Does anyone here have experience with Nosler Partitions in .375 or .416 on cape buffalo? Will they hold up to a front shoulder lower third high heart/lung shot?

quote:

Originally posted by Brazos Jack:
experience with Nosler Partitions in .375.......

on cape buffalo? Will they hold up to a front shoulder lower third high heart/lung shot?

They will "hold up" as a Partition can't really come apart unless it is really stressed.

But in my experience with Cape Buffalo using NP in my 375 H&H penetration was lacking. I shot two, one broadside and one quartering away. Both bullets stayed inside the ribcage. While that is enough penetration to kill, its barely enough.

But as much as I believe in more penetration, I might use them on buffalo again. I can't really say why???


The 416 400gr is supposed to be the bee's knees on cape buff.

I've not used either, but I seem to recall reading somewhere that Nosler moved the partition forward on the .416 version a few years ago.

LWD

375, 416 and 458. They should all retain +83% of original weight.

quote:

Originally posted by LWD:
I've not used either, but I seem to recall reading somewhere that Nosler moved the partition forward on the .416 version a few years ago.

LWD

I switched from NP to Swift A-Frame in 1999 for better performance after testing in RSA and Zambia that year. Since then a SAF has been first out on Buff from my .416Rem, followed by solids when necessary. I have had three of my Buff drop to the shot with the SAF since then. All did get an insurance shot but were true one shot kills. They also are first out in my .458Lott when it is used on Buff.

NOTE: The SAF could easily be used as the full magazine, without the need for solids on Buff; they work that well. Some well known safari writers will agree with that statement.

Swift A-Frames are better than NP's for the heavy stuff.

For what it's worth, I've shot two buffalo with Swift A-Frames from my .375 H&H. Both were broadside shots. First one was from about 50 yards in the Mopane and the Swift smashed the shoulder going in, destroyed the top of the heart and both lungs and lodged in the off-side shoulder. It weighed in at a measly 292 grains afterwards! Second buffalo was a bit further away but the bullet hit in pretty much the same place. The beast went five paces, piled up, bellowed and died. The perfectly-expanded bullet bulged the hide on the far side and, in addition to the heart and lungs, one of the shoulders was shot absolutely to pieces. Perfect, again.

I've shot a great many animals (admittedly not all of them buffalo) with Woodleigh Protected Points, Swift A-Frames, Nosler Partitions and one or two others. In my opinion, Swifts are in a class all by themselves, followed by Woodleigh PP's, Hornady Interbonds (in 7mm and .308, admittedly) and then the rest. I have no experience with 400-grain .416's and very little experience with 300-grain .375 Noslers but I certainly wouldn't use them if I can have Swifts instead.

My humble opinion.

quote:

Originally posted by jvw375:
For what it's worth, I've shot two buffalo with Swift A-Frames from my .375 H&H. Both were broadside shots. First one was from about 50 yards in the Mopane and the Swift smashed the shoulder going in, destroyed the top of the heart and both lungs and lodged in the off-side shoulder. It weighed in at a measly 292 grains afterwards! Second buffalo was a bit further away but the bullet hit in pretty much the same place. The beast went five paces, piled up, bellowed and died. The perfectly-expanded bullet bulged the hide on the far side and, in addition to the heart and lungs, one of the shoulders was shot absolutely to pieces. Perfect, again.

I've shot a great many animals (admittedly not all of them buffalo) with Woodleigh Protected Points, Swift A-Frames, Nosler Partitions and one or two others. In my opinion, Swifts are in a class all by themselves, followed by Woodleigh PP's, Hornady Interbonds (in 7mm and .308, admittedly) and then the rest. I have no experience with 400-grain .416's and very little experience with 300-grain .375 Noslers but I certainly wouldn't use them if I can have Swifts instead.

My humble opinion.

Like I said, shoot 'em with A-Frames!

Both bullets are good and I use both depending on what I find in the shop when I need bullets.
Having said that, I will say that the only one shot kills, I have on Cape buffalo have been with 300 gr .375 Nosler Partitions. All others have taken at least three shots, where the spine or brain was not hit, regardless of caliber or bullet type. I must admit that I like the old Nosler Partitions as I have been using them for just about everything I hunt with rifles up to 375H&H, and find them as reliable killers as anything I’ve used.

Today I am using the North fork soft points a lot as well in my bolt rifles, and can find no fault with them except price! I’m not saying they are not worth the price, just that for North American game I tend to move back to the Nosler Partitions, and I doubt any animal shot with the NPs would know the difference in the three bullets traveling at the same speed, and bullet placement. I will say today in a bolt rifle I think I’d pick the North Fork soft point, backed up by the North Fork CPS in the bottom of the magazine over either of the other two bullets for cape buffalo!

When you get down to brass tacks, any of the three will get the job done if you do your part!

quote:

Originally posted by JBrown:

quote:

Originally posted by Brazos Jack:
experience with Nosler Partitions in .375.......

on cape buffalo? Will they hold up to a front shoulder lower third high heart/lung shot?

They will "hold up" as a Partition can't really come apart unless it is really stressed.

But in my experience with Cape Buffalo using NP in my 375 H&H penetration was lacking. I shot two, one broadside and one quartering away. Both bullets stayed inside the ribcage. While that is enough penetration to kill, its barely enough.

But as much as I believe in more penetration, I might use them on buffalo again. I can't really say why???


The 416 400gr is supposed to be the bee's knees on cape buff.

J Brown,

It has been posted here that Nosler moved the partitions forward a couple of years ago on the .375, .416, and .458 to get 83% weight retension. Do you know if your bullets were pre or post change?

quote:

Originally posted by JBrown:
They will "hold up" as a Partition can't really come apart unless it is really stressed.

But in my experience with Cape Buffalo using NP in my 375 H&H penetration was lacking. I shot two, one broadside and one quartering away. Both bullets stayed inside the ribcage. While that is enough penetration to kill, its barely enough.

But as much as I believe in more penetration, I might use them on buffalo again. I can't really say why???


The 416 400gr is supposed to be the bee's knees on cape buff.

I never used the Nosler Partitions in .416 caliber, only in .375 and .366 but my experience with the NPs in .375 was that I got exceptional penetration.

On one Buffalo the shot was placed in the crease between the right front leg, and the neck about 8 inches above the brisket with w slight quartering shot, standing at about 75 yards. The 300 gr .375 NP entered, clipped the front on the right lung, took the top off the heart, tore through the left lung, went through about 10 inches of the grass filled paunch, and ended up just under the skin just forward of the left hind leg. About 4 feet of penetration, and was mushroomed perfectly. Broad side heart/lung shots also ended up under the hide on the off side taking both lungs and heart.

The only place I’ve had them loose most of the front lead has been when they hit a shoulder bone squarely, but still stopped under the skin on the off side. The same goes for shoulder shots on eland which are thicker through the shoulders than buffalo, and still end under the off side skin. However the 300 grain .375 A-frames do likewise, but keep a little more of the lead up front. So I don’t think you can go wrong by simply choosing the one that shoots best in your rifle!

I recommend A Frames over everything else with lead in it for maximum penetration.