Here are some assumptions on Nosler bullets. Please comment in order for me to make choices:
Ballistic tip varmint: Good bullets, but not as good as V-Max’s.
Ballistic tip hunting: Accurate but soft and superceded by Accubonds.
Accubonds: More accurate and with better penetration and weight-retention than Partitions.
Partitions: Traditional and essential for Nosler’s brand. Good for heavier weights in any given caliber, but made outdated by Accubonds.
Solid base: only for tradition.
E-tip. Accurate, but not as reliable at opening as Barnes TSX.www.graaffreinetsafaris.co.za[/URL]

Can't agree that the partition has been made outdated or obsolete by the accubond.

When you want a bullet that is certain to expand and penetrate ... it is hard to beat a partition.

Have there been lots of documented cases of the Accubond bullet perfoming well at various ranges? Just wondering cause I really like how it shoots, and it as perfomed well for me. I was wondering if it has worked well on larger game and at loger ranges.

Nosler's Technical support team told me that the Accubond will out penetrate the Partition and retain more weight, but I want the opionion of members too.

Let me start by saying that I shoot primarily 25's and a 308.
Bal Tip Varmint: I agree I like V-max better.
BalTip Hunting: at lower muzzle velocities they are accurate and perform well.
Partitions: In my opinion there is nothing that i would rather shoot at eastern whitetail.
Accubond: I've never tried them because there is only one available in 25 cal and it's too heavy for my taste. I shoot 100's.

Here's some experience with Nosler bullets, as to the V-Max's, for me they are not as accurate as the Ballistic tip. I use 180 Nosler Partitions in the 30-06, @ about 2800 fps. 6 Elk, all one shot kills, all pass through's, at ranges up to 200 yds. In 35 cal I really like the 225 Ballistic tip on elk, out of a 35 Whelen, one example: recovered bullet weighed 206 of the original 225 grains. I really like the 55 Ballistic Tip for varmints out of my 220 Swift, uneaqualed accuracy in my rifle. I use many other bullets as well, with great success, but I usually start with Nosler/ or Sierra

Jerry.

You really can't make any assumptions as to acuracy between any of the bullets. In some of my rifles, the NP is the most accurate Nosler I have shot. The NP is the std. that every bullet maker has tried to improve upon. They are still great hunting bullets, IMO, the best of the Nosler line. I have nothing against the NAB but in my rifles, they only offer a higher BC which isn't a big deal for 99% of mu hunting (under 350yds).

I have four .223s equally divided as to whether they like the ballistic tip or the V-max bullet. I think it depends on the individual rifle.
Ballistic Tip hunting: In standard and short cartridges, an excellent deer bullet that opens fast.
Accubonds: Excellent bullet, but haven't found it to be better than the Partitions...and penetration to be less.
Partitions: As has been said, the "go-to" bullet.
Others: Whatever works for you.

Partitions made outdated by Accubonds? Huh??Except for my .338 mag., Partitions are all I use for hunting. They're the bullet all others are compared to. Can't comment on the other questions 'cause I've always had good performance from Partitions & we don't have a lot of varmints - at least the 4 legged kind, up here.
Bear in Fairbanks

nosler makes good bullets thats a given,
but.....their not the only ones on the Podium
speer, sierra,swift,hornady barnes all need a great big cheer!!! plus the many others ive not named.
competition is great,we all benefit from it!
regards

I get really good acuracy from partitions.
I shoot balistic tips and acubonds also.
The balistic tips are as someone else stated better for lower velocities. But when you get up to .338 and even .308 in the 180 grain they get a lot tougher.
You might post on what you want to shoot at and with what cartridge , then I think it would eaier to help you choose your bullet...tj3006

Every rifle will prefer it's own pet bullet.

All noslers are great bullets IMO for their given purpose.

I think it's a toss up between the NBTVs and VMXs. Both are great on paper.

I've had excellent results with NBTs in many calibers on medium size game at velocities under 3100 fps.

I've had great results with the NABs as well. They've given great accuracy, good penetration, good BCs, and good weight retention.

