Nosler Partitions vs. Swift A-frames

Lately the A-frames have been getting a lot of good recommendations here on this site.

Do any here have experience comparing the Nosler Partitions in same caliber and same or similar weight to the A-frames on hunting/game killing performance?

Just curious, since both bullets have very similar construction.

ANYONE OUT THERE EVER KILLED ANYTHING WITH A NOSLER PARTITION REVOLVER BULLET, IN A REVOLVER?

GREGG: I DO NOT KNOW IF THE PARTITION REVOLVER BULLET's NOSE IS BONDED LIKE A SWIFT AFRAME, IF NOT THAT MAY BE A SIGNIFICANT DESIGN AND PERFORMANCE DIFFERENCE IN THE BULLETS.

Rey, I have only had experience with Partitions in my .30-06 JDJ Encore (165 & 180 Partitions on several deer and elk) but no Partitions in revolvers.

Good point on the nose being bonded question...

That's the only difference between the two bullets...the Partition loses its nose, the a frame doesn't...a lot of guys have used the Partitions, they're just not responding. I used the 260 gr Partitions in my 454 with great success

I have used the 250 grain Partition in 44 Mag to take numerous animals from my Super Blackhawk. I used the Winchester factory load at 1365 fps. That load is the most accurate load I have found for my revolver.

I always had good, even great performance from the Partition on deer, bear, and hogs. I recovered several from game, or from the dirt behind an animal. A couple of instances of poor penetration on deer however, has me searching for a suitable replacement.

I have not used an A-frame, so I can't compare them directly. It is not unusual for the small button of lead in the nose to be lost,so they differ in that regard.

The deer in this photo stopped a Partition short, with penetration only halfway through the chest. The entrance is visible, low in the shoulder.


This deer stopped a Partition on a quarting to neck shot. The bullet is visible under the hide high on the shoulder.

Some recovered examples...

l had 3 boxes of the 250gr HG Partition 44s..Truly beautiful...

Too pretty to shoot.. l think l passed them on to 'kral' awhile back

Nosler Partitions are almost as good as an A-frame.. To quote Ross Seyfried article "A Quantum Leap in Performance" (G&A 3/98) where he test`s both bullets: "The two brands of jacketed handgun bullets achieve almost identical results, but go about it in different ways. The Nosler uses a fan-blade approach (expanded), while the Swift has a classic, but smaller diameter mushroom". These words are under a photo of two expanded bullets.... The other difference was that the Nosler`s were slightly less in cost.. Both are partitioned handgun bullets with the Swift being bonded for better weight retention.. I have a supply of Nosler`s in 44 and 45 caliber that should last until I give it up and then some but that is not to say I will never use Swift. Perfect example is the last mule deer I took with a 210gr A-frame in my 41 or the large boar taken on Reeders HHC with a 50 caliber Swift....
The bottom two photos show a recovered Nosler with its "fan-blade" expansion that Seyfried mentions while the two Swift show the classic bonded mushroom... It really does not matter because the Nosler`s have sadly been discontinued......

300 gr Partition out of 454 Cassull

The petals on that bullet appear to be twisted. Perhaps the high velocity of the .454 produced enough rotation to twist them on impact?

There`s the "fan-blade" expansion that Seyfried mention`s... However, not being bonded like the Swift they almost always lose the front lead. Still an impressive partition-type handgun bullet.

WHY DID NOSLER QUIT MAKING THE REVOLVER PARTITIONS?

Ive used the partitions but not on anything big myself but i have seen it used on bears and lions. The fan blade petals dont stand up to really heavy bome as well as the swifts design. On small to medium sized game they both work really well and all the animals ibe seen shot with a partition died quickly and in the case of the lion it was a good thing! The front lead is lost and i switched to the swifts for the big stuff after seeing the rear lead behind the partition get loast as well as the front. Its not nearly as indestructible as the swift and the way the swift jacket for the nose area tapers is why i think it expands at a lower velocity and quicker to its maximal diameter. The swift penetrates better, both do alot of damage. The nosler was a true bargain and a pity it was ever discontinued. I wouldnt hesitate to use either but for anything huge or going thru bone on bigguns i would take the swift

The Winchester Supreme 260 grain partition in 454 is my all time favorite deer handgun round. It dumps energy quickly and has always passed through leaving an exit wound that looks like it measured in inches. Most deer have been anchored in the spot.

