Are Nosler Partitions still worth the money?

"Worth the money" is not the best question to ask, IMO. Not poking the original thread author but the best question is - "WHAT IS THE PRICE OF OUTSTANDING ACCURACY AND LETHALITY?"

I have chased every bullet out there. I started with Partitions and went to Berger's, CoreLokt, TSX, TTSX, Accubond, SilverTips, a variety of RWS bullets and on and on (even Swift's).

My conclusion is that chasing a bullet is chasing the wind. Chasing accuracy is chasing gold.

Whatever your gun shoots well, shoot that bullet.

I killed a lion in Namibia using a Parker and Hale bolt rifle in 9.3x62 using Hiland ammo - 286 gr soft tip bullets. The ammo, in Namibia cost $20 USD. It shot well in the gun I was given and it killed the lion.

So - accuracy is always, always, always KING.

If you cannot afford the bullet your gun likes, switch to golf and buy used golf balls....

I believe the Partition is an excellent choice for plains game. They’d be my choice over TSXs, A-Frames, and the like. They open up reliably on soft skinned animals. For dangerous game, I’d like tougher bullets than the Partition.

Its been a long time since Ive ordered any partitions.. I didnt realize the price had increased so much... I just googled and found a couple of places selling them.. $110 for 50 300gr 375??? That seems insane.. especially when I can get Barnes TSX for about $65 for 50...

I'll have to go out and check my reloading supplies.. I actually think Ive got a couple of hundred partitions out there in .375.. I cant remember the weight.. Ive had them a long while and never got around to reloading them.. and Ive got a couple of hundred 300gr TSX out there.. so honestly, I probably never will...

If someone is a die hard partition fan and wants them.. I'd be happy to work out some sort of a trade for equal value (assuming they are out there.. I'll check this afternoon)..

I might have some 30 cal partitions as well.. Ill check that also..

Badboymelvin said:

Hi.

As the title says, do you think that Nosler Partitions are still worth the money?

I haven't asked this question to stir the pot, upset anyone or cause arguments.
I've asked this question because with all the more modern premium projectiles available, are they still worth the price?

I live in Australia, where Nosler Partitions are expensive.
To give an example, at my local gun shop the cheapest Partitions I can get are $125 a packet of 25 in .338, and the most expensive are $348 a packet of 25 for the 500gn .458.
Now, where you live they may be a whole lot cheaper, but where I live these prices are what we're paying.

So I guess my question is... if you were me, would you ever choose the Nosler Partition over other premium projectiles such as Barnes, Woodleigh, etc...?
I can get these other projectiles for the same price or less, and they often have a higher BC than the Partitions.

In my position, would they still be worth the money?

Russ

Click to expand...

As a comparison how much do you pay for woodliegh premium bullets in those calibers?

Hard for me to give up on them. I've killed so much game near and far and reached the vitals every time with them out of my 257 Weatherby, 270 Winchester, 30-06 & 340 Weatherby.

Are there bullets in this day and age that we could argue are better? Certainly.

But for me, I always find partitions easy to work a load for that is fast, accurate and doesn't cause excessive fouling in a barrel.

So I stick with them. My 2 cents and to each their own.

No. That (still) excellent terminal performance (and accuracy to about 400-450 yds in my experience) is just not worth a buck more. I'd far rather pay more for (sometimes) lesser terminal performance on the latest, greatest (sliced bread) and unnecessarily extend hunts by tracking wounded game...lol 'Purchased piles of NPTs on here in bulk so won't be buying 'em ever again, but certainly will be utilizing them-as they ARE performers in hunting most non-DG. A quick search shows PTs in the $60/box range and other premiums $40-$60 (some Hdys come in 100-boxes!) Hmmm, that (dead animal) shot's gonna cost you $1 more every time you pull the trigger!! Are you sure you can handle it, after paying in excess of $10K-$20K for a Safari? By golly, that's 0.007% of your budget, per shot! A for effort. I will pay even more for Bergers and Barnes LRX, for longer-range shots ($60-$70/box), as they're required for accuracy purposes! (extra $1.50/shot). Heavens, not that! Premium ammo. now costs the same amount (or more that) the .50 BMG used to cost per shot ($5!) Inflation has no effect on terminal performance. If it's a concern, skip the $10/lb (cost. $30/lb prepared) red meat and/or desserts and you'll more than recoup the NPT money, and live longer! "To each, their own!"