When it comes to Nosler, I hunt game below 200lbs with NBTs and above with NABs.

I think the NPTs will be around for quite a while.

When high velocity is a factor I do feel the NABs will slightly out perform NPTs simply due to the fact that the NPTs tend to totally lose the front half and leave caliber sized exits.

Good Luck

Reloader

My only experiences have been with NPs and they have been positive. So why change? Are there degrees of dead?

Watch out for the bean counters selling you bullets!

They cannot improve the Noser partition..I doubt that they can equal it...

There are two types of Ballistic Tips: Varmint and Game. The varmint BTips are excellent performers, both in terms of accuracy and expansiveness. Although individual rifles certainly can prefer the Vmax, I would judge BTips to average better performance in more rifles. The game BTips are superb for all of the smaller species of big game such as whitetails in N.A. or springbok, blesbok, impala, etc. in Africa. I used a 115 BTip from a .25-06 at 3125 fps on a 10-point whitetail buck this weekend. The shot was around 150 yards and gave complete penetration as it angled from its entrance near the diaphram to its exit just behind the off shoulder (yes, the shot was a tad further back than I intended, but the buck ran only twenty yards before giving it up.)

The Partition is both a great bullet and greatly misunderstood. Its nose is very soft, providing rapid expansion and even fragmentation. This is invaluable when little muscle or bone resistance is met. The rear core typically penetrates in a fairly straight line and provides the insurance of carrying the wound channel deep into the larger species of game.

I have only used the Accubond in load development and have not yet hunted with it. The jury is still out, but it should perform similarly to the Partition on heavy game. The question is whether it will expand rapidly enough on lighter/softer game. The high ballistic coefficient, potential accuracy, and damage-resistant nose of this bullet make it a very seductive choice.

Karoo,

I have used the Nosler Accubond on a lot of game probable more than 100 animals from Hogs – Grizzly – Buffalo and everything in between, the performance and accuracy is excellent, never lost an animal.

3 shot group center to center .26 distance 200 yards
5 shot group center to center .51 distance 200 yards



Federal 260 grain Accubond .375 H&H on Wild Boar

Federal 260 grain Accubond .375 H&H on Bison Bull - Cartridge & bullet, recovered weight 226 Grains


Federal 260 grain Accubond .375 H&H on Bison Bull - Bullet, recovered weight 226 Grains


All the way satisfied,
Roland

Shooted Partitions in Namibia 2 years ago, .366 bullets in a 9.3x62. Skinning the Gamsbocks I hunted we found 3 on 4 bullets that I've shooted.

Negative: they have been retained,
Positive they lost max 30gr of weight.

Thanks for all the information and all useful.
I will be considering NAB's in my 270 Win (140 gr) and 338 (225 gr) for animals from springbok to kudu size.
I wish they made one in 75 to 85 6mm bullet for my 6x45

Steve (Stefano),

Very interesting. I'm surprised that 3 out of 4 Nosler Partitions from a 9.3x62 didn't exit a plainsgame animal. I wouldn't have expected that. Thanks for the info.

I had two 9.3 286gr NP (from a 9.3x62 at 2400fps+) "retained" in a hartebeest. First shot was about 150yds, animal facing me. Missed the front shoulder bones but penitrated the entire length of the animal, I found it under the hide of the back leg. The hartebeest was still alive when I walked up to it and it ran. Second shot at about 50yds broke both shoulders and was under the hide no the off side. I don't think either bullet came even close to "failing" in its task. One hell of a tough animal though.

My only reservation would be breaking the shoulder and taking out both lungs on a eland at longer range. I had one break the front shoulder and get one lung at a bit over 150yds.Again, the animal didn't exactly sprint off and a second round at 20yds ripped through from the left side diagonally and exited through the already broken shoulder.

NP's are my go to bullet. I try others only if they don't work. The only "don't work" was a 35 Whelen that would only do consistant 2.5 in. groups with the 250gr NP's, still killed lots of stuff with it though.

