Seating 180 Partitions verses 180 Ballistic Tips

[DON]

While working on loads for the 30-06 I have noticed a difference in seating Partitions verses the Ballistic Tip. Partitions took a lot of changing the setting on my seating die to achieve my OAL while the Ballistic Tips did not. The Die set is RCBS.

Are the Ballistic Tips more concentric compared to the Partitions or did I just get a bad box of Partitions?

Don

 

[jimbires]

Don , I'm going to say there is nothing wrong with anything you have , partitions , ballistic tips , or die set . the seating die does not push on the tip of the bullet , it pushes on the ogive . so when you switch to a bullet with a different profile the die will need adjusted to get your desired COAL .

 

[DON]

Thanks for the reply jimbires,

I hear what your saying, but the issue with the Partitions is once the die setting is changed for the seating depth needed for the Partition, lets say 3.765 OAL off the bullet ogive, I find there is quite a bit of difference in the bullets. So the profile of the Partitions,at least the ones I have, are not very consistent. Some get seated to deep, some not deep enough, others right on the money.
Just a note here too, these are not seconds or blemished Partitions I'm working with.

During the loading exercise yesterday I noticed the Ballistic tips were a lot more consistent.

Over the years I mostly have worked with Accubonds and Ballistic tips, been about 12 yrs or so since I last worked with Partitions. Just don't remember this happening. Not a big deal here.
I'm curious if other members have experienced this also with Partitions.
Maybe it's just the nature of this particular bullet compared to others in the Nosler product line.

Don

 

[jimbires]

Don , are you measuring your COAL off the tip of the bullet ? a more precise way to measure your COAL is to use a tool like the hornady one that measures off the ogive . using this tool gets you away from measuring off the irregular tips . using this tool will show you much more consistent lengths . I think it must be easier , or more precise to make a hollow point bullet and set a plastic tip ,as I don't see as wide of variance with the tipped bullets .

yes , I have seen the different lengths when reloading these bullets . I shoot a bunch of Hornady 139 BTSP's . some of these even have a little gob of lead on the tip . I keep these real bad ones for barrel fouling . some I can say varied by close to 0.015 . even though the COAL measuring off the tip varies widely they seem to shoot well . keep in mind that the critical measurement will be the clearance from the bullet ogive to the rifling , the tip just isn't what we are trying to control .

here's one that will give you a chuckle . I'm a self taught reloader . I started when I was 14 , I'm now 53 . back in my early years I saw this difference in COAL's . so one day I decided to make a batch of perfect ammo . I adjusted my seating die on every bullet . man these bullets measured about perfectly off the tips , and I just knew they were going to be the best I've ever shot . but they didn't shoot very well at all . yep , I still have about 100 of these 30.06 bullets that need pulled . live and learn buddy .

this is the tool I use .
http://www.hornady.com/store/Lock-N-Loa ... ts-1-Each/

I also bought this . not necessary , but nice .

http://www.hornady.com/store/Lock-N-Loa ... it-1-Each/

 

[DON]

I have the tool you suggested and do measure off the ogive for COAL. Been doing it this was for 10-years now.

Thanks for the dialog. I'm of the impression then Partitions are just not as consistent as others, but a pain to deal with while seating them. It's just I get tired of going through the exercise.

Don

 

[HeathSexton]

I had a box of 100gr 257" Partitions that would vary when seating them and they shot like crap.


I've never had another box of Partitions vary like that.

 

[Guy Miner]

A pertinent question I'd ask...

How do they group?

Some bullets can have a lot of "problems" when we judge by measurements of the bullet, the cartridge... But maybe not so many problems when we judge by the target, and the tags filled.

Seriously - give them a try at the range. I've had Partitions impress the heck out of me, when I truly didn't expect it. Those included:

6mm 100 gr
.257" 115 gr
.308" 165 gr

All of those shot really well, despite their perhaps "unruly" nature under the microscope... :mrgreen:

Regards, Guy

 

[DON]

Loaded up 3-different powders, best powder is R-22 with H4350 a close second. Both Partitions and Ballistic Tips shot similar with 2 touching & 1-out in three shot groups with R-22. BT gave me a 1" group with H-4350.

I'm not complaining here just as I got deeper into the Partition box I experienced the problem.
Most likely it's just the box I have.

I have high hopes next range visit to have a Partition load that will work out, if not the BT's will do.

Don

 

[boomer68]

I just loaded mine to 3.310" and shoots great with H4350.

 

[DON]

See my load results with the Partition in the thread, Performance of 30-06 180 BT vs 180 Partition
The Partition won out during my load development in spite of the ogive differences. :mrgreen:

Don

 

[lhsako]

Don , are you measuring your COAL off the tip of the bullet ? a more precise way to measure your COAL is to use a tool like the hornady one that measures off the ogive . using this tool gets you away from measuring off the irregular tips . using this tool will show you much more consistent lengths . I think it must be easier , or more precise to make a hollow point bullet and set a plastic tip ,as I don't see as wide of variance with the tipped bullets .

yes , I have seen the different lengths when reloading these bullets . I shoot a bunch of Hornady 139 BTSP's . some of these even have a little gob of lead on the tip . I keep these real bad ones for barrel fouling . some I can say varied by close to 0.015 . even though the COAL measuring off the tip varies widely they seem to shoot well . keep in mind that the critical measurement will be the clearance from the bullet ogive to the rifling , the tip just isn't what we are trying to control .
lol... I did this too when I was 14
here's one that will give you a chuckle . I'm a self taught reloader . I started when I was 14 , I'm now 53 . back in my early years I saw this difference in COAL's . so one day I decided to make a batch of perfect ammo . I adjusted my seating die on every bullet . man these bullets measured about perfectly off the tips , and I just knew they were going to be the best I've ever shot . but they didn't shoot very well at all . yep , I still have about 100 of these 30.06 bullets that need pulled . live and learn buddy .

this is the tool I use .
http://www.hornady.com/store/Lock-N-Loa ... ts-1-Each/

I also bought this . not necessary , but nice .

http://www.hornady.com/store/Lock-N-Loa ... it-1-Each/

 

[1100 Remington Man]

In my 300 H&H I have used 180 Partation and AB and both loaded no problems.

 

[DON]

1100 RM,
When I resume with this project I plan on getting a new box of 180 Partitions. I believe I just got a box that had varying ogive differences.

Don