Home Forums Reloading Big Game Rifles Nosler Partitions: Protected Point vs Standard

I must not have much attention for detail because I bought a box of 180gr 308 caliber partitions with protected points vs the standard kind. I've heard that the protected point partitions are used in magnum factory loads. Is there really a difference besides the point being mashed down?

I think they made the PP so you don't have to seat the bullet as deep as in the 300WM and have the mouth of the case encroaching on the ogive. They shoot the same to me, but the regular point has a little better BC if that is important to you.

The PP was designed for cartridges in the magazine to handle recoil by not getting battered as you might see with the pointed version. While battered tips don't affect accuracy much, they aren't pretty.
Some have found the PP's to be a shade more accurate than the regular version. My 300 WM seems to show a tiny bit better accuracy with the PP.
I'm guessing that a game animal will never know the difference.
Shoot'em with confidence.

I have been loading the 180 Nosler Protected Point because of the consistant accuracy. I can seat the bullet to the lands and the loaded round will function through the magazine ( Mod. 70 ). The killing performance is there, but you give up alot in BC .361 -vs- .474.
I really don't know if the BC makes that much of a difference in a typical hunting situation, I will leave that up to the experts here on the 'Fire. I would like to know, too !
Jim

this is what nosler claims as well.

The one down the pipe first may have a .474 BC, but in most magazines, numbers two and down are going to lose BC ground with every beating (shot) they are subject to. The PPs don't start out as high when loaded, but they are less inclined to change under fire.

What do your LR comeups reflect in requisite added erector travel to compensate,as the magwell is emptied downrange onto the same target? Thanks.

Correct...

Haven't considered that ! I am sure that you are right !
I might try the Swift A-Frames, they have a BC of .400 and are protected. I would think that they would shoot as well. Also, the ogive is such that I can get close to the lands and still fit the mag. box.

Add a flyspeck with number two, two for the next, and additional specks if he's moving away, this dependent on his speed of course. You're welcome.

Didn't figure you shot much.

True. Missing requires more shots of course.

Describe the hits,housed within a typical magwell filling. Thanks!

@2800 FPS the bullet with a BC of .361 wiil drop -8.4 @300 and -24.9 @400 with a 200 yard zero.

@2800 FPS the bullet with a BC of .474 will drop -7.7 @300 and -22.3 @400 with a 200 yard zero.

I confess that those differences are more stark than I'd surmised! That is over 2.5 inches at 400yds!

I've seen this dude called "Big Stick" get ALL horned up over differences in BC, drop, & drift much smaller than that!

I can't hold within 2 1/2 inches at 400 yards under field conditions, so I'm thinking I'm not going to be able to notice the difference.

In a hunting or target load those numbers past 300yds don't mean much. Reason is that until you get somewhere past 300 yds, you don't have to adjust the hold. Then if your adjusting for 20" or 50" it just don't matter so long as the load has enough velocity left to open the bullet.

Don't waste a minute worrying about it. Over usual hunting ranges, you will never know what it in the rifle if you mixed both versions up.

I can't do 2 1/2" off a bench at 300 much less 400!