Nolser BT vs partition

[flatsticks]

Looking to get opinion on the Nosler ballistic tip versus the partition .

This would be 140gr .284 in a 280 ackley .

Used for deer mostly .

The partitions have been very hard to find or I would just go with them .

The ballistic tips seems to be more available .

Thanks for your thoughts

 

[The Happy Kaboomer]

I got a lot of incomplete body cavity penetration with BT 140's in my 2 ea. .280's. Never will use them again. Hate to have to go look for a deer after I shoot it.. Nosler PT's would be great if available........I now use Federal Fusion 140 gr SP's.......They do a good job.

 

[jmr40]

Ballistic Tips got a reputation for overexpansion and poor penetration. But Nosler listened, and modified them with a thicker jacket several years ago. Based on what I'm reading there is virtually no difference in performance on game between Ballistic Tips, Accubonds, and Partitions at this point. And most find the Ballistic Tip the most accurate with Partitions the least accurate with Accubonds somewhere in between.

For deer it wouldn't matter anyway. Partitions might be a better choice if you were moose or elk hunting, but I'd use Ballistic Tips in heavy for caliber bullets. In 7mm that means 160-175 gr. The 140's should be fine for deer.

If you handload you can identify old vs new by looking at the box. Newer Ballistic Tips will say "Ballistic Tip Hunting" on the box. Older bullets simply say "Ballistic Tip".

 

[troy fairweather]

Partitions, the bt are still to soft.

 

[entropy]

What he said.

 

[LoonWulf]

I shot/shoot a lot of Balistic tips, I prefer the 150-160s in .284 over the 140s, but I've never had an issue with them. I shot partitions and didnt see much of any difference, but my rounds generally blow clean thru what I shoot at so wouldnt lol.

My personal preference is to run 160 class or heavier in a rifle that can drive them at or close to 3000fps, 140s at 3100 (3200 from on of my 7mags) tended to pulp stuff at short ranges.

Let me poke thru my supply of random .284s, I may have some partitions left.

 

[WisBorn]

The bullet designs are so different. I like the partition for heavy game or magnum rifles at medium size game. I have only used the ballistic tips once on medium size game with a negative result. That bullet was a earlier version from a 30-06 165gr.

I currently use the Hornady SST from a 7rm in the 154gr. They have not failed me so far.

The BTs have a good reputation for accuracy. A friend of mine loads the 150gr for his 7rm with good results.

 

[wombat13]

My BIL and FIL have taken many whitetail with 150 and 165 gr BTs in .30-06 and I have taken several with 180 gr BT in .300wm. We have always had good performance. Now all of the above were probably running around 3,000 fps MV. The SD of the 140 gr 7mm bullet is in between the bullets I listed above. So it should be fine for deer. I wouldn’t try to drive it to hyper speed though. Find an acurrate load somewhere around 2,900-3,100 fps and I’ll bet you’ll have good results.

On the other hand. Since you are willing to pay for a premium bullet like the partition, have you considered the Barnes TTSX or other mono? We have had great results with the TTSX and they like to be driven fast. I’m going to start with the 120 gr TTSX in my .280 Ackley.

 

[JDeere]

What JMR said. I used BTs back when they would explode on whitetail on the way through. Got tired of picking lead from my meat and blowing a large hole on exit from whitetails. I moved to the 140 SGKs with great success and accuracy. They hold together nicely. I have not used the BTs on any game as of late but still used them at the range. Anything but 165s in 7mm has been hard to find and still is.

 

[jmorris]

I have had the best luck with the partitions and that’s even down at 7mm BR velocity’s.

I have had impressive results using Barnes 110gn TAC TX .30 call bullet though and they suggested their 139gn LRX bullet to try for 7mm rounds. You have enough additional velocity the TSX, TTSX might be better choices though.

That said, the partition has never given me any reason to try something else on animals but I will admit to it not being the best to shoot holes in paper with.

 

[Barbaroja]

I load the 95gn ballistic tips for my 243win. Very accurate little bullets for me over 41.0gn of AA4350 and averages 2930fps.
Shot two whitetail with them this past season. First was a doe at 50yds who was quartering toward me more that I realized so my shot was a bit far back so it went through the lungs and popped the rumen (so much fun!) The bullet did not exit but the deer was down 40ish yards away. I think a Partition would have exited in this situation but I also made a less than ideal shot with the BT.
Second was as 4pt buck at 200yds. I made a proper broadside shot just behind the shoulder and the bullet worked very well. Buck was recovered about 40yds away. The top of the heart was blown off , lots of lung damage. Very nice entrance and exit wounds of about the same size.
Exit

My sample size is small but I think it may be pretty representational of what this bullet will do. With a clean broadside shot, the bullet works well, and on the more hard angle shots it may not exit. I will continue to use them for deer as they are accurate and half the cost of Partitions. That said I may choose a tougher bullet if I was in a different situation.

