Nosler Partition 100 gr. Bullets & Hogs

[Double Naught Spy]

Previously, I posted the results of testing some Partition 125 gr. bullets on hogs with a pretty good sample size. While those bullets did perform fairly well, I didn't think they were achieving their full potential at Grendel Velocities.
https://www.65grendel.com/forum/showthre...tition+100

Enter the Partition 100s. I have now killed, recovered, and necropsied 5 hogs killed with these bullets (fairly small sample so far, I know). HOLY COW what a difference velocity (MV 2790 fps) seems to be making. The bullets are entering, expanding rapidly often with a very impressive permanent wound cavity after open that continues on for 2-4" and then tapers to a reasonable finger sized wound cavity (when I can find it). It is like somebody went in with a melon baller and removed a golf ball or raquet ball volume of flesh (neck shots)/ Hitting bone after opening seems to be no problem in terms of penetration. I have not hit any heavy bone at entry, before the bullet would expanded, to know how that would affect anything, however.

I have yet to recover a bullet or even a fragment thereof. Previously with the 125s, I got some partial recovered primarily thanks to using a metal detector. All these seem to exit in totality, or any pieces left behind are just too small to detect. With all the bone, including heavy bone hit, I would have thought there would be pieces left behind. Nope, none so far. On the last hog, I could not find an exit and I could not find the bullet or fragments visually or with the metal detector.

So, I am very impressed so far, realizing of course that this is a small sample size. I need to try shooting some hogs in different places from different angles to see if the pattern of performance holds up. I specifically need a solid entry on a humerus or shoulder joint to see how an immediate impact on heavy bone influences the bullet.

The first two videos listed right now (#50 and #49) are the Partition 100s videos. The videos themselves won't work because they are age-protected and you have to go to YouTube anyway to verify age (yaddy yaddy yaddy). There should be more to come.

https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCnqJoGl...33hGPI312w

[sundowner]

Thanks for the Info and videos .

[BluntForceTrauma]

Great info as always. Thanks!

[EastTNHunter]

The Dude and I watched them before you posted them here, great videos. I’m glad to see their performance in your testing, as I have been using them in the Howa mini and only two deer have Ben shot with it so far. Impressive results on those, though, with good expansion and full pass-throughs.

[CJW]

DNS,
Interesting post.

Thanks, Chuck

[tdbru]

DNS,
great analysis as always. Well done. Looks like 100gr. Nosler Partition and the 6.5 Grendel work very well together. Good to know. I've always had great terminal performance with Nosler Partitions on deer/elk so this result is not too surprising.

How is their accuracy out of your rifle? With a tuned handload I can usually get 1MOA on a NP. sometimes better.

Perhaps the 100gr. NP is a 6.5 Grendel do it all bullet in terms of hunting? if there is such a thing.

again, well done.
-tdbru

[Double Naught Spy]

tdbru, I did not shoot them for accuracy beyond verifying zero. When I did the chrono testing they were within 2 MOA, but I wasn't shooting for groups. Later after testing the Lapua Scenar, I verified zero and and shots on each side of the target dot (2 shots fired was it) and the distance was 1.25", but I tend to waggle a bit on the bench with heartbeat and figured the difference was all me. The elevation was good and both shots hit within 2/3 of an inch of my aim point, so I figured I was GTG.

As for being a do it all bullet, what is missing is having the bullet deposit all its energy in the animal. All these bullets have punched through as far as I can tell. Otherwise, they seem really useful. Me? I don't care if the bullet 'dumps all its energy' in the animal or not if it kills it otherwise.

[JASmith]

tdbru, I did not shoot them for accuracy beyond verifying zero. When I did the chrono testing they were within 2 MOA, but I wasn't shooting for groups. Later after testing the Lapua Scenar, I verified zero and and shots on each side of the target dot (2 shots fired was it) and the distance was 1.25", but I tend to waggle a bit on the bench with heartbeat and figured the difference was all me. The elevation was good and both shots hit within 2/3 of an inch of my aim point, so I figured I was GTG.

As for being a do it all bullet, what is missing is having the bullet deposit all its energy in the animal. All these bullets have punched through as far as I can tell. Otherwise, they seem really useful. Me? I don't care if the bullet 'dumps all its energy' in the animal or not if it kills it otherwise.

+1 — energy is not nearly as important as wound channel.

[41bear]

Previously, I posted the results of testing some Partition 125 gr. bullets on hogs with a pretty good sample size. While those bullets did perform fairly well, I didn't think they were achieving their full potential at Grendel Velocities.
https://www.65grendel.com/forum/showthre...tition+100

Enter the Partition 100s. I have now killed, recovered, and necropsied 5 hogs killed with these bullets (fairly small sample so far, I know). HOLY COW what a difference velocity (MV 2790 fps) seems to be making. The bullets are entering, expanding rapidly often with a very impressive permanent wound cavity after open that continues on for 2-4" and then tapers to a reasonable finger sized wound cavity (when I can find it). It is like somebody went in with a melon baller and removed a golf ball or raquet ball volume of flesh (neck shots)/ Hitting bone after opening seems to be no problem in terms of penetration. I have not hit any heavy bone at entry, before the bullet would expanded, to know how that would affect anything, however.

