BsChoy
Member
Anyone use 165 grain nosler partitions or other similar bullets for deer hunting? I know the ballistics tips should open reliably but do you think I would have issue with these?
Short 308 barrels and 165's
- Thread starter BsChoy
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Bottom Gun
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I use 180 gr Partitions in my .30-06 and .308 and 210 gr Partitions in my .338 Win for elk and they work great. I wouldn't use anything else.
Your 165 gr Partitions should be perfect for NY deer. I would choose the Partitions over the Ballistic Tips any day.
FWIW, I saw first hand that the Ballistic Tips don't always expand like they should. I watched my hunting partner shoot an animal repeatedly with his 7MM Mag because the BT bullets would not expand. They were all good hits. Later, when we skinned it we confirmed the bullets did not expand at all.
He was using the Federal premium factory ammo which used BT bullets.
Some people claim the solid copper and some of the new bonded bullets are better than the Partitions, but I have never used them.
I have never had to shoot an animal more than once using Partitions. That's good enough for me so I see no reason to use anything else.
Good luck on your hunt.
Your 165 gr Partitions should be perfect for NY deer. I would choose the Partitions over the Ballistic Tips any day.
FWIW, I saw first hand that the Ballistic Tips don't always expand like they should. I watched my hunting partner shoot an animal repeatedly with his 7MM Mag because the BT bullets would not expand. They were all good hits. Later, when we skinned it we confirmed the bullets did not expand at all.
He was using the Federal premium factory ammo which used BT bullets.
Some people claim the solid copper and some of the new bonded bullets are better than the Partitions, but I have never used them.
I have never had to shoot an animal more than once using Partitions. That's good enough for me so I see no reason to use anything else.
Good luck on your hunt.
Poper
Member
BsChoy:
I have used 165 gn Hornady Sp & Nosler Partitions in my Rem 788 in .308, 17.5" barreled carbine for years. 1.25" - 1.5" groups (and sometimes better) are the norm with WLR primers, W760 and Federal cases. The gun is unmodified except that I replaced original wood stock with a Ramline drop-in injection moulded stock in 1992.
One shot kills are the norm on deer that generally drop in their tracks. I have never recovered a bullet as they have always passed clear through, but the wound channels have been quite impressive. Last year's buck was 140+ yards, aprox. 50' uphill. Bullet entered breaking the 3rd rib, deflected upward, penetrated the spine about 5" behind the shoulders and exited taking out a 2.5" chunk of vertebrae and leaving a big hole. Very little bullet material was found in the wound channel, but a small piece of jacket material was found imbeded in the meat near the exit hole.
I am sure there are probably better bullet/rifle combinations out there, but I am satisfied with my results to date, and I will be carrying the same gun this year.
Poper
I have used 165 gn Hornady Sp & Nosler Partitions in my Rem 788 in .308, 17.5" barreled carbine for years. 1.25" - 1.5" groups (and sometimes better) are the norm with WLR primers, W760 and Federal cases. The gun is unmodified except that I replaced original wood stock with a Ramline drop-in injection moulded stock in 1992.
One shot kills are the norm on deer that generally drop in their tracks. I have never recovered a bullet as they have always passed clear through, but the wound channels have been quite impressive. Last year's buck was 140+ yards, aprox. 50' uphill. Bullet entered breaking the 3rd rib, deflected upward, penetrated the spine about 5" behind the shoulders and exited taking out a 2.5" chunk of vertebrae and leaving a big hole. Very little bullet material was found in the wound channel, but a small piece of jacket material was found imbeded in the meat near the exit hole.
I am sure there are probably better bullet/rifle combinations out there, but I am satisfied with my results to date, and I will be carrying the same gun this year.
Poper
ID_shooting
Member
165gr Hornady interlocks sitting in my 30-06 right now. Has killed every deer I shot with them.
ROCKSHUND
Member
Sierra 165 grain BTSP over 45 grains Varget. Easily 3/4" groups from my 20" barreled Savage M10 anytime at 100 meters. Never gone wrong on a deer yet. -FNR.
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