Home Forums Hunting & Shooting Ask The Gunwriters Partitions...misunderstood?

Looks like my Winchester 180 grain "Power Point" that use for elk in my 30/06. Bob

Pappy,

That's been my experience as well. For a more reliable blood trail, shoot them below the mid-line of the chest.

For shorter blood trails (none needed) shoot them above the mid-line, right in line with the front legs.

Could not agree more. Still the best.

Old school Remington Core-lokt.

The round nose one?

Been so long I'm not sure.

They were still making the old-school (thick shank jacket) Core-Lokts in the round-nose models a few years ago, but it's been a while since I sectioned any. They quit making old-school Pointed Soft-Point Core-Lokts around 1990.

Those old .30 180 RN Core-Lokts would penetrate just about anything it seemed.

Then either way, these were old-school.

I once put three of them into a trotting young Doe and she kept coming. Number 4 into a shoulder when she stopped to look at me ended it. She was tore up something awful.

I agree with Brad. They have been around for a long time and are the gold standard. Of course there are other newer bullets that work well too. But, for me, it's hard to deny the ability of the partition bullet for any big game hunting.

Yep, guys that don't go to SPS are really missing the boat. And By a long shot too..

I had a m700 .270 in the late 1960s that loved core-lokts for accuracy, that combo made me look good at the range or deer camp.

This has been an interesting thread, and it got me to wondering about using Partitions in reduced loads. If the lead in the front half is softer than used in many C&C bullets (I'm thinking perhaps Interlocks, in particular), and the base keeps the momentum going for deeper penetration, it sounds like it would be an ideal bullet for use in a reduced load deer load, say a 140-grain NPT at about 2300 fps in a 7x57/7-08. It would probably still punch through our little southern deer and leave a good blood trail, but at the same time keep recoil and report to a minimum. Or am I missing something?

RM

I wouldn't think it a bad choice at those speeds, but then again, a cup/core of that weight is good at those speeds too. I've had good luck with the 140 NBT at those speeds and even slower. Punched through on lung shots. The Remington 140gr Reduced Recoil load is much the same and it kills fine too.

Mike,

Nosler lists the minimum expansion velocity of Partitions as 1800 fps, and I've generally found that to work out, though it also depends on rifling twist and what they hit, especially bone.The 140 at 2300 should expand easily out to at least 250 yards.

John:

That's sort of what I was thinking: just work out the trajectory and it should be fine within that range.

1800 fps is exactly what my chart from Handloader magazine of 180 grain .30 caliber shows for Partitions expanding. At 1900 fps the three bullets into the medium penetrated 18.3" with all three mushrooming and retaining an average of 171 grains. At 1800 fps the same load penetrated 57.7" and retained a 175 grain average with only one of the three slightly mushroomed. The best bullet on the chart of 38 different bullets expanding all the way down to 1400 fps with the classic mushroom shape is the 180 grain Remington round nose Core-Lokt. In our deer camp we never lost a deer hit anywhere with that bullet from the .308's and .30-06's.

I used the Nosler 150 Partition @ 3200 from a 7mm Rem Mag for East Texas and Georgis whitetail. Perfection, and no big bloodshot under the entrance hole. My friends 30-06/150 Winchester Silvertips made bigger mess...

Mike:

The most major point missing, is the ability for a 2300 fps reduced load to group tight enough, to allow for an accurate shot at the outer end of a 2300 fps load’s range, 275 yrds. (1811 fps), at deer sized game you mentioned you will be hunting.

2300 fps loads are not shown on Nosler’s site for 140g bullets.

At Nosler, click on the “140 Grain” load section at the top, you will see the three slowest fps 140g loads, with the best accuracy (* denotes best accuracy), are the following powders and fps:

Viht N150 – 2515 fps
H414 – 2538 fps
A-2520 – 2550 fps
https://load-data.nosler.com/load-data/7mm-08-remington/

To save yourself wasted time, you just need to bump the load up to the 2500 fps area, and determine which of those powders / loads will group in your rifle sufficiently enough for your satisfaction. 200 fps faster above 2300 fps will not be that noticeable in your quest for the lower recoil you are seeking.

Additionally, 2550 fps will allow for a flatter trajectory and ability to reach further out, if necessary, to 400 yards, where 1816 fps still allows for full expansion.

100 ft. - elevation
2300 fps 3.2 @ 100yrds., with a 200 yrd zero.
2550 fps 2.4 @ 100 yrds., with a 200 yrd zero.