 

[tominboise]

I've shot a fair amount of BT's and would use them on deer no problem. I shot a big Mulie buck here in Idaho at about 30 yards, using a 140gr BT out of my 7mm Rem Mag. I put it behind the shoulder and the deer went down. No problems. Also shot a coyote on that same trip with the same ammo at something over 300 yards. It didn't move either. No holdover required.

 

[Chuck R.]

I've killed over 30+ deer, 5 Chamois and a couple boar (Russian) with BTs.

I have never lost an animal hit with a Nosler BT.

I've used them in .270Win predominantly (over 3100 FPS), but also 6mm Rem (3000 FPS), .260 Rem (2900 FPS), and 300Win mag (3150 FPS). On average they're the most accurate hunting bullets I've tried in my rifles. IMHO, IF I can't get one to shoot sub-MOA it's the guns fault.

I started using them when they 1st came out and had issues with over expansion. They still worked, but did a chit load of damage if you hit heavy bone. With the newer "Hunting Ballistic Tips", I've yet to recover a bullet. IF I believe the shot will be a longer distance it's the bullet I choose.

 

[entropy]

I loaded 55 gr. Ballistic Tip Varmint for deer, due to my son's success on deer with 55 gr. V-Max. I never got a chance on a deer with one; I did dispatch a coyote on a deer hunt with one, and was so impressed with the results that I replaced my 40 gr. CT coyote round with it. I have since loaded 60 gr. Partitions for deer, haven't had a chance to fire one at a deer yet.

 

[flatsticks]

Appreciate the pics and the advice so far .

Was hoping I could find a couple of boxes of the partitions , maybe they will show up before next hunting season .

Supoose I could end up getting a couple boxes of the BT in case the partitions dont turn up.

Could use the BT at the range in order to save any partition supply also .

 

[Savage30L]

I think it depends upon the shooting ranges you expect to encounter. In my case, I hunt in thick areas, and shot distances are very short. I've had issues with over-expansion and too much meat damage with the Ballistic Tips out of my 30-06, so I plan to move away from that bullet (and maybe even from that caliber)....to larger, slower-moving projectiles.

 

[Barbaroja]

https://www.shootersproshop.com/7mm-140gr-ballistic-tip-hunting-50ct-blem.html

Shooters pro shop has the 140gn BT blems. Not sure how the price compares to the standard price you’re paying.

 

[ms6852]

I got a lot of incomplete body cavity penetration with BT 140's in my 2 ea. .280's. Never will use them again. Hate to have to go look for a deer after I shoot it.. Nosler PT's would be great if available........I now use Federal Fusion 140 gr SP's.......They do a good job.

If you reload, and want to continue using the same rounds try loading them at velocities 100 to 150 fps slower or more. This way they won't dump all their energy upon impact. A slower bullet will penetrate more that a faster one.

 

[Aletheia]

Used BT bullets for a few years and found I got the best results when I used heavy for calibre bullets. My theory is that the added mass slowed them down a bit, and helped them hold together better. They were almost always pretty accurate, but I have since moved to Accubonds. Seems like the best of both BT and Partition worlds to me.

 

[Bwana John]

The BTs usually shoot much smaller groups than Partitions, and everything I ever shot with one died rather quickly,

BUT…

Do not expect an exit wound, or finding any piece of the original projectile that retains >40% of its original mass.

 

[DM~]

Based on what I'm reading there is virtually no difference in performance on game between Ballistic Tips, Accubonds, and Partitions at this point.

YIKES! That has NOT been MY experience at all...

Hit some heavier bone or get a raking shot and then get back to me on if there's no difference!

DM

 

[earlthegoat2]

Go as heavy as you can with BTs.

 

[Arkansas Paul]

I've killed several deer with NBTs. I will say that if drop them in their tracks performance is what you're looking for, they're the ticket.
I don't remember a deer taking a step with them. Also don't remember having an exit wound
All of my experience with them has been with the .280 Rem and .30-06.

I picked up a .243 for the wife and daughter and was scared of them with the lighter bullets. They may still perform well, but I went with the Partitions for it because of the tougher construction. My daughter has killed a few with them and have had great results. Exit wound on every one.

For whitetails, I'd be comfortable with either. But I'll stick to Partitions with lighter bullets.

 

[jmorris]

Was hoping I could find a couple of boxes of the partitions , maybe they will show up before next hunting season .

If you are interested, I have been wanting to try out the Barnes 139gn LRX and have an opened but full box of Partitions (why do people do that?) I’d trade you to get you going.

It is for certain that the partition isn’t the only bullet that can kill a deer, even bad choices can do it.

 

[GooseGestapo]

Use a Speer 145gr or 160gr HotCore.
Cost half the price of a BT, 1/4th what a partition costs.
Almost as accurate, and holds together almost as goods as a Partition.
Excellent ballistic coefficients, too.
And, then there is the Hornady Interloks…

I’ve found even the 150gr BT’s from my 7mm08 are too soft for reliable penetration on our smallish deer…
At the distance most are shot…. Under 100yds.