Home Forums Hunting & Shooting General Big Game Partition, 30-06, 165 vs 180 for all-around?

For someone who wants to put together a 1 load, 1 bullet for every thing from deer to elk out of the 30-06. I generally see the 180 partition as highly recommended for elk out of the 30-06. It seems the tsx gets recommended in the 165-168 due to it's mono construction.

How does the 165 partition stack up to the 180? Is the 180 made "tougher" with a thicker partition, or is the only difference the weight, thus it can afford to shed more?

In deer sized animals I'm guessing the 165 might be a better fit, but does anyone have experience with the 165 partition on elk?

As an aside, what real-life range differences (velocity and drop) have those who've worked up 165 and 180 partition loads found?

Thanks,

JCM

jcm,

i'm sure that you'll get replies from guys who have shot a whole lot more elk than me, but...

i don't reckon that 15 gr bullet weight will make or break you either way...
having learned right here, on the fire, about the differences in construction between partitions of the same diameter, i gotta wonder if you might not be better off considering the 165 and the 200???

FWIW:

I would answer this question based upon shooting ability and terrrain.

180s are the standard. Don't leave them unless you have reason to do so.

165s shoot flatter, but unless you are likely to go beyond 300 yards, you might not get much benefit.

Thus, a guy on the dry side of the Cascades, with more open range might go 165, a guy on the coastal side (dense forest) might go 180s--better chance of an exit and blood trail in the think stuff, no need for super flat.


In the end though, we ar splitting hairs. Both kill stuff real dead, real well.

Choose one that shoots well in your rifle, practice a LOT and go hunting.

BMT

Thanks for the input.

200's aren't really in the running as they go (IMHO) beyond what is needed for the range of game.

If the construction is the same between the 2....which is really one of my major questions as johnw kinda hit on......then, BMT hit the important point with the shot distance and shooter's ability.

Assuming the shooter is up to it, at what range will the trajectory differences between the 165 and 180 really come into play?

Again, is the construction between the 2 the same, or is the 180 actually constructed "tougher" rather than just "heavier"? I don't know so I have to ask.

Thanks,

JCM

jcm,

i called nosler and asked the same question... the rear portion of the 150, 165, and the 180 are all the same... the change in construction comes with the 200, in which the partition is moved farther forward leaving a larger rear portion...
all else being equal, the 200 would logically be the pick for penetration in 30 cal...
once again, i'd not split hairs between the 165 and the 180, but i agree with bmt that the 180 is the standard, and i'd need reason to deviate from it..... john w

Thanks johnw. That answer's the construction question. So it appears that the 180 just has a little more frontal partition than the 165, but the rear partition is the same.

Thanks again,

JCM

BMT's reasons are sound and I believe he speaks from having elk experience as well.

I've hunted elk for as many years as I've hunted game and the 1st 3/4's of it has been with the 180gr. NP's out of a '06 for elk. The 180gr. seems to be the standard and since it falls pretty squarely between the 165 and 200 as the middle choice, it makes even more sense.

The 180's have very effectively taken some 14 or 15 bulls for me. They have never failed me in any way and many other dedicated elk hunters have had the same results. Some might say the 165's, when huntin' deer and not elk, makes more sense. Perhaps, but for one load in that one rifle, I'd rather go just a bit heavier than what I think appropriate for deer, if elk is also on the menu. My '06 loads are all loaded up with the 180 NP's and I'd feel totally comfortable grabbin' it for either deer or elk.

As has been said and is always the right answer, choose the bullet and weight that shoots best for you/your rifle, get a bunch of trigger time behind it......then kill stuff.

Good luck.

If we start the 165 grainer at 2900 fips and the 180 grainer at 2700 fips, the 165 grainer will drop 3 inches less at 400 yards (with both loads zeroed at 200). Also, at 400 yards the 165 grainer will be travelling 100 fips faster than the 180 grainer.

Personally, I wobble more than 3 inches at 400 yards, so the trajectory advantage is almost moot. Also, the 200 fips difference in velocity at the muzzle is reduced to a difference of 100 fips at 400 yards due to the higher BC of the 180 grainer, so that's not a big deal either.

