This is my first post on this site, just found it a few days ago. I am looking for that one bullet which I can use for both deer here in Arkansas and elk in New Mexico. Gun is a Win M-70, Classic Stainless in 300WSM. I have taken several elk using 180 gr Win Failsafes, and they performed fine, but I want to try using Fed Prem cartridges loaded w/180gr Nos Par this year. I know to use the bullet that groups best in my rifle, and will try different loads until I find the best. My question is, if the 180grNPs group well, is that bullet going to be suitable for whitetails from 50yds to 250yds? Appreciate any thoughts you might have.
God Bless,

Hey, Welcome to AR,

The Nosler PT is basically the standard by which all other bullets are judged. For the last 60+ years it has blown open or blown its nose off upon penetration of light big game and then proceeded to plunge clear through and, usually, out of bigger stuff. Most other designs are just fine tuning what ol' Nosler thought up before I was born . . . but not much before.

That bullet should certainly be good for about anything in north America.

stkbndr
Welcome to the Forum
I [and my wife and several friends] have used the 180 Nosler Partition in 300 Mags to take several game animals, including Texas whitetail, Wyoming antelope and mule deer, Colorado elk, Montana black bear, and Alaska Caribou. I have seen these kills first hand. The 180 Nosler Partition in a 300 Mag is one of the best choices for allround use on NA game.
The great thing about the Partitions is that they expand at long range, yet still give good penetration on the big styff up close.

I think it's the best big game bullet out there for 95% of all hunting. Some of the other premium bullets can be a little too tough at times, especially for deer sized game. My brother has killed 3 Grizzlies with them, and has never had a problem. I've shot 2 Moose with them, and shot my last deer with a 180 grain Nosler Partition out of my 30-06.

I think it's the first choice for North America big game hunting, and every other bullet is judged by, or compared to, the Nosler Partitions performance.

First a hearty welcome, and thanks for joining us. The Nosler is truly the benchmark by which all other premium bullets have to aspire to. It is as close to perfect as could be, and has been updated as time and technology have allowed. The bonded bullets offer some adantages, but the partition does it all, everytime. I have shot whitetails to Cape buffalo with them in various calibers, and don't find the need to look further for better performance, just sometimes better accuracy in a particular rifle. The caliber you are matching the 180 grain .308 diameter to is about perfect fit for that bullet and velocity range. Hope it shoots well for you.

Welcome, If you are using failsafe and they group well and have taken elk already why change. I'm not a big fan of premium bullets so don't see much need for one. Most of our seasons here in Colorado are combinations so I look for what performs best on both. I reload so use rem core-lokt or hornady bullets. I've be reloading for about 40yrs now and had problem with the nosler partition and speers grand slam seems when they made a change as they have from time to time with those bullets did not perform so I don't use them that was a long time ago but it cost me so I won't take the chance. For the guy who cann't go to the field with a premium bullet well that what makes us all different. Good Luck

Welcome...and from a fellow hunter in Arkansas!!! My friends and I have pretty much gone to the 180 Nosler Partition in 30-06 for deer here in Arkansas...use them on elk in the West with great results as well...we hunt in the southern part of the State, lots of deer, but lots of timber and thickets...as a rule, always an exit, always blood on the ground, easy, short tracking job...and almost always a deer on the ground where it was shot (or 20 yds max)....we have lost quite a few well shot deer with the .243 or at least had a terrible tracking job, as they only "leak" on one side in the small caliber...never the problem with the 180's and the same with elk...bang, down they go....Arthur

Thank you all for your response. It's good to join your group.

My standard big game bullet is the 180 gr. Nosler Partition Protected Point in my .300 Win. Mag. loaded to about 3100 fps., and it works well on just about any game, from deer to African eland.

The 180 gr. Nosler Partition -- either the spire point or the Protected Point -- represents quite possibly the single most nearly ideal big game bullet that's ever been offered by any manufacturer. It's superbly accurate in a great many rifles, wonderfully reliable, and it not only opens up well on light big game animals such as deer, but also penetrates deep on big animals such as elk, and at either close or long ranges. It's a most predictable performer on big game, and if I could have only one single big game bullet to rely upon for the rest of my hunting career in either the .30-06 or .300 Winchester (or Weatherby or H&H, etc.), it would be the 180 gr. Nosler Partition.

Life does not always have to be complicated, at least when it comes to hunting bullets............

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The 180-grain Nosler Partition Protected Point is my standard bullet in .30-caliber. It's accurate and a reliable killer in my rifles. The Federal Premium factory load chronographed 2400 fps in my .308 Steyr Scout's 19-inch barrel. My handloads with the same bullet are most accurate at 2500 fps, but both go into an inch at 100 yards. The bullet is more than adequate for whitetail deer, and to keep the amount of bloodshot meat to a minimum, you shouldn't push the muzzle velocity above 2500 fps for the 50 to 250-yard range that you specified.

I don't buy any factory ammo but the only thing I would add is see if anyone loads a 200gr partition in the WSM. To me it's a shame to spend horsepower on meaningless gains in trajectory when you can spend it on meaningless gains in penetration...

Seriously the partition is in essence the front half of a cup-and-core bullet and the back half of a solid. Meaning of course, you get the best of both worlds.

I used to recommend the partitions to my clients who were shooting magnums, but I don't use them anymore because they just don't shoot accurately in my .300. Of course accuracy is subjective. Most of the elk I've shot or seen shot were at less than 200 yards.

Excellent choice. I use the Protected Tip version in that bullet.

Welcome

WN

My question is, if the 180grNPs group well, is that bullet going to be suitable for whitetails from 50yds to 250yds? Appreciate any thoughts you might have.
God Bless, < !--color-->

Yes, it will be! Also will do OK on elk! I used the 150-grain Nosler Partition in a .270 Win. in Alaska for all game from Sitka blacktails to moose, with never a problem!

I use NOsler part. in all of my big game rifles except the .404. I load the 180gr NP for my son's 06. It works well as a dual purpose elk/deer load but is a bit "hard" for most deer hunting, but works well as others said, complete penetration from any angle w/ good expansion.