Nosler Hunting Bullets (2024)

Nosler is a family owned business located in Bend, Oregon,USA. Designed by John Nosler and introduced in 1948, the dual-core Nosler Partition wasthe first of the modern American premium bullets. John had experienced bulletfailure during a moose hunt and resolved to do better. The first Partition bulletwas the result, designed to positively prevent jacket/core separation. Johnmachined his prototype bullet jackets from blanks of gilding metal on a lathe,essentially drilling out both ends and inserting the front and back lead cores.

The original Nosler Partition spawned the premium bullet business in the U.S. NoslerPartition, AccuBond and Ballistic Tip bullets are truly premium bullets. Unlikemany competing "premium" bullets that are created by inserting a leadcore in a "cup and draw" formed gilding metal jacket, just like aconventional soft point bullet, Nosler bullet jackets start as copper alloyslugs that are formed by impact extrusion. This allows precise control ofjacket dimensions and, in the case of the Partition bullet, the use of twocores separated by a bulkhead (partition). Precision impact extrusion is a moreexpensive way to manufacture bullets, but Nosler feels that the benefits areworth the extra effort and cost. Nosler bullets are widely available in premiumfactory loads from Winchester, Federal, Weatherby, Norma and others, and ascomponents for reloaders.

Winchester has gone so far as to partner with Nosler,creating the Combined Technology (CT) bullets offered in Winchester Supremefactory loads. These include the Ballistic Silvertip, essentially a BallisticTip with a silver colored plastic tip and Lubalox (black oxide) exterior coatingand the AccuBond CT, which is similar to the Nosler AccuBond with a Lubaloxexterior coating. Nosler offers the CT bullets as components to reloaders.Comments about the standard Nosler versions of these bullets also apply tothe CT versions.

Nosler's famous Partition bullet remains the flagship of theNosler line. It might be the best all-around hunting bullet ever made. Partitions are built with dual cores inserted into an"H" form jacket, thus the Partition name. They have an exposed lead tip like asoft point bullet and an exposed lead base like a "hard ball" bullet, which from the internal partition aft they pretty much are.Even if a Partition bullet were to lose its entire front portion, the shank behind the partition will continue to penetrate like a FMJ bullet. Jacket thickness, taper, core hardness and the location of the internalpartition vary, depending on bullet weight, caliber and intended use.

In my experience, Partitions are not usually as accurate as Ballistic Tip and AccuBond bullets. My .257 Weatherby Mark V, for example, will shoot into about 1 MOA at 100 yards from a bench rest using Weatherby factory loads with Ballistic Tip bullets and about 1.5 MOA with Weatherby factory loads using Partitions. I attribute this difference primarily to the exposed lead at the base of the Partition bullet (which I figure has to be deformed by the heat and pressure of firing) and secondarily to their internal complexity. Simple bullets are usually more accurate. However, Partitions are sufficiently accurate for big game hunting purposes and their terminal performance is absolutely deadly. If you want a target bullet, Nosler makes them; if you want the best bullet for your next elk hunt, get a Partition.

Unlike some controlled expansion premium bullets thatemphasize excessive weight retention and deep penetration over expansion, thePartition expands readily and kills light framed animals quickly, yet still offerssufficient penetration to reach the vitals of large animals. John Nosler couldhave made the Partition "harder," but found that about 65% weightretention maximized killing power in .270-.30 caliber bullets and producedoptimum results. Of course, as with other Nosler bullets, the smaller caliber,lighter weight Partitions are designed to expand more readily than largecaliber, heavy Partitions. I have read that the medium and big bore Partitions(those from .338 caliber and up) typically retain over 85% of their original weight.

Partitions are offered in a wide range of calibers andbullet weights, ranging from .224/60 grain to .458/500 grain. They are Nosler'smost expensive bullets; the 2012 MSRP for a 50 count box of .308/180 grainPartition spitzers is $44.

The Partition established Nosler's reputation, but it was anexpensive hunting bullet. Seeking a lower cost, extremely accurate alternativethat might compete with the soft point and match bullets marketed by otherbullet makers, John Nosler created the Solid Base bullet.

