.300WM, 165 gr Partition, no exit wound. What do you think happened?

[wombat13]

When I was much younger, I became enamored of the Remchester Belchfire Magnums. After 3 seasons of hunting with them, I went back to my .30-06 for everything.

Only .30-06 I’ve got is a Garand. It’s my favorite rifle to shoot and I’ve taken a nice buck with it, but between the peep sight and the old wood furniture it will never be my primary hunting rifle.

 

[DM~]

I have used and seen used more NP's than I can count and the few I have recovered look like this,



I have never had even one loose it's rear core, but I have seen it pushed out a sixteenth or so...

Nosler says the NP WILL give more penetration than the Accubonds and all I can say is, I have nothing but good things to say about Nosler NP's...

DM

 

[H&Hhunter]

H&H, do you think the velocities would be too high at short range with a 165 gr Accubond? So far the 165s shoot better (TSX and Partition) than any of the 180s I’ve tried: Fusion and Partition in factory and Nosler Ballistic Tips, Accubonds, Sierra Gamekings, and Hornasy SSTs in handloads. Accubonds were not as accurate as BTs in my handloads.

Weird! I’ve found NBTs and ABs to be identical in accuracy in my hand loads. It’s also strange to me that your rifle doesn’t like 180’s. I’d think that the 165 gr AB would perform pretty well out of your .300 WM but at short range they are going to open violently. You’ll definitely not get as much penetration as they would at several hundred yards. But you’ll get more than enough to kill deer or elk sized game. Hitting big bone on elk sized critters might be an issue.

I am not a fan of any 165 gr bullets in a .300 Mag.

 

[wombat13]

Weird! I’ve found NBTs and ABs to be identical in accuracy in my hand loads. It’s also strange to me that your rifle doesn’t like 180’s. I’d think that the 165 gr AB would perform pretty well out of your .300 WM but at short range they are going to open violently. You’ll definitely not get as much penetration as they would at several hundred yards. But you’ll get more than enough to kill deer or elk sized game. Hitting big bone on elk sized critters might be an issue.

I am not a fan of any 165 gr bullets in a .300 Mag.

I’m going to try a few boxes of different factory 180s. I did several years ago but I’ll try again. I’d try a 200, but am worried the bullets will be intended for elk+ critters and won’t open on a whitetail.

I’ve been wondering if it is the base type affecting accuracy. All of the 180s I’ve tried are boattails while both 165s are flat base. Barnes calls the 165 TSX a boattail, but it is closer to the partition’s flat base than any of the other coattails.

 

[DM~]

My experience with 30 cal, 180's on deer, they don't open well on rib shots...

DM

 

[Gtscotty]

My go to do it all bullet has become the Nosler Accubond. Super accurate, opens up hard, retains enough weight, and gives very adequate penetration. I find that the Accubonds generally retain about 60% of their weight. I really like them on cow elk sized critters and down. On bigger stuff and hogs I like the TSX or TTSX. I perfer them of the Partitions for several reasons, I find them to have better terminal performance, they stick together better and they have a higher BC. That's been my experience with them anyway.

+1, really an excellent bullet, opens fast but still penetrates well. I've had good luck with them in .264, .277 and .308.

My experience with 30 cal, 180's on deer, they don't open well on rib shots...
DM

I'd think it would depend heavily on which 180gr bullet and it's construction, which bullets have you had poor performance with?

 

[wombat13]

Here are the bullet shapes for comparison. The partition is a .25 but the rest are .308. The base of the partition and the tsx are quite alike in comparison the the NBT, game king and SST. Maybe my rifle just likes flat base bullets.

 

[DM~]

I'd think it would depend heavily on which 180gr bullet and it's construction, which bullets have you had poor performance with?

I don't think I used the term "poor performance", I did say they tend to be too tough for rib shots on deer.

Did the deer die? Yes they did, but they also took about twice as long to die too, meaning they took off and ran twice as far as when hit with a 150 or 165 in the ribs.

I've used or seen used, "mostly" 180's from Winchester, Remington and Hornandy factory loads, out of 30-06's and some older 180's out of 300 Win. mag. on deer...

180's do work pretty good on rib shot moose though...

DM

 

[horsey300]

Here are the bullet shapes for comparison. The partition is a .25 but the rest are .308. The base of the partition and the tsx are quite alike in comparison the the NBT, game king and SST. Maybe my rifle just likes flat base bullets.
View attachment 815134

I'll recommend NAB/scirrocco, and throw In the the oryx (flat based bonded). If you jump to 180, try Hornady RN, Sierra pro hunters, etc. The Sierra is TUFF but still expands nicely, not bonded but I think you'll be pleased.

 

[Gtscotty]

I don't think I used the term "poor performance", I did say they tend to be too tough for rib shots on deer.

Did the deer die? Yes they did, but they also took about twice as long to die too, meaning they took off and ran twice as far as when hit with a 150 or 165 in the ribs.

Right, I would call not opening well on rib shots and the deer taking twice as long to die poor performance, relatively speaking. Thats why I was curious what bullets might be best avoided for that use.

As for the OP, I'm in the "the partition shank had to be lost somewhere in the innards or maybe fell out on the ground while dressing club".

 

[DM~]

As for the OP, I'm in the "the partition shank had to be lost somewhere in the innards or maybe fell out on the ground while dressing club".

I am too...

DM