Nosler BT is excellent for this application.
Just look it up.
Nosler Ballistic Tip is made to expand at velocities less than Accubond. In fact lots of Internet 'chatter' claims the BT is a lousy bullet because it breaks apart upon impact at hyper velocities. Well, it is not made for hyper velocity at impact. It is made for modest velocity. It is a good choice for 2178 feet per second at the muzzle. You don't have to contact Nosler, you only have to go to the Nosler web site for confirmation, my friends.
http://www.nosler.com/ballistic-tip-bullet/
Scroll down to "Optimum Performance Velocity" and see that it's good down to 1800 feet per second.
So how fast is your bullet travelling at 200 yards? (Reduced load won't hunt at 500 yards, you know, so let's pick 200 yards). You grab the Nosler handbook and go to the Universal Ballistic Tables for the ballistic coefficient matching that 180 grain bullet (BC = 0.507). You look up the table for muzzle velocity 2100 fps and then glance down to 200 yard range. You find that it's velocity is 1802 feet per second.
Perfect!
If you want more velocity, drop down to 168 grain BT. Or 165. Or 150. Lots of good choices.
I'll also say, when you are testing a load for accuracy, you must use accurate bullets. Using crappy bullets, or bullets not intended for your application, will give you crappy results. You waste powder primer & projectiles and get nowhere. Using Nosler Ballistic Tip is a great choice. Our man Nature Boy did it right.
Good job, NB. Now I would experiment with seating depth to get the right 'jump' in the chamber, that will fine tune your 33 grain load. Sometimes a short jump, sometimes a medium jump, seldom a long jump. Work with it to fine tune.
Story: My buddy's 9 year old daughter begged to go deer hunting, he only had a 270 Winchester that was too much for her with factory ammo. Using Nosler Ballistic tip 130 grain I worked up a reduced load of H4895 and they are magnificent! Little Alexia loves it! She'll never shoot past 150 yards so the velocity is right in the ballpark. That reduced load made a hunter out of a little girl.
