Bolt action Nosler 125 Partition load

[BjornF16]

Working on a 125 Partition recipe for my Savage Grendel.

So far, have loaded a couple of dummy rounds with Hornady once fired brass after resizing using a Redding 6mm PPC Type S neck sizing die (.287 bushing). Bumped shoulder back approx .001-.002". COAL ends up at 2.303" with a .010" jump. Cycles just fine in the Savage with room to spare for the magazine.

Looking at using 8208 XBR for its' temperature stability. Developing load in Texas but plan on hunting in Colorado mountains.

Planning on the following loads for ladder testing:

27.4
27.8
28.2
28.5
28.7

Any suggestions appreciated.

[bwaites]

Working on a 125 Partition recipe for my Savage Grendel.

So far, have loaded a couple of dummy rounds with Hornady once fired brass after resizing using a Redding 6mm PPC Type S neck sizing die (.287 bushing). Bumped shoulder back approx .001-.002". COAL ends up at 2.303" with a .010" jump. Cycles just fine in the Savage with room to spare for the magazine.

Looking at using 8208 XBR for its' temperature stability. Developing load in Texas but plan on hunting in Colorado mountains.

Planning on the following loads for ladder testing:

27.4
27.8
28.2
28.5
28.7

Any suggestions appreciated.

Why? Why not just use the SST?

I used to run the Partitions over 30 grains a BLC2 with good results, but with the SST and its much higher BC, I can't figure out a reason to use the the Partitions anymore.

[BjornF16]

Elk…I figured the Partition would hold up better.

I saw the thread on 123 SST and caribou, but figured they still aren't as tough as elk.

[bwaites]

Elk…I figured the Partition would hold up better.

I saw the thread on 123 SST and caribou, but figured they still aren't as tough as elk.

Mark Larue dropped an elk at 400 yards with a 100 grain TTX, I'm betting either would do the job just fine. The Partitions are a bit tougher to get to shoot well and they have a CRAPPY BC, but they are tough!

[BjornF16]

LaRue used AA factory 120 TSX.

Looking at the "Ideal Bullet weight" article at Shooters Notes, for a 770 lb elk the minimum recommended bonded bullet weight is 144 grains; for partition bullet, it is 129 grains; for solid it is 112 grains. I've got a cow elk tag, so expecting 500 lbs.

SST being advertised as an "interlock" bullet, it isn't quite as tough as the bonded bullets.

The 125 Partition has an advertised .449 B.C. compared to the 123 SST .510 B.C.. The 120 TSX has a B.C. of .381

If I can't get the Partition to shoot well, I'll flex to 120 TTSX (.412 B.C.)

[LRRPF52]

I think 8208 is a bit fast of a powder for the 125gr, especially since there is more resistance to start pressure with that bullet. You will probably hit pressure before you see the speeds you're looking for.

I think CFE or LeveRevolution are worth trying out. Temp won't be a problem in Elk season anyway. You can also look at the 130gr Nosler Accubond with a .488 BC, or the 129gr Hornady Interbond with a .485 BC:

http://www.midwayusa.com/product/510127/...box-of-100

[mongoosesnipe]

Mark Larue dropped an elk at 400 yards with a 100 grain TTX, I'm betting either would do the job just fine. The Partitions are a bit tougher to get to shoot well and they have a CRAPPY BC, but they are tough!

I wouldn't go so far as to call the .449 of the 125 partition a crappy bc the 123 sst is .510 inside of 300 yards it won't make much difference for drop or windage I have run the balistic tables before

That said partitions can be a little tricky the solid copper section inbetween the cores resists deformation in the rifling which leads to more fouling than cup and core bullets and the resistance to deformation in the rifling can also affect accuracy even though the partition is the standard by which hunting bullets are judged there has been a lot of advancement in the 50+ years the partition has been around even nosler agrees hence the rest of their bullet line

That said partitions are the standard by which others are judged and the work great for low volume shooting such as hunting as far as the 120 barnes the tipped model is a little long for ar mag length but should be fine for you in the ar I would go with either the 120 non tipped or the 100 grain tipped, the 123 sst will work fine as will the 120 balistic tip, it won't be out in time but I am looking forward to the 6.5 129 accubond LR its low velocity expansion should be ideal for the Grendel

The Grendel won't give a shock kill like a 7mm mag will no matter what bullet you send out of it, you will need to kill it the old fashion way by sending a bullet through something important, it's more about penitration than shock, lungs are a nice big target that are not protected by heavy bone, you usually have to go through the shoulder to get to the heart

They have been killing a lot of moose in Scandinavia with the 6.5x55mm for a long time... Apearently no one has ever told them the need more gun and the moose don't know the difference either, the high sectional density of most 6.5 bullets lends to great penitration charactoristics which is more important than shock got big game hunting

[mongoosesnipe]

Working on a 125 Partition recipe for my Savage Grendel.

