Any experience with 250gr Nosler RN Partition or 300gr Woodleigh bullets in 338 WM?

[stickhunter]

Hey guys,

I was lucky and snagged the following boxes of .338 bullets, which I think will be interesting to try out in my 338WM:

NOSLER PARTITION .338 CALIBRE / 250-GRAIN ROUND NOSE - IN OPEN BOX
WOODLEIGH .338 CALIBRE / 300-GRAIN WELDCORE SN (50 ROUNDS) - OPEN BOX

I'm curious if anyone's had experience with either of these as a NA hunting round or has some recommendations on a powder that's worked out well for them? From a purely aesthetic view, or perhaps because I'm a big lever gun fan, I've always liked the looks of a loaded round nose cartridge. I've found a bit online about the 300gr Woodleigh, but not much at all about the Nosler RN --- any idea when it was a catalogued item?

I still like my 30-06's for hunting, but after some recent range trips with my Sako 338 Fiberclass, it's starting to become a favourite. I'm finding the recoil to be very manageable and unobnoxious.

 

[1899]

The Partitions are probably quite old. I've used them as long ago as about 25 years and they were Spitzers then. I have had good luck with the 250 Partitions and H4831. My first .338 WM was a Sako Fiberclass - it is an excellent rifle and I am not surprised that you like it. I also found that the Fiberclass was the mildest felt recoil of any .338 WM I have ever shot.

 

[stickhunter]

Just a followup... I received my bullet order today, and I'm pleased to see that although the Nosler RN are old stock, they're still bright and shiny. From L-R is the Woodleigh Weldcore 300gr, Nosler Partition 250gr Spitzer, Nosler 250gr RN, and Hornady 200gr Spitzer. The Woodleigh is like a telephone pole.

 

[medvedqc]

I want to know about those old RN partition.
history and report on big game....

 

[1899]

Ah...those are the semi-spritzer Partitions. They used to make the 7mm 175gr in that shape and the 160gr .270 is still like that. I think I have one like that still on my bench.

 

[stickhunter]

Ah...those are the semi-spritzer Partitions. They used to make the 7mm 175gr in that shape and the 160gr .270 is still like that. I think I have one like that still on my bench.

Interesting. I looked up the pictures of some other Nosler "semi-spitzers" and you're right that they have the same shape. I guess Nosler changed their nomenclature at some point. I have some Hornady 338 250gr RN FMJ bullets which are decidedly more round-nose than the Noslers. I'm looking forward to loading these up and giving them a try. Unfortunately, I'm short on good powders for the 338 so need to source some more.

Here's the .277 160gr semi-spitz and the .30 220gr semi-spitz:

 

[blargon]

I had good luck with the 250 partition semi spitzer and H4350. With the 300gr i would likely start with something a bit slower, maybe 4831.

Either one will be a hammer on game, but these days Ive taken a liking to the 210 ttsx.

 

[stickhunter]

I had good luck with the 250 partition semi spitzer and H4350. With the 300gr i would likely start with something a bit slower, maybe 4831.

Either one will be a hammer on game, but these days Ive taken a liking to the 210 ttsx.

With my first foray into the 338, I was looking for a source of lighter bullets to mitigate recoil and thought about the 210 NP, but ended up acquiring a bunch of 225gr+ rounds. I loaded my first batch of 225s with 4831 as that is one powder that I have plenty off. I went with a mid-range load and was just sighting in the rifle so didn't chrono or test of accuracy.

I'm sure I can find some 4350 as my LGS, but I'll see what kind of performance can be had with 4831 in the 250gr range and probably load some of those up too.

 

[Gibbs505]

I had good luck with the 250 partition semi spitzer and H4350. With the 300gr i would likely start with something a bit slower, maybe 4831.

Either one will be a hammer on game, but these days Ive taken a liking to the 210 ttsx.

I agree, that 300 grn Woodleigh should be like the hammer of Thor. You will have to get closer though. Good hunting!