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A friend who exclusively shoots the 308 Win. for medium game has tested all the bullet weights over the years - 150, 165 and 180 grain bullets. According to his real life experience, the most effective bullet weight on deer is the 150 grainer. He uses 150 grain Federal Power Shok and Fusion. He has taken well over 100 deer.
Must have been hunting on a deer ranch. Fusion ammunition was introduced in 2005. It's now 2024. So that's over 5 deer a year. Not saying it can't be done but seems to be a bit of a stretch. Good story thought.
@@woodrow1037 he used Power Shok ammo as well. He owned land next some farms and had predation permits to cull deer. There was no limit on bucks in Florida back then. That's why he got so many deer.
@@woodrow1037 There is also a 750 acre state park nearby where no hunting is allowed. The deer bed down there where they are safe, then visit the neighboring farms and properties. He has a sweet set up.
According to the Nosler article I read they were released to the public in 1947, the year I was born so I intend to use them till the end. Always worked good for me.
When I lived in Colorado I hunted elk every season for about 5 years near the Pikes Peak area. I spoke with an old elk hunter who was renowned in the area for killing a truck load of elk in his 50 plus years of hunting in Colorado. I asked him what the best elk caliber and bullet combination was, he said " boy a 30/06 with a 180gr Partition will kill anything that walks, thats all I have ever used on mule deer / elk and it has never let me down "....that was enough for me.
In 1948, when your choices for a hunting bullet were a FMJ, a cup and core hollow point, or a cup and core soft point, the Partition was revolutionary. It allowed hunters to use 30 caliber and smaller cartridges and have a bullet that will reach vitals even if it hits a heavy bone. But at the end of the day, it’s still a cup and core soft point super glued onto the front of a FMJ. The biggest shortcoming is the same as every other non-bonded bullets; lots of meat destruction and lead contamination. Outclassed in every way by bullets like the Trophy Bonded Bear Claw, Barnes TTSX, Terminal Ascent, and Swift A-Frame.
I can’t say for sure how many elk I have taken with the partition, probably over twenty for sure. Also brown bear black bear, caribou and all the deer. Never a problem. Always perfect performance. Minute of angle is the norm. Nothing but five stars 😀👍👍🇺🇸
40 years of hunting experience and reloading experience: For whitetail deer under 250 pounds, the 165gr Nosler Ballistic tip is excellent. For larger deer, mule deer and larger whitetail deer like you find in Colorado and Wyoming, the Nosler Partition bullets in 165gr seems to work the best for me in 308. The 165gr Nosler Partition works well for all large deer and elk in 308. I have had one shot drops on large bull elk with the 308 with my longest shot being 225 yards. Double lung hit and the bullet exited after hitting ribs going in and going out. Very impressive results. In 300 win mag and 300 Weatherby mag I use the 180gr Nosler Partition bullets and they are extremely effective. The truth is there are newer designs but in my personal testing for overall hunting for large deer and elk, with great accuracy and speed, Nosler Partition bullets from 165gr to 200gr for 308 and up, is the best overall do everything well bullet. There are many bullets on the market that also work very well, not taking anything away from them. I just found that the cost and often lack of performance compared to the Partition bullets, makes the Nosler Partition bullets my trusted choice. They have worked for many decades and the newcomers have a lot to live up too. In the end you can't go wrong with Nosler Partition bullets.
Nosler Partitions kill big game as well now as they did 75 years ago. I used them for moose and deer in the late '70s and still use them today. But, I've also used Swift A-Frames and Barnes TSX bullets on elk and a wide selection of African plains game (as well as elephant, leopard and Cape Buffalo). The A-Frames have a heavier "partition" and are bonded. That makes a big difference when it comes to the bullets holding together as they go through the animal. There are no "blown off" front sections with the A-Frames. Nor with the Barnes Triple Shocks. They are a more robust design and well-suited to tougher game.
Yup... You are correct... Heavy weight retention on the A Frame...which I would assume better penetration on bad angle shots. Nosler's retain about 60ish percent... The front half is soft lead which creates crazy devastation and the front half is gone. I use Swift easy glide sabots in my knight 54 caliber muzzleloader.
Noslers perform well. No complaints there. I recover about half of them. Worked on deer, bear, elk, moose. Just too hard to find and pretty expensive. Honestly, the fusions in 165 grains or 180 grains have worked just fine too.
I can’t speak to the 165 grain fusion, but before I started rolling my own ttsx bullets I was just buying the 308 180 fusions. Mulie, white tail, black bear and one very large cow elk. They performed perfectly for me and the price was right. 👍
Excellent video... Your testing showed all of the important information needed. Nosler Partition's are great. However I have recently switch over to using the Terminal Ascent in both .308 and 300 Win Mag, and I am very impressed with the results.
Thks Mason. I still think Federal Fusion is my choice, I've taken everything with it. Great accuracy, stomping power, retained weight, and mushrooming. I've taken moose and Elk with my 308 and Federal Fusion. I'll stick with it I think.
Old school premium bullet from my youth. I typically used Speer's Grand Slam instead, since they were cheaper. Nothing a 165 grain 308 bullet cant drop.
So you get the fragmentation that people like with SST‘s yet enough weight retention to reach 30 inches of penetration which is what people like about bonded bullets. Kind of seems like you get most of the benefits of both trains of thought and one bullet.
Classic Partition performance. Still around, still works as intended. Bullets are hard to get, ammo is hard to get. Your game is never hard to get, once you do your part. Sometime the grass isnt greener on the other side of the fence.
A couple of presidents ago, Federal had 223 Rem with 60gr partitions. I almost got some, but my budget was not right to get them. Now they are unobtanium and the price they were was about what everyday hunting ammo is today. 🙁
@WayStedYou I have some. And Barnes 70gr TSX. BOTH have worked well on game. A grandson got his first deer with Federal Fusion in 223 and I have taken a bobcat and coyote with the TSX from same rifle. 64 gr Win Powerpoint work well on coyotes also from the 223.
