Nosler versus Berger on steel at 300 yards

[JimW]

View attachment P1000573.JPGRecently I was practicing some shots sitting at 300 yards, shooting at a fixed 300 yard, 1/2 inch steel plate target. I fired 2 rounds of a 7mm 168gr. Berger bullet, with a velocity of 2990 feet per second. I then fired 2 rounds using a 160gr. Partition, with a velocity of 3150fps. These were fired at my ranch, which is at 7800 feet elevation, from a 7mmWSM rifle. Using data from JBM ballistics, at that elevation, the Partition would have struck the plate at 2798 fps, with a calculated kinetic energy of 2780 ft.lbs, and the Berger velocity would have been 2734 fps, with a kinetic energy level of 2787 ft.lbs. Therefore, velocity and energy were quite similar at 300 yds. What isn't similar however, was the performance on the steel. The top holes in the picture above are from the Nosler Partition bullets. As can be seen, the Partition penetrated completely the steel, creating approximately 0.75in diameter holes. The impact from the Berger bullets are at the lower portion of the steel target. You can see they came apart while making a shallow crater. The diameter is similar in size to the holes created by the Partition. Granted elk at 300 yds don't come with steel plates, but this was so striking to me that any thought of trying a Berger bullet on larger game was put completely to rest.

 

[JD338]

Jim,

Thanks for posting this.
The 7mm 160 gr PT is a tough, deep penetrating bullet. It will get the job done with ease.

JD338

 

[russ808]

Jim,
Good information.
Oh, good shooting to...
Russ

 

[DrMike]

I appreciate seeing this. Thanks for posting.

 

[300WSM]

I love seeing tests like this. As you mentioned elk don't have a steel jacket on but the test shows more than just four holes to me.

One thing that people look past far too often is angles. Angles can play a big role in the performance of the bullet too. Here is a perfect example showing that a Partition would still be able to do the job even if shot at a freakish angle...because its straight on performance in a big steel plate is so impressive that it will still have enough performance to harvest even at one of those bad angle shots.

 

[FOTIS]

Thanx for sharing

 

[Elkman]

Excellent!!!! Great shooting especially for setting at 300.
Jim
Couple of questions, did you use the same point of aim? The penetration difference doesn't not suprise me but I would have expected a closer impact point. The BC on the Berger is higher. Do you think the 8 grains made the difference.?

Thanks for sharing!!

 

[JimW]

Thanks Elkman, and an excellent question. I adjusted the scope elevation on the shots between shooting the Partition and the Berger VLD, so that the impact would be enough distance between that the results wouldn't be confusing.

 

[jmad_81]

:shock:

That says a lot!

 

[Guy Miner]

Yes; Don't hide behind steel if your opponent is shooting Noslers! :grin:

Good stuff. I like these range report posts almost as much as hunting posts... Well, this time of year anyway.

Regards, Guy

 

[6mm Remington]

Nosler....... the best there is. Good test. Thanks for sharing.
David

 

[SJB358]

Nosler....... the best there is. Good test. Thanks for sharing.
David

Gotta agree with David, although painful... :lol:

That is awesome. Brian and I saw the same from the AB and PT's on 1/2" steel as well. At 300 most all of them will punch through or leave some DEEP divots.

 

[FOTIS]

Yes; Don't hide behind steel if your opponent is shooting Noslers! :grin:



Regards, Guy

 

[Guy Miner]

Too much coffee this morning Pop? :grin:

 

[FOTIS]

Not enough! Getting off work soon though and there is a ZX-14 waiting outside in 72* weather!

 

[jmad_81]

Way better than coffee!