I have a 30-338 that is a pretty good shooter. I have only about 200 rounds through it. I have shot 165gr. Siera's and 165gr.Spear grand slams. They shoot into an 1"@ 100yds or better. For a bison hunt on short notice, I loaded up some 200gr. speer bullets that I bought at a garage sale for practice and load developement. I was suprised to see that they shoot as well as the 165's.
I purchased a box of 200gr. Nosler partitions because this is what I want to use for the bison hunt. Their point of impact is different than the speer 200's and the partition's group opens up to 2 and a half inches.

I have tried several powders in my gun and it seems to like IMR 4350 the best. In all bullet weights. It is the only powder that I tried with the partitions.

What should be the first step to try to get these partitions to shoot? I really like the partition bullets preformance on game. If I have to I will try anouther premium bullet but for now I would like to see if I can get these partitions to shoot.

Any sudjestions are appreciated.

Thanks,

Daryl

I would say try other powders as well - I am also guessing that the ogive on the Nosler is/may different than the Speer - you may want to play with seating depth a bit more. Make sure those Noslers don't have to jump any more than the Speers did.

I would mess with every part of the equasion in a deliberate manner. Seat the Partitions just off the lands then start going up and down the scale in your chosen powder - then switch powders ect. I am sure you will eventually find the one that gives the best.

It may be that partitions don't shoot well for you but that may be more dependant on what you require - if I get a partition into 1" I am ok with it - others aren't happy unless it's .750 but I am guessing that more expirementation is needed.

First, not all bullets, even of same weight, will shoot to the same POI. Do you know the bbl. twist rate? It may be too slow for to stabilize the longer 200grNP. 4350 in any flavor is too fast for the heavier bullets in a .30mag IMO. I would give IMR4831, RL19, RL22 & H4831sc a try before giving up on the NP. You need to get the vel. up to stabalize the longer bullets. I use the NP almost exclusively in several diff. rifles for hunting. I have no problem getting any of them to shoot @ 1MOA.
http://recipes.alliantpowder.com/rg.taf?_function=centerfire&step=2&bulletID=370&cartridgeID=1075&caliber=%2E300&cartridgedescr=Win%2E%20Mag%2E&bulletdescr=Sierra%20200%20Spitz%20BT
www.hodgdon.com/data/rifle/300winma.php

If I had to venture a guess, I would say that it's probably a twist rate problem. Not enough twist to stabilize the partitions.

Throw them in the trash and load some Barnes TSX bullets. These will shoot good and will perform like a bullet should. You don't need 200 grains either. 165's are fine.

The best my 308Norma was loose 1 1/2" with 180sNP,with same powder 5/8" was an average with Sierras.With my 338WM same story except this time it was Hornadys.

A suggestion is a bit faster powder,but you are are ready using one. I just gave up and used Interbonds and Accubonds.In fact the Accubonds tightened an already very good group up.

I have a 30-338, but have never shot bullet weights heavier than 180 grain primarily because a 180 partition has gone clean through anything I ever shot it at! I use H4831, the new SC version is a joy to load, and find it to be extremely accurate. My sense of it, playing with various bore sizes based on that case, is that 4350 is slightly fast for that weight 308 bullet. I think you'd get a better match with RL22 or 4831 or AA3100. These are all similar. You may also want to check your twist as the 200 is getting up toward the top of 308 bullet weights. If it is a twist thing, sell the bullets and go with 180's. Kudude

I have some 165 gr. Nosler partitions sitting on the shelf because I could not get them to group well. I tried a lot of powders and seating depths. I switched to the Barnes X 165 gr. bullets and they shot very accurate. My groups are consistently tight.

If I were to shoot a Bison with a 30 cal, it would not be with a Nosler, but a TBBC, Swift A frame, or better yet a Barnes TSX.

Well, that is an aggravating situation, to be sure.

For starters, if the 200 grain Speers shoot so well you might just want to use them for the bison. The Partition is a better bullet but a 200 grain Speer is pretty well put together.

But if your set on the Partition I would consider dropping down to the 180 grain version to see if your gun shoots it better. It may be possible that your rifle twist is such that the 200 grain Partition just will not shoot well no matter what.

Then again, you may just have to switch to a different burning rate on the powder to alter the barrel vibration.

I once worked with two identical Remington model 700 rifles chambered in 300 Win Mag. I worked up loads for the first one and found that it shot best with IMR 7828. When I approached the second rifle I found it would not shoot for beans with that powder. I had to drop to the much faster burning IMR 4350 to get it to shoot as well. You just never know.

R F

I haven't had much luck with Nosler Partitions in any caliber; groups generally open up 50-100%. That said, I've never tried to develop a load exclusively for the Nosler Partition bullet.