I handload my hunting ammo. For me, cup and core bullets work fine, mostly. Your gun will shoot a particular bullet the most accurately vs others, generally. That is how I play it. The gun dictates what it shoots the most accurately (type of bullet). Also, some guns will limit you to a specific weight of bullet they prefer. I don't hunt elk. I'm down in south Texas. Axis, whitetails, hogs, coyotes, that is about it on my hunt list. Axis can get pretty good weight, heavier than whitetail. the engagement distances are limited to terrain and vegetation so long shots are 150yds. Not very complicated stuff really. A 150gr will get it done, easily, but any weight will work. The rifle I use the most? A 6.5x55, using a Hornady 140gr Interlock. Recoil is easy on me. It is built on an old Vz24 action and super accurate. My kids used a Savage 110 in 308 growing up with a kid load I made using 150gr Hornady RN bullets (yep, 30-30 bullets) going 2475fps using H4895. That was a pure money combo, bang flop setup. Shot placement wins the race every time. I about quit shooting whitetails. Axis tastes a lot better. As for hogs, they all get shot but for eating, 150lbs is about my size limit for best flavor. The large ones get used for coyote bait.
Order some choice ammo 150 accu bonds for 308. You’ll be impressed. My savage 110 ultralight is showing consistently 2940 on the chronograph. It’s a 22” barrel also
Ironically, the discussion about the new bullet designs revolve around how they perform in comparison to the Nosler Partition, sort of like how discussions about new cartridge designs revolve around how they perform in comparison to the 30-06, the 7mmRM, or the .300WM...almost as if they really got it right back in the 40s, 50s and 60s. Sure BC is important at long range, but inside of 400yds what bullet is going to really outperform a Partition against large game? One of the aforementioned bullets in one of the aforementioned cartridges will efficiently kill any game on the continent. I'd love to see the 165gr Partition out of a 30-06 into gel.
25/06 120gr partition 300yrds. Did 3ft + threw a 220lbs Kansas white tail and anchored after deflecting off inside of off shoulder in pelt half way up neck. Only deer mounted still have the bullet. 72gr after recovery.
Definitely go with the 180s if you’re hunting Elk. Anything smaller than an elk just use a soft point unless you’re hunting longer range. Accubond LR is a great option.
The big difference between the Nosler Partition and the copper and/or the monolithic type bullets is that the latter are generally longer to make up the same weight as the Partition. This makes them portrude deeper into the case, sometimes limiting the powder capacity, and thus velocity. Nonetheless, the partition showed all the others the preformance standard to meet, so no, it is not obsolete.
I have plenty of hunting friends older than me that still use these for everything. I've seen how effective they are on whitetails and black bears. That explosive tip drops a deer fast, and the rear section does a pass through, they work. On the other side. I tried Fusions for the first time this year from your videos in 308 Winchester, 150gr is all they had to test for accuracy..they were just fine on paper and zeroed at 200yds. I shot my buck just this past Monday with the 150 Fusion and came away very impressed overall. I ranged the area I sat to 225yds max shot. A good buck came across the outer edge of the still standing corn and I saw enough antler to know he was a shooter. This is what impressed me the most. The deer went into the corn at 200yds away. I could only see the tips of his antlers. I placed the crosshair where his shoulder would be and touched one off. I saw him jump up and go a few yards and fell. The fact that it went through several rows of corn as a barrier before it hit the deer, didn't deflect and held probably all of its weight on impact from being bonded. It did a full pass through shot, entrance wound was 1" diameter so I'm sure it expanded when it hit the corn but still punched right through the animal with a similar sized exit hole and zero fragments in the animal..Blood trail for the few yards was easy to see as well. Call me sold, good stuff. Would a ballistic tipped type bullet perform through a barrier/bushes/corn and work like that if it wasn't bonded? Maybe. But it would of lost weight for sure and more chance of deflection. Happy hunter with a mature 8pt on the ground and had some for dinner tonight. Thanks for the videos.
This is why I have so much respect for Mason. The work he puts in makes us better and more ethical hunters. We make better and more informed choices, and our families eat better as a result. Mason has single handedly improved my quality of life this hunting season, and I’m not sure he fully grasps that. Either way, this IS the best channel on TH-cam.
@@JacStocker Yeah I love the big bore cartridges. For me here I need a intermediate to long range flatter shooting caliber however. My brush lots are too heavy to walk and hunt through. I set up in my fields watching areas where I normally see them hop out, normally at last light and longer range shots up to 400yds. present themselves. Good old 30-06/270/308 for my hunting needs and varied ranges works good here. Magnums always work too. I used to always use heavy for caliber bullets in case of an in the bushes, or the standing corn shot like this year. But, the bonded Fusion held together and performed very well at that range and having a barrier at 200yds. Good stuff. Still kicking myself passing on buying a Marlin 45-70 with a laminate stock and stainless several years ago at the gun show..He had $700 on it and it was a Marlin made rifle and like new..Not gonna find one at that price point today that's for sure.
Nobody can deny, how effective the " Partion" is, But any Bullet that shreds it's frontal mass, and leaves the Shank intact, technically is just as effective, because the actual " weight mass" below partition, is pretty minimal. The Remington Core Lokts, are the Toughest " Cup and Core" bullet and are just fine for deer , Elk, Moose, Hogs , ect. I don't discredit John Noslers " Partion" , I just don't know why he was not satisfied, with the Bullets back then , " ESPECIALLY A REMINGTON CORE LOKT" , THANKS MASON FOR THE TEST!!!
Good deliverance of energy and great penetration. More weight loss (for a deer load) than I would personally prefer but that's some solid performance! Do you plan on testing handloads again sometime?
I was feeling nostalgic and wanted to use partitions for hunting this year. Spent time working up a load for my 243Win but I couldn't get them to shoot straight. My gun shoots most bullets very well so this was disappointing.
Nosler may be pricing themselves completely out of a fairly large market demographic these days while facing stiff competition in both price and terminal performance. When you can buy factory loaded economy ammo and never have an issue with it cleanly taking deer, the premium stuff isnt going to set any sales records among bargain seekers or discerning practical deer hunters. I noticed that Nosler ammunition has hit the market with a deer specific ammo line using their old Solid Base or a newer variant of the Solid Base bullet. Pricing at Midway is very competitive to several standard cup and core factory loads. My guess is that they are being forced to accept current maket realities same as everyone else in the business.
Sierra left California for Missouri back in the 90s to save money and escape California regulations. So Yes, Nosler probably could do the same and improve their game as well.
