Accubond vs VLD out too 600 yards.

[matt_3479]

I hunt moose and black bear mainly but this year will be trying my luck in Montana for Elk and Whitetail. Shots will be anywhere from 50-600 yards and will normally stay within 400 yards. A buddy of mine told me to shoot the 168 or the 185 grain Berger VLD but with shot opportunities within 100 yards that come up quite often i thought the berger might not be the best choice. Last year on my hunt i had 3 shot opportunities that were within 75 yards, 2 that were past 350 (425) and 1 that was 544yards. Most years they stay closer to 400 and closer. My first thought was the Nosler accubond. Decent BC and will definitely work at 50 yards but from what ive been told (no experience with them) they will work good out too about 800 yards so i should be plenty good.

If you were preparing for a hunt that majority of the shots were well within 400 but there is always the possibility of it being a little further then that would you choose the 180 grain Accubond or the 168 grain/185 grain VLD assuming they all shot good. Obviously will be taking the best shooting bullet but could i rely on the VLD within say 100 yards or even 200

 

[ICANHITHIMMAN]

Whats the rifle you never said what caliber it is? Accubond or VLD even a TTSX would be good choices I would go with what ever shot better in your rifle. I to am faced with a similar decsion as we are planing a trip for moose in the near future and I chose the 200g TTSX for my 300wsm as my do all bullet.

 

[matt_3479]

I am also shooting the 300. wsm. My plan was to shoot the 180 grain accubonds up untill a buddy told me to shoot the 185 grain VLD. I was a little worried that it would pencil through at close range where at the accubond will put him down at any range. I just wanted to know, should i stick with the 180 grain accubond if it shoots good.

i was going to try the ttsx as well but i was told that the ttsx work better at higher velocities and the 300. wsm isn't really known for speed so i ruled them out. im not saying it wasn't going to work i just know the accubond is a trusted bullet and the VLD is a very highly rated bullet at long range. I dont here much on the TTSX unless its a faster shooting bullet.

 

[jeff 300]

I'm a big Berger fan. i guess cause everything i have shot they worked great. The only way i would use some thing else is if i could not get Berger's to shoot good are i was going after really tough animal like a Griz are a cape. but deer elk black bear I'll be using Berger. I have shot some really big boar hogs with them and never had any trouble and big boar hogs hide is some tough stuff. My daughter is on there web page and there bullet brochure for the second time. Good people over at Berger

 

[ICANHITHIMMAN]

I would just stick with what you have or go to the 200g. I shot a 160 pound whitetail doe 2 weeks ago at 200 yards with my 300 win mag and a 185g VLD it was anything but a pencil more like a soft ball I will load up some pics

 

[sticknstring]

They are both good performers-I don't think you could go wrong with either one. LET the rifle decide-whichever holds better groups(afterall there is some distance involved here) would be the one I would go with.
I faced the same decision a few months back.... I thought the 168 VLD were going to be my choice for the 7 mag. but the 160 accubonds hands down gave me better groups! No brainer.

 

[bigngreen]

The above advice is good, especially with a factory rifle! Go buy a box of what you think your rifle might like and load a few and see. Both bullets will do good in the ranges your working at.

 

[WildRose]

At ranges where the bullet will still be traveling in excess of 2500fps on impact the berger's will have a tendency to shell out leaving an enormous hole on the backside.

At sub 600yd ranges there are much better bullets terminal perfomance wise.

I'd say give the Hornady interlock and interbond a hard look for your applications.

Hornady Manufacturing Company :: Bullets :: Rifle :: Choose by Caliber :: .308 30 CAL

 

[azsugarbear]

I tend to lean towards the Nosler AB for anything under 600 yds. Beyond that, I tend to go with the Berger vld's. Trouble is, out west you never know what you will run into, with potential shots running anywhere from 50 to 1000 yds. When dangerous or large games is concerned, with shots at or under 400 yds., I tend to go with the TSX.

 

[Long Time Long Ranger]

Go with a hunting bullet. Accubond if that is what you have. Interbond, Barnes ttsx.

 

[ATH]

I've learned I can trust the AB at any range I can shoot accurately. Honestly I have never shot VLDs, but if I were going on a hunt where I knew I could expect 800 yd shots I'd work a load up. From what I have read...as I said I have not tried them...I would be worried on close shots and that's not what I need to be thinking about when I pull the trigger.

 

[Mighty Joe]

For non-guided Western Oklahoma deer hunting the VLD is my choice. For a outfitted Aoudad sheep in New Mexico I switched to the Accubond. Just gave me a higher level of confidence on tough animals. Both are super bullets.

 

[Sendero_Man]

180 AB in the 300WSM is a great load. Very accurate and very effective out at long range.

that is what I shoot in mine !

5 shots....

 

[WildRose]

180 AB in the 300WSM is a great load. Very accurate and very effective out at long range.

that is what I shoot in mine !

5 shots....

What does that group measure? About .385?