Having trouble getting 165 partitions inside of ~1.25" group. Rifle will shoot 165 gamekings and 165 tipped gamekings consistently under 0.5 moa. I have tried IMR 4064 and Varget. Thinking about continuing with those powders and playing with seating depths. Anyone have experience with partitions being sensitive to seating depth? Have tried the nosler manual 2.77 OAL and also 2.81". MAX COAL in my rifle with the partition is 2.835". Might start at 2.825 and work back 0.01 at a time. I may give up on the partition since the gameking and tipped game kings should be excellent bullets at 308win velocities.
308 win 165 Partition
- Thread starter A-bolt243
- Start date
- Location
- Western Manitoba
Many years ago - 1970's - I would get really nice 3 and 5 shot groups with a 165 grain Sierra bullet from my Model 70 Winchester in 308 Win - in those days it was called a Softpoint Boat Tail (SBT). Not sure what they might call it today. Very accurate on targets - however, I had one instance where it "exploded" along the vertebra of a white tail doe - one time. Since then, I switched to Speer HotCor - same weight - but I have never actually completely duplicated that impact. At a store in Saskatoon, the guy behind the counter claimed he experienced the same "blow up" on an antelope with those 165 grain Sierra SBT from his 300 H&H. For many years I hunted deer with 7x57 using 150 grain Partition - I never could get a 3 or 5 shot group below about 1" - so, I suspect the Partitions may not have been as all-out accurate as a "target" bullet, but I killed a LOT of deer with them. Once I run out of the Speer HotCor - or if I can not get any more, or if they "improve" them, it is my intent to try 150 or 165 grain Partitions in our 308 Win's.
1.25" group is more than enough at any sane hunting distance. I don't recall anyone ever bragging about how good partitions shoot in their rifle, my understanding was if you got close to an inch you're golden. I understand wanting more, knowing you're rifle is capable of it but the partition is not a good target bullet. It is a fine hunting bullet though! JMO
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Mostly, I agree. I've had a couple rifles I couldn't find an accurate accubond load in though. All rifles vary. - dan
Seat the Partitions or any other bullet just shy of the rifling. I bought some Federal factory ammo loaded with 140gr Partitions so I'd have some brass after once fired. They shot 1.25" or so. Bumped a few and reseated just shy of the rifling in a 6.5x55 Win 70 FWT. Now one ragged hole! So I bumped the entire remaining 4 boxes. OAL matters more than most think.
I will agree that the Accubonds will be mostly more Accurate as I have had trouble getting Partitions to shoot really accurate in a number of cartridges BUT as far as being a better GAME bullet I disagree completely and I use accubonds but just yours and my opinion differences prob based on results !
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The most damage I've ever seen inflicted on any game animal was on a quartering away running Alberta Whitetail buck shot with a Sierra SBT 220 gr bullet from a 8 mm Rem Mag., it literally destroyed 50% of the edible meat. The bullet hit the ball joint on the close rear ham resulting in massive tissue damage.
I've also seen that same bullet take multiple other deer and moose with great terminal results and almost no meat loss, so I'd say bullet placement makes a huge difference on bullet terminal performance. I wouldn't rate a bullets impact performance on one occasions results. Just my humble opinion, YMMV
I've also seen that same bullet take multiple other deer and moose with great terminal results and almost no meat loss, so I'd say bullet placement makes a huge difference on bullet terminal performance. I wouldn't rate a bullets impact performance on one occasions results. Just my humble opinion, YMMV
If you truly are getting ~1.25" from Nosler Partitions (different shooters measure groups differently) which are not known as a match/target bullets then rejoice - you have arrived. You have a great hunting design that has the potential to keep shots into a 5 inch circle at 400 yards.
What more could you ask for??
What more could you ask for??
I will also echo that every rifle I’ve loaded partitions for, was not as accurate with them, if compared to Accubonds. Another really solid option is the Ballistic Tips. Basically the exact same bullet as the Accubond, just not bonded to the jacket. It’s an amazing hunting bullet at half the price tag. 165 BTs with 44gn Varget is absolutely deadly out of my Tikka T3X
1.25" group with partitions is more that adequate for anything you will hunt with that bullet, all the way to it's velocity threshold of where it stops opening up.
You should be able to tighten it up with seating that bullet further out though. Varget is a perfect powder for that combination.
Partitions may not be match bullets, but they shoot unreal groups for me at a hundred yards with every cartridge/weight combo I have ever ran. And definitely what all other bullets are compared to with their performance on game. Have never lost an animal, nor had to take a follow up shot even while using that bullet.
You should be able to tighten it up with seating that bullet further out though. Varget is a perfect powder for that combination.
Partitions may not be match bullets, but they shoot unreal groups for me at a hundred yards with every cartridge/weight combo I have ever ran. And definitely what all other bullets are compared to with their performance on game. Have never lost an animal, nor had to take a follow up shot even while using that bullet.
Seating depth isn't going to make that much of a difference. Try 3031 or N140.
Sometimes, a bullet just won't shoot in a certain rifle, but usually it's just a matter of finding the right powder.
Also, 1.25" at 100 is way more than adequate for big game hunting ... I get it though, we always want to find that perfect recipe.
Good luck.
Wasting your time if you're going to adjust seating depth in hopes of improving your accuracy
If you're seeking smaller groups, try some more powders like Benchmark, StaBALL Match, 4895, CFE223, RL15, N540 etc - powders can really turn things around, or make bullets shoot worse LOL
If you're seeking smaller groups, try some more powders like Benchmark, StaBALL Match, 4895, CFE223, RL15, N540 etc - powders can really turn things around, or make bullets shoot worse LOL
As long as I can get 1MOA from a partition, and I've never had any special issues with doing that, I'm happy with it, it isn't a target bullet. I've had as good as 3/4MOA, as bad as 1-1/2MOA, which is still good to 400 yds. I got into reloading 45 yrs ago to be able to use it, it's never let me down in anything I've ever shot at with it. Still my preferred bullet for hunting. Not needed for deer, sheep, caribou, but, certainly good for moose. elk, bears.
Might try CFE 223 as I have some on hand. Seating depth changes didn't accomplish much but 2.80 seems to produce a 1 MOA group. No doubt 1" is fine for hunting. This is a new KS arms barrel on the rifle and after seeing it shoot the sierras so well I may have had un realistic expectations with the partitions. Might give 165 accubonds a try too but have an old stockpile of 165 partitions on hand.
