Home Forums Hunting & Shooting Ask The Gunwriters ***Nosler v/s Swift*** Partion / A-Frame : Accubond / Scirocco

Actually considering their new 338 Fed. 338 cal offerings for a Hawkeye I picked up from the fire a few weeks back. Seems to be a lot of folks with a lot of confidence in those bullets and they seem to react the way I'd want.

Worth a try at least.

Nice!!

For deer and using a 338, I'd use the 200gr Ballistic Silvertip (same as Nosler BT) and not look back. Cheaper than the bonded bullets and I've not had anything, including a cow elk, stop one yet.

As I'm already set up with a supply of Swift bullets and a working load, unless it fails miserably I'll probably stick with it. I have, however, seen results of the 200 gr. BT's and they do work rather well.

Just not sure how folks push them to 2850+ from a 338-06 without pressure signs out the wa'zoo...

My load is 2750's and it's hot enough.

I will give my .02's based on my experiences...If it works don't fix it.I see way to many guys wanting to try the newest wizzbang idea's to sell bullets...

I have used Nosler Partitions for 50+ years and have tried about every bullet out there in my early years with disgust trying to save a dime..

The A-Frame is a great bullet and have seen it used many times but it ain't a Partition with the same "immediate" effect the Partition has.There is something to be said about the Partition and how it does what it does..

In Idaho I want them down and out as fast as can be if I do my job because were steep and deep where I hunt.Dead isn't really dead if I have to chase them down some real ugly canyon and tie them up to a tree(dead), just to gut them....

I have to use a bullet that works on Deer/Bear/Elk or whatever in one hunt here as there all open at the same time..Deer bullets are one thing and Elk another but to get one that works equally well on both,is a hard task..The single reason I use "Only" Nosler Partitions now!!!!!

I think Ray and JB are spot on, on this one.A guy shouldn't gamble these new bullets for maybe the one shot he may get.Some people read to much!!!!!

Just another opinion.

Jayco

can't get much better than that! what's the recipe?

Ooohhhh ... when will this project go public?! Looking for data for the same rifle ...

MD ... make some enquiries of Federal regarding the Woodleigh hydrostatic projectile. They are said to have tested and achieved some phenominal accuracy. Its a monolithic concave nosed 'solid' ... but a few have used them here now on medium/large soft skinned game and they are showing more internal damage then expected, ragged exits and straight line penetration.
Cheers...
Con

D2D: Just my read on it,but from what I have seen and understand, the gilding metal will be more brittle,more likely to fragment,shear,etc under high impact velocity,which is why Partitions,in general tend to shed the front cores and peel back to the Partition.(I guess this varies a bit with bullet weight and caliber,as gilding metal can be annealed to softenit and make it less likely to behave this way.IIRC Woodleighs are gilding metal,but annealed to keep them soft.)

In this regard they are very consistent,and behave much the same way at both short and long distance,but are less likely to form that classic mushrom shape we see with the Aframe.

Other than to shoot them, I have no experience with Aframes;but have used the old BBC a good deal;the Aframe was designed with some BBC characteristics(heavy copper jacket and pure lead cores),and they are in some ways similar.The BBC used pure lead for cores,bonded to a very heavy copper jackest.The more maleable(sp?)heavy jackets, bonded to the core,provide support for one another during high velocity expansion,and form a broader frontal area and IME are less likely to fracture or shed the expanded wings,maintaining a broad frontal area all the way through.It is not unusual for them to retain 95% of their weight even after a heavy collision.I have one 7mm here,recovered from an elk,that is expanded to app 60 caliber and still weighs over 155 grains IIRC.

Sometimes very high velocity will cause the wings to collapse back along the shank of the bullet,somewhat reducing frontal area;but the ductile jacket and core holds everything together.

I have been told that the quality of the copper and lead is very important,and can't be too hard or too soft;sorta just right to maintain proper expansion characteristics and still hold together under high velocity impact.

I do know the BBC(like the Aframe)is very tough and can withstand as much velocity as one can give them.This is why the maker recommended "minimum" velocity levels for them,to insure expansion and best characteristics of the bullet.

As to penetration, it is true that smaller frontal areas will generally result in somewhat less penetration,but equally true, I think, that this must be taken in context.And in my use of bonded bullets I have not had any problems getting more than enough of it in any BG animal,including some pass throughs and large exit holes. A lot depends on what gets hit,and the impact velocity.

Apparently you DO need an Abrams tank to kill deer if your shooting them with a 338-06. Sweet Jesus, they most go at least 1000 pounds on the hoof

Come talk to me when you using something shy of an Abrams.

My 338-06 shot the very best with 180 Nosler BT's, no longer made. The AB's are not quite as accurate but close. My other load is the 210 Nosler PT, very accurate but not quite as good as the 180's. The 180 is for deer/black bear and the 210's have been used on caribou and moose.

Don't worry, we in the east use what we have. Is the 338-06 bigger than needed for deer, yes but dead is dead. I will admit the last few years, I have been going all sub .30 caliber(7mm-08 and 280 rem being my focus) but still love the 338-06.

John
You probably know this, but overall, bonded bullets test out the most accurate in a range of calibers and bullet weights. I did a huge amount of range work in the 90's covering various bullet shapes and constructions and during one of those range days, I sent 17 targets to Geoff McDonald where the Woodleighs groups between the .3's to .7's in a range of heavy magnum cartridges over several rifles and shooters for that day.

My .30/06 is loaded with 150gn and 180gn Woodleighs and I have 220grainers on the shelf. There isn't much that this won't cover which can be deppressing if you let it get to you.

John

[quote=SteelheadApparently you DO need an Abrams tank to kill deer if your shooting them with a 338-06. Sweet Jesus, they most go at least 1000 pounds on the hoof

Come talk to me when you using something shy of an Abrams.[/quote]

My current "Go To" deer rifle is a 6.5x55se... I just enjoy rifles so I built a "do all" 338-06.