A bullet can have the greatest integrity of all other brands, but without SD it cannot fully penetrate, and visa-versa (especially on a racking or longer shots). We owe it to the animals we hunt to use equipment and components that exceed the minium requirement to kill an animal cleanly. The "Barnes Bullets Reloading Manual Number One" states the mininum bullet one should use for elk using the 7mm Rem. Mag., 7mm Wby. Mag., and 7mm STW is a 150 gr. Barnes X. The only time I think it is ok to use a lesser weight bullet is when a youngster, or one who is phyically unable to handle reciol is behind the firearm, and then they must keep thier kill shots under 200 yds. If a phyically well person cannot handle recoil, they need to use a lesser recioling firearm they can shoot proficiently, and not exceed that firearms potential and components.

Example:

I have a friend who is an older man who has a bad shoulder. He hunts elk with a 270 Win.; I load him 130 gr. Nosler Partition bullets traveling at 3000 f/s. He keeps all his kill shots broad side, and under 200 yds. or less if he can get closer. Good luck.

Newboarhunter:

The 140 gr. Nosler Partition lost most (85 to 90 Percent) of its lead front cavity, and did not have enough weight to penetrate to the vitals. The loss of a Nosler Partition's front cavity's lead, or most/some of its front cavity's lead is not uncommon. If my friend would of used a Remington 160 gr. Nosler Partition, I think the bullet would of retained enough mass to reach the vitals. Good luck

My own experiences show that partitions normally retain about 60% of their weight.If you want the ultimate in penetration the 140gr failsafe will out penetrate the 175gr partition.Bullet construction is far more important than sectional density.I have however killed several elk and moose with the 140gr partition and penetration has never been a problem.They always penetrate more than enough whether shoulder shots or raking shots are used.I never judge a bullet based on one experience because all bullets can fail at one time or another.I did see a 250gr speer out of a 35whelen break up on the shoulder of a mule deer in spite of the high sectional density.

To the best of my knowledge, no-one has ever claimed the prize offered to produce a genuine "failed" nosler Partiton bullet from a shot on a game animal!!

What' the prize

As much promise that it holds the 140 grain accubond has not been out long enough for anyone to take an Elk with. Nosler partitions do the job when they hit the vitals and are designed to shed weight and penetrate like crazy. I have yet to ever hear about a penetration problem concerning that bullet or any number of them.

To start with r-19 is too fast burning to achieve maximum velocity with the 7mmstw.Secondly noslers data for the stw's, ultramags and many of the weatherby mags is ridiculously conservative.

Stumblejumper:

According to the "Handloaders Digest 1996 15 Edition" on page 82 they show facts on penetration tests using many bullets, and here are a couple facts:

A 130 gr. 7mm Barnes X traveling at 3022 f/s penetrated sauturated telephone books 13.8".

A 175 gr. 7mm Nosler Partition traveling at 3022 f/s penetrated sauturated telephone books 18.9".

This is the fairest comparison I could find on page 82. I don't think 10 grs. more weight concerning the 130 gr. Barnes X bullet is going to out penetrate the 175 gr Nosler Partition.

One needs both Bullet Integrity and SD for a bullet to preform to its full potential. A bullet will not preform to its full potential with only one of the above qualities on heavy large boned game, or longer raking shots.

Good luck

To start with this is not a fair test because the 130gr bullet could easily be driven at least 300fps and possibly 400fps faster than the 175gr bullet.When the failsafe or barnes x is driven faster the petals bend back more or lose material which decreases cross sectional area.Combine that with the added momentum from the added velocity and there would be a difference in penetration.Checking out the bullet test perfomed in the 1998 edition of handloader magazine shows that the failsafe bullets penetrate most at maximum and minimum velocities and less(up to 5" or more) at medium velocities.The same bullet test also showed that the 165gr,180gr and 200gr speer grand slams(the only bullet used in various weights) all averaged the same penetration although all three have much different sectional densities.So while sectional density is a big factor with conventional bullets it is not always a factor with premium bullets.
My comments on the 140gr partition and 140gr failsafe do not come from theory or from simulation tests but are derived from actual observations of their results on game.I have never seen a 7mm bullet of any weight penetrate more than the 140gr failsafe.Have you actually ever seen the results of the 140gr failsafe on game?

Stumblejumper:

Here are some more facts for you from the "Handloaders Digest 1996 15 Edition" page 82:

A 130 gr. 7mm Barnes X traveling at 3267 f/s penetrated saturated telephone books 15.0".

A 175 gr. 7mm Nosler Partition traveling at 2975 f/s penetrated saturated telephone books 18.4".

There is a 292 f/s velocity between bullets, and the 130 gr. Barnes X still did not over penetrate the 175 gr. Nosler Partition.

I don't use little 140 gr. bullets, or do my hunting companions on heavy large boned game. Come to think of it I don't use little 140 gr. bullets on medium game.

Good luck.