Do Nosler Partition bullets expand adequately on smaller game?

Expansion Characteristics

Nosler Partition bullets are designed for large game, but they can also be effective on smaller game. The partition design consists of a front core made of a hard, dense material that helps maintain weight and penetration, surrounded by a softer lead core that expands upon impact. This design allows the bullet to expand to a diameter of around 0.8-1.0 inches (20-25 mm) at velocities as low as 1,000-1,200 fps (305-365 m/s).

Performance on Smaller Game

While Nosler Partition bullets may not be the first choice for smaller game, they can still provide adequate expansion and penetration. For example, a 150-grain (9.7 g) Partition bullet fired from a .308 Winchester (7.62x51 mm) at 2,500 ft/s (762 m/s) can expand to about 0.9 inches (23 mm) in a deer-sized animal, while a 100-grain (6.5 g) Partition bullet fired from a .223 Remington (5.56x45 mm) at 3,000 ft/s (914 m/s) can expand to about 0.7 inches (18 mm) in a coyote-sized animal. These expansions are sufficient to ensure quick and humane kills.

Real-World Examples

In real-world hunting scenarios, Partition bullets have been effective on a variety of smaller game species, including deer, antelope, and hogs. For example, a hunter used a 150-grain Partition bullet in a .308 Winchester to take down a 150-pound (68 kg) whitetail deer at 200 yards (183 m), and the bullet expanded to about 0.9 inches (23 mm) for a clean kill. Another hunter used a 100-grain Partition bullet in a .223 Remington to take down a 20-pound (9 kg) coyote at 100 yards (91 m), and the bullet expanded to about 0.7 inches (18 mm) for a quick kill.