Nosler long range accbond and my experience.

HuntFarther

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Dec 13, 2012
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Well I ordered my 175 lrab. They showed up two Fridays ago and loaded them up in my custom 7mm wsm. Took them out and shot them and seemed to match my drop in my g7 rangefinder for the 180 berger at .659 bc. I am not saying if the bc is the same for the lrab, because I did not chrony them. All I know is they shot good with my one load that I use. So we left on Monday and went to eastern Montana for our deer hunt.
We arrived too late to hunt, was already dark when we got there. Next morning started and we walked into a place that I have hunted in the past. Only to find that it was hunted out. So, in the process of glassing there, we turned up a lot of coyotes and a few does, and small bucks. I ended up finding one coyote that was sleeping underneath me. I told my buddy I am going to shoot that one and we will watch and see if there is any other deer in here that we have not seen yet. So we got the camera all ready and setup for the short shot. Was 307 yards, I dialed up the 1.4 moa and when we both were ready sent it. The coyote never heard that shot that killed him. We dug out my leica spotting scope to try and look at him, being neither was walking down to see what a dead coyote looked like. All we could see is what looked like a huge hole in his side. So I said the coyote was laying with his head over his body like a typical dog does. I put the crosshairs on top of his head , I bet I hit him in the head and blew that hole.
That was all we got into, and over the next few days were really slow. My buddy said that he wanted to just get his deer. That night we turned up a small 3 pt mule deer. He said that buck is easy to get out I am going to take him. At just that time, the mule deer buck, started moving. We get everything setup, by this time he is 450, we get dialed in, and he shot right over his back. The next time he stopped was 650 yards, I believe, would have to check the video, but he was quartering away. I told him take your time, as soon as I said that bang. And the deer was done, he crumpled. We ended up finding he shot a little high and hit him in the neck. So still not sure what to think of the nosler lrab.
The next day I still needed a deer, I told my buddy I am going to pack in after the only nice buck we have seen on the trip. I was thinking he was a 160" type buck. So I had the whole plan put together and the next morning executed it, I wanted to be in a saddle at daylight to overlook the blm that borders private. The deer have been going on the private at night, to drink and eat, then head up to the blm in the daytime. So right at first light I spot him with all the does. He is pushing them around and chasing another 2pt off. They are around a mile little more at this time. I told myself I need to get on this center ridge, that way he can come up either draw and I will get shooting. I move down to get into position and pulled my rifle out of my eberlestock backpack, and the whole hillside around me broke loose. There was deer bedded in the brush out of sight of where I was laying. Those deer ran down the draw and bumped the ones I was waiting for. They all ran around a nob and started up another hill. I ranged when they stopped was 735 yards, dialed and sent a lrab. I watched the impact right behind the shoulder shade high, he dropped like a ton of bricks. I was super excited but disappointed at the same time. Everything came together but I have packed my camera for 5 days trying to get a buck down on film.
I finish gathering everything and head on down the draw. I crested a saddle and could not believe it, the does were still there. And then quickly noticed a nice buck behind them. I thought, where did this buck come from, then quickly looked at the hill for my buck. And my buck is gone, didn't take to long to figure out what is up, sorta. Look and start ranging the buck again, 439 yards. I then saw him step with a limp, blood spot on his high shoulder. Okay, got my gun out of the pack and dialed it up, now the deer see me and just about ready to run. Then buck squares off looking head on at me. I send it, and hear "whack" and the buck rocks back then runs forward to me. The does are coming through a draw I ranged 419, he comes out and stands there again. "Whack" and falls down. I am now relieved. Just then was watching and the steam that was coming out of him, quickly realized was coming out of his nose instead of his side. To find he starts thrashing and get his head up. I quickly shot him in the neck, and his head falls over. I am out of bullets and quickly and I mean quickly reload with my bergers.
I don't want anyone to think I am a nosler or berger fan. I was trying the nosler hoping for something besides the berger. But all in a few minutes decided someone else can finish testing the lrab for me.

I was shooting my semi custom 7mm wsm
27 1/2" hart barrel with skip flutes.
Huskemaw blue diamond 5-20x50
Nightforce g7 rangefinder
And a whole magazine full of long range accubonds plus one in the chamber.

* warning* a few animals were slightly harmed in the making of this write-up!
 