You're shooting a 30 caliber - if your rifle likes 165 gr. Speer Grand Slams, why would you want something else? The Grand Slam is a stoutly constructed bullet that should give you a exit hole.

I'm with Terry B--the bullets he mentioned will out penetrate the partitions. Got any buddies that load that could share a box with you?
Another recomendation would be the northfork bonded bullet.

I've bitched about Nosler bullets myself, but I've never had a case of poor performance in the .30 caliber Partitions. I hunted South Africa lst year with a .30-06 and 220 grain Partitions with IMR4350 powder. Every head of game hit with a Partition was dead meat, and in practice, the load shot under and inch. I don't have problems with Noslers.
LLS

I gave a box of 150gr partitions to my friend they only group about 3.5" at 100yrds in my Remington 300 WIN MAG. They group real good in his 300 Winchester Short Mag .600 and less at 100yrds. Nosler Balistic tip 150gr group around .600 at 100yrds. I am going to try some heavier Partitions and see if they group any better they may have been to short.

Probably your gun will not shoot Noslers partitions, the next guys guns will not shoot TSX, thats the way it is with guns, has nothing to do with anything....

Try the TSXs, everyone saying they are good, but I wonder who has actually used them extensively on game..I had one fail miserably this year but that means nothing other than it failed. the next 1000 may be perfect...I know Noslers are good Cape Buffalo and Bison bullets as I have seen them used on both species on nemourous ocassions...I know the older BarnesX will work on Buffalo but have seen failures on smaller game with both the old BarnesX and the Failsafes....

Try some Woodliegh bullets on the Bison, they always seem to work and the Northforks never fail on anything, never as far as I can tell...

NO one has mentioned the 220 grain Partition. Most people never think of it, but it is my favorite 30 caliber partition.

Its length and shape seem to be easier to stabilize and it's Semi Spitzer Shape is what I prefer. I think they open up easier and you have more bullet weight if you are looking for punch.

Just my opinion, and not based on fact, just personal experience, the real slow powders like 3100, or H 1000 etc, seem to give better accuracy in my 300 Mag, than say 4350 or 4831 or even 7828.

A little hot, but my Browning A Bolt does a good job with a 220 grain partition with 83 grains of H 1000 for an MV of 2950 to 2975. It won't break 3000 but it sure is flat shooting and sure packs a Wallop!

Cheers and good shooting
seafire

Partitions aren't made for accurracy!!!! They're made to kill s...!!!! If your rifle doesn't shoot them as well as others....so be it!!! 1.5-2.5" is definitely "Minute of Buffalo"!!!! I don't use them but have loaded them for other folks who read the gun rags and just think they need them......not anything to write home about in the accurracy department but they do KILL!!!!! Other bullets will suffice just fine!!!! GHD

Yukoner ----- Try the North Fork bullets and you might just see a light at the end of the tunnel. Good luck and good shooting.

What Phurley said! I've never gotten the best accuracy from Partitions but must admit that their performance has been very good for me. I finally got fed up with them in my .338 however & went to the Northforks. Like night & day. You might try several more powders with the Partition & play with seating depth but I wouldn't spend a lot more time on it.
Bear in Fairbanks

quote:

Originally posted by Terry Blauwkamp:
If I were to shoot a Bison with a 30 cal, it would not be with a Nosler, but a TBBC, Swift A frame, or better yet a Barnes TSX.

Yuppers.....I agree

2.5" at 100yds...

How many MOB is that?

What is MOB? Minute of Bison.

WHY do you "need" it to shoot "tight groups" to kill an animal?
Particularly as large and as hard to miss animal as
a bison?

for a whitetail deer if all of your shots land in
a 5" circle (the Size of a CD) at 200yds this is more than good enough.

On a Bison that circle is easily the size of a full size Pizza at 16" diameter.

I'll admit that shooting Sub-MOA groups is confidence inspiring, but I question how necissary it is....

As for the partition, EVERY rifle has different preferences it's possible that it isn't the bullet your rifle doesn't like but the propellant you are using with that bullet.



AllanD

Each rifle is an entity unto itself. You just have to experiment until you find out what will work. Possibly your barrel twist is causing you problems with that particular Nosler bullet. To a certain degree the effect of the rifle twist can be offset by the bullets length and configuration.
I would think IMR4831 or one of the VihtaVouri slower powders would work well for you. After you've found the best powder and bullet for the rifles twist then you still have to determine the best seating length. It's a rather intricate process. I wish you well with it. Best wishes.

Cal - Montreal

My dad has been using 200gr NP in his 30-338 for as long as I can remember, for his gun they work well. He uses IMR 4831, I cant remember the actual load right off the top of my head but he has always used the same thing.