Updated Partition bullet

[ddd-shooter]

I would love an updated partition. Until then, classics for me. Where I hunt, never shoot past 200 anyway

 

[Ringbill27]

The front of the terminal ascent bullet is bonded. Very little fragmentation

Ooo did not know that.

 

[Gen273]

Yep, it’s called the accubond. Theres simply no longer any need for the Partition design with bonded cores and controlled expansion jackets.

The Accubond is a great bullet, and I have killed many animals with it.

However, in my opinion, there is undoubtedly still a clear place for a Partition. But I admit I am partial, as the Nosler Partition is probably my all-time favorite big game bullet. They have done everything I have asked of them all over the country, and that is across many years.

 

[Tmac]

Well Federal added a tip to its Fusion line. Why not add one to a partition and streamline it a bit. Be a winner in my book as long as it remained not bonded. While we are at it, add a tip to some Bergers please.

Most of my rifles shoot partitions well and I really like how they perform. I’ve often wondered if they would be more accurate if there was a grove cut around the outside mimicking the partition, to help it swage to the bore, like many mono’s have gone to.

 

[butcherboy]

I shoot 140 grain Accubonds out of my 270wsm. Deadly. I wouldn’t hesitate one bit to shoot a partition either. Last elk I shot with my rifle was between 470-480 yds. Quartered to me and hit her just in front of the right shoulder. Bullet went through and broke her left leg. She fell right there and then got up and stumbled/fell 30 yds downhill and stopped.

 

[HunterGatherer]

Some people won’t like this opinion but I think monos picked up where partitions left off. I shot partitions for decades because I liked the retention and they were better at close range than other options. I switched to TSX, TTSX and now LRX- they have performed just as well, with even higher retention and less fragmentation. Neither option has the BC of match bullets but I prefer the terminal performance of these lower BC bullets anyways. If I shot a lot of animals past 500 yds it would probably be the opposite but for < 500 partitions and monos are

 

[Choupique]

I love partitions but man they are expensive these days. The performance is perfect for me though.

often wondered if they would be more accurate if there was a grove cut around the outside

It does seem like the center piece being less than bore diameter would be a good thing. They've always shot well enough for me but have never been the most accurate in any rifle.

 

[JGRaider]

I thought the accubond was the “updated”partition.

I love both accubonds and partitions, I’ve shot a lot of stuff with 180g partitions out of my 30-06. Probably my favorite combo out there.

Anytime these new bullets pop up and everybody online goes ape shit for them I have to ask myself: for what I do, the distances I hunt and the animals I hunt, what can I get that a partition or accubond won’t give me? I play around with the ELDM and tmk in my 6.5 but other than that, it’s nosler all the way.

Agree 100%

Accubonds aren’t remotely a Partition in behavior. They are a standard bonded bullet. Most Partitions fragment heavily in the front portion like a tipped match bullet- Accubonds do not do that.

I've killed a few hundred animals with both if you include hogs. There's not a nickle's worth of difference between the two in on game performance IME. They're both still amongst the most elite hunting bullets out there. These were 160 AB's running 3050 at the muzzle, 100-150yd impact through shoulders/heart shots. I've only "caught a couple handfuls on 60+ plains game animals up through wildebeest .

 

[Choupique]

switched to TSX, TTSX and now LRX- they have performed just as well, with even higher retention and less fragmentation

What i like about the partition is you usually get both - fragmentation AND a bunch of penetration.

 

[Quandary]

Aren't Cutting Edge Lazers and Hammer HHTs effectively the mono version, with higher BCs, of the Partition? The front half blows up into petals and the back half drives through.

 

[BLJ]

A plastic tip Partition would be great.
The downside is they would cost $2.63 a piece and be out of stock.

 

[SDHNTR]

Aren't Cutting Edge Lazers and Hammer HHTs effectively the mono version, with higher BCs, of the Partition? The front half blows up into petals and the back half drives through.

Yes, kinda, but the BC is a stretch (at least with Hammers). The petals don’t always break off too. Shoot something smaller, softer and with maybe less speed and they sometimes stay together and seem to exit with a bigger hole, like a Barnes.

 

[TaperPin]

It would be fun to be a fly on the wall to hear Nosler’s inner conversations. The Partition has a large fan base as is and probably is a very simple recipe to make and sell for consistent profits. If I were a young guy starting out the Accubond makes more sense, especially for cartridges of mediocre velocity, but it says a lot that this old design from the 1950’s still works well enough to be an option. It’s like the vintage sugar jar that’s still sold today, unchanged for 100 years, still doing a good job.



Most of my gun nut friends have transitioned from Partitions to Accubonds and have been happy with the results. I also did briefly, but for the wrong reasons. To 500 yards there’s no real benefit for me except for stretching cartridges beyond what they’re good for, and it would be the same for a more areodynamic Partition. If my Accubond-shooting friends suddenly had a Partition with higher BC it’s doubtful they would switch back, so Partitions will slowly fade away.

 

[z987k]

Aren't Cutting Edge Lazers and Hammer HHTs effectively the mono version, with higher BCs, of the Partition? The front half blows up into petals and the back half drives through.

Kind of. The apex bullets turns into a lot more pieces than either if those.

 

[rookieforever33]

Im glad to see so many fans of the partition are still around. It seems many are using bullets that have similarities to the old partition, but updated to expand on certain strengths. Obviously the Accubond was designed to be an update with the thick walls meant to control the expansion. I do find accubonds in factory loading that will be my choice for big animals, patitions are harder to find in factory loads that shoot well for me. If I want to keep shooting them I will need to start handloading. I know I am dreaming but if Nosler updates the partition by adding the front end of a ballistic tip on the old solid shank I would do whatever it takes to get it right for my rifle.

 

[rookieforever33]

I would like to try Hammers but that gets back to handloading. I do like their design.

 

[06 SB]

I fully believe the Accubond is a replacement for the Partition. The Accubond will open up easily like the Partition but does not lose it petals. Yesterday, I put down a Red Fox that was heavily afflicted with mange with my 338Fed and a 200gr Accubond. It had an exit wound just like the ones I see on deer.

 

[HunterGatherer]

I think the partition has shown that there’s a sweet spot with fragmentation and retention. There are pros and cons to fragmentation. It’s not a requirement for lethality but often helps shorten blood trails. The downside is highly fragmenting bullets can “over fragment” at closer ranges and you might lose more meat and/or eat some lead, which some people have a problem with and some don’t.