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I have not had time to weigh the bullet I found. Also that bullet is one of the head on shots and found the bullet against the hide on the hind end. I will also get the footage down loaded of the coyote and the actual damage found when I was boning to pack out. This may not be the case that everyone will find. But what I found was these bullets hit extremely hard and then don't seem to do much after that initial impact. My first shot I have no idea why it didn't break his back. But it is what it is.
 
Not the news everyone was hoping for. I thought for sure these were going to be a great bullet. Guess I'll stick with my A-max a little longer.
 
I have never felt so let down but at the same time know not enough testing has taken place yet. I would have been really upset if I took on my bull elk and had this happen. I feel I tested this 3 honest times but only into one animal. I understand was not the best, but how many times can a animal be shot behind the shoulder and twice in the chest. Just to try it all again. Another thing that baffled me was he never bled out of his nose or mouth.
 
By the pictures it looks like the bullet performed as one would expect. Not unlike many bullets and placement, sometimes animals take longer to expire than wanted or expected. Congratulations on your hunt and thanks for taking the time to post your results. Successful=dead deer recovered.
 
Interesting report! What did the wound channels look like? I shot a bullet this year that seemed to open fast and penetrate deep but after they open the wound channel just got so small there was little collateral damage which lead to having to dispatch more animals than I'm used to.
 
Interesting report! What did the wound channels look like? I shot a bullet this year that seemed to open fast and penetrate deep but after they open the wound channel just got so small there was little collateral damage which lead to having to dispatch more animals than I'm used to.

The wound channels were very small after the initial explosion took place. I noticed a small blood spot when skinning a hind quarter and pinched the hide and the bullet was stuck there. I cannot see how there would be more damage done with this bullet over a fmj if the initial explosion was not there.
 
By the pictures it looks like the bullet performed as one would expect. Not unlike many bullets and placement, sometimes animals take longer to expire than wanted or expected. Congratulations on your hunt and thanks for taking the time to post your results. Successful=dead deer recovered.

Not sure what quite to think of this. If you are saying the shot placement was not good, or he was tough or what? I don't know how the shot placements could have been better. He was also shot at varying ranges which gave different velocities. I never could see where the 735 went out of him, and he was broadside. Should have blew his spine and he was done.
 
Interesting, I wonder if your observation of the wound channel could have something to do with it being bonded? Thinking maybe it limits the size of the mushroom.

I was wondering if they are bonding just the back some how or what. It is mushroomed where the boatail is which also caused smaller diameter. Does not weigh much either. All I can say they hit really hard and and that is it. The entrance on the neck was baseball size going in and maybe .308 out.
 
Not sure what quite to think of this. If you are saying the shot placement was not good, or he was tough or what? I don't know how the shot placements could have been better. He was also shot at varying ranges which gave different velocities. I never could see where the 735 went out of him, and he was broadside. Should have blew his spine and he was done.

Animals can be tough even after taking out both lungs and heart. How many times have hunters stated they had to shoot animals more than once? I've been there myself. Three shots with a partition all thru the lungs to include one of the shots thru the heart. The deer stood there after two shoots looking at me as if nothing happened. After the third shot the deer ran off out of sight. When gutting the deer I couldn't believe the thing lived that long with three good shots and yet it still ran off. The bullets performed as expected, the deer didn't. It was a dead deer after the first shot but just didn't want to die as I wanted it to. It looks as if the LRABs performed as designed, same as the partitions above.
 
Animals can be tough even after taking out both lungs and heart. How many times have hunters stated they had to shoot animals more than once? I've been there myself. Three shots with a partition all thru the lungs to include one of the shots thru the heart. The deer stood there after two shoots looking at me as if nothing happened. After the third shot the deer ran off out of sight. When gutting the deer I couldn't believe the thing lived that long with three good shots and yet it still ran off. The bullets performed as expected, the deer didn't. It was a dead deer after the first shot but just didn't want to die as I wanted it to. It looks as if the LRABs performed as designed, same as the partitions above.

I follow that. I am sure it just didn't set right with you. And that is where I am at. The biggest thing with me is how hard these bullets hit and will penetrate. But after the hit seemed not to have much affect. Could just be bad test media, a unusual case. Eitherway I do appreciate all the input.
 
When you want the option to shoot game out to 1450 yards with great accuracy. The perfect killing bullet that expands perfectly everytime at ranges from 50 to 1450 yards does not exist. Bullets have come a long ways in a short time... Maybe in a few short years someone will make the perfect bullet...Sounds like you at least had a fun time on your hunt even if it was kind of slow compared to what you had there in the past. Dave
 
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