Bullet fail...Accubond CT

[adam32]

.270 WSM...140gr Accubond CT Winchester Supreme...300 yards...milk jug.

Bullet on right was recovered INSIDE the milk jug, didn't even penetrate thru a milk jug full of water! The other bullet hit a touch low on the second shot and was recovered ON TOP of the dirt.

Both bullets expanded as expected, just zero penetration. I would sure hope that an "elk rated" bullet would go thru a milk jug. We were getting ready for a Nebraska whitetail hunt and this happened, the gun/ammo stayed home and another rifle came along with us...

 

[bigngreen]

Looks about right to me, I've shot a bunch of those into just about everything including a bunch of elk, deer and antelope with a starting velocity of 3340fps and have never recovered on unless I shoot them into water or dry paper bundles.

 

[adam32]

Looks about right to me, I've shot a bunch of those into just about everything including a bunch of elk, deer and antelope with a starting velocity of 3340fps and have never recovered on unless I shoot them into water or dry paper bundles.

How much water tho? This was one single milk jug, I've NEVER recovered a bullet from one milk jug, not even out past 600 yards...

 

[webs]

It would be interesting to try a ballistic tip an Amax and a berger to compare.

 

[adam32]

It would be interesting to try a ballistic tip an Amax and a berger to compare.

I shot my .243 AI with a 105gr Berger on the same day. At 300 and 450, both went thru the jugs, blew them up and the bullet was gone...

 

[apapro]

Well your not the only one who has has this issue with Accubonds!!!!

I used them this year and had 3 different bullets all lack penetration!!!

The first one was a 250 gr. Accubond out of my .338 RUM at 2950 fps.....hit a 5x5 bull elk at 236 yards and got 8"-10" of penetraton (high shoulder shot - just below the spine).......bullet never made the off side hide, broke ribs in and out but stopped at the edge of the ribs!!!

Second was a 7mm 160 at 3350 fps out of my 7-300 Win Mag and the shot was on a 6x6 whitetail at 80 yards.........entered the LH side of the neck 8" behind the ears and exploded....never recovered.

Third was my with my son and his .30-06 and 180 Accubonds at 2750...........he shot a "jerky" buck on the last day of hunting for us and tried for a neck shot...ended up hitting the top of the hind quarters as the shot came from the rear of the animal. the bullet entered the top of the hind quarters boke his back and stopped at 10" of penetration.

Both recoverded bullets looked textbook for expansion but I averaged 8" of penetration in 3 different animals and with 3 different guns!!!!!!!

Can't explain this one............may have to try something different!!! By the way all animals were killed and not saying they didn't work or kill the animal......not trying to start any arguments .............just concerned with the lack of penetration!!! I expect my bullets to burn up energy on the trees or dirt behind the animal so I have an extra hole for tracking purposes

 

[Shortmagman]

I would say first that there are no perfect bullets that will perform in every situation.

Second if penetration is your most important consideration shoot Barnes TSX bullets and you will get penetration is spades.

I have shot half a dozen deer with Nosler Accubonds and my son and my friends have shot 10 or more and we have yet to recover one bullet! My son and I usually shoot a 280 Rem with 140 grains Accubonds at about 2900+ ft/sec., but I have shot deer with a 270WSM and 140 Accubonds at 3100 ft/sec ,and a 7mm SAUM with 140 Accubonds.at 3100 ft/sec.. MY friends shoot a 260 Rem, and a 270 Win., both with 130 grains bullets.

From my experience the Nosler Accubond is the best deer bullet that I have tried, or have seen used.

Look at this deer shot my friend in Nebraska with a 130 grain Nosler Accubond out of a 260 Rem.. You are looking at the exit wound.

 

[adam32]

I would say first that there are no perfect bullets that will perform in every situation.

Second if penetration is your most important consideration shoot Barnes TSX bullets and you will get penetration is spades.

I have shot half a dozen deer with Nosler Accubonds and my son and my friends have shot 10 or more and we have yet to recover one bullet! My son and I usually shoot a 280 Rem with 140 grains Accubonds at about 2900+ ft/sec., but I have shot deer with a 270WSM and 140 Accubonds at 3100 ft/sec ,and a 7mm SAUM with 140 Accubonds.at 3100 ft/sec.. MY friends shoot a 260 Rem, and a 270 Win., both with 130 grains bullets.

From my experience the Nosler Accubond is the best deer bullet that I have tried, or have seen used.

Look at this deer shot my friend in Nebraska with a 130 grain Nosler Accubond out of a 260 Rem.. You are looking at the exit wound.

I'm not saying I need the penetration of a TSX (I've shot them at deer and they aren't needed) but I am saying that an AccuBond SHOULD DEFINITELY penetrate thru a milk jug at 300 yards!!! The jug didn't even look hit, it didn't explode or move or anything, that's why the second shot that was found on top of the dirt hit low because I thought the first shot must've been high.

A cheap core-lokt would go thru a jug with ease so why did these premium "elk rated" bullets not?

 

[edge]

DO YOU LIVE IN AN AREA WITH HARD WATER

Sorry, cheap joke!

That is crazy, if the bullet blew to bits would be one thing, but you have almost a perfect bullet.
What did they weigh?
60+% weight retention is about what you should expect.
Energy is energy, and any bullet that weighs the same and expands to the same dimensions and retains the same weight should penetrate almost the same.
The manufacturer is irrelevant!

edge.

 

[adam32]

DO YOU LIVE IN AN AREA WITH HARD WATER

Sorry, cheap joke!

That is crazy, if the bullet blew to bits would be one thing, but you have almost a perfect bullet.
What did they weigh?
60+% weight retention is about what you should expect.
Energy is energy, and any bullet that weighs the same and expands to the same dimensions and retains the same weight should penetrate almost the same.
The manufacturer is irrelevant!

edge.

haha!

I haven't weighed them yet, I will tonight.

It was crazy! Once the rain quits I'm going to set up a video camera right next to the jug and shoot again...

 

[KYpatriot]

This doesnt seem right. Was the elevation what you expected? Your saying it didnt blow up the jug?

Accubonds are all I use...and I haven't had one fail yet. Strange.

 

[FEENIX]

I'm not saying I need the penetration of a TSX (I've shot them at deer and they aren't needed) but I am saying that an AccuBond SHOULD DEFINITELY penetrate thru a milk jug at 300 yards!!! The jug didn't even look hit, it didn't explode or move or anything, that's why the second shot that was found on top of the dirt hit low because I thought the first shot must've been high.

A cheap core-lokt would go thru a jug with ease so why did these premium "elk rated" bullets not?

If you're happy with the performance in the jug penetration test of the cheap Corelokt, by all means you should use it.

 

[adam32]

If you're happy with the performance in the jug penetration test of the cheap Corelokt, by all meas you should use it.

Wow...very helpful post. Thanks

 

[adam32]

This doesnt seem right. Was the elevation what you expected? Your saying it didnt blow up the jug?

Accubonds are all I use...and I haven't had one fail yet. Strange.

It didn't look hit at all, didn't move an inch. The second shot, that was found on top of the dirt directly below the jug, kicked up some mud on the jug and that's what made us walk down there to look.