I was wondering if you could take a look at sig sauer’s ammunition? I am really interested to see how there 165gr 308 controlled expansion load does as well as the copper load.
Heck yeah, I am curious about those sig / game changer TGK , I just bought 10 boxes of 140gr .270win on sale , figured they would whopp deer and other thin skinned stuff I would donate a box in the name of science 🎉 Would love to see Norma oryx tested I got a couple of boxes of 150gr .308win & .270win that need some air time/ research science
The images at 7:15 seem to show cup and core like separation, the copper looks like it cam from a frangible projectile, not what I Would’ve expected for an ideal larger game choice, I’ll stick with my Woodleigh projectiles every day of the week
NPs will separate more than most standard cup and core bullets, more separation means less retained weight means less penetration. Extremely overrated if you ask me.
I used partitions back in the 1980s and they worked well on game but mediocre accuracy and low bc and high cost compared to newer copper and bonded bullets I think the partitions are a bit dated? I still have a few 250gr. Partitions for my 340 Weatherby that I loaded in the late 1980s lol😊
Something you might want to add to your video is recoil. This test would have been a good comparison from the 150-180 recoil. Interesting that they had similar depth with 400fps reduction in the 180.
Thanks for this - very good info. FYI, I used this ammunition (180 grain) this year. In my SIG Cross with a 16" barrel chrono'ed at almost exactly 2400. Given that this is a 6 inch shorter barrel than your test, I'm amazed that the loss in velocity was so small. Once again, thanks for this. Real test data is very rare, usually we get opinions and guesswork.
I used 180gn partitions in my 06 and took everything on my trip to Africa with it. Zebra, wildabeast, nyala, kudu, gemsbuck, sabel. They my be old design but they just kill and do it well. Took a elk with them last week.
It's crazy how close the velocity of the 180 grain load was to some of your 170 grain .30-30 loads. Yeah, the .308 is more powerful, but it's not THAT much different (a few hundred fps but the .30-30 has a 2" shorter barrel)).
I"m not sure about you, but I think the Federal Fusion bullet has better construction than the partition bullet. You have convinced me that Federal Fusion is the best, most consistent ammunition on the market.
@@masonleather_outdoorsWould really appreciate a test on the Winchester Big Game LonRange. It is a 190 grain Accubond Long Range at 2750 fps. Reloading Weatherby did a velocity test and got box velocities.
Go for the Partition, I have used it for the last 40 years and it has NEVER FAILED to down elk and deer. Never! The solid copper bullets need a lot of speed to open up, so if you are hunting with a standard caliber your range will be more limited using solid copper……..
My dad always used the good old fashioned remington ammo in his savage 99 .308 . Never seen it fail. Muleys, Elk and even Moose . Is it still as good as ever ? Would this gun prefer a different load now ?
Thanks for these video I know these ammo is not cheap... I sure can't afford a box lol 😆 but the lead fragments makes it's not a good ammo... I don't want lead fragments in my meat
My theory as to why they are relatively mild loads, is the back of the bullet is exposed lead. Might not be able to push this bullet quite as hot due to the thought too much lead in the back might burn away/ melt causing inconsistencies. Different than more modern hunting rounds for sure, but it will do the job as it has for decades. Even though in my opinion a bit obsolescent. The penetration was excellent though. Not an expert by any means but just my theory.
I have in fact used both of these loads on my last two Whitetails here in NH. Rather than try to promote or criticize, I'll just report what happened exactly to the best of my recollection and allow you to draw your own conclusions (with a bit of my own subjective analysis). Both of these were shot from my Sauer 200 Rifle. Barrel length, 24 inches. Deer #1: 150 Grain load. 158 lb buck dressed weight. Estimated live weight 199 lbs. I was sitting on a hill looking downward towards the deer. Buck emerged mostly facing me with a slight quartering angle to the left. Range was approximately 30-35 yards. I shot into the left side of the buck's neck (my right) from above with a line down into the chest cavity. Buck stumbled forward about one body length and collapsed on the spot. Clear exit wound not located. Bullet not located. Deer #2: 180 Grain load. 129 lb doe dressed weight. Estimated live weight 162.5 lbs. Sitting at the same spot. Likewise looking downward towards deer. Doe emerged once again with slight quartering angle facing towards me. Range approximately 40 yards. Her head was down and shot went through top of neck and once again into chest cavity. Doe also went forward one body length and collapsed on spot. Large exit wound located in front of doe's right hind leg approximately where white belly hair meets brown hair. Bullet likewise not located. With all this in mind, and bearing in mind I have a sample size of two (very small I know), I have the following theories. With a 24 inch barrel on my .308 I would expect velocity to be high. At such close ranges as I must live with in these notoriously thick woods, retained velocity is likewise high. Even on a whitetail, this is extremely hard on the 150 grain loads. Your data on the velocity of these loads may back this up. Full penetration on a body length shot may not be entirely reliable. It was for this reason that I switched to the 180 grain load, particularly as Bear and rifle season for Deer entirely overlap in my corner of the world, and all my deer loads must pull double duty. It is however worth noting that the reaction from the game was pretty much identical. Though, the angle of the shot may have had more to do with this than the particulars of the bullet.
Hey boss, been watching a ton of your 45-70 videos and am kind of lost. What ammo would you recommend, or is your favorite, strictly for terminal performance. Whitetail, Mulies, Hogs, Black Bear, and Elk. Thank you!
To bad nosler charges waaaaay to mich for their products only 3 years ago you could get accubonds of 60$ now they are double the price herenin canada typical boxes of bullets are 95-110$ and factory ammo for 20 rounds is over 100$ a box their brass is outrageous 25 peases of 28 nosler brass for over 120$ mean while you can get 50 peaces of top notch adg brass for 150$ nosler is out to lunch they built their company on the reloading but adkit they dont carenthey can charge double the amount of $$,for factory ammo and milk more money out of people they forsake the hand loader and give them bread crumbs. That and they have doubled the price of their products ill stick with berger and hornady two company's that support the hunter/target shooter/ reloader and factory ammo guy at half the price and waaaay more accurate , subbed and thumbs up tho.
If you want more penetration specifically the Partition, if you want availability and far more reasonable prices the fusion. IMO they’re not directly comparable, the Terminal Ascent is the new Partition.