I think the AB is simply a slightly tougher BTip. I don't think it competes in any way with the Partition. Just my opinion.

quote:

Originally posted by larrys:
I think the AB is simply a slightly tougher BTip. I don't think it competes in any way with the Partition. Just my opinion.

What is your experience with the Accubond to make such a bold statement, if possible make us aware on which animals you had failures?

Roland

Have taken whitetails, piggies, Warthog, Impala, Wildebeast, Kudu and Zebra with 286 gr NPTs in 9,3x62 at 2425 fps. All but the Kudu have been one-shot-drops. He hadn't read "The Perfect Shot." All bullets passed completely through ... no recoveries.

quote:

Originally posted by mstarling:
Have taken whitetails, piggies, Warthog, Impala, Wildebeast, Kudu and Zebra with 286 gr NPTs in 9,3x62 at 2425 fps. All but the Kudu have been one-shot-drops. He hadn't read "The Perfect Shot." All bullets passed completely through ... no recoveries.

Mike,

The NP has a sterling reputation for many years and is a fine bullet. My experience between the 2 is that the Accubond is more accurate and the wound channels are bigger – more blood with the Accubond.

They are both fine bullets, I had very good luck with the Accubond.

Good luck & good hunting,
Roland

quote:

Originally posted by larrys:
I think the AB is simply a slightly tougher BTip. I don't think it competes in any way with the Partition. Just my opinion.

Hmmm, that differs from what the designers of the AB seem to say.

I have found in most of my rifles groups with Partitions are not as tight as some other bullets. They work for hunting but if you are an accuracy nut there are better options. I recently shot two big deer with Accubonds in my 280. Perfect performance, great groups and bang/flops. Both bullets were recovered just under the skin on the far side mushroomed perfectly. Best group I could get with Partitions was about 1.25 inches in my 280s. The Accubonds shoot a ragged hole. I have two 280s and both demonstrated the same performance tendencies. I have shot some 260s on paper in my 375 and they are extremely accurate also. I would be very interested how they worked on elk.

quote:

Originally posted by LJS:
I have found in most of my rifles groups with Partitions are not as tight as some other bullets. They work for hunting but if you are an accuracy nut there are better options. I recently shot two big deer with Accubonds in my 280. Perfect performance, great groups and bang/flops. Both bullets were recovered just under the skin on the far side mushroomed perfectly. Best group I could get with Partitions was about 1.25 inches in my 280s. The Accubonds shoot a ragged hole. I have two 280s and both demonstrated the same performance tendencies. I have shot some 260s on paper in my 375 and they are extremely accurate also. I would be very interested how they worked on elk.

The way it works; like the hammer of Thor.
This whas a .375 H&H 260 Gr Accubond deal.


Roland

quote:

Can't agree that the partition has been made outdated or obsolete by the accubond.

When you want a bullet that is certain to expand and penetrate ... it is hard to beat a partition.

I agree 100% I've yet to find a bullet with as wide of range that it will expand well, yet penetrate deeply as NP's do...

I've had 8mm NP's out of my drilling show some expansion at 250 yds on a coyote, yet shoot through a moose at 150 yards...

John Nosler got it right with his NP's...

DM

Karoo, be advised that if anyone denegrates a Nosler Partition in any way, flames will ensue. I think Roland 1 synopsized it well, they aren't typically as accurate as others in the Nosler line, like the AB, and they are costly to produce, so their price is a bit higher than many others....I think better things have come along, but still use some NP's.....I'll catch flames for saying Anything COULD be better.....

The AB is an accurate versitile bullet IME.

quote:

I'll catch flames for saying Anything COULD be better.....

There "are" bullets that are better in "some" ways, there's just nothing that's better "all around"!

Some bullets expand faster, and some hold together better, but there's "nothing" that will work so well at such a wide of a velocity spread than a NP...

DM

quote:

What is your experience with the Accubond to make such a bold statement, if possible make us aware on which animals you had failures?

quote:

Hmmm, that differs from what the designers of the AB seem to say.

