Home Forums Hunting & Shooting Elk Hunting A-Frame vs. Partition

Here they are. I just took the picture. They're all I have left at the moment (oh yeah, and my original .30 Newton). The Green Iron Fist ain't much to look at compared to Miss America (fitting name for a high maintenance, high performance, piece of arm candy ). But I took that .264 on all my hunts last year (two elk in Colorado, deer in Maine, skunked on Colorado deer and tag soup in NM and CA cause I couldn't go). And the .264 loves her 140 Partitions.

I have never had Partitions shoot under an 1" in any of the 10 guns I have tried them in. On the other hand, A Frames shoot one hole 3 shot groups in my 7 Wby with two loads, 140's @ 3225 fps and again at 3400 fps. Honestly I wish the PT's would shoot in my 280's but they won't. I like the A Frames and would choose them above any other premium. I like the North Fork premiums until they priced them above my means.

Did you find a good load for them 200's in your STA?

Plan to start trying them next month. Should have the new stock bedded by then.

exbiologist, I could hunt with your 264 and 358 and be happy doing so! Nice rifles......

Kodiakisland
its Scott right?

What stock you going with?

Performance-wise, I haven't really seen much difference betwen A-Frames and Partitions. From what I've observed, Mule Deer has given a spot on description of their terminal ballistics. One definite advantage of the Partitions is there are many more choices than A-Frames.

In my rifles, I've generally had better accuracy with A-Frames than Partitions, but there are exceptions. I don't recall any heavy for caliber A-Frames that didn't shoot well in my rifles and I haven't tried any light A-Frames. I've had poor luck with some Partitions like the 175 gr. .284 (7 RM), the 165 (30-06) and 170 gr. (30-30) .308s, and the 210 gr. in a .338 WM. My 7mm RM shoots other 175s well and the 30-30 is usually good with 170s. My '06 and .338 WM, however, just don't seem to like those particular bullet weights - so I'm not sure how to interpret that information.

My particular STA shot 280 gr. A-Frames as well as any bullet I ever tried in that gun. It grouped < 1 MOA out to 300 yds. Unfortunately that gun didn't shoot very well otherwise, possibly because there was a real shortage of good quality .358 hunting bullets. I'm a die-hard .358 fan, but for some reason (read .338 and 9.3), there hasn't been much recent interest in making heavy .358 bullets. There seem to be plenty of good low to mid velocity bullets to feed my 35 Rem., .356, and Whelen, but not much for the STA. I finally gave it up and went back to my 375 H&H that not only shoots almost anything well but hits harder than the STA. For those that are hanging on to their big 358 Normas, 350 Rigbys, and 358 STAs I'm glad to see that Woodleigh is bringing out some new .358 bullets this year and Alaska Bullet works is offering their 275 gr. bonded bullet again.

Its Dave.
I just got a McMillan supergrade (M70) in the mail today from MWarren. The old stock is an A-Square hamilcar stock. It's almost twice the size of the supergrade. Should make for a better handling rifle.

Thanks Randy,
They're a pretty festive little combination. Load development and plinking here in the yard is just about done, gonna spend some time on a real bench with her Saturday.

Dave,
Sorry about that wrong name thing. I remember when I first came to the Campfire in 2005 you were kind enough to chated with this new guy about the 358STA. I change my user name from RL KURTZ to STA......

exbiologist,
I load for the 264Win to. I like the 120gr Nosler B-Tip and H 4831sc.

I've got a handful of 100 gr Ballistic Tip antelope grenades loaded with N160, H4831, H1000, RL19, IMR 4350, 7828 and 4064, 140 gr Partitions and Speers with US869, 7828SSC, H4831, and Retumbo for the .264. Plus 4007SSC, RL19, IMR4350 and 4064 and N160 with 250 gr Speers and Partitions for The Green Iron Fist.
On top of that, I'm loading an antelope/plinker 100 gr Hornday in my buddy's .270 and a couple 200 gr Accubonds for his .300 Win Mag.
It better not rain on me, I got a lot of work to do.

Sounds like a fun day at the range....... :GRIN: I have not pulled a trigger in 4 or 5 weeks....... Need to get to the range and work up a load with my 257Roy and 100gr Scirocco II plus thinken about tring some moly....

I built a wildcat that predated the 358STA because I got my hands on a supply of 250gr 35 cal Bitterroots.I specified necking up the 8RM Mag case,and as JB points out I mostly necked down and blew out the 375H&H case.It gave a bit over 3000 fps with the 250gr bullets from a 24" 12 twist Krieger;it also kicked like hell,and shot as flat as a 180 gr 30 cal to 400 yards.

At the same time I discovered the 375H&H would propel a 250 375 at 2900 (faster in "loose" barrels),and dropped another 4" at 400 yards. It kicked significantly less and burned less powder.

It was a great cartridge but did not do much the 375H&H did not do,so like John B I concluded a magnum jug 35 is just a 375H&H in drag.When I saw results of the 375-250 Bitterroot on Brown Bear,I forgot about big 35's,and all the other medium bores as well, including the 338 and 340.

Randy,
I didn't know you were a 264 shooter.
I would like to try one some time.
So many rifles, so little free time!

Get a 7 STW. It makes everything else as a long range bomber look sub par at best.

I got some free time I'll lend you gainfully employed guys! <g>

(In this case, <g> stands for "groan")

I've been busting hump putting hardwood floors in my living room and kitchen this last week. MAN the floor is a long ways away from the rest of me! Turned out great though. Think I'll go shootin' today.

Uh... on topic, sort of... the .225-gn 35-cal Partition shoots very well for me out to 400 yards. The BC that Nosler states matches up well with my ballistics software FWIW.

Jeff,
You shooting the 35 cal Parts. out of your 358Winny, or do you own a Norma or STW?

Yeah, they're as bad as prairie dogs around here. When spring comes around every year, I just find myself a good "bear town" and after watching 'em pop up and down out of their dens all afternoon, I take my pick.

Tim, I load for a Model 70 Classic. A freind and I was at a gunshow and found a very nice one for 600 bucks. I told him if he buys the rifle I would load for him he did so I do.....


I also like the 264Win brass for my 257Roy....