Home Forums Hunting & Shooting Ask The Gunwriters Filing tip off Nosler Partition?

I have a 6mm-.223 AR and as such have short COAL restraints imposed by the magazine. I've taken a couple of deer with the 70 gr BT but have been underwhelmed by the terminal performance. I was wondering if I could file off the tips of 85 gr Partitions for shorter COAL without compromising performance. I know Nosler makes a protected tip design .30 cal Partition which is basically what I'm after. Thanks!
Sam

If it feeds ok i think it would work

It works fine. I have done it to "produce" flat-nosed bullets for lever-actions, including filing the 120 Partition down to the jacket for use in the .25-35 Winchester, and 210 Partitions for the .33 WCF. The front core of Partitions is a relatively soft lead alloy (much softer than the typical alloy used in cup-and-core big game bullets) and opens easily.

Thank you Mr. Barsness!
And good point howard1. I'll check feeding before I file the tips off a whole box of them.

I have filed a little off of some hollow points because they were a little long.
They were getting into the ogive and were still to long.

They still flew true.

John,

I had never thought about it... but do you think filing the tip off a 60gr Partition would help in a gun (1:14" 22-250) where stabilization is marginal?

In the end it means shooting a shorter bullet...

I can't wait to do the experiment!

Alvaro

Alvaro,

It didn't help when I tried it, but you never know.

There are two potential problems. First, rifle bullet stability is controlled by two opposing forces, the gyroscopic stability of the spinning bullet, and the air pressure on the front of the bullet, which tends to destabilize the bullet. If the frontal air pressure increases, it tends to detabilize even more--and a flat-nose bullet results in more frontal air pressure.

Second, if a bullet is marginally stable, even a small change in atmospheric conditions (colder air, lower elevation) can destabilize it--along with a drop in velocity due to a cold-sensitive powder.

I’ve snipped the lead tips off .257 Partitions and BT’s to get them short enough to stabilize in pre-1960 Savage 99’s in 250-3000. While still not as accurate as something like a 87gr .257 Speer Hot Core, it improved groups from 7”-8” down to 1.5” real easy. Probably could work up loads that do better.

I thought the experts decided that circumcision wasn't the best thing to do anymore.

Thank you for your reply, John.
Currently, stabilizati0n is marginal, but on the right side of the margin and filing it may increase that margin a little.
My shooting range is at 2,100 ft and where I hunt is 3,700+ so that may add a little more margin.
Temperature will be working against, as typically the huntig area will be 5-8 degrees C cooler.
I think you are absolutely right and I will not try them on game, regardless the results with so many good alternatives around, because I do not feel comfortable anywhere near a margin...
But I can't resist the experiment. Or I am not a loonie? :-))
Alvaro

This is true.

A real loony would just buy a new rifle chambered such that snipping and clipping are little more than a passing thought.

So this would require two rifles. Ye olde untipped MK versus the challenger.

I had a .270 Win ackley that shot smaller groups filing .020 off the tips

After reading what MD and others have said about filing tips on Partitions to use in lever actions I am willing to do it. Problem is I can't find any .35 caliber 225 grain "factory seconds" to try in my .356 Win. I guess I could just buy a box of them some where.