Excellent bullets (160s in 6.5 are fantastic)-same price as NPTs! $60/box Swift A-Frames $80/box! Get what you pay for, in very good ways!!!

Some good points above...IF you're just hunting deer w/ 'em, there are many options that'll get the job done (even cheaper ones.) Hdy SSTs/ILs work just fine (and 100/box!)

C.W. Richter said:

No. That (still) excellent terminal performance (and accuracy to about 400-450 yds in my experience) is just not worth a buck more. I'd far rather pay more for (sometimes) lesser terminal performance on the latest, greatest (sliced bread) and unnecessarily extend hunts by tracking wounded game...lol 'Purchased piles of NPTs on here in bulk so won't be buying 'em ever again, but certainly will be utilizing them-as they ARE performers in hunting most non-DG. A quick search shows PTs in the $60/box range and other premiums $40-$60 (some Hdys come in 100-boxes!) Hmmm, that (dead animal) shot's gonna cost you $1 more every time you pull the trigger!! Are you sure you can handle it, after paying in excess of $10K-$20K for a Safari? By golly, that's 0.007% of your budget, per shot! A for effort. I will pay even more for Bergers and Barnes LRX, for longer-range shots ($60-$70/box), as they're required for accuracy purposes! (extra $1.50/shot). Heavens, not that! Premium ammo. now costs the same amount (or more that) the .50 BMG used to cost per shot ($5!) Inflation has no effect on terminal performance. If it's a concern, skip the $10/lb (cost. $30/lb prepared) red meat and/or desserts and you'll more than recoup the NPT money, and live longer! "To each, their own

Click to expand...

I simply dont understand what you're saying. You do or dont like what?

When hunting big game I just don't understand this obsession for sub MOA accuracy. Shooting animals at 600-1000 yards is not hunting. It's live target practice. At 200 yards I just need to put the bullet in the boiler room, not pick out which chamber of its heart I'll shoot. And if a bullet in the boiler room doesn't put the animal down on the spot, finding where it does pile up shouldn't be a problem. Similarly, I don't understand the obsession with shooting whatever it takes to get bang-flop. Save the meat and follow a blood trail fifty yards or blast an animal to pieces just to drop it on the spot? I was raised by a guy who was raised during the Great Depression so you know what priorities were imbedded in me. Never been a subscriber to marketing propaganda so his imbedding has endured. And it has served me well.

I have had excellent results with the Nosler Partitions, getting excellent accuracy and terminal performance.

You can buy lower cost options for practice and general work, and buy what is needed for Safari.

Remember when you spend many thousands for your hunt, deciding on saving a few dollars on cheaper bullets that don't perform to your needs is not wise in my mind.

Ontario Hunter said:

When hunting big game I just don't understand this obsession for sub MOA accuracy. Shooting animals at 600-1000 yards is not hunting. It's live target practice. At 200 yards I just need to put the bullet in the boiler room, not pick out which chamber of its heart I'll shoot. And if a bullet in the boiler room doesn't put the animal down on the spot, finding where it does pile up shouldn't be a problem. Similarly, I don't understand the obsession with shooting whatever it takes to get bang-flop. Save the meat and follow a blood trail fifty yards or blast an animal to pieces just to drop it on the spot? I was raised by a guy who was raised during the Great Depression so you know what priorities were imbedded in me. Never been a subscriber to marketing propaganda so his imbedding has endured. And it has served me well.

Click to expand...

Very well said!

Ontario Hunter said:

When hunting big game I just don't understand this obsession for sub MOA accuracy….

Click to expand...

Ontario Hunter said:

And if a bullet in the boiler room doesn't put the animal down on the spot, finding where it does pile up shouldn't be a problem. Similarly, I don't understand the obsession with shooting whatever it takes to get bang-flop. Save the meat and follow a blood trail fifty yards or blast an animal to pieces just to drop it on the spot? I

Click to expand...

OH,

this difference in view and what is acceptable accuracy may be a function of where we hunt.

Where I hunt most of the time on the west side of South Texas north of Laredo, the habitat is dense thorn brush, lots of cactus, and lots of large Texas Earth Worms (Diamondback Rattlesnakes). Tracking in this brush can be challenging and dragging it out can be equally tough.

