Is there a reason why Nosler makes two Partition bullets that weigh only 5 grains different?

Looking at all the possibilities for loads that will be used by a friend for sheep this fall.

[ 07-31-2003, 08:18: Message edited by: todbartell ]

I really do not know why Nosler makes two bullets so close in weight for the .257 caliber guns.

I can only imagine that they found they could get just enough more velocity from the 115 grain bullets to make it interesting.

I have a friend who uses nothing but the 120 grain with great success. I have shot several head of big game with the 115's and have had good luck.

Why they make both is sort of a mystery.

Actually, I am about to just settle on the 100 grain Nosler Partition in my 25-06. It just knocks the hell out of game from the size of coyotes to deer to antelope to wild hogs.

In the last week my dad and I have killed two hogs with the 100 grain Partition. One was at less than 50 yards and the other was close to 400 yards. Excellant bullet performance in both cases.

Having said all this, I have seen more quick kills on wild hogs of 150 to 200 pounds using the 115 Nosler Ballistic Tip than when using the 115 Nosler Partition. Just my experience.

R F

I would guess it has a performance niche for us the customer and our rifles. I have the 100 grain, but have not worked up a load yet.

Wouldn't it be great marketing for the reloaders if Nozler, etc. would offer a load testing package of a particular bullet style with 10 to 15+ of each bullet weight in that style to test for performance in our rifles?

Hello! Barnes, Hornady, Speer, Nozler, Sierra, are you listening?

I always thought they had them for the older 25's( Savage & Roberts) whereas the heavier bullets were amied primairly at the .25-06 and .257 Weatherby.

I don't know if the velocity window on these bullets is similar or not. You would think so, as the sectional density isn't all that much different.

I have read several reports from people who have taken game with both the 115 and the 120 and most feel the 120 is a tougher bullet, made for those who may choose to use the caliber for elk sized game.
You could probably call Nosler customer service and they could confirm or deny.
I have shot deer with the 115 and it works great.
Never tried the 120 or the 100.

I shoot both through my .257 Wby. They perform identically as far as I can see, with groups having same POI. The 120 grain will give me approx. 50 fps slower Chrony readings, both are super accurate in my rifle, a Weatherby Accumark. These are my most accurate hunting bullets for the .257. The Berger 110 grain and Nosler Ballistic Silvertip 115 grain are my most accurate non hunting bullets. Good shooting.

The way I have it figured the 115s are designed for the .250 Sav. and .257 Roberts operating velocities and the 120s for the .25-'06 and .257 Wby. You probably wouldn't notice a performance difference in the Wby., but there would really be a noticeable difference when testing both in the .250 Sav. or the .257 Roberts because of the substantially lower muzzle velocity.

Jim

Actually if I remember right Nosler made a 100 gr spitzer and 117 gr semispitzer for the 25 caliber. The 117 gr worked well in a 257 Roberts where the magazine lenght required seating bullets fairly deep. Then they came out with 120 gr some years after the 25-06 became a commercial round - since it used a 120 factory load. But since the 120 gr is kind of long for the 257 Roberts - especially in Remington 722 actions -they came out with a 115 gr and dropped the 117 gr - which in my mind was one fine bullet - but then again I like the 160 gr semi spitz for a 270. I use to hunt with a 7mm Masburn Mag years ago using the Nosler 175 semi spitz but it went by the wayside in favor of the spitzer shape.

Sort of remember something else too - some 250-3000's would not stabilize a 120 gr because the factory twist was 1-12" or 1-14" - but they would shoot the 117 gr semi spitz.

As the resident 25-06 preacher(church of GHD..25-06)I have not shot a deer or any other animal for that matter using the Nosler Partitions from a 25-06! That being said, if either of those bullets out performs the old faithful 117 grain Sierra Spitzer Boattail it is a heckuva bullet!! Undoubtedly the most "DRT" (dead right there) bullet I have ever seen! 49.0 grains of IMR 4350 and a CCI-BR2...if it doesn't work in your 25-06 then you have an odd one!!! 28 years of messing with this one and have yet to see a 25-06 that wouldn't shoot it! GHD

GHD: You sound like you have had lots of experience with the 117gr Sierra BT. (BTW 49gr/IMR4350 and the 117gr works great in my 25/06 also). I used to use that bullet in my 257AI (which is the deer rifle that I use most). It worked very well on lots of does and small bucks. But when I took a couple of mature bucks broadside and the bullets did not exit, I got nervous and switched to another, "tougher" bullet. Can you share your experience with the Sierra and its performance on deer? I'd still like to use it 'cause it's more accurate than anything else. Thanks, Jim

olarmy, That 117 grain Sierra has been used on many whitetails here in VA from 25 yards(sucker slipped in on me and I just had to kill him!!!) to 350 yards on Montana mule deer. The Montana mule deer was probably the most impressive kill of all! Heart and lungs were oblitierated but it dropped right there!!! I have seen this bullet make neck shots( 22Magnum will do that) heart shots, shoulder shots, and front on "you aren't going to get another chance" shots and it has performed each and every time! If I had to shoot one at this minute I would grab the 25-06 and that load!!! I have shot the same bullet out of 257 Roberts and was not impressed! Actually shot an 8 point 18 inch whitetail with the 257 at 95 yards and took a shoulder shot. That rifle had a 2x7 Leupold compact on it and at the crack of the gun I watched him go to his kness, shoulder turn red with blood an he ran off! I asked myself, "How hard do you got to hit em?" Allbeit he ran about about 100 yards but I truly beleive that if I had taken that same shot with "DS"...devastation supreme..25-06, he would not have gone anywhere! Try the load and you will like it! GHD See ya'll in church!!