Good analysis, but I've heard Partitions are lacking in the precision area. It would be nice to see a 3-shot group, even if it's just out of 1 rifle which would be little more than anecdotal.
... the Swift A-Frame is like a Partition except the frontal part of the bullet ahead of the copper or gilding metal partition is bonded resulting in higher weight retention than the Nosler Partition bullet ... there was no such thing as bonding technology in 1948 when the Nosler Partition made its debut ... factory 308 Win ammo featuring the Swift A-frame bullet would be a good ammo to test ... very expensive though
Partitions are expensive and I think that's intentional. If they were cheap, many people would assume they're no good. Marketing bullets and ammo has got to be tricky in a world where everyone seems to want new and premium with excellent long-range performance. Yet most people would probably still do very well using the old school designs.
They are more difficult to make. Two lead cores. The partition in the jacket and the partition is more forward or back depending on caliber and weight. All of that leads to cost.
@@masonleather_outdoorsI’m extremely interested in the 168. The 175 LRX is just too big to get good velocity. I’d like to see how the 168!performs at a slow speed impact.
@@masonleather_outdoorsThat’s awesome! Looking forward to it. I love the 130’s. I wish they loaded them in factory ammo in 30-06. I shoot 150’s and they do great, though.
I think most folks would be better served with a copper for large game like elk. Also I’d be interested to see you compare factory ammo with the same bullet and weight comparing 30-06 and 308. I find between 150-180 you don’t see much difference in velocity. They criminally under load the old 06. Fusion 150 ~10fps 165 ~75fps 180 ~10fps. Same bbl length.
False. Any ammo for hunting will shoot minute of vitals....but you need a bullet that will perform once it finds the target. If it was about accuracy then we would all be using match grade bullets.
Federal loaded nosler partition in .270win is my current load. It's accurate out of my rifle. It is great on hogs. That wound cavity is good to see. Hoping you can get your hands on a box of .270 soon. I have mixed in some fusions lately thanks to your videos.
If you do the federal premium berger hybrid hunter you will pretty much have all of the federal 308 rounds. So far the federal fusion 180 look the best to me.
I ONLY shoot Nosler Partitions at live, unwounded game. They are Always Consistent in their performance. They will not blow up on a bear at 5 feet (and we have some BIG ones around here!), and expand reliably down to ~2000f/s away oot thar. Had my fill of wizzbang goshbygolly boolitz. That's WHY Partitions for me. I use 165's in my 308 and 180's in my 30-06. Worx. BC is plenty good enuf. BC dont kill game, reliable performance does. Learn how to HUNT. GET within reasonable range for sure kills. You want to poo poo old tech? The 1911 and its 230 Grain RN's have been around a lot longer, are still very popular and gits 'er Done.
What I shoot is dependent upon the rate of twist in the barrel. For me the 1in 12 prefers the 150gr,the 1in10 did better with the 180's in my experience.
The Partition has its place on the market, but no, I wouldn't use it. The front part is too frangible, leaving bits and pieces of lead in its wake, and too much contaminated meat. Obviously not a problem with solid copper bullets, but even with lead-core bonded bullets such as the Swift A-Frame or Terminal Ascent, there's too little fragmentation to worry about, what with 95%+ weight retention. So, to answer your question at the end of the video, I do indeed believe time and innovation have passed the Partition by.
I wouldn't be too worried about contaminated meat. Typically the area around the entry and exit hole gets so bruised, most people trim it out and toss it. Because it may also be full of hair and bone shards. But I agree it acts more like a ballistic tip varmint round than a big game round.
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A friend who exclusively shoots the 308 Win. for medium game has tested all the bullet weights over the years - 150, 165 and 180 grain bullets. According to his real life experience, the most effective bullet weight on deer is the 150 grainer. He uses 150 grain Federal Power Shok and Fusion. He has taken well over 100 deer.
If it ain't broke don't fix it
Must have been hunting on a deer ranch. Fusion ammunition was introduced in 2005. It's now 2024. So that's over 5 deer a year. Not saying it can't be done but seems to be a bit of a stretch. Good story thought.
@@woodrow1037 he used Power Shok ammo as well. He owned land next some farms and had predation permits to cull deer. There was no limit on bucks in Florida back then. That's why he got so many deer.
Thought it might be something like that.
@@woodrow1037 There is also a 750 acre state park nearby where no hunting is allowed. The deer bed down there where they are safe, then visit the neighboring farms and properties. He has a sweet set up.
According to the Nosler article I read they were released to the public in 1947, the year I was born so I intend to use them till the end. Always worked good for me.
When I lived in Colorado I hunted elk every season for about 5 years near the Pikes Peak area. I spoke with an old elk hunter who was renowned in the area for killing a truck load of elk in his 50 plus years of hunting in Colorado. I asked him what the best elk caliber and bullet combination was, he said " boy a 30/06 with a 180gr Partition will kill anything that walks, thats all I have ever used on mule deer / elk and it has never let me down "....that was enough for me.
It still works and performs well nuff said.
Old school that still makes the grade. I like the 150 in these results. Thank you.
In 1948, when your choices for a hunting bullet were a FMJ, a cup and core hollow point, or a cup and core soft point, the Partition was revolutionary. It allowed hunters to use 30 caliber and smaller cartridges and have a bullet that will reach vitals even if it hits a heavy bone. But at the end of the day, it’s still a cup and core soft point super glued onto the front of a FMJ. The biggest shortcoming is the same as every other non-bonded bullets; lots of meat destruction and lead contamination. Outclassed in every way by bullets like the Trophy Bonded Bear Claw, Barnes TTSX, Terminal Ascent, and Swift A-Frame.
