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Federal Premium 30-30 Winchester 170 Grain Nosler Partition

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Federal Premium 30-30 Winchester 170 Grain Nosler Partition

At a Glance

Official Specs

Note: Federal does not publish muzzle velocity or muzzle energy for this specific load in currently available product listings. The Ballistics Table below uses a widely cited industry reference velocity of 2,200 fps for a 170 gr 30-30 load from a 24-inch test barrel. This value is labeled as an estimate and should not be treated as manufacturer-confirmed data. BC values for the Nosler Partition in .30 caliber 170 gr are not published by Federal for this factory load; Nosler’s own component bullet BC (G1 ≈ 0.338) is referenced in the ballistics table as an approximation and is labeled accordingly.

Federal Premium 30-30 Winchester 170 Grain Nosler Partition (Box)

$49.89

$59.79

in stock

Ballistics Table

Calculated estimate. Real-world results vary by barrel length, temperature,altitude, and lot. Community submissions will provide measured muzzlevelocity for comparison.

Assumptions: 2,200 fps muzzle velocity (industry reference for 170 gr 30-30, 24" barrel), G1 BC ≈ 0.338 (Nosler component reference, not Federal-published), sight height 1.5" above bore, zero at 100 yards, standard atmosphere (59°F, sea level).

Key takeaway: The 30-30 Winchester has always been a short- to medium-range cartridge, and these numbers confirm why. With a 100-yard zero, a hunter is looking at roughly 10.6 inches of drop at 200 yards — meaningful holdover that demands range awareness. Inside 150 yards, however, the trajectory is entirely manageable for shots on deer-sized game, and the 170 gr Nosler Partition retains enough energy at 200 yards to perform reliably on whitetail. This load is purpose-built for the ranges where lever-action rifles are most commonly used, and the ballistics reflect that mission honestly.

The Nosler Partition Bullet — Why It Matters in This Load

The Nosler Partition is one of the most historically significant hunting bullet designs in American ammunition history. Introduced by John Nosler in 1948, it was the first bullet engineered with a physical copper partition separating the front and rear lead cores. When Federal Premium launched its Premium line, the Nosler Partition was among the first projectiles selected — a pairing that has remained in the catalog for decades.

The design works as follows: the front lead core is enclosed in a tapered jacket that allows controlled mushrooming on impact, while the rear lead core is fully enclosed and bonded behind the partition wall. This means the front half expands reliably even at reduced impact velocities, while the rear half retains mass and drives deep penetration. For a cartridge like the 30-30 Winchester, which operates at moderate velocity compared to modern magnums, this two-stage construction is particularly well-suited — expansion is not dependent on high velocity to initiate.

At 170 grains, this is the heaviest standard loading for the 30-30 and carries maximum sectional density for the bore diameter, further supporting penetration on heavier-bodied deer, black bear, and hogs at woods ranges.

Best Uses

Good fit:

• Whitetail deer hunting at ranges inside 150 yards, particularly in dense timber or brush
• Black bear hunting where shots are expected at close to moderate range
• Wild hog hunting in wooded terrain where a heavier bullet and controlled expansion are preferred
• Hunters using older lever-action rifles chambered in 30-30 Winchester with tubular magazines (flat-nose bullet is tube-magazine safe)
• Situations where reliable terminal performance at reduced impact velocity is required — the Partition design does not need high velocity to expand

Not the right tool for:

• Open-country shots beyond 200 yards, where drop becomes significant and wind drift matters more
• Varmint or small game — 170 grains of expanding bullet is excessive and destructive for small targets
• Hunters seeking lead-free or non-toxic alternatives for areas with lead ammunition restrictions
• Shooters on a budget who need high-volume practice ammunition — this is a premium hunting load priced accordingly
• Use in rifles with tubular magazines loaded with pointed-tip bullets — not applicable here, but worth noting that this load’s flat-nose profile is specifically compatible with tubular magazines

Reliability Notes

No structured submissions yet.

Based on manufacturer claims and open-source product information: Federal describes the Nosler Partition as performing consistently across a wide range of impact velocities, which is relevant for a moderate-velocity cartridge like the 30-30. The partitioned construction is specifically noted to prevent core separation — a failure mode that can occur with standard cup-and-core bullets when impact conditions vary. Federal’s Premium line is loaded to tighter tolerances than their standard American Eagle or Power-Shok lines, which typically translates to more consistent velocity spread across a box. These notes come from manufacturer claims and open sources, not structured test data.

