Home Forums Hunting & Shooting Elk Hunting Pick one.......185 XLC or 210 partition for elk

I am likely splitting hairs on this question, but I am curious what you all think. Knowing the characteristics of both Barnes X bullets and Nosler partitions, what do you think would make a better elk round for a 338-06 imp�����.185 XLC or 210 partition?

Me thinks I can get the XLS�s to shoot between 2900 and 3000 fps in a 338-06 imp and the 210 partitions over 2800 fps. The XLC�s seem to have a better B.C. at .437, the 210 partition has a B.C. of .400. Therefore, the XLC should have a better trajectory due to a higher a �starting� muzzle velocity and better B.C., but, what about penetration? What bullet will handle a big heavy elk shoulder the best? Has anybody used 185 .338 bullets on elk size game? If so, what kind of performance have you had?

Ted

FWIW:

Both are fine. Only way to separate 'em is to load 'em up and see what shoots!

BMT

I haven't used the 185xlc on elk (until the triple shocks came out, I havent been able to get good accuracy from barnes but that is another story). I have however used 210 partition out of either a 338 or a 340wby on more than 2 dozen elk(3000 to 3250fps). The performance out to 500 yards has been outstanding. If broadside and the shoulder is avoided, racquet ball sized exit wounds-and they have never gone more than 30 yds (most don't even take more than a step or two). If shoulders are hit, they won't always exi. (I like exit wounds)Out to 350 yards or so, I think you would get identical permormance. I'm a real fan of this bullet for all around hunting--ie deer to elk. It expands readily at long or short range and has the weight to punch through. Having never shot game with barnes bullets, I must rely on reports of others which usually are very good. Let us know how the xlc and partitions shoot. I would definitely steer clear of the 200g ballistic tips and hornady spire pts. I've had poor performance from both on elk (though excellent performance on mule deer).

My hunting buddy killed his last 6x6 with exactly what you described, a .338-06 imp using 210 Partitions. It is about as close to perfect as you can get. The 185 XLC's are fine, but have not been very accurate in the 338's that we have tried them in.

the 210's are possibly the best 338 partition of them all....

Personally, I find no use for a bullet under 200 gr's in the 33's. The 210 Partition works great and I took my biggest bull to date with one. If you can get hold of some of the new 210 TSX's, that'd be the ticket!

I got copper fouling from hell and not anything you could call accuracy from Barnes. Partitions fly well out of the three rifles I've loaded them for and I don't get so many green patches before the bore is clean after shooting them.

I would agree if we're talking about regular X's... the new TSX's are nothing like the original X and don't foul any more than a Partition.

It's good to hear they changed 'em. My gunsmith replaced three barrels on custom rifles and he swore it was because they were shooting Barnes X bullets.

210 Partitions from my .338WM have pole-axed two whitetails, one shot at a mere 30 yards- a tough test of a bullet (big time heat/lung destruction and a golf ball sized exit).
Glen D. Summers has written favorably of them in past "Rifle's Hunting Annual" (a book I miss dearly, but that's another story) for use in both the .338-06 and the WinMag.
There are others, including at least one highly regarded Campfire contributor of unimpeachable honesty & experience, who refuse to use the 210, citing a pattern of failure in a variety of circumstances, favoring instead the 225 & 250 PT.
Mine will will be used on deer, and I'll go to the 230 Failsafe for anything bigger.

I would pick the one that shoots the best--either will do a great terminal job for you. I too didn't have alot of luck with the xlc 185 in my 340 wby but I expect good groups out to 300 yds. Remember one thing and this is just my opinion---I think barnes is pretty optimistic on their published co-efficients. I wouldn't really rate them to be any more aerodynamic than the nosler. AND a bullet that shoots accurately long range is going to have a better coefficient on it's way to the target than one that is not accurate. I would suggest you try and "buddy" up with someone and share some bullets as a test platform. ALSO--I would strongly recomend that the tsx could be much more accurate than the xlc coating--XLC's seemed REAL FINICKY in the guns I tried them in--like it took about a dozen "seasoning shots" before accuracy settled in.

210 partition . or the 210 TSX's if you can get them .

I'd go with a 200 gr Accubond or the TSX...

Spot

I haven't shot the 185's but have and still do shoot the 210 partitions in a 338-06AI. That bullet and some Varget is the ticket for my rifle. Call me lazy but I'm sticking with that combo. I burnt alot of powder coming up with this load. I've only had the rig one season but it took a 5x5 in OCT and an average whitetail buck in DEC. It runs just over 2800fps but it's always under an inch and occasionaly under a 1/2". I think Federal list their 338 Win mag 210 partition factory load around 2850fps. That combo has probably killed more bulls than we can count.
Jeff

Thanks for the info.

F15, how many grains of varget are you running behind your 210 partition?

Ted

Check your PM's

Nice thread as I am beginning to work up loads in my 338-06 with the 210 partition. I've used the 180 gr Ballistic Tips with good accuracy results but total bullet destruction on an average whitetail at about 60 yds. This year I loaded the 200 gr Nosler Combined Technology ST and accuracy sucked in plain language. I do not know if its the moly coating or what. The 210's are planned for a moose/caribou hunt in New Foundland and would suspect that these animals are going to be as tough as elk.

The Ballistic Silvertip are coated with Lubballox (I think that's the right name) not moly. I've had good luck with the 200gr BTs on pronghorn and cow elk out of a .338 Win Mag.

My .338 didn't like X bullets, but the 210 Partition worked fine on a big elk at 300+ yds. Broadside, entered behind shoulder, broke off shoulder and partially broke skin . Took him off his feet, but I did put a finisher in him.

My frequent hunting buddy has a .338 Win mag and I a .340 Roy; I have handloaded for both since the early '90s. while I haven't gone lighter than the 225-gr Nos Part, his load is the 210-gr atop enough IMR4831 to reach 3000 fps and groups at about MOA. He has killed elk, caribou, whitetail and mule deer (the only reason he uses his .338 on deer is one of his sons frequently grabs his Rem Ti .260 and the other his .270). Anyway, he has not missed or lost an animal with that load and the only bullet we recovered was from a nice Bob Marshal mule deer he took at ~ 400 yds. and that bullet traveled lengthwise through about 3' of venison parts. He doesn't want me to change bullets <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/grin.gif" alt="" />.

George

As my own 8,5x63 is an improved 338/280 you may call me a 338 looney. With litterally thousands of kills under her belt, this cartridge likes any bullet from 150 to 300 grain except the early Xs (only mediocre accuracy) and some meat destructing low weight (and cheap) softs. 250 gr Partition work fine. My favourite heads at the moment are 225 Nosler Accubonds, 225 TSX and 185 gr TSX (this one at 3k fps which still is not max) - good from roe deer to wild boar to moose. They even hit about same POI out tp 300 Meters.
Regards
RD