Will Nosler ever bond a Partition bullet?

[Alaska]

Partition Golds were very good ! Especially for moose !

 

[Blkram]

If it ain't broke, why fix it (Partition)?
Keep it simple. (There is a valid reason why this us a principle - KISS.)

We have a choice when it comes to bullets; choose the one that provides the features and performance you desire, and that shoots best in your rifle.

I have always liked the Partition, and it works very well. It has consistently and reliably put game on the table. (I rebarreled my Winchester Model 88 specifically to use the Federal 210 gr Partition ammunition for hunting and tracking bears in the dark timber. And I have a enough on hand to last me many years.)
I really like the AccuBond, as it has proven easier to work up great accurate loads across every caliber (.257 -.375) and cartridge that I have tried them in. I prefer them in cartridges where I may have to stretch the range out a little farther, as they have better ballistics for retained velocity and energy for enhanced on-game performance that I have proven that I can place accurately in the vitals of of my intended quarry. This leads to improved confidence, which is always a great thing! (Although, my average shot distance on game is just 132 yards over the past 38 years.)

And yet, I still like the performance of the old reliable cup and core bullets in other cartridges for shorter range cartridges on deer, bear, and moose that hunt in the thick timber on a regular basis. Such as the SGK and Speer Hot Cor in handloads, and the Winchester Power Point in factory lever action ammunition. They have stood the test of time, and are still putting meat on the table!

While I have not yet taken as much game with the Trophy Bonded Tip or the Terminal Ascent, I have used them with good on-game performance on a number of animals now, as they are what is shooting best in some of my newer, or new-to-me rifles.
(And sadly, Federal no longer loads Nosler bullets in their ammo.)

 

[Firebird24]

I am not a fan of the Partition simply because it does come apart and I dare say it was not designed to do so. In all likelyhood i was trying to shoot them with too much velocity. I don’t doubt their effectiveness and would not try to sway anyone in favor of something else, but they didn’t behave how I wanted them to and I moved on.
I came back to nosler bullets with the AccuBond and today the AccuBond long range is a favorite. If nosler would bond the Partition I would use it! Direct competition for the A frame which is one of my favorite bullets but can be hard to find. I shoot the AccuBond over the scirocco even tho they are quite similar.
If only I ran the company!

 

[Ridge_Runner]

once again, The Partition is designed for the front lead core which is pure soft lead to fragment as the bullet penetrates. The harder rear core protected by the Partition is designed to penetrate. On solid high velocity impacts if the Partition ruptures, the bullet will fail, penetration stopss immediately. That is why though they are both designed for penetration in high intensity cartridges the AccuBond is a much better choice. I have ran .284 160 accubonds to 3600 fps and they still retain 60+% weight with solid impacts.

 

[Alaska]

the Partition is not designed for 65% retention, the front end is designed to shed fragments,, while thee rear core protected by the H-mantle keeps penetrating. If the Partition ruptures penetration ceases immediately. The AccuBond may hit solid bone,, become just a twisted mass of lead and copper but keeps penetrating. when a nosler Partition does what its supposed to do, the front half is shed to do damage and the rear core penetrates and exits.

Actually it’s 75% to 80% retention weight for the Nosler Part. Great bullet design it’s a legend in the hunting world. The Swift A Frame which is another A-frame designed bullet bonds their core for a 90% plus retention weight . Both excellent bullets that I use in .338 WM with the 225gr weight .

 

[West Fork]

I am not a fan of the Partition simply because it does come apart and I dare say it was not designed to do so. In all likelyhood i was trying to shoot them with too much velocity. I don’t doubt their effectiveness and would not try to sway anyone in favor of something else, but they didn’t behave how I wanted them to and I moved on.
I came back to nosler bullets with the AccuBond and today the AccuBond long range is a favorite. If nosler would bond the Partition I would use it! Direct competition for the A frame which is one of my favorite bullets but can be hard to find. I shoot the AccuBond over the scirocco even tho they are quite similar.
If only I ran the company!

I’ve witnessed probably 75+ elk killed with Pt’s. Have never seen a Pt “rupture” on big bone even with smaller caliber Pt’s.

I’ve hit the ball and socket on a large bodied mature bull—the biggest bone on an elk—with a 270, 150g Pt and it traveled almost the length of the bull. The bullet was much worse for wear, front half gone, back half oval shaped and rear core loose, but it made the trip. Impact velocity would have been roughly 2200 fps.

The AccuBond expands and keeps the mushroom intact longer than the Pt. The result is it will limit penetration. Frontal area of a bullet determines penetration.

The AccuBond is a good bullet, but the Pt has a better chance to penetrate further with a tough shot.

Also, the Pt performs the most consistently across the widest range of impact velocities than any other bullet I’ve witnessed.

 

[Firebird24]

Rupture is your word, not mine, so maybe take it out of quotes. I’m glad your experience has been better than mine.

 

[West Fork]

Rupture is your word, not mine, so maybe take it out of quotes. I’m glad your experience has been better than mine.

Sorry, I quoted the wrong post. Wasn’t directed at you.

 

[Charlie-NY]

I tried the Partitions on wimpy little whitetails and the front core completely wipes off. That bullet performance didn't impress me. I used the 260 Partitions in a 375 Ruger on buffalo and got the same result. On the buffalo, I expected most of the front core to be fully expanded but not necessarily gone.
I've shot my fair share of Accubonds and have only had predictably great terminal performance. I hit a large bull moose on the shoulder with a 250 AccuBond launched from a 338RUM. The bullet penetrated both shoulders and came to rest under the off-side hide. IIRC it still weighed 140gr after penetrating all that bone. The moose was DRT.
I was excited to try the then new AccuBond-LR bullets but found them difficult to find an accurate load for. I like their terminal performance characteristics but if they won't shoot to my expectations, then what good are they? I bought another couple boxes to give them another try. We'll see how that works out.

 

[JD338]

I tried the Partitions on wimpy little whitetails and the front core completely wipes off. That bullet performance didn't impress me. I used the 260 Partitions in a 375 Ruger on buffalo and got the same result. On the buffalo, I expected most of the front core to be fully expanded but not necessarily gone.
I've shot my fair share of Accubonds and have only had predictably great terminal performance. I hit a large bull moose on the shoulder with a 250 AccuBond launched from a 338RUM. The bullet penetrated both shoulders and came to rest under the off-side hide. IIRC it still weighed 140gr after penetrating all that bone. The moose was DRT.
I was excited to try the then new AccuBond-LR bullets but found them difficult to find an accurate load for. I like their terminal performance characteristics but if they won't shoot to my expectations, then what good are they? I bought another couple boxes to give them another try. We'll see how that works out.

Charlie
What weight ABLR are you going to try? Both the 265 and 300 ABLR shot lights out in my 338 RUM 1-9.3 t.

JD338

 

[RL338]

The only Partition I recovered was the 500gr in the 9th milk jug at 50yds. Can’t imagine they would need to improve on this one.

 

[JD338]

Nothing wrong with that. 9 jugs is a lot of penetration!

JD338

 

[Ridge_Runner]

at right is a 160 AccuBond that impacted a green maple block at 3520 fps, it retained 64% of its weight and expanded diameter was .62" and penetrated over 13".