Home Forums Hunting & Shooting Deer Hunting 85 gr Partition and 243

Well, I tried to sell my 243 and it didn't happen so figured I would start working on loads and give this thing a try. So as I usually do went to my Nosler book and started with their accuracy load and a partial box of 85 gr Partitions I had. I have not shot it yet but hoped to get some feedback on this bullet on deer. The load should be screaming out of the 24" barrel but this is my first attempts at shooting deer with sub .30 round.

I'll use the gun when I'm not still hunting in the woods. It will be in use when setup on large clearcuts or power line row's.

Thanks in advance

I am sorry that I can't give you any first hand info on the 85 grain partition against whitetails, but I do think it is interesting, and wouldn't hesitate to use them if they shot well out of my rifle.

Chip,

No doubt the load will do you just fine. In my rigs the 85 TSX has shot a fair bit better and if you don't pick up the type of accuracy you're looking for you may wanna give it a run as well.

Couple that with either a 87 or 75 V Max for practice and you'll be golden!

Dober

I've killed a handfull of whitetails with my Ruger 1 and 85 grain NPTs ...kills em' fine, ping pong ball size exit hole..
jmr

I'm sure it will be great, I've shot many, many deer with the 100 gr. Partition. The 85 gr. is what I'll be firing out of my 6PPC.
Selmer

I like the 95 grain Partition because I can practice with the cheaper 95 grain BTs and they shoot to the same POA was the 95 grain Partitions in all of my .243" bore rifles. If you shoot your deer through the lungs with either bullet, it isn't likely to go far.

Jeff

Works very well.It is the only weight PT I have killed deer with in my .243, and it does a fine job.Like someone else said, pingpong ball size exits, to maybe a fuzz larger.Good luck keeping one inside a broadside deer.

Thanks guys as I feel better. Now to find some shooting time to see how they shoot. I figure I going to prove that speed kills as this load should be shooting 3200+fps out of the 24" tube

Should work well. I did in 70 deer with the 85 gr Sierra in a cull program. They did the job.

I've shot two mule deer bucks with the 85 gr partions. I've been using the rather UNspectacular load of 43.5 gr of IMR 4350 with the bullets seated for an overall length of 2.680". This produces a mild 2952 fps at 55 degrees F from the 20" barrel of my Ruger MK II.

I was very impressed with bullet performance on the first buck. He was shot from above and behind as he looked over his shoulder at me from 85 yards. The bullet entered just to the right of his spine, broke 4 ribs, and exited from his lower neck. The second buck was a broadside shot at an estimated 120 yards and the bullet was, as you'd expect, not recovered.

I'm becoming a TSX fan but cannot fault this 85 gr Partition's performance in my limited experience.

ttpoz

That is another of my favorite bullets.Just curious, but out of the 70, how many were DRT?

I have a few of those Sierra's loaded into 6mm cases. They shoot well. I always figured that it would be a good year round bullet in the 243/6mm. The partition should hedge the bet a little on whitetails.

Ruger 1, Only 1 went more than 20 yards. That one went about 45 yards. I did a heart shot on him from about 80 yards. All the rest were all taken within 35 yards, almost all of these were neck shots because thats what the DNR wanted.

TJay,
Did you get an exit wound on the heart shot? How often on the neck shots?

85 sierra hollowpoint is poison them, sure the partition will do fine as well. Max load of IMR4350 worked great in 3 different 243s we have worked up loads for.

I used a 95gr partition out of a 243 for years with great results. Only used a medium load. I'd have no qualms about using a 85gr Partition.

I did get an exit on the heart shot. It was about 30% exit on neck shots. A good solid spine hit seldom made it out but it took out a lot of bone. A lot of times if the bullet had not deflected while busting up the spine it would have made it out. There was enough penetration.

Thanks TJay. I have used the 90 grain BTHP that Sierra makes for the .25 caliber. I took three deer with three shots out of a 257 Roberts with a 22 inch barrel. One spine shot, one neck shot, and one shoulder shot. Only the neck shot exited, but the other two made contact with bone, so I guess they acted like they were supposed to. All three deer were DRT, so there was no need to track them.

I had a friend shoot a doe in the ass as it was facing straight away from him. The bullet broke a hip on the right side,front shoulder, and was under the hide. Doe dropped in it's tracks.

I have three loads with this bullet that are all very accurate.

I have shot a boat load of animals with the 95g Partition in the 243 with 43.0g of IMR 4350, kills as good as any 30/06 or 270.

I have used the 85 gr. partitions and decided long ago that the partition bullet is at its best in .308 caliber and above..I have seen many deer shot with the small caliber Nosler partitions and in many instances they just don't leave a decent blood trail. The Nosler partition is my all time favorite bullet, the bullet by which I judge all others, but below 30 caliber I am not fond of them..They are pretty good in 284 and 270 but again I set my self imposed limit on Noslers at .308..I came to this conclusion from shooting many animals and observing many kills with them. Others may have had different experiences.