I can’t say for sure how many elk I have taken with the partition, probably over twenty for sure. Also brown bear black bear, caribou and all the deer. Never a problem. Always perfect performance. Minute of angle is the norm. Nothing but five stars 😀👍👍🇺🇸
40 years of hunting experience and reloading experience: For whitetail deer under 250 pounds, the 165gr Nosler Ballistic tip is excellent. For larger deer, mule deer and larger whitetail deer like you find in Colorado and Wyoming, the Nosler Partition bullets in 165gr seems to work the best for me in 308. The 165gr Nosler Partition works well for all large deer and elk in 308. I have had one shot drops on large bull elk with the 308 with my longest shot being 225 yards. Double lung hit and the bullet exited after hitting ribs going in and going out. Very impressive results. In 300 win mag and 300 Weatherby mag I use the 180gr Nosler Partition bullets and they are extremely effective. The truth is there are newer designs but in my personal testing for overall hunting for large deer and elk, with great accuracy and speed, Nosler Partition bullets from 165gr to 200gr for 308 and up, is the best overall do everything well bullet. There are many bullets on the market that also work very well, not taking anything away from them. I just found that the cost and often lack of performance compared to the Partition bullets, makes the Nosler Partition bullets my trusted choice. They have worked for many decades and the newcomers have a lot to live up too. In the end you can't go wrong with Nosler Partition bullets.
Nosler Partitions kill big game as well now as they did 75 years ago. I used them for moose and deer in the late '70s and still use them today. But, I've also used Swift A-Frames and Barnes TSX bullets on elk and a wide selection of African plains game (as well as elephant, leopard and Cape Buffalo). The A-Frames have a heavier "partition" and are bonded. That makes a big difference when it comes to the bullets holding together as they go through the animal. There are no "blown off" front sections with the A-Frames. Nor with the Barnes Triple Shocks. They are a more robust design and well-suited to tougher game.
Yup... You are correct... Heavy weight retention on the A Frame...which I would assume better penetration on bad angle shots. Nosler's retain about 60ish percent... The front half is soft lead which creates crazy devastation and the front half is gone. I use Swift easy glide sabots in my knight 54 caliber muzzleloader.
Noslers perform well. No complaints there. I recover about half of them.
Worked on deer, bear, elk, moose.
Just too hard to find and pretty expensive.
Honestly, the fusions in 165 grains or 180 grains have worked just fine too.
Indeed, they’re more of a nostalgic thing for me at this point
I can’t speak to the 165 grain fusion, but before I started rolling my own ttsx bullets I was just buying the 308 180 fusions.
Mulie, white tail, black bear and one very large cow elk.
They performed perfectly for me and the price was right. 👍
Excellent video... Your testing showed all of the important information needed.
Nosler Partition's are great. However I have recently switch over to using the Terminal Ascent in both .308 and 300 Win Mag, and I am very impressed with the results.
I'd rock with the 150. It Shoots flatter and I love the classic cartridges
Thks Mason. I still think Federal Fusion is my choice, I've taken everything with it.
Great accuracy, stomping power, retained weight, and mushrooming. I've taken moose and Elk with my 308 and Federal Fusion. I'll stick with it I think.
Outstanding
Old school premium bullet from my youth. I typically used Speer's Grand Slam instead, since they were cheaper. Nothing a 165 grain 308 bullet cant drop.
You would get yourself killed up against the Brown bears I guided my clients on their Alaska brown bear hunts using a deer gun 308 was used
So you get the fragmentation that people like with SST‘s yet enough weight retention to reach 30 inches of penetration which is what people like about bonded bullets. Kind of seems like you get most of the benefits of both trains of thought and one bullet.
Yes indeed, unfortunately usually at much higher cost.
@ Nosler’s pricing structure is insane.
One of the best ammo videos I've seen. Very good format and informative. Thank you
Classic Partition performance.
Still around, still works as intended.
Bullets are hard to get, ammo is hard to get. Your game is never hard to get, once you do your part.
Sometime the grass isnt greener on the other side of the fence.
I would love to see a spreadsheet with all the data you have compiled with different cartridges and bullets!
I will be putting one together, it will be available to Range Boss level channel members
The partitions were all the rage from the 60s to the late 80s when people switched the barnes. Nosler builds some great bullets in my opinion
Nosler partition hard to beat.
Thanks for the no-nonsense ballistic test! Great videos . I check out your content first “ knowledge is power!!!🦌
A couple of presidents ago, Federal had 223 Rem with 60gr partitions. I almost got some, but my budget was not right to get them. Now they are unobtanium and the price they were was about what everyday hunting ammo is today. 🙁
I’ve got a few boxes of them, I think I got them around 2010
just get the federal fusion
@WayStedYou I have some. And Barnes 70gr TSX. BOTH have worked well on game. A grandson got his first deer with Federal Fusion in 223 and I have taken a bobcat and coyote with the TSX from same rifle. 64 gr Win Powerpoint work well on coyotes also from the 223.
Getting 30-33" penetration & that kind of expansion with only 2500 fps is pretty darn good for that 180 grain. Great video.
Old faithful ! You are right they are getting hard to find and are expensive. It still might be the best 243 load for deer though
Great video. can't wait for the accubond test.
For My 308 rifles I use Speer 165gr BTSP, and go no heavier than 168gr. For my 300WM I use 180 Nosler Partition, or 190gr Speer Impact.
I handload my hunting ammo. For me, cup and core bullets work fine, mostly. Your gun will shoot a particular bullet the most accurately vs others, generally. That is how I play it. The gun dictates what it shoots the most accurately (type of bullet). Also, some guns will limit you to a specific weight of bullet they prefer. I don't hunt elk. I'm down in south Texas. Axis, whitetails, hogs, coyotes, that is about it on my hunt list. Axis can get pretty good weight, heavier than whitetail. the engagement distances are limited to terrain and vegetation so long shots are 150yds. Not very complicated stuff really. A 150gr will get it done, easily, but any weight will work. The rifle I use the most? A 6.5x55, using a Hornady 140gr Interlock. Recoil is easy on me. It is built on an old Vz24 action and super accurate. My kids used a Savage 110 in 308 growing up with a kid load I made using 150gr Hornady RN bullets (yep, 30-30 bullets) going 2475fps using H4895. That was a pure money combo, bang flop setup. Shot placement wins the race every time. I about quit shooting whitetails. Axis tastes a lot better. As for hogs, they all get shot but for eating, 150lbs is about my size limit for best flavor. The large ones get used for coyote bait.
Love your content man. Would love to see you do a test on the new nosler whitetail country in 308 thanks man
Order some choice ammo 150 accu bonds for 308. You’ll be impressed. My savage 110 ultralight is showing consistently 2940 on the chronograph. It’s a 22” barrel also
Awesome videos Mason. Thumbs up
Thanks!
