Choose between Partition and Ballistic Tip for Whitetails?

Greg_Meyer

Greg_Meyer

New member
I have always used Sierra Gamekings for deer in my .257R and I have never had a failure. Most were DT and two steps and a tumble over dead. However, those were always under 200yrads (most under 100) and generally good positions. Well this year I am hunting more open terrain and distances may increase so I am considering different bullets.

Barrel is a Douglas Supreme in a light sporter contour , 1X10 twist, 21 !/2". Looking at 100gr Noslers, either Ballistic Tips or Partitions. Loaded to produce 2850fps at the muzzle.

Which would you choose? (and why if I can ask)
 
I've shot several W/T with 100g bal tips noslers, all but 2 times in the neck, they are poll axed.... no lateral movement.
No Tracking.
I'm sending them at 3300fps muzzle. my friend uses the 75g v max and has same results with neck shots......if you use them
try to stay away from the sholder...I wouldn't want to chance it. they usually leave a wound cavity a little larger that a football.
 
I shot 4 deer this last season with my 308 using ballistic tips. shots were 50, 200, 376, 409. all of them fell over. exit was the size of a racket ball and turned the lungs and heart to jelly.
 
I may be biased, I seem to have better accuracy with Sierra. I do use the partition with my 243s on deer though, works just fine.
 
The 100 B-Tip has a reputation of being a fairly stout bullet, never tried them as I've had great luck with the 100 Hornady in my Ruger. That one did a heck of a job on an antelope at 375 yards and several mature whitetail bucks at much closer ranges.
Curious as to the 2850 fps speed, I'm getting 3050 without redlining the load with 3/4 MOA accuracy. Guessing you must be running an old military action turned sporter?
 
Originally Posted By: Greg_MeyerI have always used Sierra Gamekings for deer in my .257R and I have never had a failure.
Why are you trying to fix something that ain't broke?
 
I think either the BT or Parition will get the job done along with the Sierra.

BTs tend to be vey accurate in alot of guns, along with Sierra.

I have no experience with Sierras on game, but the BTs in the larger calibers are built stronger than the varmint calibers, they shed some weight yet still penetrate, not as explosive as the varmint calibers. Partitions are a tough bullet, count on through and throughs, they are good, tough penetrating bullets. A bullet you may consider is the Accu-Bond, I'd say it's an in between for the BT vs Partition. JMO
 
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"Guessing you must be running an old military action turned sporter?"

Yes, a small ring 93 Mauser. I try to run it milder than max... And, it is only a 21 1/2" barrel so I give up some fps there as well.
 
Originally Posted By: pahntr760The GameKings are plenty fine and perform well at longer distances. I would stay with what the gun already likes to digest.

+1 I believed in Gamekings until 15 years ago when I started shooting Barnes Bullets.
 
Originally Posted By: Rbreb13Originally Posted By: Greg_MeyerI have always used Sierra Gamekings for deer in my .257R and I have never had a failure.
Why are you trying to fix something that ain't broke?

I don't think anything is broken. I do however value the opinions given here. And, the circumstances are changing for me... I will be hunting over much more open ground and my shots may get longer. So, I am asking for evaluations of bullets that may perform well over a wider range of distances and shot placement angles. A bullet that performs well at 75 yards with a broadside angle might not do as well at 250 yards with a quartering away shot. Experience counts and I would like to hear any relevant information.
 
I have killed a boat load of deer with SGKs. And plenty with Partitions and Ballistic Tips also.

I do not like NBT for deer. In close, they suck, and with deer, "in close" is always a possibility. Partitions are better in close than either one. The SGK has produced many lightning fast kills and is an accurate, prototypical deer bullet IMO. It will kill deer out to as far as you can hit one.

The NP will do the same. However, while it is better in tight, it is not quite as good further out. However, when I say 'further out", I mean FURTHER OUT. It is somewhat more bullet than needed for deer, IME. It still works well though.

Unless we are talking WAY out, I won't bother to get into the FB vs. BT thing. Although most don't quite understand it.

Truth is, most hunters will never realize this "difference" anyway.

In short, I wouldn't change a thing, except maybe your scope's "zero".......
 
I have used all the bullets stated, in my 25-06. Inside 150 yards, ballistic tips make a mess. SGK's slightly better. Partitions work great. At 300+ they all do well for me. I'd say stick with what's working, unless you wanna try something else for S&G's.
 
Ive killed alot of deer with Partitions ,xBullets, and fact of the matter is you don't need them for most white tail hunting. Stick with the Game kings. Ive went back to the 85gr.SpeerBTSP for most of my deer hunting and going to try the 85gr.HP Game king this year in my .243.
 
I have successfully used Ballistic Tips on whitetails for years. I have used them in calibers including 243, 25-06, 260, and 7 MM Rem Mag.
 
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