Nosler Ballistic Tip vs. Partition for Deer

[Still Shooting]

I have an early (Douglas barrel) Ruger 77 in .257 Roberts. I found it new in the early 80's, and after "wringing it out" for sub-moa accuracy, I took it to Montana with 117gr. Partitions. -Had 2 DRT kills in 2 days; antelope and muley buck. These days, I am reloading with new powder, because my old "go-to" (IMR 4831) is no longer the tack driver it was. I have worked up a load for 115gr. Ballistic tips/Partitions with IMR 8208 XBR, and with the Ballistic Tips it is sub-moa at 100yds. - 0.74" to 0.9" for 5 shot groups. Partitions are not so good - best is about 2 moa.

My question is, has anyone had experience with Nosler Ballistic Tip vs. Partition -same bullet weight, same velocity- for penetration, expansion, and clean kill? I love the partitions, based on my first and following experiences, but I also love the accuracy of the Ballistic Tips.

 

[X-Rap]

Can't speak for the .25 Partitions but I will say that the BT is my go to bullet for my 25-06 for Mule Deer and Antelope.
I will say that the accuracy your noting is pretty typical of what I've seen between the two bullets in other calibers.
I've heard that the earlier hunting weight BT's would "blow up" and performed poorly but I've not witnessed that in more than 15 yrs of using them in .25, .284, .338 on numerous deer, elk and antelope.

 

[RevJim]

I've killed many critters with both Partitions and Ballistic Tips. The Ballistic Tip "Hunting" bullets are much better than the older ones, good killers partition like exits. Good luck to you Pard!

 

[Arkansas Paul]

I've used NBTs on whitetails for years with excellent results. I have never shot one with a Partition simply because the ballistic tips have worked so well, I see no plausible reason to spend the extra money for the Partition (18.99/50 vs. 31.29/50). This is numbers for 165 grain bullets in .30-06 BTW which is what I shoot. It's not worth $24 per 100 extra for me when I'm getting DRT results from the cheaper ones.

Now if I were elk or moose hunting, sure I would go for the Partitions because the back half will hold together for deeper penetration. But you don't need that on whitetails.

The one exception is if you are shooting deer with an extremely small bullet such as that from a .223. Then I would go with the Partitions to ensure adequate penetration.

Just one man's opinion.

 

[Sunray]

Bambi won't know or care what bullet kills him. The accuracy is the only thing that matters. Mind you, that 2" with the Partitions will do as well.

 

[Hopkins]

The BT's expand rapidly and I have seen them shed their jackets in 100-150# whitetail at terminal velocities as low as 2300 fps. They had devastating wound channels beginning in the first inch and a half of entry. They are a killer with a good shot placement but I wouldn't choose a shoulder shot using them.

 

[wombat13]

Everyone in my family have had great experience with NBT bullets for whitetail. We shoot them in .30-06, .300WM, and .338WM. Although I am too lazy to find the source, I've read that the NBTs in .30 caliber and up are more heavily constructed so that they can be used for larger game such as elk.

One caveat: We have taken dozens of deer with NBTs and they always performed just fine, but we always aim for the boiler room. I can't vouch for shoulder shots. Perhaps someone else can.

 

[MCgunner]

All but one of my over 2 dozen .257 Roberts kills over the last 52 years have been with Sierra bullets. Originally, my grandpa loaded with 117 Sierra flat based spitzers. I started loading 100 grain Game Kings in the 80s, very accurate and great BC. The one deer I shot with a Hornady 117 Interlock at 3050 fps at about 80 yards, the bullet failed to open, good shot placement, though. I found him 75 yards from where he was hit...purely by luck as he left no blood trail at all.

I would imagine the Partitions would open up just fine, but I fail to see the necessity in an expensive, magic bullet that doesn't generally shoot with the 1/2 MOA accuracy I'm getting out of my 100 grain Sierra Game King. I reckon if I worked up a hog load for the gun, I might go partition since the ranges are inside 100 yards at night and it would insure penetration. I had one Game King fail to exit, but killed the deer instantly. That bullet went though so much bone, I gave it a pass on not exiting. I found it under the skin on the off side rib cage. It passed though the larger part of the near side scapula, deflected up into a vertebrae which it shattered, back down into the off side rib and stopped.

I usually get DRT with that rifle, the Interlock being the one exception. I mostly hunt with my .308 or black powder now days, but shot a spike with the .257 2 seasons ago, 50 years after shooting my first with it at age 11. Just had to do it. Went through both scapula on that one and he was dead before he hit the ground in his tracks from 50 yards.

Spend your money if ya want, just saying for whitetail, you don't need magic bullets. The BT should work just fine. I shoot 150 BTs in my .308 and they're fantastic.

 

[MCgunner]

BTW, have you tried H4831? Works fantastic for me.