The Solid Base was asoft point, boat-tail bullet that featured a tapered gilding metaljacket with a solid base that, internally, extended above the boat-tail. The solid baseresisted heat and pressure deformation when fired and countered the typical boat-tail bullet'spropensity to slip its core after impact.The Solid Base jacket was producedfrom a solid gilding metal slug by impact extrusion, a method that had neverbefore been applied to bullet making. Impact extrusion was so successful thatit was later applied to forming Partition bullet jackets and today all Noslerbullet jackets are impact extruded.

By the 1970's, the Solid Base was an established andsuccessful hunting bullet available in calibers from .22 to .308, but more wasto come. Remington had introduced the first American tipped bullet in the1930's, the Bronze Point. (Bronze Point bullets are still offered in Remington.270 and .30-06 factory loads.) The idea was to replace the soft, easilydamaged, pointed lead tip of a soft point spitzer bullet with a hard tip thatserved as a wedge to initiate bullet expansion. The ballistic coefficient ofthe bullet was improved and tip damage was eliminated. I believe it was duringthe 1950's when the Canadian ammunition manufacturer CIL took the RemingtonBronze Point concept a step farther by introducing a bullet with a plastic tip that,if memory serves, they called "Saber Tip."

At some point, someone at Nosler had an epiphany andcombined a polycarbonate tip with the Solid Base bullet and the Ballistic Tipbullet was born. Since the plastic tip can be any color, Nosler assigneddifferent color tips to different calibers. The Ballistic Tip is very accurate,has a high BC and expands rapidly, maximizing the shock to the animal's system.Early examples perhaps expanded too violently, killing light framed animalsvery quickly with heart/lung shots, but penetration on larger game wassometimes found lacking. Nosler increased the jacket thickness and refined thebullet's performance, increasing penetration. Today, the Ballistic Tip is oneof the most versatile and popular premium bullets on the market and it hassparked a "tipped bullet" revolution. Practically every major bulletand ammunition manufacturer has introduced a tipped bullet to compete with the Ballistic Tip.

Like all Nosler bullets, Ballistic Tip bullets areinternally designed for the game on which they are likely to be used. From the.308/180 grain bullet on up, Ballistic Tips feature heavy jackets and areprimarily intended for use on large animals. The lighter, smaller caliberBallistic Tips are optimized primarily for use on CXP2 size animals. Typical weightretention is 50-60%. Ballistic Tip hunting bullets are available in diametersranging from .243" to .323" (8mm). The similar CT Ballistic Silvertipbullets are available from .243-.338" and include a 300 grain .45-70 RN bullet. Although substantially less expensive than Partition bullets, the sophisticated Ballistic Tip remains a premium bullet, costing about twice the price of an economy soft point bullet. The 2012 MSRP is $25 for a box of 50 .308/180 grain Ballistic Tips.

Introduced in 2001, the Nosler AccuBond is basically a Ballistic Tip with a bonded lead alloy core. It retains the Ballistic Tip'sform, high BC and excellent accuracy. All AccuBonds have white polycarbonate tips. The bonding of core to jacket positively prevents core/jacketseparation after impact, increasing weight retention and penetration compared to a Ballistic Tip.Using the expansion and penetration characteristics of the Partition bullet astheir design goal, Nosler technicians refined the performance of the AccuBondto match. Weight retention is typically 60-70%. Nosler claims a minimum impactvelocity of 1800 fps.

Like all Nosler bullets, the internal design of eachAccuBond bullet is tuned to its anticipated use. Jacket thickness varies dependingon caliber and bullet weight. The AccuBond is a very refined bullet that cantrace its origins back to the Solid Base. Like the Partition whose performanceit emulates, the AccuBond is a very versatile bullet, ideal for mixed bagCXP2/CXP3 hunts. Due to its high BC, it is especially well suited for highvelocity, long range calibers. AccuBonds are available in diameters from.243-.375". More expensive than the Ballistic Tip, the 2012 MSRP for a box of 50 AccuBond .308/180 grain bullets is $35.

