E-Tip — Nosler’s Three Hunting Designs

Nosler produces three distinct hunting bullet families for 6.5 Creedmoor:

The Ballistic Tip is Nosler’s most affordable hunting option and the right choice for deer-sized game where explosive terminal performance is the goal. For elk or tougher game, AccuBond’s bonded construction is more appropriate.

Variants

This page covers Nosler Trophy Grade 42050 · 6.5 Creedmoor · 120 gr Ballistic Tip only.

Nosler’s 6.5 Creedmoor Trophy Grade lineup includes:

• Nosler Trophy Grade 6.5 CM 120 gr Ballistic Tip — this page
• Nosler Trophy Grade 6.5 CM 140 gr AccuBond — bonded elk load
• Nosler Trophy Grade 6.5 CM 142 gr AccuBond LR — long-range bonded
• Nosler E-Tip 6.5 CM 120 gr — lead-free option

Best Uses

Good fit:

• Whitetail deer, mule deer, and pronghorn antelope at 100–350 yards — this is exactly what the Ballistic Tip was designed for; rapid expansion on thin-skinned game at hunting velocities
• Feral hogs where aggressive expansion and high velocity produce decisive terminal effects
• Open-country deer hunting where the flat trajectory at 2,900 fps minimizes range estimation errors
• Hunters who specifically want Nosler Ballistic Tip factory loads with Nosler’s own premium brass

Not the right tool for:

• Elk — the thin Ballistic Tip jacket can fail to penetrate deeply enough on elk shoulder bone; Nosler’s own AccuBond is the correct choice for elk
• Lead-free requirements — lead-core; see Nosler E-Tip 120 gr for California hunting
• Long-range hunting beyond 400 yards where the BC of 0.458 produces steeper drop vs higher-BC alternatives
• Self-defense — not designed or rated for it

Reliability Notes

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General notes:

• The Nosler Ballistic Tip has a decades-long track record on North American deer — it is one of the most field-tested deer hunting bullets ever made; factory loads by Nosler apply the same bullet Nosler sells to reloaders
• Nosler Trophy Grade brass is among the most highly regarded reloadable brass in North America — consistent dimensions, reliable primer pockets, and excellent case life; this is a meaningful differentiator vs some competitors
• The Ballistic Tip’s reputation for occasional explosive expansion at high velocity (inside 100 yards) is well-documented — some hunters report significant meat/hide damage on close shots; for shots inside 75 yards, a heavier, more controlled bullet may be preferred
• At $2.65/round this is mid-to-premium pricing for a non-bonded polymer-tipped hunting load; comparable loads from Fiocchi and Ammo Inc use the same Hornady SST bullet class at lower prices

Competitors

Price Reality

• Typical retail range: $51–55 per box of 20 (~$2.55–2.75/round)
• vs. Fiocchi Hyperformance SST: Fiocchi runs $13–17/box less for a higher-BC polymer-tipped load (SST BC ~0.527 vs BT ~0.458) — the Ballistic Tip’s Nosler brand and brass justify some premium, but the BC gap is real
• vs. Nosler E-Tip (same weight, lead-free): E-Tip runs $8–12/box more for lead-free compliance — the Ballistic Tip is the value option within Nosler’s own 120 gr lineup
• Nosler brass premium: Nosler Trophy Grade brass is legitimately valued by reloaders — if you reload, the premium over Fiocchi or Ammo Inc is partially recovered in brass value
• Fair price benchmark: under $54/box is reasonable for Nosler Trophy Grade; above $58/box loses ground against the better-BC Fiocchi SST

Where to Buy

Affiliate links. These do not influence ratings, data, or any editorial content on this page.

• MidwayUSA
• Brownells
• Palmetto State Armory
• Natchez Shooters Supplies

FAQ

Is the Nosler Ballistic Tip appropriate for elk?

Nosler themselves do not recommend the Ballistic Tip for elk — their AccuBond is their elk bullet. The thin jacket designed for rapid expansion on deer can fail to penetrate deeply enough through the heavy bone and dense muscle of elk, particularly on shoulder shots. Multiple field reports document Ballistic Tips “blowing up” on elk shoulder without adequate penetration. For elk, use Nosler AccuBond, Federal Terminal Ascent, or a similar controlled-expansion or bonded bullet. For deer and antelope, the Ballistic Tip is excellent.

Nosler Ballistic Tip vs Hornady SST — which is better for deer?

Both are polymer-tipped hunting bullets designed for deer-sized game. The key differences: SST uses Hornady’s InterLock ring for better core retention, has a higher BC (~0.527 vs ~0.458 for 120/129 gr comparison), and is available at lower prices through Fiocchi. The Ballistic Tip’s thin jacket produces slightly more explosive expansion — more violent energy release, potentially more tissue disruption at the cost of less penetration depth. For deer at 100–300 yards, both are effective; the SST at a higher BC and lower price through Fiocchi is the value choice.

What does the orange tip on Nosler Ballistic Tip mean?

Nosler color-codes the polymer tips of their Ballistic Tip bullets by caliber — orange indicates 6.5mm / .264 caliber. Other calibers use different colors (yellow for .243, white for .308, etc.). This is purely an identification system, not an indication of different construction or performance. All Ballistic Tip bullets in the same caliber are identical regardless of which box they come from.

Is Nosler Trophy Grade brass worth the premium?

Yes, if you reload. Nosler Trophy Grade brass is manufactured to tighter dimensional tolerances than most factory brass — consistent case walls, reliable primer pocket dimensions, and excellent case life. Reloaders who fire and reload cases multiple times get meaningful value from Nosler’s brass quality. If you do not reload and will discard fired cases, the brass premium is not recovered and a less expensive load becomes more attractive.

Submit Your Data · Real-World Results

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Last updated: April 2026 · Data confidence: Low (0 submissions) · Page will update automatically as submissions are approved.