 

[1948CJ2A]

I use ballistic tips in my sub 3000 fps rifles (muzzle) and partitions, spitzers, or bonded bullets in my faster rifles.

What I have found is the ballistic tips don't penetrate as deeply before rapid expansion occurs causing some shots at ultra-high velocities to potentially not exit at all. Conversely, I shot a bobcat several years ago with my 240 Wby using a 95gr ballistic tip. I almost tore the animal into 2 pieces. If it had been a deer, much meat would have been wasted.

Of course it also depends on the shot placement, type of game, etc. But those things aside, I'd say velocity is your biggest factor.

 

[dickydalton]

Back in the early 80s I found some empty jackets, on the ground in the spring, from 120 BT bullets from my 264 Mag. They were way behind my target on the range telling me that the core left the jacket in the snow banks. All I ever use in that rifle for deer are 125 or 140 Partitions and all deer are DRT.

 

[Still Shooting]

I haven't tried H4831 - I started with IMR 4831, and it was shooting 1moa consistently, so I just kept on using it. there was a period where "Mr. Roberts" rested for several years (found a pre-64 mod. 70 in .30-06, and started consulting to process mfg. clients all over the US/Canada, and one in P.I.). When I went back to my "pet load" it no longer did what it had originally. I decided to look at other powders, and ended up being seduced by the temperature stability of 8208 XBR. -That can make a difference here in the Adirondacks over the course of a season!

 

[stoky]

IMO, ballistic tips below ≈2500fps and partitions for higher velocity cartridges.

 

[LeonCarr]

I have never used the Partition on game.

Out of 50 Whitetail Deer taken, 47 of them were taken with 150 Grain Nosler Ballistic Tips in either the .308 or .30-06.

Sub-MOA to one hole group accuracy, impressive bordering on spectacular penetration and expansion on deer sized game, with the result usually being either DRT or recovered in under 25 yards. Golf ball to baseball sized exit holes on heart/lung shots. A shoulder shot usually resulted in breaking the near side shoulder and the far side shoulder being destroyed from bullet and bone fragments.

I like them.

Just my .02,
LeonCarr

 

[GooseGestapo]

It's not the powder, it's the bullets.
Lot to lot variation. Partitions can and do vary in accuracy depending on when they were made.
I've killed over 100 deer with my custom M98 in .257Roberts since building it in '83. I prefer Sierras, but have used Hornady, Noslers, and an assortment of others.

At close range, I've seen blow- ups with Ballistic Tips, but deer typically die forthwith. Shot placement!
I did have a 115gr B.T. blow up but was driven to 3,350fps from my .257Wby. A shoulder hit blew pieces of deer decorating a nearby bush with what looked like jerky strips hanging to dry. Lost deer. However, two evenings later, the bullets from the same box from another Roberts (Ruger M77MkII) over 45.0gr IMR4831 for 2,950fps performed perfectly (110yd shot to heart/lungs).
I find the Hornady 117gr BtSpt to be probably the single best all around.25 hunting bullet. However, the Speer and Sierras are dependably the most accurate and have never failed me. I killed my last deer last week with the M98. Classic load, 45.0gr IMR4350, 100gr Sierra ProHunter. 20yd head shot! Drove truck right up to him. Lost exact count but best guess, #111 for "Mrs. Roberts". (Rifle is too petite to be "Mr") It's a featherweight built before they were called "mountain rifles". I cut the stock so my wife and daughters (now soon to be grand daughter!) could shoot their first deer with it!
It weighs a whopping 7lbs. Bishop stock w/point pattern checkering, aluminum trigger guard assembly, Leupold VariX II 2-7x w/Leupold 2min dot reticle. The rifle of many dreams, and memories!

 

[Captcurt]

Accubond Maybe?

If your heart is set on a Nosler you might try a box of Accubonds. I have not shot them in the Roberts but have run them up to 3400 fps in a 257 Weatherby and they held together well. Over the years I have shot Partitions, Ballistic Tip, Speer HotCor, Hornady SST and CorLokt. All work, but it depends what you want them to do. A Partition will consistently penetrate deeper than the others when driven at the same speed. They normally shed their front half and leave a small exit hole. The Ballistic Tip and SST will give you the maximum upset with the most tissue damage. I had a 120 gr BT make a mess out of a small doe last year and I was only cranking 2300 fps out of a Contender Pistol. The other three do a good job with controlled expansion and deep penetration. I have shot the Accubond in some butt kickers as well as some milder calibers and they have worked very well on deer. Accuracy has been as good as the BT and that is saying a lot.

 

[Arkansas Paul]

If it had been a deer, much meat would have been wasted.

Not if you don't shoot it in the meat.

Like I've seen Art say several times on here, "Don't shoot them in the eatin parts."