Competitors

Price Reality

• At $49.89 per box (20 rounds), this load sits at the top of the 30-30 price range
• Per-round cost of approximately $2.49 is roughly double the cost of budget 30-30 loads like Remington Core-Lokt or Winchester Super-X
• The Hornady LEVERevolution in 160 gr runs $32–$38 per box — meaningfully cheaper and offers higher advertised velocity, though with a different bullet design
• The Barnes VOR-TX in 150 gr is a close price competitor at $42–$48 and offers lead-free construction, which may justify the premium in restricted areas
• A fair price benchmark for this load is approximately $45–$55 per box given the Nosler Partition component cost; pricing above $55 for a 20-round box should be considered overpriced unless supply is constrained
• Case pricing (typically 10 boxes) is not widely listed for this load; single-box purchase is the standard retail format

Prices change. Check the Where to Buy block for current listings.

Where to Buy

Federal Premium 30-30 Winchester 170 Grain Nosler Partition (Box)

The Federal Premium 30-30 Winchester 170 Grain Nosler Partition offers exceptional performance for serious hunters with its reliable, partitioned lead core design that ensures effective expansion and penetration on game. Elevate your hunting experience with these expertly engineered bullets that deliver consistent results every time.

$49.89 at Ammunitiondepot.com

Affiliate links. These do not influence ratings, data, or any editorial content on this page.

FAQ

Why does Federal use the Nosler Partition specifically in this 30-30 load rather than one of their own bullet designs?

The Nosler Partition was the founding bullet of Federal’s Premium line, and the pairing has remained in the catalog because the design’s performance characteristics align well with the 30-30’s velocity envelope. Federal produces its own bonded bullets (Trophy Bonded Bear Claw, Terminal Ascent) but these are generally optimized for higher-velocity cartridges. The Partition’s ability to expand reliably at lower impact velocities — which occur with the 30-30 at moderate ranges — makes it a logical choice for this application. It is also a bullet with decades of documented field performance, which carries weight with the hunting market that relies on the 30-30.

How does this load compare to the Hornady LEVERevolution 160 gr FTX for whitetail deer?

Both are legitimate hunting loads for the 30-30 Winchester, but they represent different engineering philosophies. The Hornady LEVERevolution uses a lighter 160 gr FTX bullet at higher advertised velocity (~2,400 fps), which flattens trajectory slightly and makes longer shots more manageable. The Federal Nosler Partition at 170 grains prioritizes controlled expansion and deeper penetration over velocity, which can matter on heavier deer, quartering shots, or when hitting heavy shoulder bone. For most whitetail hunting inside 150 yards, either load is effective; the Partition may offer an edge on larger-bodied animals or less-than-ideal shot angles.

Is this load safe to use in older lever-action rifles with tubular magazines?

Yes. The 170 gr Nosler Partition as loaded by Federal is a flat-nose (blunt-tip) bullet, which is the correct profile for tubular magazine use in lever-action rifles. Pointed bullets in tubular magazines create a primer-to-tip stack that can cause chain-fire under recoil — a well-documented safety concern. This load does not present that risk. Hunters using vintage Winchester Model 94s, Marlin 336s, or similar rifles can use this load without modification.

Does the Nosler Partition offer any advantage over standard soft-point bullets at 30-30 velocities?

At the moderate velocities the 30-30 Winchester produces, standard cup-and-core soft points can occasionally over-expand on impact with light resistance or under-expand at longer ranges where velocity has dropped. The Nosler Partition‘s dual-core construction addresses both failure modes: the front core expands consistently across a wider velocity range, while the rear core remains intact regardless of front-end behavior. For hunters who take shots at varying distances or hunt larger deer and black bear where penetration matters, the Partition’s construction provides a meaningful margin of reliability that standard soft points do not guarantee.

Why is this load priced significantly higher than other 30-30 ammunition?

The Nosler Partition is a premium component bullet that costs substantially more to manufacture than a standard cup-and-core soft point. The partitioned jacket, dual lead cores, and tighter manufacturing tolerances all contribute to the higher per-unit cost. Federal’s Premium line also applies stricter quality control standards than their standard-tier ammunition. For hunters who shoot the 30-30 Winchester for practice or casual plinking, budget loads are entirely appropriate. For a single hunting season where shot count is low and terminal performance matters, the price premium for the Partition is generally considered justified by serious hunters who use this cartridge.

Federal Premium 30-30 Winchester 170 Grain Nosler Partition (Box)

$49.89

$59.79

in stock