Well, the hunting season is over and I got a little bored this weeked, so I sectioned a variety of bullets I had on the shelf. The main reason was that I was interested in how the .375 cal 300 gr partition is constructed. I have the Nosler #3 and #4 manuals that show cross sections of their bullets, but I could not believe that the partition was that far rearward - and it isn't! Here are my pics:

Here's what they are from L to R

1. .308 cal 180 gr Partition Gold
2. .338 cal 250 gr Partition (regular)
3. .375 cal 300 gr Partition
4. .375 cal 270 gr Hornady Spire Point
5. .375 cal 270 gr Kodiak bonded spitzer
6. .338 cal 250 gr Kodiak bonded protected pt.

Unfortunately, I did not have a .308 cal 180 gr "regular" partition, but I think the sectioned "gold" gives you an idea of how the gold differs from the "regular" partition. I was quite impressed with how stout the .375 cal 300 gr partition is constructed - I can't wait to load some up for my .375-338.

A very curious thing I observed was where the interlock is located on the Hornady bullet. the red lines show this. It's only 3/16" about the base of the bullet!! This seems very odd to me - I thought it would be near the cannelure.

If you are like me, you pick up your loading books and study them thoroughly. I always thought the pictures in the Nosler #3 and #4 were illustrations of the actual bullet. They appear to be at the same scale as the real-life bullet. This turns out to NOT be the case as illustrated below:

So don't take the pictures in the Nosler manual too seriously. The location of the partition and the thickness of the jacket are not correct. I am quite surprised that Nosler can't just take their production design drawings (in CAD, I presume) and put them directly in the manuals instead of using a fascimile. I will definately be pointing this out the Nosler and will post what they have to say.

Hope everyone has a great 2002 and is making plans for their hunting adventures early on.

Lars,

I wonder if you have any of the older Noslers with the rough outsides. I think if you sectioned one of them you would find the partition much farther back, like in the Nosler logo. Now that Nosler has so much invested in that logo they do not want to change it.

Lars, excellent post. Thanks.

I agree--very nice--thanks for sharing your time investment.

Lars, I am going to make a guess and say that Nosler has the wrong picture on the box.
I think that if you section a lighter bullet (use a 260 gr .375) and compare it to a heavier (300 gr), you will see that the picture will match. The picture on the 250 gr .338 box sure looks like a 210 gr
Nosler varies their standard partition bullet weights by shortening or lengthening the rear core. The front cores are the same in all weights per caliber.

Back to the top - just cuz someone was asking about the parition gold.

I did notice that the sectioned bullet views in the Nolser No. 3 manual are closer to the reality than those shown in the Nosler No. 4.

Now find the Hornady "art work" and try to find the indent from the candelure in the actual photo. Just like I said!

Thanks a lot,Lars
Now that P.O.Ackley is no longer active,we need people like You to make an effort to learn something and then share it with others.
Becaus I am a Whitetail Hunter,I was particularly interested in the Hornaday bullet.The jacket looks pretty weak,compared with the others.I don't think that I would trust it to perform as well on heavier game as it does on Whitetails.
Frank

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Frank