However, it probably wouldn't have been my first choice for something thicker and heavier as I think that quick energy dump may not promote the penetration on something thicker. I think the heavier A-Frames would be more reliable as evident by many on these boards.

I've had good luck with the 300gr Hornady XTP Mag in my 454. Just my 2 cents.

Back in the days of the YO Ranch Handgun hunt, I was fortunate to kill a number of Management Sika Deer with the Winchester/Nosler combined technology ammo in both .454 Casull and .44 Magnum. I personally thought the 454 Casull with the Nosler Partition was a bit much for deer hunting. I had a number of pass throughs on Sika Deer which are a pretty tough little animal. The 44 Magnum load was a better match for deer, but still has a pretty tough bullet. I was hunting with a gun maker one afternoon when he shot a pretty decent Watusu with a too light (my opinion) cartridge from his Encore. He then spotted a larger Watusu, and shot that one too (with my borrowed Casull). The first bull was down but not out, and he and the guide were going after the second animal. Leaving me with the expiring first Watusi and my Super Blackhawk stoked with the aforementioned Noslers. After they left, things got quiet, until the first Watusi made a miraculous recovery and got to his feet. He was not in the best of health. Even less so, after I applied a full cylinder of the Noslers to his chest. Not my first choice of armament in that situation, but the 44 Noslers finished the job. When the guide got back he asked who was shooting the full auto. I guess I was more nervous that I realized.

Marv, Though not exactly medium game this bison is still respectable in size and was taken with a 300gr PP Nosler from my 454 with a case full of 110. It also worked punching through some thick skull bone.. For me, the Nosler`s were the "XTP" of the available partition bullets of the time. You had them in three of the most used calibers at a lower price with the back up partition.

Nice Buff. Did you get the meat?

Marv, More meat then I ever thought possible...

Just personal opinion, l think it was the economic times of

2008-09. Partition HG boolits and ammo are listed in my 2009

MidWayUSA catalog.. l don't see any after 2009.. l have found

boolits/ammo listed on net auction sites like GB or AA while

persueing my addiction to 'OLD' Super Vel ammo and components

Just personal opinion, l think it was the economic times of

2008-09. Partition HG boolits and ammo are listed in my 2009

MidWayUSA catalog.. l don't see any after 2009.. l have found

boolits/ammo listed on net auction sites like GB or AA while

persueing my addiction to 'OLD' Super Vel ammo and components

I can never remember the correct weight of the biggest pig I`ve taken with David (Franchise) back in the day. Nosler 300gr PP over some H-110 put an end to this large animal. One shot no less.... Photo of recovered bullet that looks pretty good. This was the first hunt I did with David in North Carolina and had a great time with a real "good ole boy". It turned into a "north vs south" kinda relation.

SW282, Have you tried any of the new Super Vel ammunition?

Consistency counts, and consistency is the hallmark of the Nosler Partition handgun bullet. The only variable in the .44 bullets I have recovered is whether or not the button of nose lead is in or out.

This is the latest Partition I have collected. It came from the offside of a 161 lb boar after breaking both shoulders and dropping him.
The Partitions have proven themselves once again.

Perfect performance from a non-bonded partition... No wonder we liked those Nosler`s.. low price, good accuracy and a partition to make your day...

How does the new Super Vel compare to the old product.

Sawfish... l haven't tried any of the new Super Vel.. l doubt

l will since virtually all my shooting is 41 or 44 Magnum.

l don't see either caliber listed on their website

I really wish Nosler made some in 45 caliber above 270ish grains that could withstand 460 velocities.

Why, when we have A-frames available? Just curious.

I'm always looking for better accuracy. Always. Not saying they automatically would be, but without them being available...I'll never know.

Nosler a few years back, was offering them as a special order in .45 cal. Call them!