So far, have loaded a couple of dummy rounds with Hornady once fired brass after resizing using a Redding 6mm PPC Type S neck sizing die (.287 bushing). Bumped shoulder back approx .001-.002". COAL ends up at 2.303" with a .010" jump. Cycles just fine in the Savage with room to spare for the magazine.

Looking at using 8208 XBR for its' temperature stability. Developing load in Texas but plan on hunting in Colorado mountains.

Planning on the following loads for ladder testing:

27.4
27.8
28.2
28.5
28.7

Any suggestions appreciated.

What is your barrel length you won't be limited as much as with an ar but if you also have an ar and you plan load hot you should mark them special so as to not send them through the ar

[bwaites]

I've always been highly suspicious of that BC, but all that aside, the Partition has a long bearing surface. Trying to push it hard and get decent velocity is going to be an issue regardless. The bolt gun will obviously be somewhat more forgiving, though.

I do think you'll be better off with the CFE than 8208. If you limit it to 2400-2500 FPS, I don't think you'll have issues with 8208, though.

Good luck on the hunt! Pictures will be required!! Regardless if you get anything or not!

You do know what Coloradans say about Texan hunters though, right?

[Whelenon]

I tried 8208 and the 125 Part. with 26.8g-28g started to see primers flatten at 28g. Careful. At 100yds, accuracy wasn't spectacular, 2-3moa. For hunting this year I settled on the 129SST because of very good accuracy and terminal performance.

That said, I would've preferred the Partition. I don't think you can argue, the Partition is a tougher bullet and will hold together better than the SST but it's not as accurate, in my limited experience.

[BjornF16]

You do know what Coloradans say about Texan hunters though, right?

LOL...I'm afraid to ask.

I think 8208 is a bit fast of a powder for the 125gr, especially since there is more resistance to start pressure with that bullet. You will probably hit pressure before you see the speeds you're looking for.

I think CFE or LeveRevolution are worth trying out. Temp won't be a problem in Elk season anyway. You can also look at the 130gr Nosler Accubond with a .488 BC, or the 129gr Hornady Interbond with a .485 BC

Load development in Texas at 80-90F; hunting in CO at 10-30F...not a temperature problem with CFE or 2520?

[LRRPF52]

Good point. I didn't know you still had those temps down there.

[BjornF16]

Good point. I didn't know you still had those temps down there.

Ok...cool front coming in. Temps should be between 45-60F this weekend. I've ordered some 129 Interbonds as well (I'm still waiting for the 129 LR's to come in, those would be my "go to" for the bolt if they shoot well).

I'll try the CFE first. I didn't realize that the Partition needed a slower powder...

Will 30-40F make much difference with CFE?

[LRRPF52]

Ok...cool front coming in. Temps should be between 45-60F this weekend. I've ordered some 129 Interbonds as well (I'm still waiting for the 129 LR's to come in, those would be my "go to" for the bolt if they shoot well).

I'll try the CFE first. I didn't realize that the Partition needed a slower powder...

Will 30-40F make much difference with CFE?

I'll defer to the wisdom of others here, but a temp drop should only reduce your velocity, which also might pull out of an accuracy node.

[mongoosesnipe]

That said, I would've preferred the Partition. I don't think you can argue, the Partition is a tougher bullet and will hold together better than the SST but it not as accurate, in my limited experience.

The partition is more like two bullets as opposed to one tough bullet the partition is basically a non bundled cup and core bullet sitting on top of a fmj bullet so the tip expands and the base continues to penetrate like a fmj which was a fantastic design evolution when it came out there it was the first bullet to control expansion so to say but newer designs with tapered jacket thickness and bonded cores can be fantastically tough with in limitations, the Grendel does not exceeded the recommended velocity for any hunting bullet that I am aware of in fact it is on the slow side for many of the bullets the 123 sst was designed specifically for Grendel velocities and the new 129 accubond lr seems like an ideal fit velocity wise for the Grendel

[cory]

FWIW Per an Email from Hornady Technical Assistance their SSTs are designed to reliably expand at velocities as low as 1700 fps. The official response was there is no difference in minimum velocities in their SST lin. However, knowing Hornady designed the 123gr SST for "Grendel Velocities" I think it's safe to assume the 123gr SST is gtg at 1600 fps.

I got this information last week. I've been meaning to post it, just keep slipping my mind.

[hm2 clark]

I believe that cold air is thin and dry, hot air more humid and heavy. It works that way under a wing anyway; so I believe thin dry air should cause less friction and allow for marginly faster bullets...