The 115 grain Nosler partition was around long before the 120 .257. It is my impression that the 115 was dropped when the 120 was introduced and later brought back.

I could be wrong about that because the 120 was introduced as I was entering a fallow period of my interest in guns. I do know that I laid in a large supply of the 115s just before I stopped shooting for a while. Seem to recall that I was grabbing them while I could.

100 gr. partitions in my 25/06 A.I. kills deer DEAD,DEAD,DEAD-Really quick!

GHD,
I am with you on the 117gr Sierra Gameking.
They are awesome for deer and antelope.
I load mine up to 3250fps. I haven't shot anything at under 200yards with it but have taken two deer at about 250 yards and two antelope at a little over 300 yards. I recovered one of the antelope bullets as it was a chest on shot. It has blown a hole through the heart two inches in diameter and penetration was about 14", perfect mushroom the core did not separate.
I was surprised to see I was getting complete passthroughs as I had thought this would be your typical blow up factory bullet. Held together much better than I though they would.
And the accuracy has to be seen to be believed out of my 25-06.

Phurley: can you share some of your accurate 15gr NP loads pls? thanks, jorge

I have some 117gr. Poly tip bullets, presumably by Nosler in 25 cal. Would these be any use for deer say? I have a 257 Roberts.
peter.

The only 2 polymer tipped bullets in that weight range that I am aware of are the Nosler 115 grain Ballistic Tip and the Hornady 117gr SST. The Nosler has a blue tip, Hornady's is red. Either should work very well for deer from a 257(I've used both). Good hunting, Jim

Olarmy, you are correct. As I rememeber, the tips are Red. I will check tonight. Any suggested loads for these in the Roberts. I have some Rl 22 which I was planning on trying.
Thanks, peter.

Peter, I'm about to start playing with 100 grain Ballistic Tips in my wife's .257 Roberts. Best I can recall off the top of my head, RL19 and H or IMR 4831 were reccommended. I hope to know more in a couple weeks.

DesertRam. I have been playing with the 100gr. Nosler Partitions for a while now. Not much luck with the 4831, and I don't have any RL19 (I checked). That's why I decided to try the RL22, for which there is a load in the books.
peter.

Peter: IMO the 117gr Hornady SST is a good bullet. I think it is "tougher" than the Ballistic Tip. I've had good luck in several 257's with both IMR and H 4831. RL22 is a little on the slow side to be a "classic" powder for the 257, but you never know, it could work. If I had some RL22, I'd try it 1st. You should be able to get 2900 fps+, which would be a wonderful deer load. Keep us posted. Jim

As to the question, years ago, when men were steel and ships were wood, it was determined that the 115 gr Nosler Partition required .546" less twist than the 120 gr, was as close to the .25 SD threshold, and was as capable as the 120 on game weighing less than 387.335 pounds. Further, if packing to the high country, an total ammmo load of 100 rounds would result in a weight reduction of just over one ounce, assuming the powder charge remained constant AND the bullets are NOT molly treated. This seems small I know, but at alpine altitudes you need every edge.

Because of the reduced twist requirement, the benchrest community blessed the 115 with Holy Oil(Kroil), and thus a veritable tidal wave of popular support for the 115 gr NP has lasted for over 3 decades. However, for those of you hunting larger and more dangerous game, the 120 remains in production to fulfill all of your 1/4 bore needs.

Hope that clears up all the confusion.

Dan is close. The early 257 Wby had a slower twist and would not stabalize the 120 gr spitzers. They would handle the 117 gr RN or the shorter spitzers. 115 was the heaviest. the newer 257's have a quicker twist and will handle the 120 gr bullets.

Olarmy, tried some loads for my 257 Roberts last Saturday. IMR 4350 shows a lot of promise with the 100 gr. Nosler Partitions (about 1 inch groups with around 41grs.). I also tried the 117 Hornady's with RL 22. I tried 42, 43 and 44 grs. RL 22. Groups tightened up significantly with increased powder charge. The 44gr. (3 shot) groups were right about 1 in (but horizontal!) Next I will try and repeat the 44 gr. load and also try 45 and 46 grs. The book shows 46.5 grs. as Max for the +P load (with 120 gr. bulllets). I would be prepared to hunt with either of the best 4350 100 gr. NP or 117 Hornady SST/RL 22 loads.
Peter.

Peter: Sounds like you are just abut there! Keep us posted on your results!

I've had several clean one shot kills with the 120 Partition out of a 257 Rob. You've piqued my curiosity as to why the 5 gr difference. Nosler would probably be more than happy to answer that question. I'll bet both perform equally well at about any impact velocity any of the quarter bores might register.