Which bullet weight in the Nosler Partition for up to elk size big game? Will the 165 hit harder and shoot flatter?

JoelM

There isn't a whole lot of difference. I think more hunters would favor the 180, because it's going to give better penetration on big animals. But there just isn't a lot of difference.

Joel, I'd feel OK with 165 gr. Partitions, but I'd feel better still with 180s.........

As long as you use a good bullet, the .30-06 is still a great elk cartridge.

AD

15 grains of bullet weight isn't going to make much, if any differnce.IMHO!!

Reason I ask is because there was an old Sports Afield article titled "The Perfect 165" by an author named Dave Petzal I think. He had figures and drop charts which showed if one could handload 165gr bullets at 2900fps, it would shoot flatter than the 150gr and the 180gr bullets. I've been shooting 165BTs and Hornadys BTSPs with great results on deer for about 14yrs now. I'm going elk hunting and am trying to decide which bullet weight to use?

JoelM

Either will certainly do the job.

You have 14 years experience with one bullet, successful it seems, so why change?

165 BTSP is plenty for elk.

JMHO, I'd stay away from boattails when hunting heavy game like Bull Elk unless its a partition type bullet or a Barnes X type. You are going to want the deepest penetration you can get and BT's have a problem coming apart.

With a Nosler either bullet will work. Most bullets are made to give best expansion from 2000-2900 fps. If you drop below that velocity (around 400 yards in an '06) your shooting too far.

Joel:

This is the elk load I like to use in the 30-06. In my rifle, a 24" barrel Springfield, it is safe and gives me over 2800fps. 180 Nosler Partition over 57 grains of IMR4350. 7 Elk shot, none moved farther than 20 yards and dropped, all one shot kills. IMO this is an excellent testimonial for this bullet and load.

Merry Christmas

Jerry

I've killed lots of elk with the 06 based cartridges and Partition bullets. Allen Day wrote to the effect; "The 165gr is fine, but I like the 180gr better". I agree. Personally, even with most of the premium bullets, I feel that sectional density still counts for something. One thing about Partitions on the elk I have killed, whether it was a 200gr in a 30-06AI or 100gr in 243W, and many cartridges in between, the Partition has performed rather consistently, and with consistent results, in my experience.

Casey