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Nosler Partitions vs Hornady SSTs performance on game?

mattri

Silver $$ Contributor
Just re-barreled my hunting rifle to a 338-06. Really like the round and am seeing excellent accuracy with the 210gr Nosler Partitions and 225gr Hornady SSTs, both at about 2750 over R17.

Other bullets aren't being considered at this time.

I've read mixed reviews on both of these bullets with some folks loving/hating either.

I'd like to use this rifle on med/large game including elk so want to settle on a bullet to practice with in the meantime.

With the accuracy I'm seeing so far I would feel very comfortable taking a 500 yard shot.

Thoughts?
 
I have taken 3 bull elk with my 338 win. mag using the 210 NP and they have preformed flawlessly. I think 500 yds are about it's limits though in my 338 they started dropping like a mrock after that, there BC starts hindering them after that.
 
Thanks for the replies.

I've really been leaning toward the 210s, they shoot and at the moderate velocities of the 338-06 I like to think they will perform well, if nothing else punch two holes. The accuracy really has me surprised. Bought a used A&B barrel for a l/a Savage because I wanted to try the round and it shoots much better than I do. This is an honest 3 shots at 300 yards:




As is this- but this is a bit more indicative of how the rifle shoots. Edit- should say how well I can shoot the rifle and really this is about as well as I can do- its a great round:


Never thought the round would be this accurate. Even "off" groups are moa to 300.
 
I vote for the Nosler Partition. It is a bullet that allows you to take almost any shot angle.
 
Hi Mattri, the 338-06 is great cartridge that will take cleanly any animal on the North American continent, and yes including the large bears.
For those people that said the following in your above reply concerning Nosler Partitions: "I've read mixed reviews on both of these bullets with some folks loving/hating either". I strongly suggest you never pay any attention to what they say in the future, because they are definitely in need of mental help.

The Partition bullets are the best projectile design there has ever been for everything except the really large animals like Elephant/African/Asian Bulls/ and the other VERY large animals in Africa where "Solids" would be the wisest choice to get maximum penetration and bone breaking/penetration.
 
I vote for both!
I use sst on deer and they seem to work better on deer than partions!
On the other hand partions work better on elk than sst!
Either way the bullets do there job to bring big game down.
 
Like them both but rarely got the partitions to shoot well. Did kill a nice bear with them but for decades the Pro Hunter and today, the SST have served me well. They "shoot" and expand well with the base staying together and driving through.
 
Thanks for the replies. I am very happy with the Partitions accuracy, if I can get the SSTs to shoot well they will extend effective ranges by 100 yards easily, if not- the Partitions it is.
 
Probably could have worded that better.

Doing the calcs with the Noslers and their .400 bc drop, drift and energy will be x at 400 yards, using the SSTs with their +.5 bc the number would be similar at 500 yards.
 
BC isn't everything, and I kind of wonder how inflated the claims of some are. I have tested a few hunting bullets that had drops and drifts resembling much lower BCs. In any event, I have used the partition a lot. Its terminal performance has never left me wanting for more. Used the SST a little in .30 cal. 180 grains, and it seemed to be a harder bullet than the Partition. Not that it didn't work. Everything hit with it died also.
 
Honestly, the 338-06 and the 210gr Partition were made for each other.
I have a 338-06 Ackley, mine loves the 210gr Partition.
Never found the SST to perform well on game, core separations were the norm for me.
Another wonderful bullet is the 225gr Accubond. No chance of a core separation with them.

Cheers.
;D
 
Read a few reviews on both bullets, written by major names in the hunting world such as Chuck Hawks before posting. Those professionals who've made shooting and hunting a career, typically tend to be more reliable regarding performance of bullets and cartridges.

In short, the reviews I read gave both bullets you chose, high scores on accuracy and performance. I didn't read any concerns regarding core separation or poor penetration such as the Berger bullets. No bullet design is foolproof and there will always be someone who has had a bad experience with a given bullet. I once had a Barnes Bear Claw disintegrate when my shot strayed and caught a deer's shoulder. Berger bullets are known to be tack drivers in the shooting world. I have also read on several occasions that the Berger bullets have a tendency to break up and fail to penetrate, especially with hot loads.

One key issue was raised by more than one author; find the bullet your particular rifle likes and shoots best. Every rifle is different and has its own preferences. It doesn't matter what results other people claim to achieve with their firearm, at the end of the day it's your personal performance and your rifles that matters. Try loading both and chose the one that you feel most confident with.
 
I don't know about the SST's but in 45 years of shootin Nolser partitions I have yet to have a hit animal walk away.. I have shot through both shoulders of a bull elk many times..
 

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