Home Forums Hunting & Shooting Africa Poobah, Mule Deer, Need Bullet Advice

im prolly gonna wind up doing like the Poohbah and make my own though ill prolly use the less sexy No4 cause i like peep sights....

The Partition is a great, proven bullet and all I can tell you is my own anectdotal experience but Partitions have always been a hit and miss deal with me in the accuracy department. I used them in Africa with my 300 Weatherby with great results. But when it comes to penetration, internal damage and accuracy it beats any other bullet "by a wide margin". I switched everything to the TTSX except in my double and that's because of regulation issues...I'll close with this thought; My good friend just returned from a 21 day full bag safari, buffalo, lion eland to dik-dik. One rifle, one caliber one bullet; Barnes 270gr TSX....

Not disputing for one second any of the great things I've heard/read about the TSX,TTSX. I haven't seen near as many animals die as Hack, but I've killed over 200 BG animals, and seen another 100 or so die, so I do have a little experience with what works and what doesn't. I'll probably try some TTSX some day, and I tried to shoot some in my 7-08 but it likes AB's and partitions much better so I'll settle for that right now.

No issue there JG, but I know you visit the AR forums as well where there are literally hundreds of data (as opposed to anecdotal) on all the bullets in question and the TTSXs when it comes to accuracy across the entire caliber spectrum and penetration/internal damage are really at the top of the heap. Have there been failures particularly with the smaller caliber TSXs? you bet but every bullet's not perfect.

The TSX 150 gr .311 works very well in my #1 303. My #4mk1 shoots lights out with a hand swageed 200 gr semi spitser at .312. That rifle patterns .308 bullets. I cannot use 4350 as it is too much volume. H414 or R15 works very well.

Nosler Partition is never a wrong choice. They are a benchmark for me. That said, I use TSX and TTSX preferably these days, and have for a long time. If you made me use only NP's I wouldn't worry a second.

Classic cartridges requires classic bullets.
I suggest Woodleigh Weldcores in the heaviest bullet weights as most follow traditional Kynoch Design. Also shoot well and perform reliably in those cartridges.
John

Pete, a short hijack here: if you are not planning on it already, strongly comsider a tour of Etosha.

" One rifle, one caliber one bullet; Barnes 270gr TSX...."
What Jorge said

Can't comment on the .303, as i've never fired one at a critter. As for the 7x57, We've used the 7-08 with the 156gr Oryx, an very pleased with it. From spingbok to gemsbok, it worked great for the Woman, and I. After seeing how well it worked for her, I used her rifle for my springbok, gemsbok, reedbok, warthog, and nyala. Only broke out the 9.3x74R, at the PH's request for the zebra and eland. Well, that, and I had to shoot something with the rifled barrel of my drilling! The Norma 156 Oryx is a great bullet for 7x57-7-08 speeds. We did not recover a single one, and had mostly "bang flops".

Jeff

My 14 year old used the 160 gr AB at 2650 fps in his Walther 7x57 last June to take all manner of critters down there. Here's his first.



And last.

Already arranged!

Pete, why are you not a fan of mono metal bullets in expanding form? I am not trying to rile you up, just want to know what you think.

Two fantastic calibers that will serve you well. Another vote for the T/TTSX's if they do well in your rifles. I have not used my 303 for hunting per se, but when my 375 was doing duty elsewhere I helped putting down a wounded kudu with the 303 and 180 gr factory PMP loads with which worked admirably.

Knock 'em down.

Not going to knock the Partition, it's record stands for it's self. Personally, I have pretty much converted to the TSX/TTSX for big game, and the VMax for varmints. However, I have seen the Partition do tremendous surface damage to the critter before penetrating. Often a lot of the shoulder is lost to the bullet damage. With the Barnes, you can pretty much eat up to the bullet hole. I like that. I choose Barnes.

It basically boils down to an amalgam of personal prejudices.

Plus this is going to be a "retro" safari. I'm thinking traditional cartidges with (somewhat) traditional bullets.