Not outdated at all
Ironically, the discussion about the new bullet designs revolve around how they perform in comparison to the Nosler Partition, sort of like how discussions about new cartridge designs revolve around how they perform in comparison to the 30-06, the 7mmRM, or the .300WM...almost as if they really got it right back in the 40s, 50s and 60s. Sure BC is important at long range, but inside of 400yds what bullet is going to really outperform a Partition against large game? One of the aforementioned bullets in one of the aforementioned cartridges will efficiently kill any game on the continent. I'd love to see the 165gr Partition out of a 30-06 into gel.
Great test. Thanks for doing the work!
Thanks for all the testing. I'd love to see Sellier and Bellot's 44 magnum loads tested.
Glad to be of service! I’ll be doing a lot more 44 mag.
@@masonleather_outdoors Sweet, looking forward to it
Try the accubonds in .308 I couldn’t find many partitions
Thanks again for the info 👍👍👍👍👍👏👏👏👏👏🦌
25/06 120gr partition 300yrds. Did 3ft + threw a 220lbs Kansas white tail and anchored after deflecting off inside of off shoulder in pelt half way up neck. Only deer mounted still have the bullet. 72gr after recovery.
Thanks for sharing. Hand load or Hornady Match 168
I enjoy your videos! 308 all the way
Definitely go with the 180s if you’re hunting Elk. Anything smaller than an elk just use a soft point unless you’re hunting longer range. Accubond LR is a great option.
The big difference between the Nosler Partition and the copper and/or the monolithic type bullets is that the latter are generally longer to make up the same weight as the Partition. This makes them portrude deeper into the case, sometimes limiting the powder capacity, and thus velocity. Nonetheless, the partition showed all the others the preformance standard to meet, so no, it is not obsolete.
I have plenty of hunting friends older than me that still use these for everything. I've seen how effective they are on whitetails and black bears. That explosive tip drops a deer fast, and the rear section does a pass through, they work.
On the other side. I tried Fusions for the first time this year from your videos in 308 Winchester, 150gr is all they had to test for accuracy..they were just fine on paper and zeroed at 200yds.
I shot my buck just this past Monday with the 150 Fusion and came away very impressed overall. I ranged the area I sat to 225yds max shot. A good buck came across the outer edge of the still standing corn and I saw enough antler to know he was a shooter. This is what impressed me the most. The deer went into the corn at 200yds away. I could only see the tips of his antlers. I placed the crosshair where his shoulder would be and touched one off. I saw him jump up and go a few yards and fell. The fact that it went through several rows of corn as a barrier before it hit the deer, didn't deflect and held probably all of its weight on impact from being bonded. It did a full pass through shot, entrance wound was 1" diameter so I'm sure it expanded when it hit the corn but still punched right through the animal with a similar sized exit hole and zero fragments in the animal..Blood trail for the few yards was easy to see as well. Call me sold, good stuff.
Would a ballistic tipped type bullet perform through a barrier/bushes/corn and work like that if it wasn't bonded? Maybe. But it would of lost weight for sure and more chance of deflection. Happy hunter with a mature 8pt on the ground and had some for dinner tonight. Thanks for the videos.
This is why I have so much respect for Mason.
The work he puts in makes us better and more ethical hunters. We make better and more informed choices, and our families eat better as a result.
Mason has single handedly improved my quality of life this hunting season, and I’m not sure he fully grasps that.
Either way, this IS the best channel on TH-cam.
@@Stu650Zuk 45 70 might be better if you want to hunt bushy, brush area's
@@JacStocker Yeah I love the big bore cartridges. For me here I need a intermediate to long range flatter shooting caliber however. My brush lots are too heavy to walk and hunt through. I set up in my fields watching areas where I normally see them hop out, normally at last light and longer range shots up to 400yds. present themselves. Good old 30-06/270/308 for my hunting needs and varied ranges works good here. Magnums always work too. I used to always use heavy for caliber bullets in case of an in the bushes, or the standing corn shot like this year. But, the bonded Fusion held together and performed very well at that range and having a barrier at 200yds. Good stuff.
Still kicking myself passing on buying a Marlin 45-70 with a laminate stock and stainless several years ago at the gun show..He had $700 on it and it was a Marlin made rifle and like new..Not gonna find one at that price point today that's for sure.
Nobody can deny, how effective the " Partion" is, But any Bullet that shreds it's frontal mass, and leaves the Shank intact, technically is just as effective, because the actual " weight mass" below partition, is pretty minimal. The Remington Core Lokts, are the Toughest " Cup and Core" bullet and are just fine for deer , Elk, Moose, Hogs , ect. I don't discredit John Noslers " Partion" , I just don't know why he was not satisfied, with the Bullets back then , " ESPECIALLY A REMINGTON CORE LOKT" , THANKS MASON FOR THE TEST!!!
Good deliverance of energy and great penetration. More weight loss (for a deer load) than I would personally prefer but that's some solid performance! Do you plan on testing handloads again sometime?
Yes I will
Thanks for the content.
I was feeling nostalgic and wanted to use partitions for hunting this year. Spent time working up a load for my 243Win but I couldn't get them to shoot straight. My gun shoots most bullets very well so this was disappointing.
Dang
i had the same issue in 6.5CM, just went back to Berger classic hunters lol
Try a different weight.
Nosler may be pricing themselves completely out of a fairly large market demographic these days while facing stiff competition in both price and terminal performance. When you can buy factory loaded economy ammo and never have an issue with it cleanly taking deer, the premium stuff isnt going to set any sales records among bargain seekers or discerning practical deer hunters. I noticed that Nosler ammunition has hit the market with a deer specific ammo line using their old Solid Base or a newer variant of the Solid Base bullet. Pricing at Midway is very competitive to several standard cup and core factory loads. My guess is that they are being forced to accept current maket realities same as everyone else in the business.
If they moved out of Oregon, they could probably cut their costs.
Sierra left California for Missouri back in the 90s to save money and escape California regulations. So Yes, Nosler probably could do the same and improve their game as well.
I was wondering if you could take a look at sig sauer’s ammunition? I am really interested to see how there 165gr 308 controlled expansion load does as well as the copper load.
