Description

Federal Premium Vital-Shok 30-30 Winchester 170gr Nosler Partition — 200 Rounds

The Federal Vital-Shok 30-30 Nosler Partition is the premium tier in the .30-30 Winchester category.

Federal’s Vital-Shok line loaded with the Nosler Partition — one of the most respected hunting bullet designs of the past century — at 170 grains and 2,200 fps.

At $3.00 per round for 200 rounds, the Federal Vital-Shok 30-30 Nosler Partition is the highest per-round cost in the .30-30 category.

The Nosler Partition — 75 Years of Field History

The Nosler Partition was introduced in 1948 and has been in continuous production since — the bullet that made Nosler’s name.

Its core design principle is unchanged after 75 years.

Two separate lead cores, divided by a copper partition wall:

Front core: softer lead, designed to mushroom rapidly on impact. The front half expands to approximately twice the original diameter, transferring energy to the target tissue and creating the initial wound channel.

Rear core: harder lead, retained behind the partition wall. When the front half expands and potentially sheds, the rear core continues forward, retaining weight and driving deep. The Federal Vital-Shok 30-30 Nosler Partition typically retains 95%+ of its weight through penetration.

This dual-core design solves the classic hunting bullet tradeoff: expansion versus penetration. The front half expands; the rear half penetrates. Both happen with the same bullet.

Federal Vital-Shok 30-30 Nosler Partition

170 Grains — The Heaviest Standard .30-30 Weight

170 grains is the heaviest standard .30-30 load. At 2,200 fps, it is also the slowest.

For brush hunting in dense timber — where the .30-30 is most commonly deployed — the heavier, slower bullet is the right tool.

For close-range timber hunting: the 170-grain Partition’s sectional density and rear-core retention ensure adequate penetration through angled shots, shoulder bone, and heavy muscle at typical lever-action distances. The Federal Vital-Shok 30-30 Nosler Partition is designed for exactly this scenario.

Specifications

• Caliber: .30-30 Winchester
• Bullet: 170 grain, Nosler Partition (two-core, copper partition wall)
• Muzzle velocity: 2,200 fps
• Application: Deer, large game, close-range brush hunting
• Lead free: No
• Cartridge case: Brass, reloadable
• Primer: Centerfire
• Quantity: 200 rounds (10 × 20-round boxes)

Browse the .30-30 ammunition category. Bullet specifications are published by Nosler and by Federal Premium. Safe storage guidance is available from the NSSF.

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SHORT DESCRIPTION (above Add to Cart)

Federal Vital-Shok .30-30 Winchester. 170-grain Nosler Partition — two-zone bullet with partitioned lead cores for rapid front-half expansion and intact rear-half penetration. 2,200 fps. Designed for deer and large game at lever-action distances. Brass case, reloadable. 200 rounds (10 × 20-round boxes). Premium hunting load — not for range use.

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💬 Before You Go — Running Vital-Shok Partition in Your Lever-Action?

Taken game with Federal Vital-Shok and the Nosler Partition? Leave a review with the rifle, the shot distance, and what you observed on impact. The Partition has a 75-year track record, but field data from lever-action .30-30 distances in dense timber is rare and worth sharing. And if you came looking for a .30-30 load we don’t carry, tell us. 🎯

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Please purchase and use ammunition responsibly and in accordance with all federal, state and local laws. Ammunition cannot be shipped to all jurisdictions — verify legal shipment to your address before ordering. Buyers must be of legal age in their jurisdiction. Not for sale to prohibited persons. Verify state and local hunting regulations before field use.

Frequently Asked Questions

What makes the Nosler Partition different from a standard soft point or hollow point? Two separate lead cores divided by a copper partition wall. The front core expands rapidly on impact for immediate energy transfer. The partition wall prevents that expansion from running through the bullet — the rear core stays intact, retaining weight and driving deep. Most hunting bullets choose expansion or penetration; the Partition does both.

Why 170 grains instead of 150 or 155 grains for .30-30? 170 grains is the heaviest standard .30-30 weight and the choice for maximum penetration on heavy-bodied deer or angled shots through bone. Heavier bullets sacrifice velocity (2,200 fps vs 2,390 fps for the Browning BXR 155gr) but gain sectional density and penetration depth — the tradeoff timber hunters make.

Why does this cost $3.00/round when other .30-30 loads are $1.56–$1.75/round? The Nosler Partition is an individually constructed premium hunting bullet — more complex to manufacture than a standard soft point or polymer-tipped bullet. The price reflects the bullet cost plus Federal’s Vital-Shok loading standards.

Is the .30-30 Winchester effective on elk? Marginal. The .30-30 is designed for deer and medium game at close range. For elk, most hunters prefer larger calibers. At very close range with the Partition’s penetration, it can work, but it’s not the intended application.

Is this safe in a tubular lever-action magazine? The Nosler Partition uses a soft lead exposed tip — not a spitzer. It is safe in tubular magazines. The exposed lead tip initiates expansion differently from a polymer tip but is not a primer-strike risk in a tube magazine.

Can I reload the brass? Yes — standard Federal brass, Boxer-primed.

How many rounds is 200? 10 × 20-round boxes.

What’s the per-round cost? $600 / 200 = $3.00 per round.