Nosler Partition Bullet
This review was originally posted May 2001.
Nosler provided me with limited quantities of the following
bullets for product testing.
6 MM 70 grain BT
6 MM 80 grain BT
.30 caliber 150 BT
.30 caliber 150 PT
.30 calbier 180 BT
.30 caliber 180 PT
.45 caliber 260 PT-HG
Nosler Varmint BT
Nosler Handgun Partition
As is my policy I'll not address the specifics of groups shot
here with these bullets but rather in the reviews of the guns
used in their testing. These guns were: 6MM Browning Low Wall
.243 Winchester and TC Custom Shop barrels in 6 TCU in both
15" and 21" lengths. .30 Caliber Remington Model 700 LSS
Mountain Rifle in .30-06. These reviews can be viewed on the
Product Test Page when completed.
Starting with the 6 MM bullets I fired the 70 BTs in the two
6 TCU barrels and found both liked this bullet quite well.
For some reason the bullets in the 65-80 grain range are what
works best in both of these barrels. I was hoping to find the
Nosler 55 BT which I had bought before Nosler send me these
would do great and that I could get 3000 fps from the 15"
barrel. Well I managed the 3000 fps barely but accuracy with
the light 55 BT as well as Hornady's 58 V-Max was dismal at
best. I guess the twist rate just isn't going to allow me to
use them as I had hoped to do. We don't always get what we
want I suppose.
The 80 BT was the bullet I loaded up in the .243 Winchester
caliber Browning Low Wall for the Second annual get together
of the regulars on my Single Shot Rifle Forum when we
gathered in MS in April 2001. Except for a major mess up on
my part I probably would have taken first place in the scoped
rifle match with this combination. I had been shooting this
load and a couple others on my home range just before going
and was getting consistent groups in the 0.4" to 0.75" range
with all. I didn't decide while on the range which load to
use but waited until I got there at the shoot and had all
with me. The first one I checked was the Nosler 80 BT and I
hit the metal silhouettes at 100, 250 and 400 yards all so
felt it must be close. I figured rather than put it on paper
I'd just adjust after my first shot during the match. Bad
move! I hit high in the 4 ring and made what I thought was
the correct adjustment only to hit low in the 5 ring the next
shot. I realized my hold was off a bit and made another
correction. All the rest were in the 8, 9 and 10 rings. Had I
been correctly sighted in I'm sure all would have been in the
8/9/10 rings and I only needed five points to tie and 6 to
take first place out right. I think I could have picked those
up if I'd been correctly sighted in before the first shot.
However take my word these little BTs and my Low Wall sure do
like each other.
The single best load I've found so far for my Rem. 700 LSS is
using RL-19 and the Nosler 180 BT but the same load with the
180 PT is so close it makes me shiver. I have loaded up a
bunch of both for use in hunting with this rifle and expect
to find out how they perform on game next opportunity. As if
I didn't already know! I've used Noslers PTs and BTs both on
game for many years and neither have ever let me down yet.
The BTs give massive tissue damage and quick kills, some
times they exit and some times they don't but generally it
doesn't matter as game goes down in sight. The PTs just about
always exit and give an excellent blood trail for those times
when needed. Yeah I know some folks love and some hate the
BTs saying they blow up and aren't game bullets. I say poppy
cock! Used in accordance with Nosler's recommendations the BT
is an excellent game bullet. I've even seen the .270 130 BT
kill elk but don't consider that the proper use of that
bullet. Still it worked. The PT is consider by most to be the
gold standard by which other bullets are judged, it was the
first premium bullet I suppose and is still as good a choice
as you can get when tough bullets are needed. I've heard some
say the PTs aren't accurate also. Can't agree! I've never had
a problem keeping them in an inch to inch and a quarter from
most any gun I've used them in and in an old Rem. 700 Mtn.
Rifle of mine the Federal Premium load (.270 Win. 150 Nosler
PT) is the most accurate I've found consistently shooting 1/2
to one inch groups at 100 yards.
Nosler has a winner in both the BT and PT bullets. I highly
recommend them to you. Both have the Graybeard Seal of
Approval from long use as well as the subject test bullets.
I tested the Nosler 260 grain PT-HG bullets in both the
Freedom Arms Premiere and Taurus Raging Bull .454 Casull
caliber handguns. They will shoot right up there with any
other bullet I've tried and oh the way the look after firing.
Makes a heart glad to see a bullet mushroom so beautifully as
these do. Every single one I've recovered no matter what it
hit has mushroomed fully and the lead in the front portion is
staying intact and not separating. I don't think they are
bonding it but it sure is hanging on like it is bonded. I
can't imagine a more picture book perfect expansion than I've
seen from these bullets. I am really anxious to try the 300
grain version when I get some.
I've not had the chance to try this one on game yet but will
as soon as I can. I have an adequate supply loaded up and
ready for the first opportunity to test them on game. I know
they will do great tho as all PT bullets do and the way they
are expanding they can't do otherwise. They are a bit pricey
like all PT bullets but you sure get a lot for the money when
you buy them.
As in the past when I've used Nosler bullets I've come away
impressed again. Nosler bullets have never let me down and I
don't expect they ever will. As I've said before in other
places, I don't think any of the major manufacturers are
putting out any really bad bullets these days. Just gotta use
them the way they are intended to be used and they will all
perform. Nosler Bullets are as good as it gets and are in the
premium bullet category for good reason. BTs usually shoot
like match bullets and in the varmint line explode those
little critters the way they should. In the big game line
they destroy the tissue as they are supposed to but don't
explode like varmint bullets and will often exit but always
give good performance in my experience. PTs are accurate and
never fail. They give good expansion even at long range and
low velocity and always hold together to send that rear core
thru to exit or stick under the hide on the off side.
Nosler Bullets have the Graybeard Seal of Approval for
excellence in performance every time I've used them.
GB
Visit the Nosler Website
by clicking on their name.
Nosler, Inc.
P.O. Box 671
Bend, Oregon 97709
Customer Service: 1-800-285-3701