The real difference to me is the difference in SD. The 165 grainer has an SD of .248, while the SD of the 180 grainer is .271. That is important to me, and becomes more important as the game gets larger.

Were I to choose between the two bullets for an all-purpose load, I would opt for the 180 grainer.

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I agree with everything BigRedhead says.

If the trajectory difference between bullets is greater than you wobble - use the bigger bullet. The 180 grain Nolser Partition has always done what I've asked of it - and then some.

Thanks for all the info and thoughts. I'm settled on the 180's unless for some reason I can't get them to shoot.....which I've not had a problem getting anything to shoot with H4350 in mine....but I could be surprised.

300 will pretty much be max distance for me. The vast majority will be MUCH closer.

180 rules. Thanks again,

JCM

I like the 180 Partition so well in the 30-06 last time Nosler was selling their 180 NP's in 500 count lots I bought them... $125 as I recall. Also bought 7lbs of H4350 and 1000 Fed 210's to go with em... should be able to fill up an ark with that combo. My current 22" bbl'd M70 shoots them right at 2,800 fps with 57.5 gr's H4350... a bit faster than any other 30-06 I've had.

I like the 165s..and have reloaded both.

**Find which bullet your rifle shoots most accurately and go with it.
If they both shoot the same...consider bullet drop for your hunting distances and choose accordingly.

Either of the Nosler Partitions are quality bullets ..and, placed well, kill elk dead..even in a .300 Savage Lever action starting at 2450..:)I know..:) Jim

I had the same thought as you except mine was 25 years ago. My rifle picked the 180 grain bullet. Instead of the Nolser, I use a Hornady "interlock". Works like a dream on everything I've hunted----lots of elk, muleys, whitetail, bighorn sheep, antelope, mtn goat, mtn lion, a couple black bears & this a WY moose.
You can't go wrong with the 180 grain. My load is 56 grains of IMR 4350 & Winchester primers. Good hunting. CB

Amen to the 180 Hornady! Great bullet and agree, let your rifle choose.

Hey, I"m hijacking this info! I just bought a 30 06 and was pondering the same. I'm going 180. I"m slightly torn between the Nosler Partition and the Barnes MRX or Barnes TTSX....hairs to be split? Oh yeah...Primarily after (Mature) whitetail and possibly (fingers crossed) Elk....ah...if only..

I favor the 165g bullet myself. As a kid I remember the older hunters telling me to use 150grain on deer and 180 grain on elk. I think mainly because that's the choice that was available at the sporting good stores in the 60's.

When I started to reload and looked at BC and retained energy downrange, the 165g seemed the winner. And as a skinny young man in the early 70's the 165g offered slightly less recoil ( or at least I thought so) The biggest Bull elk I've ever shot was with a 165g Nosler Solid Base out of a 30-06. I just never saw the need for the 180. Especially with todays premium bullets.

I now use Barnes 165g TSX in both my 30-06 and 300WSM. I've killed a bunch of elk with the 165g TSX out of the 300WSM. But I think it would make an excellent bullet weight for a 30-06 for both deer and elk, in ethier the Partition or TSX.

i don't use NP's, but in the TSX the 180 ranges almost as good as the 168gr, I like the extra bullet weight just in case especially when moose hunting with an 06

MPH, in the TSX line I use 165/168's in the 30-06... since they penetrate as well as the 180 Partition I really can't see a need for the 180 TSX.

I had to make this decision last fall before going elk hunting as I was taking a .30-06 for the first time. I chose 165g North Forks and dropped 2 cow elk with them. The ranges weren't very far (about 25 yards, if that, and a lasered 126 yards) but the cows dropped when hit. Both got back up and were immediately dropped again with another North Fork when they did so.

I use 180g North Forks in my .300 Win Mag and will likely stick with the 165's in the .30-06.

i like one gun, one load for everything. i shoot an 06' and use 180gr partitions. that combo has worked well on elk and deer this and previous years, so i won't change. i also like the simplicity. of course, i suspect a fellow could do the same with 165gr.