Home Forums Hunting & Shooting Hunting Rifles nosler partition

are partitions good deer bullets ? ive read where some guys say thats all they will shoot and some guys say stay away theyre only for bigger game that they wont expand enough, etc. im just curious. at 270 and 308 velocities particularly

The front cores of Nosler Partitions are relatively soft lead alloy. I've seen hundreds shot into deer and similar-sized big game animals, at muzzle velocities as low as 2300 fps, and they've always expanded.

Of course, many people apparently don't field-dress their own deer, so assume an exit hole that isn't at least the size of a golfball means the bullet didn't expand. But anybody who's field-dressed a deer killed with a Partition should have been able to recognize interior evidence of effective expansion.

I have killed a pile of critters with a 130 partition out of a 270 featherweight. My favorite combo.

I shot a lot of deer with Nosler 165 grain Partitions out of a 300 H&H before moving to Alaska. My wife shot almost as many with the same bullet in a 30-06. She shot a few with the 150 grain Partition in a 308. Yes, they work fine on deer.

I loaded the 180g partition for in my 30-06 for several years. The load wasn't fast, but very accurate. 56g of IMR 4350. I always got complete penetration on deer and the insides were pretty churned up. You don't need a partition for deer, but it doesn't hurt and it always worked for me.

I probably should listed the Nosler Partitions I've seen used on deer-sized game, with no expansion problems:

60-grain .224
85, 95 and 100 6mm
100, 115 and 120 .25
125, 140 6.5
130 and 150 .270
140, 150, 160 and 175 7mm
150, 165, 170, 180 and 200 .30
210 and 250 .338
225 .35
286 9.3mm
300 .375

Now, some of these killed quicker than others. In general, I've seen the same thing with Partitions as with other controlled-expanding bullets on deer-sized animals: The higher the muzzle velocity, and impact velocity, the greater the effect. But have yet to see one fail to expand, even 250 .338's, 286 9.3's and 300 .375's at 2400-2650 fps.

If I was inclined to shoot animals at long range, I would probably prefer a boattail with a high BC, but since all my game shooting is at 300 yds. or less, the Partition is my favorite hunting bullet for anything whitetail and up.

Some rifles I have owned seemed to dislike the Partition, and for those I have used a Barnes TTSX. They both work well.

130 Partition at 250 yds. Shot him in his bed. He never moved. They work!!

When hunting deer I find nosler partitions boring. One shot kills are too consistient, no opportunity to practice my woodcraft skills while tracking and difficult to catch one to examine and debate performance.

i may try the 130gr 270 i read some article saying the 150gr 270 was one of the finest bullets out there if u reload and can get 3000fps. too bad the federal premium load is a little less. but i may try the 130gr

150s at 2800 are bed medicine out of a .270. I wouldn't lose any sleep over not hitting 3K.

I'd like to read that article.

This has been my experience as well. I had a deer last year make it about 20 yards. So disappointing!

http://www.ballisticstudies.com/Knowledgebase/.270+Winchester.html

theres the article. scroll to where he talks about factory loads and then handloads. he goes thrrough different manufacturers including Noslers

Wow. That is one of the biggest bullschit articles I've read in well, ever.

9/11 caused manufacturers to improve factory 270 ammo, and pre 9/11 factory 270 ammo performed poorly? You have got to be freaking kidding me.

There was a lot of "information" in the article by the kiwi. A lot of opinion as well.

My only complaint is they don't come in light for caliber offerings. Would love to see them offer a Partition in something like a 120gr .284 and 125/130gr .308!!!! Other than that, it really is the old standard by which all others are measured. I know several who went on the whole cutting edge mono and bonded craze, only to come back and say, "really ain't nothing to improve on here". Without a doubt, the "most" reliable expanding of the premium stuff, especially true when used in the slower velocity ammo.

I've mule deer with Partitions. They died. I've killed them with bargain-basement factory ammo. They died. Deer ain't hard to kill. Probably the best deer bullet for the $$$ is GameKing.

I loaned my 300 H&H to my buddy for a caribou hunt. His guns were all stolen the week before the hunt and he didn't have time to buy one and get it sighted in in time for the hunt. He took a small caribou bull, (think large mule deer) with a 220 grain Partition. Had to be one of the fastest DRT's I've ever seen. The bullet was not recovered but the wound channel was impressive. When we returned his guns had been located and returned to him. Lucky guy.

One bullet does not a test make, but I'm quite certain even the 220 grain Partition would open up on a deer.

Agree with roundoak...boring and predictable.I've used them on deer out to about 400 yards,and in various calibers.The 270-130 is a wicked killer.

Where does this "they don't expand enough" stuff come from? IME they expand exactly as they were designed.