A couple of years ago, one of our nephews shot a large mature buck in the lungs right at dark. There was blood where the animal stood when shot and a blood trail easily followed to the edge of the brush. Four very experienced men searched for a hour and a half before we finally found it about fifty yards into the brush. Then we had to cut a trail to bring it out.

Last season I shot a buck in the heart, low behind the shoulder because his shoulder, because his shoulder, neck, and head were blocked by brush. He went about thirty yards into the brush and thankfully dropped on an open trail. He was a buck I had been chasing for awhile and it was the next to last day of season, so waiting for another day was not a good option. I found him in about ten minutes, but again had to cut a trail to pull him out with the help of a friend.

Add in the omnipresent rattlesnakes which are quite common and I really do not like to have to crawl on my hands and knees through holes in the thornbrush.

And for a wild card extra bit of fun, the only animal I have ever lost was a doe that dropped where it stood as we were culling does. Three men saw it drop where it stood. We went straight to it and it was gone. Cougar paw prints told the story. We just left and let it enjoy lunch.

So that is why I like the animals to drop where they stand.

Here is one of the Texas Earth Worms I noticed on the edge of the road with its head poking out. So we stopped and took some video. The very next morning, one of the nephews shot a buck less than 100 yards from this spot. It ran in the brush. As we were dragging it out, he asked, “isn’t this where we saw the big snake yesterday?”. I responded, “yes it is.” He turned very quiet and started really pulling on the buck.

Side note - we flew half way around the world and finally landed on a small dirt strip in Tanzania. We stepped out and my wife and I both looked at each other and commented that we had landed in Cotulla, Texas. The similarity of the thorn brush habitat was striking. It is harsh country, but my happy place.

Once my partition stash is done I wont be replacing them. 115-130$ is the going rate for 8mm 200gr. Priced higher than Northfork which imo is a better bullet. Lots of good premium bullets for way less.

Badboymelvin said:

Hi.

As the title says, do you think that Nosler Partitions are still worth the money?

I haven't asked this question to stir the pot, upset anyone or cause arguments.
I've asked this question because with all the more modern premium projectiles available, are they still worth the price?

I live in Australia, where Nosler Partitions are expensive.
To give an example, at my local gun shop the cheapest Partitions I can get are $125 a packet of 25 in .338, and the most expensive are $348 a packet of 25 for the 500gn .458.
Now, where you live they may be a whole lot cheaper, but where I live these prices are what we're paying.

So I guess my question is... if you were me, would you ever choose the Nosler Partition over other premium projectiles such as Barnes, Woodleigh, etc...?
I can get these other projectiles for the same price or less, and they often have a higher BC than the Partitions.

In my position, would they still be worth the money?

Russ

Click to expand...

For Australian game, hands down ! But please remember that you should only limit yourself to broadside shots on buffalo, scrub bull & banteng.

For African plains game, Nosler Partitions can admirably hold their own. For leopard & lion, they’re absolutely amazing. For Cape buffalo, only broadside shots should be employed. And of course, I need not tell you that they must never be used on elephant or rhinoceros or hippopotamus.



Recently, I’ve taken to using the 300Gr Nosler AccuBond factory load in my .375 Holland & Holland Magnum. But that’s only because the AccuBond holds together better as a Cape buffalo bullet.

I'm not sure if it is still the case that Nosler Partitions have killed more African game than all other bullets combined. But I have seen that statement in print on more than one occasion. I reload and buy in bulk when projectiles are on sale. I'm not Nieve enough to think that there are no better bullets out there, but for most PG applications they still get the job done. That's what's most important to me.

My 30-06 loves the 165gr PT and it’s an excellent plains game bullet.
When my stash dries up, I’ll switch to an Accubond, TTSX or similar.
Can’t justify the cost, or the mission of finding the PT here in SA anymore.

For most of the shooting and hunting I do, the good old Sierra Gameking is enough, but I like a more stout bullet in case I hit thick bone.

to ftrovato-- from what I can tell he is getting harder and harder to interpret. Now he is taking on the restaurant industry! Anybody else opinion?

At those prices no way.....I'd stick with Woodleigh or Barnes.

Do you Aussies have access to Norma bullets.