Home Forums Hunting & Shooting General Big Game when is a Nosler Partition not adequate?

Over the years the Partitions under .30 that I've recovered have averaged 62.4% weight retention, and the under-.30 AccuBonds 67.2%. The over-.30 Partitions have averaged 86.3%, and over-.30 AccuBonds 78.6%.

The point was the above stated "526 yard shot" which the poster that made the comment feels is a limiter for a Partition in wind. I just frankly disagree with that. At that range, comparing an equal weight/speed ballistic tip to a partition, the difference in drift between the two will be around 4 inches. If you can't compensate for that you shouldn't be shooting at that distance, because regardless both are going to be way off target in, say, a 10 mph cross wind.

I've shot plenty at range in wind, and inside of 550 yards (which is pretty much absolute max I'd shoot at an animal) the ability to adjust a few extra inches isn't a deal killer.

Personally, I wouldn't shoot an animal in a 10 mph cross wind at 526 yards anyway. Farthest I've shot a critter was a bedded antelope at 548 yards, ironically, with a 180 Partition. There was no way to get closer, and the wind was blowing directly at me. I had plenty of time, knew the rifle, and could get a solid "nest." One shot kill. But it's generally possible to get closer. Much closer, which to me is what hunting is all about. But that's a separate discussion...

Well, guess you don't respect a lot of folks then Brad who by the way are really really good hunters, they just are different from how you see your little slice of elk woods and go about your business. Just a silly moral superiority thing you seem to have, sometimes called an elitest attitude.

The most common element in your posts Brad as I peruse 24HC that seem to be commonplace with you is when you let your emotional attachment to things cause you to start your passive-aggressive little barbs which leads you to lecture us all on Brad's rules of personal conduct while hunting or going about life.

It was a bullet discussion. Don't turn it into something else. Start a thread on Berger's discussing their limitations. I'll chime right in...

Thanks mudhen. Maybe I'll give them a try again. I've heard the AB likes to be backed off the lands more than the partition as well. The sub par accuracy was probably my fault, since I ran them close to the lands, like I do with the partitions....

Unless it's on a rabbit in which case 'hydraulic displacement' is the ballistic mechanism of choice.

They are good Bullets. I kinda went back and forth for years but the last 5 years have seen a lot of ABs in camp. They work and yup, they want some jump.

The rifleman makes the rifle, not the reverse.

And I'd still rather learn the drift of a Partition than put my faith in a tinfoil bullet. But that's me.

IMO for smallish game like Coues or pronghorns at longish distances, placement is more important than using a "premium" bullet. For a shot like that, IMO it's best to use the bullet you've been banging steel with all year than to think you need a "premium."

There are some pretty good hunters here who regularly kill game with those tinfoil bullets.

The plastic tip is driven down the center of the lead and forces it apart...

Mule Deer has written that the plastic tip generally doesn't drive down the middle, but rather veers off to the side..

It's elemental, actually. A PT is made for the tip to expand and the base is made to hold together and give deep penetration. An AB is made to explode. The plastic tip is driven down the center of the lead and forces it apart. It opens up much faster than a PT.

I agree with that, but I'm speaking for myself and what I hunt... I just don't believe tinfoil bullets have any place place on elk. Should have made that more clear.

No sir, it's not.

I have had two instances where Nosler Combined Technology slugs (partitions) hit a rib going in on elk and never touched the far side of the body cavity. Both were 30 caliber 180 grainers starting out at about 3,400+ ft per sec from a Weatherby 30-378. I think that's just a bit too fast for that construction. Both bulls died within a few feet shortly there after, so I can't say they were inadequate.