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Swift vs Nosler

Mark TMark T Member Posts: 140 ✭✭✭
edited January 2011 in Perry Shooter Competition Shooting and Reloading Forum
Hey guys, quick question. My father in law wants to take his 308 moose hunting next fall and wants me to load for it. Anybody here have any experience with the Swifts? Are they worth the extra money? Sciroccos vs Accubond and A-Frame vs Partition. Which would be best? And why are the Swifts so damn expensive??
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Comments

  • sandwarriorsandwarrior Member Posts: 5,453 ✭✭✭
    edited November -1
    Swift is expensive because of 'premium' brand naming. Same reason Nosler is higher than everything else.

    I can't speak personally to the effectiveness of Swift A-frames. I can speak personally about the effectiveness of Nosler partitions, BT's and Accubonds. They are good. Although none of the game shots were mine. The BT's and Accubonds have better long range flight characteristics. Which is not to say you can't make a damn fine long range shot with partitions. You can, just at distance expect more drop and drift.

    It's a matter of practicing with what you want to take. Deciding where the best one-shot placement is going to be and how to get the bullet there. That's going to make the most difference.
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  • bpostbpost Member Posts: 32,669 ✭✭✭✭
    edited November -1
    Moose die easy, bust them behind the shoulder, taking out the lungs and they will die pretty fast. I used a few Nosler partitions on moose and liked the performance even when hitting heavy bone.
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  • navc130navc130 Member Posts: 1,247 ✭✭✭
    edited November -1
    I read an article a few short years ago that recommended NOT using reloads for big game hunting. Factory ammo loaded today is virtually 100% reliable. The many different kinds of errors that COULD be in a reload just doesn't make sense to chance losing the shot when it may be the only one you get. A box of factory ammo is a small part of the cost of the hunt. It made sense to me, especially after I experienced a failure-to-fire with one of my reloads - no powder in the case. And I think I am as careful as anyone could be.
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  • guntech59guntech59 Member Posts: 23,188 ✭✭✭
    edited November -1
    quote:Originally posted by navc130
    I read an article a few short years ago that recommended NOT using reloads for big game hunting. Factory ammo loaded today is virtually 100% reliable. The many different kinds of errors that COULD be in a reload just doesn't make sense to chance losing the shot when it may be the only one you get. A box of factory ammo is a small part of the cost of the hunt. It made sense to me, especially after I experienced a failure-to-fire with one of my reloads - no powder in the case. And I think I am as careful as anyone could be.


    I haven't hunted with or fired factory ammo in 5 years and have had zero problems.

    I'll stick with my handloads.
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  • FrancFFrancF Member Posts: 35,279 ✭✭✭
    edited November -1
    Think the only factory ammo I buy is .22[:D] I can count my "fail to fire" rounds in 25 years on one hand.
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  • MobuckMobuck Member Posts: 14,088 ✭✭✭✭
    edited November -1
    I'll say that a moderate weight(165 or 180) Nosler Partition will make a fine moose load in the .308 Win. This is not a big boomer and doesn't put such a big demand on it's bullets. If your shots are expected at short range like 150 yards and under the 180 grain would be my pick.
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  • the middlethe middle Member Posts: 3,089
    edited November -1
    quote:Originally posted by guntech59
    quote:Originally posted by navc130
    I read an article a few short years ago that recommended NOT using reloads for big game hunting. Factory ammo loaded today is virtually 100% reliable. The many different kinds of errors that COULD be in a reload just doesn't make sense to chance losing the shot when it may be the only one you get. A box of factory ammo is a small part of the cost of the hunt. It made sense to me, especially after I experienced a failure-to-fire with one of my reloads - no powder in the case. And I think I am as careful as anyone could be.


    I'll second that, I have never had one of my handloads fail, I have had factory fail more than a few times!

    I haven't hunted with or fired factory ammo in 5 years and have had zero problems.

