All of my rifles shoot Nosler Partitions as well as any other bullet and I don't keep a gun long that won't shoot an inch. I feel they are the standard by which all hunting bullets are judged, if anyone has a good bullet, the first thing they will tell you is they are a better bullet than a Nosler, that about says it all for Nosler and the Quarter horse!

considering the Nosler Partition is a big game hunting bullet some things come to light and I will pass them on as food for thought only.

1. I would rather shoot 2 inch groups with a premium bullet than 1/2 inch groups with a non premium for hunting...

2. I would rather have a gun shoot 2 inch clover shaped groups than a 1 inch gun that strings them..

3. I would rather have a "consistant" two inch gun than a finicky gun that shot '/4 inch groups, now and then and only with one load or would not hold its zero.

I could go on but the point is a consistant honest hunting rifle that feeds and can be depended on under all circumstances is a joy to own and pin point accuracy is really not that important to get the job done, but its always nice to have a 1/4" gun that holds its zero, and shoots all loads to the same POI day in and day out, and most of mine come fairly close to that. It only took me 60 years to find a few of them that would..

The only sub moa Partition I ever shot was the 85 grain 243 in my savage 110 (that gun was shooting in the .4's with 70 grain Hornady's at the time.) All of the 7mm and 30's that I've tried seem to shoot around 1.5".

If you find a solution I would like to know you are getting better groups than I am with Partitions.

1.5" groups will be accurate enough to kill any deer I have seen. Bullet placement is the key.

I read the debates about bullets and always gather that Nosler Partitions are the standard that all hunting bullets are compared to, some better, some worse. I've tried at least six different Partitions in three different calibers and never have got groups better than 1 1/2". All the rifles shoot Ballistic Tips, AccuBonds, and Sierras into 1/2" groups when I do my part. Am I expecting too much from the Partitions, or is there something I'm doing wrong?
Thanks,
Jeff

The only partitions I have tried usually gave roughly double the groups as BT's in the same weight...They just aren't made for accuracy, and 1.5" is plenty for game at reasonable ranges. Don't beat yourself up trying to get them sub MOA...t'aint worth the trouble!

Jeff57: According to my loading log I have shot Rifles (with typical Hunting powered scopes) using my tailored handloads and Nosler Partitions making groups UNDER 1 M.O.A. in the following calibers:

243 Winchester

6mm Remington

240 Weatherby

257 Roberts

25/06 Remington

270 Winchester

7mm Express

280 Remington

7mm Remington Magnum

308 Winchester

30/06

300 Winchester Magnum

I have never owned and shot a Big Game type Hunting Rifle that would NOT shoot handloaded Nosler Partitions into groups under 1 M.O.A.!

I find it "amazing" that our experiences could "differ" so dramatically!

Long live the wonderful Nosler partition!

Hold into the wind

VarmintGuy

Jeff57: Here goes:

6mm Remington: Winchester brass, Federal 210M (BR) primers, Nosler 85 gr. Partitions, 45.5 grs. of IMR 4350. Approach with caution as the NEW Nosler book shows 45.0 grs. of IMR 4350 is maximum.

270 Winchester: Federal brass, Federal 210M (BR) primers, Nosler 130 gr. Partitions, 59.5 grs. of H 4831. Approach with caution as the NEW Nosler book shows 59.0 grs. of H 4831 (sc) as maximum.

300 Winchester Magnum: Winchester brass, Federal 215 primers, Nosler 165 gr. Partitions, using a "hefty" load of IMR 4831! This loading could just be a North American "all around" Big Game Hunting load! Antelope to Big Bears!

Good luck!

