Next year I'm going on a Alaska mixed bag hunt with a good outfitter and friend. Sheep is what I'm mainly after which I would have used a 190 gr berger. My problem is grizz is also on the menu besides caribou,black bear,and wolf. Shots at sheep can be far. My friend shot his at 550 yds when he was up. I need a bullet for long range but can also take out a grizz. I was looking at nosler ABLR but can,t find them to try.The nosler rep said maybe June. I'm not sure about the all copper bullets. I've seen a barnes x bullet not expand on a far shot on a elk. That was when they first came out. They might have gotten better. I seen a LR all copper but can't find that one either. What bullet would you use? This is a once it a life time hunt for me. If conditions are right a sheep at 600 yds or a grizz at 50 yds I want to be ready.
Alaska mixed bag bullet help
- Thread starter JohnRP
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snox801
Well-Known Member
I would even Seattle for the standard accubond. When in doubt that is my go to bullet. 500 yards would be no problem. I have had great success with those. Enjoy your hunt sounds amazing.
I do have some regular accubonds to try and paritions also. The paritions did work good on a elk and Mt goat but didn't group that great out of my sako. When I get this gun back ( new barrel) I want to try a few differant bullets. BTW if anyone has part of a box of ABLR 190 you want to get rid off let me know .
rooster721
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Accubond or Barnes. Collected some interesting info this winter regarding impact-performance on some common & some not-as-common bullets... still adding info & pencilling things out, but here's a pic of a few of the bullets recovered
All are 6.5 & 7mm, but in terms of Brand & expected performance like you are asking for, this shows pretty good example what to expect. All shots were at 200 yards, first impacting a 1/2" plywood, then air, then a flooded hillside backstop (where a natural spring) had flowed/continuously flooded the hillside* The ice was roughly 10-12" thick with snowpack on-top at the time of firing. Generally speaking, the penetration varied from 3-4" to completely through and into frozen dirt (heaviest 168 & 190gr bullets)
To sum it up, from what we saw, Barnes & Accubond are the only two in terms of "hunting" bullets that consistently opened/expanded and (worked) the way they claim they do... some of my 140 Bergers amazingly only bannana'd at 200! ?? But is a topic for elsewhere.
Take a good look at the pic. I strongly recommend the two I mention for obvious reasons... and to add to that, the Barnes definitely do work well at LR. I personally killed my elk this past November with a 168 LRX 700 yards... they open at that distance
I really like the way Matrix pounded that hill.. I have two more recovered slugs (not pictured) that are a ball-mess of lead & copper, not mushroomed but seemingly somewhat still bonded! It ain't a bullet I'd take for Griz, I'd want the Barnes "solid" myself, but none-the-less cannot dispute what the 190 does upon impact* In my own testing, it actually "does" as the Bergers (claim) to do.. I am seeing countless Bergers (all the Hunting VLD's) that are not opening, instead Bannana... at distances close as 200 as well as distances as far as 1150. I lost appeal toward them after foolin around this last while.. there were some (3:4 roughly) that would grenade, those were the ones giving 3-4" penetration on ice then disintegrating... however, that 1:4 is too re-curring of a ratio to put my-own mind at ease if it were reliable expansion (or grenading) that you were counting on.. they're accurate, but performance isn't consistent for some reason
Anyhow, see what you see... I hope the post will help make your decision more educated. Wish ya luck on the hunt**
All are 6.5 & 7mm, but in terms of Brand & expected performance like you are asking for, this shows pretty good example what to expect. All shots were at 200 yards, first impacting a 1/2" plywood, then air, then a flooded hillside backstop (where a natural spring) had flowed/continuously flooded the hillside* The ice was roughly 10-12" thick with snowpack on-top at the time of firing. Generally speaking, the penetration varied from 3-4" to completely through and into frozen dirt (heaviest 168 & 190gr bullets)
To sum it up, from what we saw, Barnes & Accubond are the only two in terms of "hunting" bullets that consistently opened/expanded and (worked) the way they claim they do... some of my 140 Bergers amazingly only bannana'd at 200! ?? But is a topic for elsewhere.
Take a good look at the pic. I strongly recommend the two I mention for obvious reasons... and to add to that, the Barnes definitely do work well at LR. I personally killed my elk this past November with a 168 LRX 700 yards... they open at that distance
I really like the way Matrix pounded that hill.. I have two more recovered slugs (not pictured) that are a ball-mess of lead & copper, not mushroomed but seemingly somewhat still bonded! It ain't a bullet I'd take for Griz, I'd want the Barnes "solid" myself, but none-the-less cannot dispute what the 190 does upon impact* In my own testing, it actually "does" as the Bergers (claim) to do.. I am seeing countless Bergers (all the Hunting VLD's) that are not opening, instead Bannana... at distances close as 200 as well as distances as far as 1150. I lost appeal toward them after foolin around this last while.. there were some (3:4 roughly) that would grenade, those were the ones giving 3-4" penetration on ice then disintegrating... however, that 1:4 is too re-curring of a ratio to put my-own mind at ease if it were reliable expansion (or grenading) that you were counting on.. they're accurate, but performance isn't consistent for some reason
Anyhow, see what you see... I hope the post will help make your decision more educated. Wish ya luck on the hunt**
rooster721
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This is a recovered bullet on a bull-elk at 700 yards.. entered the rib cage on his left side, penetrated through and stuck in the skin high on the opposite side near the tender-loins. Shot was a steep uphill angle, hence getting caught at the skin near the opposite-sides back-bone* Pedals all tore-off as it hit ribs & gristle but were found as well (same spot as the bullet) amongst shattered bone at the offside skin.
These were LRX barnes* Two other shots were pass-thru's. It was a very big bull, by far my biggest, we were at 8000' and had hiked a long ways.. I wanted him anchored so I kept shooting. All three were (however) kill shots. Bull laid-down 30 yards or so.
270Weatherby
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Go with the 200gr Barnes LRX.
Nomosendero
Well-Known Member
Rooster, thanks for sharing this info, it always takes some work!
There is no end to types of bullets to test, but I do wonder how the heavier Target Hybrid would do, I think somewhat better in your type of test.
I am impressed with the LRX results. I know one member here uses in a 300WM the 200LRX up close on tough animals & 215 Berger Hybrid out further & says he has the same hold for a good ways, could be the best way to go since it is hard to get a perfect bullet for all situations.
There is no end to types of bullets to test, but I do wonder how the heavier Target Hybrid would do, I think somewhat better in your type of test.
I am impressed with the LRX results. I know one member here uses in a 300WM the 200LRX up close on tough animals & 215 Berger Hybrid out further & says he has the same hold for a good ways, could be the best way to go since it is hard to get a perfect bullet for all situations.
str8shoot
Well-Known Member
What cartridge is this for? My bullet selection would be different from a .308 to a 300rum.
Yes that makes a difference. Otherwise a .308 200gr Accubond will work well for everything.
Nomosendero
Well-Known Member
Yes, a rather huge difference, I based my comments on a 300WM, for my 308 no need for all of that.
doubleaclasper
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I would use a barnes bullet for what you are asking for. They openup reliably at long range. For grizzlies they will be just fine.
