Nosler Accubond Performance

[woods]

Casing, the Accubond is designed to get the same expansion and weight retention as the Nosler Partition, but in a more aerodynamic package.

IMO you are going the wrong way with a 150 gr 30-06 bullet. If you really want to "hammer" a Whitetail then try the 200 gr Accubond. Every 30-06 I have reloaded for loves it. Used to use 60 gr RL22 but have found a load with better accuracy and higher velocity with RL17

Work up to this load in your rifle like I did in mine, i.e. start lower


You will get way better penetration and a much better chance of an exit for bloodtrail.

[Casing]

Woods,
That is a great 300 yard group. You may have a good point but I am still a little old school. I like what the Accubond does on paper but I also like a bullet that retains it's weight and packs a punch. Maybe I just need to shoot more deer with the Accubond and "see for myself" what it really can do. I shoot Partitions in .243, .280, .7mm Rem. mag., 300 Win. mag. and they all perform the same. Lots of damage and a big exit hole, but that's what I want in a bullet.

[Casing]

Wood,
And by the way, I have pretty much quit using Alliant powder because of the temp sensitivity. Where I live we sometimes have as much as an 80 degree difference in summer and winter. I have had some great shooting loads with RL 22 and when cooler weather rolls around my point of impact moves. I have started using Vihta Vuori in more of my loads. VVN140 shoots 5 shots under 1/2'' with the Accubond 150 grain in my stock 30-06 with McGowan barrel and is much cleaner too.

[Troutslayer2]

I took three deer with Accubonds last season. 200 grain, 2 at 340 yds. 1 at 50 yds.

They were bang-flop shots that did not need to be followed up. Literally blew the insides out of this small doe at 340. Hit a little back due to misjudging the howling wind, but you can't argue with the results. I haven't recovered a bullet yet.


Aslo crumpled an elk at about 60 yds.

I think they are a fine bullet. I used to complain about bullets that "pencil" through, but then I realized that I was still making jelly out of everything on the inside so who cares?

[WYcoyote]

I shot a 5 pt bull elk last week with a 180gr Accubond out of a 300 Win mag @ 3100 muzzle vel. He was at 100yds and moving, the AB broke the near side shoulder and went thru the offside shoulder with less bone contact, and was under the hide, no exit. Retained weight was 82.7gr, basically all that is left is a blown ragged jacket. the amount of damage was quite extensive. He dropped out of my sight but was pretty much dead right there. I expected a little more retained weight but it was a fairly severe test for a bullet.
Just a different situation you can evaluate FYI.

[woods]

Loaned the 30-06 to a friend who went Elk hunting with the above posted load, it wound up shank out





DRT, can't beat that!

[Rustystud]

For the money Nosler AB are a great bullet. Controlled expansion and controlled purchase price. You can practice with the same weight bullets in the Nosler Balistic tip variety then switch back to the Nosler AB with little POI change. (big difference in performance) If you want a better Bonded bullet do what Ian McMurchey would say to do "shoot swift Sciroccos".

A 150 Scirocco in a 30-06 flying at 3150 will out perform a 180 AB at 2500.

Nat Lambeth