So, they are basically a cup and core bullet? The Nosler website didn't list them, must be something special just for Federal.

duckster,

I shot the Nosler Solid Base for years in a number of
different calibers. The 120gr. was probably the best
deer bullet for the 25-06 that had ever been produced.
When I found out that Nosler was discontinuing them in the
early 90's I stocked up on them and am still shooting to
this day.

Good Luck & Good Shooting

Ray; I think I remember recently that you said you don't like partitions for calibers less than 30? Is that correct. If so, what do you recommend?

I like them and am still using a supply I hoarded in .270 and .243. In my tests in dry paper medium, they penetrate very well (about 90% of the distance of a Partition) and retain a reasonable amount of weight (about 60 to 70 percent). They are some bit tougher than a Ballistic Tip (which penetrates much better than most people give it credit for due to the solid copper base design), and are adequate for the larger hoofed species in the proper caliber and weight. Performance on deer-sized game with the 100/6mm and the 130/.270 has been excellent for me. They have only been made up through .30 caliber, as I recall, so elk would be about the largest game commensurate with bullet availability.

It seems like the partition is about twice the price of a solid base.

If you look real closely, the solid base BT has two configurations. One is constructed as a varmint bullet and the other is constructed as a hunting bullet. The 90 gr and 95 gr .243 bullet is an example of a hunting bullet, with a thicker jacket near the solid base and the lighter .243 bullets are varmint bullets.

The major difference between the "new" solid base and a BT hunting bullet is the lack of a BT on the "new" bullet. The "new" bullet is very similar to the old solid base Zipedos.

Atkinson,
Price gets to be an issue if one shoots several hundred or in excess of a thousand rounds of game loads at ground squirrels. I prefer to not change my load in any way between varmint season and game season. If I may repeat a statement I have made on these boards in the past, If one can reliably hit a five ounce ground squirrel at 300 yd, one is well prepared for big game season. I gain a significant degree of confidence in my rifle/load combination by knowing it has performed well for me all summer.
I could use more expensive components and shoot less, but I am sure that I can make up for any shortcomings in my bullet's performance through impact location. I just do not see how one can improve upon a one shot kill on big game.
A big mule deer or elk is just as dead with a Remington core-lokt, NBT, SST, or gameking through its heart as it is with a fail-safe, X, XXX, or bearclaw through the heart. The use of premium bullets only becomes critical if one can not place his shot exactly in the heart, spine, or brain.

I like the old solid base bullets really well and they worked fine, but why anyone would chose a solid base cup point bullet or a balistic tip or any conventional bullet over a partition Nosler is beyond me....not much difference in price if thats an issue and if it is that is also beyond me....

I feel good playing it safe with premium bullets, followed too many long drawn out blood trails.

I wonder if they plan on reintroducing the Hollow Point Solid Base bullets? Probably not but, I bet they would be popular.

Reloader

Let's see, they both have solid bases and they both have exposed lead tips, so that doesn't seem to be "a totally different bullet".

Quote:

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Nosler�s original deer hunting bullet, the Solid Base� is back in limited quantities for discriminating shooters who long favored this excellent projectile. Designed and constructed to perform best on medium-sized game in situations varying from close-up shots at whitetails to long-range, Solid Base� Bullets are manufactured using Nosler�s unique impact extrusion method of manufacturing for a true tapered jacket and fitted core.

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