Bob,
Of course, like you when working with Partitions (or any other expensive premium bullet, whether Barnes TSX's, Swift A-Frames or whatever) I start with a cheaper bullet of similar weight, usually either a Hornady Interlock or Sierra GameKing or ProHunter. When I've found a powder and charge that works pretty well, then I switch to the more expensive brand, and almost always find it will shoot with a similar load.
Mule Deer, I fell into the same practice some years ago when I read about it in a gun magazine. Some rifle nut in Montana named John Somethingorother wrote about it. I thought he was likely bullshitting, but tried it and sonofagun if he wasn't right.
I guess some of them gunwriters might actually have it right every now and then.
