Partition or accubond

[frednaz]

I am planning on hunting elk next year, and not wanting to buy a heavier rifle caliber, intend to use my .308 Winchester. I am trying to decide whether or not to use the Nolser accubond or the partition, either in 180 grain. Do you have any experience with either in a .308 ?

 

[Bottom Gun]

I have used the 180 gr Partition in my .308 for elk and they work fine.
You need a premium bullet for elk because they are so incredibly tough.

 

[stevelyn]

I use Partitions in my '06 on moose. They whistle right through them. A .308 should give similar results.

 

[Mantis]

I used 180g partitions for the first time on a bear hunt last week and I took a nice black bear. The bear was quartering towards me and the shot took out both lungs, nicked the heart, and passed right through. The bear didn't go far.

 

[Taurus 617 CCW]

From a ballistics perspective the accubonds will be more accurate. This is due to the boattail design with a polymer tip to ensure it doesn't deform. There are many people that will swear by the partition but it loses accuracy over longer distances because of its flat base. Give them both a try at the range and decide for yourself.

 

[Geno]

Nosler Partititian, but

I do like Nosler partitians, but, I would suggest trying the Barnes X Bullet as an alternative. They are solid, expanding copper. They are extremely accurate, maintain 100% of weight, expand reliably over a very wide velocity range, and come in various weights.

http://www.storesonline.com/site/448423/page/314161

The Nosler Partician does work well, but they have a tendency to lose the front of the bullet, or about 30ish% of weight.

I have a photo of a Nos Part. 6mm, 95 grains fired out of my Rem 700V at 3300+ FPS. It struck a whitetail through the brisket at 300 yards, dead-on. It completely severed the heart from all internal connective tissue.

The round continued penetrating the entire length of the deer's body, and lodged at the extreme rear, about 4" left of center, between the skin and the muscle in the left rump. But, as I said, it lost all of the lead from the front of the bullet. After being struct, the deer ran for an additional 100 to 150 yards, in spite of the heart being completey dislodged internally. When we cut open the body capvity, the heart rolled out to the ground.

Imagine how well a 180 grain .30 caliber Partitian would do? Or better yet, a Barnes X-Bullet that lost no weight? Then again, a .30 cailber Nosler may stay together better than a .24 caliber.

Please follow up and let me know what you choose and how it works.

Edit to add picture discussed herein:

View attachment 275396

Doc2005

 

[30-06 lover]

Buy both and shoot them both to see which is more accurate out of your gun. The partition will penetrate more, but the accubond will be more accurate, have more uniform expansion, and retain it's weight better. If I was going for elk, I too would give Barnes a try. For deer and black bear I would go with accubonds.
-Mike

 

[SHOOT1SAM]

Keep in mind that Partitions are not known for weight retention. They are designed to open up rather quickly, normally shedding quite a bit of weight, while the partitioned back portion continues to penetrate.

Here is Nosler's own description: "Fully tapered jacket ruptures instantly at the thin jacket mouth, yet the gradual thickening along the bullet's axis controls expansion and curls the jacket uniformly outward at high or low velocities."

The Accubonds description is stated thus: "Fully tapered, heavy alloy jacket is bonded to the special lead alloy core through a proprietary process designed for controlled expansion, deep penetration and a 60-70% weight retention."

If memory serves me correctly, 60-70% weight retention is what's typical of Partitions too.

While I have no experience with the Accubonds, I do with the Partitions and they are THE premium bullet by which all others are measured.

That being said, when I hunted my buffalo, I chose a Barnes-X for my load.

Sam

 

[Bottom Gun]

I have taken four elk with Partition bullets. One with a 180 gr in a .308, one with a 200 gr in a .30-06 and two with 210 gr in my .338 Win Mag.
Each time the bullet went all the way through and exited. None required more than one shot.
As far as I'm concerned, that is plenty good penetration and weight retention.
I doubt that I will ever hunt with anything else.

 

[frednaz]

Thanks for all the replies. I was concerned about those who have had experience with shooting elk with these bullets. I'm going to load some partitions and if they shoot accurately, I will probably use the 180 grain for elk. It sounds as if they would be hard to beat and the last thing I'd want is to use an inferior bullet for such a large animal.
Fred

 

[gezzer]

Partiton or Barnes X. The only recoverd bullet of either has been a Barnes X my nephew put through 6 ft. of moose and it looked like the advertisment photo's. It was a .308 put into a Radway Green pulled bullet surplus cartridge.

 

[Ifishsum]

I've found them both quite effective on elk, but both of my .06 rifles shoot the partitions more accurately than the accubonds. Go figure.