    I'll stick with my handloads.
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  • sandwarriorsandwarrior Member Posts: 5,453 ✭✭✭
    edited November -1
    quote:Originally posted by navc130
    I read an article a few short years ago that recommended NOT using reloads for big game hunting. Factory ammo loaded today is virtually 100% reliable. The many different kinds of errors that COULD be in a reload just doesn't make sense to chance losing the shot when it may be the only one you get. A box of factory ammo is a small part of the cost of the hunt. It made sense to me, especially after I experienced a failure-to-fire with one of my reloads - no powder in the case. And I think I am as careful as anyone could be.


    Not to be hurtful but the name of this forum is "Competition Shooting and Reloading. Not, repeat NOT, "Chicken Out and use Factory Ammo". If I cared to waste my money I would use factory ammo.
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  • JustjumpJustjump Member Posts: 644 ✭✭✭✭
    edited November -1
    I'm proud of the fact that most of my firearms have never seen a factory round!!!
    I can't imagine trusting the "Shot of a lifetime" to a factory round.

    As to OP
    I use partitions in several calibers but keep shots under 300 yds max. They are capable of more but I'm not so consistent with them. the accubonds should reach out much more consistently.
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  • CapnMidnightCapnMidnight Member Posts: 8,038 ✭✭
    edited November -1
    I'm a Nosler man,used them for more than 40 years. I've not used anything else because I've never had a Nosler fail to do what it's supposed to do. Deer, elk, caribou, antelope and moose, never a lost critter. Mostly with particians, but the last few years I've used Accu-Bonds with the same great results. Bts are great for diggers, yotes and target work.
    If it ain't broke, don't try to fix it.
    W.D.
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  • 35 Whelen35 Whelen Member Posts: 14,307 ✭✭✭
    edited November -1
    quote:Originally posted by navc130
    I read an article a few short years ago that recommended NOT using reloads for big game hunting. Factory ammo loaded today is virtually 100% reliable. The many different kinds of errors that COULD be in a reload just doesn't make sense to chance losing the shot when it may be the only one you get. A box of factory ammo is a small part of the cost of the hunt. It made sense to me, especially after I experienced a failure-to-fire with one of my reloads - no powder in the case. And I think I am as careful as anyone could be.


    I would like to read said article. Got a link to it, or the name of the author?
    An unarmed man can only flee from evil, and evil is not overcome by fleeing from it.
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  • Mark TMark T Member Posts: 140 ✭✭✭
    edited November -1
    Thanks guys. I have used the BT's on deer in several of my rifles. He took my 7mm mag a few years ago and dusted a nice bull with Accubonds. I have also seen the job a partition does. Just curious as the performance of the swifts. They are more money. Everybody seems to compare there product to Noslers. As for the factory round comment. NEVER, I can't remember ever shooting a game animal with a factory load.
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  • Pistollero1050Pistollero1050 Member Posts: 1,197 ✭✭✭✭✭
    edited November -1
    I grew up in Alaska, we always used Nosler partions in 180 or 220 gr bullets with great success of coarse we where using a 300 win mag.[:D]JMHO
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  • n/an/a Member Posts: 168,427 ✭
    edited November -1
    Nosler Accubonds will MORE than suffice!
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  • 1988z011988z01 Member Posts: 602 ✭✭✭✭
    edited November -1
    To answer the question:

    Nosler Accubonds make purdy mushrooms and the ones I've pulled held together pretty daggone good. I like Nosler stuff. I've had nice examples at long yardage.

    As far as using factory rounds goes, I have heard that arguement several times. I have heard it from hunters, and I have heard it from folks who teach CWP classes. Supposedly more reliable they say. Well, I have a big ole can of bad shells from the factory.

    I can say I don't think I have had one No-Fire from a hand load. I don't use a turret for specifically that reason. I just feel I do better one-at-a-timin, and get a better product. Save the mass production for Remington, because I enjoy it. The only time I buy factory ammo is to get more brass. I have a bad shell, it's MY FAULT.
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