Are Nosler Partitions still worth the money?

Doug Hamilton said:

Wow! I wanted .458 500 grains.

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Consider it done sir I will get them on the way with my next order
But which ones

Cheers
Sorry for sidetracking @Badboymelvin
Cheers

Badboymelvin said:

Regarding Woodleighs, I'm always happy to help you out too.

Russ

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Regarding woodleighs if this isn’t robbing the OP thread, I’m curious on experience with running below the recommended velocity window as far as performance.

I love the partitions performance but their cost has become prohibitive even here in the USA. I have recently started loading the Norma Oryx bonded bullets and have noticed no difference in performance on bullets of same weight partitions and I have gotten the Norma bullets at a lower price.

Badboymelvin said:

Once more, it's not just about price; it's about whether people would still choose them over the competition.

Russ

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A lot of people do, but price is a contributing factor to that. They're good bullets, but if you're starting out with load development for a new rifle and an inferior bullet is more expensive than a bonded premium or monolithic, few will opt for Partition in the premium market. And outside the premium market, it's a non-starter anyway - those guys aren't paying $2 USD for any bullet.

The one thing I will say about NAB and NP - for true hunting bullets, they are consistently the highest BC of anything on the market other than Scirocco II. If you need that extra 50 or 100 yards of lethality, it's difficult to do better than Nosler's combination of good terminal performance and a bit more reach.

We continue to, and will continue to use Partitions in a lot of our rifles, both for North American stuff and African plains game. A lot of game taken - and yet to experience any negative performance (important to understand how that bullet is actually designed to work. For guys hung up on wanting a high percentage of retained weight in a recovered bullet - that's not the Nosler Partition.) Most of the loads were developed 20 - 40 years ago, and a good supply of bullets were purchased and laid in at that time, after the loads were developed ( takes a long time to blow off a couple 100 rounds of ammo in 7 or 8 calibres, when you are using them in a hunting only scenario in our part of the world - pretty limited tags)

We use non premium bullets for practice and plinking. If I had to purchase more premium bullets - would they be Partitions? Good question. Have to admit - been playing around with mono bullets (Hornady CX and Nosler E-tip in a couple of 7mm and 30 cal)

Last trip to SA - 30-06 with 165 gr. Partition preformed flawlessly on Waterbuck and down. (would have preferred 180's - but for some reason that rifle luvs the 165's and the groups for 180's open up significantly) Note - a lot of experience with Partitions - not always the most accurate bullet in a lot of rifles, but usually acceptable hunting accuracy in my opinion.

Badboymelvin said:

Regarding Woodleighs, I'm always happy to help you out too.

Russ

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Thanks Russ.

RichD said:

I've wondered the same thing having reloaded Partitions for years in 30-06 and 300WBY. The results have been good for deer, elk, and pronghorn. But I want to compare Hornady Interlocks at a much lower cost.

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Have used Hornady Interlocks in my 280 Remington and 6mm Remington. Had problems with the bullets coming apart and the animals running off.
The one blacktail I shot, found some blood,bone,and the copper jacket laying there on the ground.
Started using Nosler Accubonds with great success.

Yes; Nosler Partitions are worth the money.

I love the 200gr Nosler Partition in .300win

Now having said that I checked on it at Midway

Partition $1.52ea
A-Frame $1.58ea

That’s a no brainer for $.06 more per bullet or $3.00 more per box for A-Frames.

200gr Barnes LRX @ $0.99ea which is understandable because the mono bullets are cheaper to produce.

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

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Personally I am Barnes first and Swift second and no third.

Philip Glass said:

Personally I am Barnes first and Swift second and no third.

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I land in a similar place… except since swift seem completely unobtainable in the calibers I’d like to shoot them in most of the time.., I’m pretty much a Barnes first, and no second or third kinda guy lol..

Doug Hamilton said:

Thanks Russ.

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You're welcome, mate.

Russ

deewayne2003 said:

I love the 200gr Nosler Partition in .300win

Now having said that I checked on it at Midway

Partition $1.52ea
A-Frame $1.58ea

That’s a no brainer for $.06 more per bullet or $3.00 more per box for A-Frames.

200gr Barnes LRX @ $0.99ea which is understandable because the mono bullets are cheaper to produce.

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I've never used A-Frames but from everything I've been told by people who use them, they are worth every cent – whatever they cost.

Russ

Badboymelvin said:

I'm not worrying about the dollar – if I were, I wouldn't be buying Atomic29 projectiles for my 425 Express; I'd be buying the less expensive Bertram projectiles instead.

And when I wrote... " 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.?" what I was referring to was, with so many choices available, would Partitions still be your choice over these?

Is something that was made years and years ago still as effective as the competition today?

In regard to how much they cost, it was more of a question of, 'if it costs twice as much, is it twice as good?'

Russ

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Sorry i misuderstood.

Dhutson said:

Sorry i misuderstood.

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All good mate.

It certainly has been interesting hearing people's opinions/experiences with the Partitions.
I have never used them on game, but from reading shooting magazines for decades, it seemed that they were THE bullet, and that's just what you used on serious hunts.
Then the Barnes X came on the scene (yep, I'm old – old enough to remember when the original X came out!), and that seemed to change everything...
As the Barnes developed and improved, it seemed that most of the guys I read in the magazines for years and years then started switching to them instead.

I guess that's why I first asked the question: how do they compare to the newer generation of bullets?

In my area, they are more expensive than Barnes, Woodleigh, and others. As you rightly said, cost shouldn't be a consideration, but since they are more expensive, are they better?

I absolutely would use them – I grew up reading about them, and it is a pity that I never took any game with them... but if more modern, better bullets are available at the same price, sadly, I don't think I ever will...

Russ

I have had decent luck with them, probably shot 15 or so elk with them going back starting 25 years, (Before TSX) the last one probably 6-7 years. And the only reason I shot the last one was I wanted to shoot an elk with my 7x57 and already had a big stash of loaded bullets. I knew I could get in close on the elk for that hunt so was not worried about performace at all.

Would I still buy them with Aframes, TSX being less expensive and IMO a better bullet? No.

Nothing kills like a lead bullet. I would choose the Woodleigh if I still lived in Oz.

I have never had a roundnose lead core bullet fail me in 62 years of hunting.

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

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@Badboymelvin
Russ
For the stupid high prices they ask for Nosler partitions and accubonds in Australia I would steer well clear of them. Not because they aren't good projectiles ( they are good ) but because of the prices.
The same applies to Barnes they are over the top now in price
I personally would choose either Woodleigh or Atomic 29. Outer edge is another great bullet
The beauty of these are they are Australian made and usually available at reasonable prices. Plus they have a good on game reputation.
Yes Nosler are good but there's better but it's up to you to determine if the price is worth it.
To me it's not when we have as good or better built right here
Just my opinion.
Bob
When I bought accubonds for my Whelen I lucked onto some NOS and got them for $66/50 now those same projectiles are over $150/50
Woodleigh 225 PPSP and RNSP are $88/50. So I will stick with the Woodleigh

MS 9x56 said:

I have never had a roundnose lead core bullet fail me in 62 years of hunting.

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@MS 9x56
Plus them big round noses hit harder than the skinny pointed bullets.
My mate Greg tried son 150gn round nose in his 308, very accurate. When we went goat hunting he couldn't get over the difference in performance out to 200 compared to his nice pointy bullets. They were sheer murder on goats
Bob