Heck yeah, I am curious about those sig / game changer TGK , I just bought 10 boxes of 140gr .270win on sale , figured they would whopp deer and other thin skinned stuff
I would donate a box in the name of science 🎉
Would love to see Norma oryx tested I got a couple of boxes of 150gr .308win & .270win that need some air time/ research science
The images at 7:15 seem to show cup and core like separation, the copper looks like it cam from a frangible projectile, not what I Would’ve expected for an ideal larger game choice, I’ll stick with my Woodleigh projectiles every day of the week
NPs will separate more than most standard cup and core bullets, more separation means less retained weight means less penetration. Extremely overrated if you ask me.
I used partitions back in the 1980s and they worked well on game but mediocre accuracy and low bc and high cost compared to newer copper and bonded bullets I think the partitions are a bit dated? I still have a few 250gr. Partitions for my 340 Weatherby that I loaded in the late 1980s lol😊
Copper monolithic bullets are shit.
Something you might want to add to your video is recoil. This test would have been a good comparison from the 150-180 recoil.
Interesting that they had similar depth with 400fps reduction in the 180.
The difference is negligible
Thanks for this - very good info. FYI, I used this ammunition (180 grain) this year. In my SIG Cross with a 16" barrel chrono'ed at almost exactly 2400. Given that this is a 6 inch shorter barrel than your test, I'm amazed that the loss in velocity was so small.
Once again, thanks for this. Real test data is very rare, usually we get opinions and guesswork.
Stupidest choice ever. No reason for a 16" barrel. Even less reason for a 180gr.
I used 180gn partitions in my 06 and took everything on my trip to Africa with it. Zebra, wildabeast, nyala, kudu, gemsbuck, sabel. They my be old design but they just kill and do it well. Took a elk with them last week.
It's crazy how close the velocity of the 180 grain load was to some of your 170 grain .30-30 loads. Yeah, the .308 is more powerful, but it's not THAT much different (a few hundred fps but the .30-30 has a 2" shorter barrel)).
I"m not sure about you, but I think the Federal Fusion bullet has better construction than the partition bullet. You have convinced me that Federal Fusion is the best, most consistent ammunition on the market.
Those shells are about 3.00 a piece in Canada
Bro, this channel is top notch. Thanks for making this content.
Are the nosler ballistic tip/silver tip in either 308/30-06 in the queue for testing? Same for sierra gk sbt
NBT in 308 yes and Sierra Ammo 308 yes
Awesome, will we see those in this release?
@@masonleather_outdoorsWould really appreciate a test on the Winchester Big Game LonRange. It is a 190 grain Accubond Long Range at 2750 fps. Reloading Weatherby did a velocity test and got box velocities.
Which do you like better, Sierra or Nosler?
No, next batch, they’re 90% filmed but not ready to edit yet
Go for the Partition, I have used it for the last 40 years and it has NEVER FAILED to down elk and deer. Never! The solid copper bullets need a lot of speed to open up, so if you are hunting with a standard caliber your range will be more limited using solid copper……..
My dad always used the good old fashioned remington ammo in his savage 99 .308 . Never seen it fail. Muleys, Elk and even Moose .
Is it still as good as ever ? Would this gun prefer a different load now ?
Another good one mason for the money fusion bullets for me price and performance wise
cool video and same caliber and bullet i run
Thanks for these video I know these ammo is not cheap... I sure can't afford a box lol 😆 but the lead fragments makes it's not a good ammo... I don't want lead fragments in my meat
I could never get good groups out of my 270 using that ammo.
Have you seen the Sako hammerhead, gamehead, or super hammerhead in 308?
Is there a possibility of testing the AAC ammo by Palmetto State Armory. In this caliber.
My theory as to why they are relatively mild loads, is the back of the bullet is exposed lead. Might not be able to push this bullet quite as hot due to the thought too much lead in the back might burn away/ melt causing inconsistencies. Different than more modern hunting rounds for sure, but it will do the job as it has for decades. Even though in my opinion a bit obsolescent. The penetration was excellent though.
Not an expert by any means but just my theory.
I have in fact used both of these loads on my last two Whitetails here in NH. Rather than try to promote or criticize, I'll just report what happened exactly to the best of my recollection and allow you to draw your own conclusions (with a bit of my own subjective analysis).
Both of these were shot from my Sauer 200 Rifle. Barrel length, 24 inches.
Deer #1: 150 Grain load. 158 lb buck dressed weight. Estimated live weight 199 lbs. I was sitting on a hill looking downward towards the deer. Buck emerged mostly facing me with a slight quartering angle to the left. Range was approximately 30-35 yards. I shot into the left side of the buck's neck (my right) from above with a line down into the chest cavity. Buck stumbled forward about one body length and collapsed on the spot. Clear exit wound not located. Bullet not located.
Deer #2: 180 Grain load. 129 lb doe dressed weight. Estimated live weight 162.5 lbs. Sitting at the same spot. Likewise looking downward towards deer. Doe emerged once again with slight quartering angle facing towards me. Range approximately 40 yards. Her head was down and shot went through top of neck and once again into chest cavity. Doe also went forward one body length and collapsed on spot. Large exit wound located in front of doe's right hind leg approximately where white belly hair meets brown hair. Bullet likewise not located.
With all this in mind, and bearing in mind I have a sample size of two (very small I know), I have the following theories. With a 24 inch barrel on my .308 I would expect velocity to be high. At such close ranges as I must live with in these notoriously thick woods, retained velocity is likewise high. Even on a whitetail, this is extremely hard on the 150 grain loads. Your data on the velocity of these loads may back this up. Full penetration on a body length shot may not be entirely reliable. It was for this reason that I switched to the 180 grain load, particularly as Bear and rifle season for Deer entirely overlap in my corner of the world, and all my deer loads must pull double duty. It is however worth noting that the reaction from the game was pretty much identical. Though, the angle of the shot may have had more to do with this than the particulars of the bullet.
What i got out of your info is shot placement was gonna stop any other animal you would have hit in the same place
I use 180 grain soft points and it hits like a sledgehammer
Hey boss, been watching a ton of your 45-70 videos and am kind of lost. What ammo would you recommend, or is your favorite, strictly for terminal performance. Whitetail, Mulies, Hogs, Black Bear, and Elk. Thank you!