I have yet to recover a bullet or even a fragment thereof. Previously with the 125s, I got some partial recovered primarily thanks to using a metal detector. All these seem to exit in totality, or any pieces left behind are just too small to detect. With all the bone, including heavy bone hit, I would have thought there would be pieces left behind. Nope, none so far. On the last hog, I could not find an exit and I could not find the bullet or fragments visually or with the metal detector.

So, I am very impressed so far, realizing of course that this is a small sample size. I need to try shooting some hogs in different places from different angles to see if the pattern of performance holds up. I specifically need a solid entry on a humerus or shoulder joint to see how an immediate impact on heavy bone influences the bullet.

The first two videos listed right now (#50 and #49) are the Partition 100s videos. The videos themselves won't work because they are age-protected and you have to go to YouTube anyway to verify age (yaddy yaddy yaddy). There should be more to come.

https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCnqJoGl...33hGPI312w

Thanks for all you do. FYI I just got a box of Underwood Ammo, 65 Grendel, with the 110 gr. LeHigh bullet loaded to, they say, 2800 fps. In the remarks section a guy with a Sanders 18" upper said he got 2800 out of his rig with 1/2 inch groups. Going along with your 100 gr. Part. these folks seem to be getting the max from our little giant killer.

[Harpoon1]

+1 — energy is not nearly as important as wound channel.

+1

And 2 holes are always better than 1!

[Double Naught Spy]

+1

And 2 holes are always better than 1!

Well, and see that is where it gets interesting. Everybody has a different idea of what the ideal performance. Some people believe 2 holes are better than 1. Some people believe it is best that 100% of the bullet be captured in the animal. Other folks want a bullet that isn't as detrimental to the meat. I have probably heard it all from viewers who have informed me why the bullet I am using (whatever it is that I am testing) is wrong or inferior, often with the inclusion of what I am doing wrong as a hunter, and what bullets I should be using to make me a better human being.

[603 Country]

Mostly, I hunt coyotes with a 223 AR, and use 40 gr Nosler BTs. They don’t often exit, but will put a coyote down immediately. All the energy is in the coyote. That said, the last coyote I eliminated was hit with the Grendel and a 123 gr SST, and he dropped straight down. The last one I hit and lost was with a 65 gr Sierra GK. Went down, then got up. A bad shot I guess.

With coyotes, I’d just as soon have the bullet stay in the coyote. As for deer and hogs, two holes bleed better than one, if trailing is necessary.

[tdbru]

DNS,
I can see your predicament with regards to everyone having an opinion on bullet performance when you post. For your purposes, as long as the hogs die when the bullet hits them, it's a success. You are simply removing a pest, albeit a bit bigger than what most folks consider a pest, like a gopher or something.

Nonetheless I do appreciate all the time you take on these necropsies to present bullet performance from the various bullets you have tried. Very educational. Thank you once again.
-tdbru

[Double Naught Spy]

DNS,
I can see your predicament with regards to everyone having an opinion on bullet performance when you post. For your purposes, as long as the hogs die when the bullet hits them, it's a success. You are simply removing a pest, albeit a bit bigger than what most folks consider a pest, like a gopher or something.

Nonetheless I do appreciate all the time you take on these necropsies to present bullet performance from the various bullets you have tried. Very educational. Thank you once again.
-tdbru

Thanks and you are welcome!

Yeah, lots of bullets can do the job, but it seems to come down to a matter about how you want it done or think it should be done. It is sort of like we all enjoy eating steak, back when we could afford it, but we all like it done a bit differently, from how well it is cooked and what is used for seasoning. Nobody is wrong, just different.

[Serenitynow]

Interesting thread. And it got me thinking.
I'm new to Grendel, and the AR15 platform in general.

I have been reading on here for a while, but not posting much.

I've been gathering supplies for handloading and even bought some Hornady Black 123g V-Max rounds just to put something downrange until I can start handloading.

In all the threads about bullet performance I've read, it seems the biggest variables to performance are bullet design/ velocity / barrel length and range of target. Is this fairly accurate ?

I have a 12.5" Faxon Gunner barrel with an adjustable gas block. I'm trying to find good loads for up to ..say.. 300-400 yards.

In general, do lighter, faster bullets ( less than 110g ) perform better than heavier bullets ( 110-130g ) at this range with the velocities I'm capable of reaching with my 12.5" barrel.

Thanks to everyone here for sharing your info about this subject. There is definitely a lot to try to sort through.

[myrifle]

Well, and see that is where it gets interesting. Everybody has a different idea of what the ideal performance. Some people believe 2 holes are better than 1. Some people believe it is best that 100% of the bullet be captured in the animal. Other folks want a bullet that isn't as detrimental to the meat. I have probably heard it all from viewers who have informed me why the bullet I am using (whatever it is that I am testing) is wrong or inferior, often with the inclusion of what I am doing wrong as a hunter, and what bullets I should be using to make me a better human being.

And then there is us weirdos who want a bullet that can smash through heavy leg/shoulder bone and still penetrate too no less then cns/heart depth of the body cavity. And after that we dont care if it stops or keeps going and exits.

I'm one of those weirdos. I want a bullet that can smash heavy bone and hold together enough to take out the heart or cns and whatever it does after that is nothing I worrie about.

As you know breaking down the animal's mechanics and or cns leads too fast death and short tracks.