Okay IMR 4895 powder has been selected. Now I am trying to narrow my choice to what grain bullet to run. The rifle is a .308 Browning BLR lever action. The two bullets that I am tossing back and forth with is the 150gr Nosler Part. or the 165gr Nosler Part. The rifle would mainly be used to hunt Whitetailed and Mule deer. Just wondering what opinion and or choice others would make from the two mentioned bullets. Thanks in advance for any opinions.
150gr vs 165gr Nosler Part.
- Thread starter Nosler06
- Start date
Try both, see what weight the rifle likes. The deer won't care. - dan
- Location
- Golden Lake
I've never had a deer run more than a few yards when hit in the heart/lung area when I've used a Nosler Partion in any calibre. The bullet always exits on a side shot and leaves a good blood trail.
Go with whichever is most accurate in your rifle.
Go with whichever is most accurate in your rifle.
gunrunner8
CGN Ultra frequent flyer
- Location
- Kamloops, B.C.
Just in case that you find something bigger to shoot than the dear you should opt for 165gr NP, also I found that 30 cal 150gr NP front portion of partition most of the time just desintegrates, the 165gr almost never does and penetrates way more. my 2c....
I've used 150 and 165 gr. Partitions exclusively for about 40 years, but out of more powerful guns than yours; 30-06, 300H&H and 300Wby.
I started with the 150s because I was hunting mostly deer in the beginning, and shot a couple of elk and one moose with them, all at close range.
Then the day came when I took a shot that I shouldn't have. Don't have any real good idea how far it was, but I had time to get the scope back on it before the bullet hit. The bullet hit dead center just behind the shoulder, and I saw the moisture spray out and around the point of impact, and heard the solid "whump" of a hit. It was pouring rain and a half hour voyage to where he stood. All there was was the odd small drop or blood from the entry wound. To make a long story shorter we gave up when we lost the trail in dog hair second growth over solid moss about a foot deep about 3 hours later.
I switched to 165 gr. Partitions at that time, and it's been bang flop every time since, but it was the same with 150s before that bad day
So I guess it's a judgment call, but given the tiny loss in a flat trajectory I'd stick with 165s any day.
Some may say "go with 180s", but out of a 308 you'll never realize the full performance of Partitions of that weight. Remember too, that if the game is close enough and you hit it right almost any bullet will do the trick.
I started with the 150s because I was hunting mostly deer in the beginning, and shot a couple of elk and one moose with them, all at close range.
Then the day came when I took a shot that I shouldn't have. Don't have any real good idea how far it was, but I had time to get the scope back on it before the bullet hit. The bullet hit dead center just behind the shoulder, and I saw the moisture spray out and around the point of impact, and heard the solid "whump" of a hit. It was pouring rain and a half hour voyage to where he stood. All there was was the odd small drop or blood from the entry wound. To make a long story shorter we gave up when we lost the trail in dog hair second growth over solid moss about a foot deep about 3 hours later.
I switched to 165 gr. Partitions at that time, and it's been bang flop every time since, but it was the same with 150s before that bad day
So I guess it's a judgment call, but given the tiny loss in a flat trajectory I'd stick with 165s any day.
Some may say "go with 180s", but out of a 308 you'll never realize the full performance of Partitions of that weight. Remember too, that if the game is close enough and you hit it right almost any bullet will do the trick.