Guys, don't get your panties in a wad. I didn't say they were bad bullets, nor did I say they were inferior, in any way. I certainly don't feel that way at all. I have never had any failures with any Nosler bullet except an EARLY version of the 165 30 cal BT. My comparison is simply that they are much more similar to a BT on steriods than a Partition. They are designed with the plastic tip, unlike the Partition, they are not designed to lose the front portion like the Partition, they are a boattail, more like the BT and more unlike the Partition. That's all. They do not operate like the Partition. That does not make them inferior of bad or a failure for those just looking for a fight. It just makes them much more like a tougher BT than a Partition. No disparagement intended for your pet bullet. I have never recovered any of them. I love Nosler bullets, especially at the blem prices.

quote:

Partitions: Traditional and essential for Nosler’s brand. Good for heavier weights in any given caliber, but made outdated by Accubonds.

Nosler is doing a good job of marketing the Accubond. They have to. Developing a new bullet for an already crowded market means there's a big investment to recoup.

Partitions, though, work well in any weight, not just the heavies. Outdated??????????????????????????????

AccuBonds are different and new, but not necessarily better. Partitions penetrate well enough to pass completely through game (who cares how much farther one penetrates in ballistic gelatin). It's hard to get better than a complete pass-through. Also, Partitions open up very quickly. The fact that Accubonds retain more weight than a Partition means little. Partitions are designed to open up quickly for that impressive initial impact, and will sometimes even shed its petals as it passes through the vitals, and continues until it exits, leaving a good blood trail. That is by design, and that combination is hard to beat.

There is a good reason they have been considered the standard for decades. By the way, Partitions are just as accurate in my 7-08AI as the Ballistic Tips, although the point of impact is slightly different.

quote:

Originally posted by Karoo:
Accubonds: More accurate and with better penetration and weight-retention than Partitions.
Partitions: Traditional and essential for Nosler’s brand. Good for heavier weights in any given caliber, but made outdated by Accubonds.[/URL]

Not hardly. I've yet to see a bonded bullet do what a Partition will do. Sometimes bonded bullets will "hold" the mushroom better than a Partition, but everything else being equal, the Partition will penetrate further most of the time--and that's a big part of the equation.

quote:

Originally posted by Karoo:
E-tip. Accurate, but not as reliable at opening as Barnes TSX.www.graaffreinetsafaris.co.za[/URL]

Give it time--'cause we don't know yet. The E-Tip hasn't been around long enough, shot enough different critters, with enough different calibers, weights, or velocities, under varying conditions, to make anything approaching a definitive call.


Casey

The Partition bullets are NOT obsolete. The Accubonds seem to give decent penetration, and may retain more weight. But they tend to expand to a larger diameter, so they pentrate less well than the Partition. Partiton bullets generally reach the vitals, then lose the front core in a bomb-like violent expansion. The rear portion remains close to bore size and continues to penetrate, usually exiting.....

I have heard that many people don't get quite as good accuracy performance from them, but this has NOT been my experince. When I, most of the time, have found an accurate load using Sierra bullets, then same load ill also shoot well using a Nosler Partition. For example, this group using both brands of .308", 200-grain bullets fired from an Argentine M1909 in 7.65X53mm..

quote:

Originally posted by Steve Malinverni:
Shooted Partitions in Namibia 2 years ago, .366 bullets in a 9.3x62. Skinning the Gamsbocks I hunted we found 3 on 4 bullets that I've shooted.

Negative: they have been retained,
Positive they lost max 30gr of weight.

Positive: Gemsbocks killed by partition bullets....

.338 win Mag 250gr Partitions = 500+lb Red Stag



.338 Win Mag 200gr Ballistic Tips = 200lb hog



.338 Win Mag 210gr Partition = Nice Elk



.280 Rem = 140gr Ballistic Tip = Dead doe, heart blown out backside



7mm rem mag = 140gr Ballistic Tip = 2 dead coyotes with 1 shot. entered on back of the left one and hit dead center on the 2nd




I love my Noslers

Thanks for all the contributions and some very interesting comments made.
All food for thought.