Underwood ammo 30-30 Winchester 147 Grain Xtreme Penetrator Solid Monolithic Hunting?
To bad nosler charges waaaaay to mich for their products only 3 years ago you could get accubonds of 60$ now they are double the price herenin canada typical boxes of bullets are 95-110$ and factory ammo for 20 rounds is over 100$ a box their brass is outrageous 25 peases of 28 nosler brass for over 120$ mean while you can get 50 peaces of top notch adg brass for 150$ nosler is out to lunch they built their company on the reloading but adkit they dont carenthey can charge double the amount of $$,for factory ammo and milk more money out of people they forsake the hand loader and give them bread crumbs. That and they have doubled the price of their products ill stick with berger and hornady two company's that support the hunter/target shooter/ reloader and factory ammo guy at half the price and waaaay more accurate , subbed and thumbs up tho.
"$" go in front. $60*
What do you think is better mate the fusion or partition?
If you want more penetration specifically the Partition, if you want availability and far more reasonable prices the fusion. IMO they’re not directly comparable, the Terminal Ascent is the new Partition.
@ thanks mate 👍🏼 appreciate the effort you put into doing these videos, its a great thing for the hunting community world wide.
Glad to be of service!
I believe these ammo companies always test their ammo in rifles with 24 inch barrel to give them a little more down range for advertisement
Good analysis, but I've heard Partitions are lacking in the precision area. It would be nice to see a 3-shot group, even if it's just out of 1 rifle which would be little more than anecdotal.
Nice
We need some elk and moose .270win ammo testing 150gr
I use 150 grain and never had to track a deer beyond 50 yards.
I’m trying to upgrade my membership to watch all your videos but can’t figure out how to
I don’t know how either, I think you might have to cancel your membership then sign up again at the higher level
... the Swift A-Frame is like a Partition except the frontal part of the bullet ahead of the copper or gilding metal partition is bonded resulting in higher weight retention than the Nosler Partition bullet ... there was no such thing as bonding technology in 1948 when the Nosler Partition made its debut ... factory 308 Win ammo featuring the Swift A-frame bullet would be a good ammo to test ... very expensive though
Partitions are expensive and I think that's intentional. If they were cheap, many people would assume they're no good. Marketing bullets and ammo has got to be tricky in a world where everyone seems to want new and premium with excellent long-range performance. Yet most people would probably still do very well using the old school designs.
They are more difficult to make. Two lead cores. The partition in the jacket and the partition is more forward or back depending on caliber and weight. All of that leads to cost.
Why not use an American scope? Go with a Leupold.
I agree
Great bullet but they have become so expensive
I love the bullet weight comparisons in the same cartridge. I would love to see you do 30-06 Barnes TTSX in 150, 168, and 180.
130, 150 & 168 TTSX is coming for 308
@@masonleather_outdoorsI’m extremely interested in the 168. The 175 LRX is just too big to get good velocity. I’d like to see how the 168!performs at a slow speed impact.
@@masonleather_outdoors
I’ll be looking forward to that!
@@masonleather_outdoorsThat’s awesome! Looking forward to it. I love the 130’s. I wish they loaded them in factory ammo in 30-06. I shoot 150’s and they do great, though.
They're trash.
I think most folks would be better served with a copper for large game like elk. Also I’d be interested to see you compare factory ammo with the same bullet and weight comparing 30-06 and 308. I find between 150-180 you don’t see much difference in velocity. They criminally under load the old 06. Fusion 150 ~10fps 165 ~75fps 180 ~10fps. Same bbl length.
Good video , my current dilemma 150 vs 180
Glad I stopped and subscribed
The 180 load is REALLY anemic.
All too common unfortunately
Partitions are very destructive. The front fragments explosively and sends a lot of lead fragments out. A lot of blood shot meat.
🇺🇸
Accuracy is much more important than all of your data.
They’re all plenty precise, accuracy is up to the hunter.
@@masonleather_outdoorsYou speak the truth, friend.
I must for YT is full of hucksters
False. Any ammo for hunting will shoot minute of vitals....but you need a bullet that will perform once it finds the target. If it was about accuracy then we would all be using match grade bullets.
Thumbs up for sharing but Nosler has turned me off in recent years, they can keep their products.
Federal loaded nosler partition in .270win is my current load. It's accurate out of my rifle. It is great on hogs. That wound cavity is good to see.
Hoping you can get your hands on a box of .270 soon.
I have mixed in some fusions lately thanks to your videos.
... nostalgia aside ... the Federal Fusion bullet is a lot better and a lot cheaper
If you do the federal premium berger hybrid hunter you will pretty much have all of the federal 308 rounds. So far the federal fusion 180 look the best to me.
Stick with 165gr
Not impressed by the jacket/core separation and slow speed of this load, only the 2nd Federal load I’ve been unimpressed by not bad considering
That's high end factory ammo.
I ONLY shoot Nosler Partitions at live, unwounded game. They are Always Consistent in their performance. They will not blow up on a bear at 5 feet (and we have some BIG ones around here!), and expand reliably down to ~2000f/s away oot thar. Had my fill of wizzbang goshbygolly boolitz. That's WHY Partitions for me. I use 165's in my 308 and 180's in my 30-06. Worx. BC is plenty good enuf. BC dont kill game, reliable performance does. Learn how to HUNT. GET within reasonable range for sure kills. You want to poo poo old tech? The 1911 and its 230 Grain RN's have been around a lot longer, are still very popular and gits 'er Done.
What I shoot is dependent upon the rate of twist in the barrel. For me the 1in 12 prefers the 150gr,the 1in10 did better with the 180's in my experience.
The Partition has its place on the market, but no, I wouldn't use it. The front part is too frangible, leaving bits and pieces of lead in its wake, and too much contaminated meat. Obviously not a problem with solid copper bullets, but even with lead-core bonded bullets such as the Swift A-Frame or Terminal Ascent, there's too little fragmentation to worry about, what with 95%+ weight retention. So, to answer your question at the end of the video, I do indeed believe time and innovation have passed the Partition by.
I agree
I wouldn't be too worried about contaminated meat.
Typically the area around the entry and exit hole gets so bruised, most people trim it out and toss it. Because it may also be full of hair and bone shards.
But I agree it acts more like a ballistic tip varmint round than a big game round.
Don't shoot meat