Hold into the wind
VarmintGuy

VarmintGuy,
Looks like you have mastered all three calibers I'm messing with, could you share your loads for 6mm Remington, 270 Winchester, and .300 Win Mag? Thanks for everyone's input,
I don't feel so bad now.
Jeff

Just a reminder to give them a try at longer ranges. Sometimes guns/bullets that shoot 1.5" at 100 yds do really fine out there at 300 yds---AND sometimes combo's that shoot really good at 100 yds tend to fall apart at longer ranges. My experience with partitions is that they are pretty good shooters. Probably not in the category of ballistic tips or match grade but pretty darn good.

I've always gotten very good to exc. accuracy w/ the various NPs. My .280 shoots 160gr NP right @ 1MOA, same w/ my 7mag. My .338-06 loves 210gr & 250gr NPs also average of 1MOA. I don't think there is a secret, every rifle is different.

I'm far away of being an expert but from my little experience the NP aren't the most accurate bullets for benchrest shooting, but ENOUGH for any hunting situation.



Animal's shoulders are bigger than 1,5" and also keep in mind that you will run, climb, get excited during the final stalk, your lifelong trophy will just stop for a second to take a look at you before dissapearing in the thick cover for ever,etc,etc,etc



Believe me, that 1,5" that you have at the range will be nothing under all those previous situations



L

My experiences range from zero difference between PT and BT in a 30/06 repeating rifle, 15% with a 6 mm Rem, about 30% larger in a 30/06 break top and a 6,5x57 to about 50% larger groups with a .338 WM.

POI is usually identical to very close for both bullets, this is very charming as well.

Nosler is a great company.

I've only met one rifle out of several...... I've handloaded for that wouldn't shoot partitions sub 1".

Chuck

As usual Ray is full of good advice. I've been sold on Noslers as a hunting bullet for as long as I've been hunting. There is no better bullet for what I hunt and that includes African game. Minute of wart hog is good enough for me.

I have had very good luck with Nosler Partitions down through the years. I have taken Brown Bear, Caribou, Elk, Deer with them. They are tied for number one through my .300 Winny with the 180 grain North Forks, and my number one through my .257 Wby in 120 grain. They are normaly near the top in accuracy in all my rifles. Listed for accuracy with all my rifles considering the tougher hunting bullets are North Forks, followed by the Partitions, then Barnes X of some type, then Swift A-Frame. The less tough bullets follow with the Ballistic Tips, Accubonds, etc these I religate to smaller animals and less dangerous game. Good shooting.

Jeff, I have used Partitions since the mid-1960's when they were still being turned on automatic screw machines, and have never had much problem with them accuracy-wise. But then, I have only owned maybe two rifles that would shoot much better than 1.5 MOA anyway, so maybe I just didn't realize that might just have been the bullets!



(Here's a 100-yard group I shot with my 7X57 Ruger No. 1A One of my more accurate rifles. 140 NPJ, 53 grains of WW 760, MV 3000 FPS.)



If you are having good results with the Accubonds, by all means use them. From the performance reports I've seen from the hunting field on variuos caliber Accubonds, they produce results on game very comparable to the Partition bullets as far as penetration and wounding ability is concerned.

I just spent a frustrating afternoon with a 339 WM that wouldnt shoot Partitions better than 1.5" (and some loads were much worse). But funny thing is that it shot a ragged hole with 250gr Sierra Gamekings and Failsafes. That being said: this particular 338 is the first rifle I have owned that wouldnt shoot Partitions to at least 1" or better. They are still my favorite hunting bullet.

News to me...

The nosler partitions I have shoot always shot very well out of my 06, 6.5x55 , and .270. in these 3 guns that all shoot very tight groups . Partitions actually are some of the tightest groups , under an inch. All noslers , sierras shoot the tightest compared to hornadays and speer in my experience with my rifles.

My 6.5x55 shoots 140 gr partitions 1/2 groups . I must be doing something wrong

I have not found the partition to be as accurate as Sierra bullets in general and this goes especially for the heavy for caliber versions where I want the design most. On the other hand they have given me hunting accuracy in every rifle i have tried them in except one. 1.5 inch groups are all you need in big game hunting.