Nosler freely admits that the E-Tip lead free bullet"was designed and developed out of necessity, as more and more stateagencies and local ranges imposed 'no-lead' restrictions on hunters andshooters." Introduced in 2008, this is a monolithic, gilding metal,boat-tail bullet with a nose cavity plugged by an OD green polymer tip to raiseits BC and initiate expansion. The E-Tip makes the best of a nanny stateimposed bad situation.

Its terminal performance is rather like a Barnes X-bullet, but the E-Tip issleeker and easier to load due to its boat-tail base. Because it is made ofgilding metal, not pure copper, it has less propensity to "copper foul"bores and grooves are not required in the bullet's shank. Minimum impact velocity is setat 1800 fps and nearly full expansion occurs above 2500 fps. Like othermonolithic copper and copper alloy bullets, the E-Tip performs best at highimpact velocities. Weight retention is typically about 95% and, unlike purecopper bullets, the E-Tip's expanded petals are unlikely to break-off. Penetration is extreme. As I write these words, the E-Tip isperhaps the most advanced monolithic bullet on the market. Comparing .308/180grain bullets, E-Tip's retail price is about 25% higher than AccuBond and 50%more than Ballistic Tip. The 2012 MSRP for a 50 count box of .308/180 grain E-Tips is $41.

Summary and Usage

Not counting the CT bullets, Nosler offers four lines of premiumbig game hunting bullets: Ballistic Tip, AccuBond, E-Tip and Partition. Withinthose four lines there are suitable Nosler hunting bullets for practically allcartridges and calibers from .22 centerfire to .458 Magnum. Nosler bullets arehighly regarded around the world and especially in Africa and North America,where the majority of big game animals are killed.

Like the other major bullet manufacturers in the U.S., where deer hunting rules, most Nosler hunting bullets are designed with deer hunting in mind, or at least as a consideration. There are exceptions, of course, such as the bullets designed specifically for heavy and dangerous game.

Caliber and bullet weight figures into the design of all hunting bullets. A 90 grain .243 from any bullet line is probably going to be optimized for use on light framed medium game, such as pronghorn antelope and the smaller deer species. A 225 grain .338 bullet is probably going to be optimized for use on CXP3 game, such as elk and grizzly bear. This is simply common sense.

However, bullet makers produce different bullet lines and there must be a reason for this. A good part of the reason is marketing. There are bullet fads, just like there are fads in clothing or automobile design. One that Nosler started is the fad for tipped bullets. Bonded core bullets are "in" as I write these words. Manufacturers feel compelled to offer the latest bullet styles to their customers.

If you are using a Nosler Ballistic Tip in a caliber and weight suitable for the game you are hunting, you probably don't need an AccuBond or Partition. For example, the 130 grain Ballistic Tip is a good choice for deer hunting with a .270 Winchester rifle and it is hard to see how the same caliber and weight bullet from the Partition line would make any difference in killing power.

Where an AccuBond or Partition might make a difference would be if you are using a caliber and bullet weight that is marginal for the game being hunted. For example, If I were shooting a 150 grain bullet in my .308 Winchester rifle, I'd rather shoot an elk with a Partition than a Ballistic Tip. The Partition's greater weight retention should deliver deeper penetration and at least partially compensate for the bullet's lack of sectional density.

Comparing AccuBond to Partition, their terminal performance is designed to be similar. The AccuBond's advantage would be at very long range, because of its higher BC. I especially like tipped bullets for high velocity or magnum rifle cartridges, such as the .243 Winchester and .300 Wby. Magnum, as I figure these calibers are more likely to be used at long range. For standard velocity rifles, I'd stick with the Partition.

If you live in a state where lead core hunting bullets are prohibited, you will have to use E-Tip bullets. Frankly, I think that monolithic copper or gilding metal bullets generally do not kill CXP2 game as quickly or efficiently, in most situations, as an appropriate lead core bullet. I would call them a special purpose bullet and avoid them, except when hunting very large animals where extreme penetration might be required.