Old Nosler Bullets...

B

BumbleBug

New member
Everyone knows the story of John Nosler & the failed bullet that caused him to invent the famous partition bullet. I was at a gun show this weekend & a guy had a case (about 50 boxes, mostly 6mm & a few .308) of old Nosler partitions. His claim was that these were NOS made when they still turned them on a lathe(?). He wanted $15 a box. Just out of curiosity, I bought a box having never shot any partitions (old or new), even just to keep as a curio. When I opened the box, any exposed lead on the base & nose had a light, white corrosion. Here are my questions:

1) Did Nosler really lathe turn bullets at one time?
2) Are the older partitions stronger/stiffer than the modern version?
3) Are they safe to shoot out of my .243?
4) How is it best to clean-off the powdery white corrosion?

TIA for your comments & responses.

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The light, white corrosion is just lead oxide. Nothing to worry about. Toothbrush, if you really want it gone.
.243" is 6mm. Mathematically, it's actually .246". They'll work just fine in your .243.
No$ler does claim John Nosler did produce stuff on a lathe for a few years. Most likely a screw machine vs singly. Don't think that box is terribly old either. No$ler's been in Bend, Oregon since just 1982.
Lotta marketing BS on their site. They claim to have invented the Ballistic Tip in 1984. CIL made Sabre Tips, exactly the same thing with a nylon tip, long before then. Ditto for Remington's Bronze Point.
 
In another thread the other day the question was raised about Partitions with a cannelure. Yours show what I though I remembered. At one time most if not all of them had a wide one. Supposedly the earlier ones were not as accurate as today's. The ones I used back in the seventies were plenty accurate for their intended purpose.
 
The jackets were indeed lathe turned. The broad reduced band is a relief groove over the partition so you are not driving full diameter solid gilding metal down the barrel. Nobody seems to worry about that any more.
 
I've used them in 6.5, 308 and an old codger my dad knew swore by them for 7 m/m, maybe Sharpe & Hart, or just early Rem Mag. In my experience they may not be quite as accurate as another premium bullet, but depending on the type of hunting you do, should be just fine. And you got a good deal on them.
 
I have been loading since about 78 and I don't recall ever purchasing Noslers of that style. Although I have seen that type of bullet design. I will assume it was some thing I pulled from a case or that I seen at a gun show. I believe it would be pre 1978.
 
Those bullets were made after 1958 as Nolser moved from Ashland to Bend and they changed name from Nosler Partition bullet Co to Nosler Bullet Co 1969.
I'm not sure what year they changed but I have manual #1 from Nosler published 1976 and there is no bands on the Partition.
 
I have some of the same type from the mid to early 60's that I got from a friend of mine. His uncle used them a LOT back then in several different calibers. Mostly they were all magnums like the 264, 7mm Rem and 300 Win.

I don't know how well they shot for them and I will probably never find out how well they do for me as I just keeping them for posterity. Who knows, one of my three grandsons might decide to use them someday, or maybe even sell or trade them off for something they like better.

As for the white powdery stuff, after you load them, just take a rag with a little JB past on it or even a piece of 3 or 3 ought steel wool and polish them up. Heck even some Scotch-Brite would work well.
 
I found a partial box of the machined turned partitions in 270 and 160 grains. they were by far the best shooting bullet in my Ruger #1A in 270 Winchester. groups were consistently less than an inch at 100 yards
 
I obtained a box of 125 grn Partitions in 6.5, I paired those up with IMR 4451 in my 6.5-06 and precision is stellar.
 
I've used the 100 grain Nosler partition in my .243 Win. for Texas deer for the last 25 years or so. Before that I tried several other types and was never satisfied with the results (accuracy/meat damage). When I finally tried the Noslers, they gave great results.

I'm a shoulder shot deer hunter. I want to break the front shoulder and drop the deer right there -- no running. I have never lost a deer and the Nosler partition gives minimum meat damage and great penetration. Of the 20 or so I have harvested with this bullet, the farthest any moved was perhaps 25 feet from where they were hit; most just dropped in their tracks.

Wipe the lead oxide off with a rag or tumble the bullets for a few minutes and then load them up. I think you will be very happy with the results.
 
the only problem with the old style partitions is that there isn't going to be anymore so you will have to look at gun shows and old gun shops that might have some in a dark dusty corner. using new style partitions should work just as well. the partition is still a very good bullet
 
I have a pretty nice stash of turned 125gr Partitions in 6.5 that I use in my Creedmoor. I bought them years ago on a closeout sale, they've been gathering dust until recently.

I also like their discontinued Solid Base bullets. I have six
boxes of 150 gr. 270s and some other calibers as well.

When I run out, I don't worry too much, usually Sierras substitute just fine.
 
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