Nosler Partition or Ballistic Tip for Whitetails?

[Mark251]

I know that there are a lot of good bullet choices on the market but  if you had choose either the Nosler Partition or the Nosler Ballistic Tip for Eastern Washington whitetails, which would you choose and why? (assuming your favorite deer rifle shoots them equally well).   How big a difference would shot distance make in your decision?

[GUscottie]

I'll throw my  into the debate...All depends on what gun and what speeds you are flying. I know for my 6.5x284 I'm throwing the 140 grains (both bullets) at about the same speed down range. They are equally accurate. Due to my personal opinion, I'm sticking to the BTs as target rounds being they are 2/3s the price of the partitions. I'm hunting solely with the partitions due to their bonded process. My BTs will be used for load development and other non-game killing related adventures. They have the same BC in the 6.5 caliber at 140 grains, so I'm very fortunate. As far as will it kill the deer, yes, the BT or the partition will. I personally would only use the Partition, not because of anything other than the partition is meant for killing stuff and I feel it is a better developed bullet for killing things.

[Bob33]

Ask your gun with bullet she prefers, and obey her wishes.

[bobcat]

Either one will kill deer. The ballistic tip is likely to make a bigger hole but less likely to exit. If shooting extremely long range (further than 400 yards) I'd prefer the ballistic tip for the higher ballistic efficient. For most normal hunting situations it's not going to make any difference which bullet you are using.

[grundy53]

Either is more than adequate. I would probably lean towards the partitions.

Sent from my E6782 using Tapatalk

[coachcw]

probably the partitions .. both perform better under 2500 fps ... I have seen the bt blow a pin hole right threw a animal . what round are you shooting  ?

[PA BEN]

AccuBond for me, couldn't get the partition to fly like I wanted it to. 7mm rem. mag. 160 gr

[j_h_nimrod]

It does not really answer you question, but I would choose neither. There are a lot of better bullets available for comparable prices.

The BT has some of the worst performance (in my experience) of any bullet I have ever killed an animal with.  That bullet has wasted more meat for me than any other; erratic penetration, explosive on impact, poor performance of the poly tip, etc.  That said it can make a good target or varmint bullet.

The Partition is a tried and true bullet developed in the 40s or 50s that has had little to no improvement since then. It has obviously stood the test of time and is still a good bullet, but there have been huge increases in technology since its development. Now it is overpriced and underperforming compared to other options available.

If I had to pick one I would go with the Partition within moderate range (<400yds) and if I I were shooting further I would pick neither.

[270Shooter]

Either one will work, whitetails are not all that difficult to kill. The bt has hight bc and would be a better choice for longer shots I suppose. The partition is an excellent all around bullet for all big game.

[jackelope]

Ballistic tips seem to splatter and ruin lots of meat in the ones I've seen out of a 7mm rem mag. Stick with something bonded. Partitions or accubonds.

[Bean Counter]

Ask your gun with bullet she prefers, and obey her wishes.

^ That

I've been able to find a soft point agreeable with my rifles so I'll stick to the cheap stuff. 

[HUNTINCOUPLE]

Ask your gun with bullet she prefers, and obey her wishes.

^ That

I've been able to find a soft point agreeable with my rifles so I'll stick to the cheap stuff. 

Ill double down on those thoughts!

[Mark251]

Thank you for the great thinking!  I generally stick with one of two different rifles for whitetails...both chambered in 30.06.  One prefers the 165 grain partition and the other seems to  handle the 150 grain loads a bit better (shots them more accurately/better grouping).  I've also used the Accubond bullets with good success, although I've had a few "through-and through" shots and have had to track the animals after the shot.  I hunt a relatively small piece of land so getting a DRT becomes more of a factor in my bullet choice....not wanting the animal to get to adjoining property if possible.  Your thoughts?

[2labs]

In the 06 barnes 150 gr ttx. I've had good luck with them.

[CAMPMEAT]

Years ago before all of these different other brands came out, the old stand-by was the Nosler Partition for just about everything we hunted.

[270Shooter]

Try an accubond, they open quickly like the ballastic tip but they are bonded and have a much heavier copper jacket that allows for better pentetration than the ballistic tip.

[tgomez]

I use Hornady Superformance for ALL big game in my 30-06. There fast, accurate, and devastating. As mentioned though check with your rifle and what it preffers to use. If you are using one of those two than use the partition.

[Mark251]

Thanks for the help!

Mark

[huntkah]

Worry about placement. Any legal caliber is going to do the job.

[Smoke]

did a lot of hunting, reloading and experimenting with different loads and rounds back in the 70's and early 80's, and the partition was hands down the best bullet out there... haven't hunted modern sense 85 and the rifle is just a dust collector now so with all the new tech out there and new bullets I never seen before... couldn't say other then shoot em at targets and see how they fly... then shoot em at deer and see how they perform...  my fav was 06, 165 gr partition, loaded down to 2500 fps... bullet expanded well, stayed together, killed quick, but didnt turn the meat to hamburger at impact site like a lot of faster bullets did...

[huntnphool]

Ballistic tips seem to splatter and ruin lots of meat in the ones I've seen out of a 7mm rem mag. Stick with something bonded. Partitions or accubonds.

 +1, been using Partitions for years with my 7mm, never needed to hit any critter with more than one and never had a reason to change.

[bearpaw]

Partition is a great bullet that really was ahead of it's time, it's still a popular and effective bullet decades after it's invention.

IMHO, avoid the Ballistic Tips for big game, I've had too many bad experiences with them not getting enough penetration or wasting a ton of meat because they basically explode on impact.

[timberfaller]

  on what your gun LOVES to handle.

My 257 Roberts LOVE round nose(over spire points) 117grs

Hunt WT with 117 Partions

and

Hunt "pest" with BT's,  like shooting a hollow point,  rips and tears up big time!!

If your not into saving pelts,  what I've seen my Roberts do to coyotes is pretty crazy.

[Mark251]

Awesome!  You guys are the best 

[bobcat]

I killed a lot of deer with 150 grain Nosler Ballistic Tips in my 270 with no issues. I used them because they were the most accurate bullet I could find. However, I'm not currently using them. I now have 140 grain Bergers, 140 grain Accubonds, and 140 grain Barnes tsx.

[bobcat]

The Bergers have worked great on a few mule deer and a bighorn sheep. Can't say they're really any different than the ballistic tips. I would not use them on elk though, that's for sure. That's what the Barnes bullets are for.

[carpsniperg2]

I have killed many critters with both bullets, Pick whatever shoots best in your gun. Also try the accubond, they are my go to bullet and kinda a blend of both the partition and ballistic tip.

[Mark251]

Will do...Thank you!