Jeffrthehunter
Well-Known Member
This thread is really a continuation of another thread I posted and will wrap up what I went through.
A few weeks ago I wrapped up a build with a Bartlein .284" 8.75" twist, cut to 26". Much of the information I read leaned me towards the 175 eld-x. Most of my experience is with Nosler and Berger but I wanted to try something different, 175 grain low BC sounded good. I spent the next week loading several batches with the eld-x with really nothing shooting under 1 moa. Not sure what to think but I broke the barrel in using Nosler factory ammo and the gun seemed to perform well.
Decided I need to switch things up and bought a box of Nosler 160 AB's, tried a couple powders and was quickly under .750 moa (60 grains of H4350 was one of the better). So now I think the gun likes light bullets, but I am wanting a long-range hunting rifle, what to do? I decided to try the 168 ABLR with RL22 and first time out I am shooting .5 moa (BTW this is the best group I have ever shot with a magnum hunting rifle, I was excited!!!). Loaded up some more and got the same results, also shot a 1/3 moa at 300 yards (see pic).
Now again I am wondering what to do? The gun already showed me it did not like the 175 grain bullet but the local shop had a box of 175 ABLR. So, I went ahead a loaded those up and immediate shot a .25 moa group!!!!
If you compare the eld-x to the ABLD they seem very similar, length, BC, and profile are almost identical. What I did notice after a close examination was the transition from plastic tip to copper on the Hornady is poor. There is good step that you can feel and ever bullet shows a bulge of copper on one side (were the plastic tip stops). The Nosler bullets are a perfect transition, no step at all. Anyhow, I am not looking back.
In conclusion I will stick with the Nosler as I have had great success hunting with the Accubond series. I want to again thank everyone for there help, this forum (and the gunsmithing forum) gave me the information I needed to succeed.
Thanks, Jeff from Oregon
A few weeks ago I wrapped up a build with a Bartlein .284" 8.75" twist, cut to 26". Much of the information I read leaned me towards the 175 eld-x. Most of my experience is with Nosler and Berger but I wanted to try something different, 175 grain low BC sounded good. I spent the next week loading several batches with the eld-x with really nothing shooting under 1 moa. Not sure what to think but I broke the barrel in using Nosler factory ammo and the gun seemed to perform well.
Decided I need to switch things up and bought a box of Nosler 160 AB's, tried a couple powders and was quickly under .750 moa (60 grains of H4350 was one of the better). So now I think the gun likes light bullets, but I am wanting a long-range hunting rifle, what to do? I decided to try the 168 ABLR with RL22 and first time out I am shooting .5 moa (BTW this is the best group I have ever shot with a magnum hunting rifle, I was excited!!!). Loaded up some more and got the same results, also shot a 1/3 moa at 300 yards (see pic).
Now again I am wondering what to do? The gun already showed me it did not like the 175 grain bullet but the local shop had a box of 175 ABLR. So, I went ahead a loaded those up and immediate shot a .25 moa group!!!!
If you compare the eld-x to the ABLD they seem very similar, length, BC, and profile are almost identical. What I did notice after a close examination was the transition from plastic tip to copper on the Hornady is poor. There is good step that you can feel and ever bullet shows a bulge of copper on one side (were the plastic tip stops). The Nosler bullets are a perfect transition, no step at all. Anyhow, I am not looking back.
In conclusion I will stick with the Nosler as I have had great success hunting with the Accubond series. I want to again thank everyone for there help, this forum (and the gunsmithing forum) gave me the information I needed to succeed.
Thanks, Jeff from Oregon
