Experience with Nosler Accubonds

[MarkB]

Just completed another accubond experience, annual BC trip, (retired and 6 weeks this Covid year, self isolated), 3 accubonds were fired at game. 1 elk, 1 whitetail and 1 wolf all dead. Non went more than 20 yds and no bullets were recovered. All shot with 165 gr from a 300 wsm, now trying some 130 gr in my 6.5 creed and hoping for a couple local blacktails. Still the accubonds giving me no reason to look at any other bullet.

MB

 

[CBH Australia]

That’s good, I have been using Nosler BT Hunting version. I shoot pigs and they stay down if I do my part and hit in the right spot. They are accurate and accuracy builds confidence and that improves results.

@YancyW were you by chance shooting the LR accubonds (long range)/ There is quite a bit of difference between the 2 bullets. The regular AB's I have used have worked well for me. Nice mushrooms and clean kills. I have read about the softness of the long range AB's tho. That was why I was asking.
Bruce

I am interested in the Accubond LR, Long Range version. I just ordered 200 at a good price. I am having a .280ai built and will probably run 120’s in my 7mm-08 and then 150’s in the .280ai for most hunting or culling ordered 168gn Accubond LR to test them and test my skill. I’m not shooting game at stupid ranges but would like to have the skills.

In short, I've had bad experiences with the accubonds in Africa, from calibers (7mm/.30/.338) shooting @ ~2,750-2,850 fps muzzle velocity. Once made perfect shots on a Kudu and Blue Wildebeest (4-5x the size of American deer; the 1st recovered @ 500 yds and the other ran into the next country.) With higher velocity calibers (>3,000 fps .257, .264-.35 particularly w/ the higher SD) they worked fine. But, after the aforementioned experience, in Africa I've ditched the "plastic tips" in favor of the tried-and-true Nosler Partitions, Woodleigh SP and Weldcore, Barnes TSX and Banded Solids, and Swift A-frames. Their terminal performance cannot be beat. There is NO advantage for a plastic tipped bullet used in hunting game at yardages of ~400 or less (and in Africa it will nearly always be considerably less than that unless you requested some long-range culling). There will be something in the way, you can always get closer, and your PH will not approve of it. Facts. I prefer hunting bullets over target bullets anyday (no matter what the sales & marketing department tells you.) African game is a whole 'nother ballgame as compared to thin-skinned American game. The only exception I'd make in Africa to the above is use of the Barnes TTSX. Nothing wrong w/ a plastic tip on a monolithic copper bullet behind it-they generally group 1/2 the size of the TSX (i.e. 1/2" vs. 1" or less) and perform just as well in the end. The latest, greatest thing they have to sell (and I know the accubond has been around since at least '07-as that's the last time I used them. Expensive experiment) is not typically what's best.

Would you try them again in light of the support here? Maybe they did improve.
My experience with the Nosler BT Hunting has been good, accurate and dependable.
The Hornady SST handloads I used in Africa went well and game we’re all one shot kills with the Blie Wildebeeste taking a 200m sprint.
You say you made a perfect shot on but the game went into the next country. I suspect it was not a perfect shot. Maybe it felt good but the shot placement was not good.
Yes some BT’s blow up on impact. I expect they are varmint types. I witnessed this myself. I shot a pig at about 150m headshot bang flop.
Same day same everything i shot a running pig hitting “a bit far back” to the rear ribs , slowed it down. I made a good shot on the shoulder and hardly slowed it. I took a few steps and head shot it.
On inspection the shoulder shot was nasty but probably did not penetrate. I expect it pretty much blew up on the shoulder pad.
Why, it was a Hornady 168gn Zmax Fromm a .308. I think these are a version of a varmint bullet. At 150m after losing some speed with a good headshot it went well (possibly penetrating well due to velocity ) at 30m it basically blew up.
I believe that Nosler Ab LR might Be constructed in a a way to perform at Long Range due lower velocity in flight.

Another thing I will add is that Soft Point ammo has worked for years, it is still good for taking game and still kills. I like the BT’s and like to start with an accurate load as shot placement is paramount.


As of late....I've witnessed the Nosler Accubonds and Nosler Balistic Tips are having similar performance on game from our group of hunters. On recovered bullets of each type we are getting 66% weight retention from both.

In this photo example you can see the jackets of these are not all created equal but the Accubond in the middle is very similar to the two .308 bullets on the rightView attachment 337842

How do you section Bullets and get a neat straight result????
I’m about t you tube this but how many people section Bullets or have tried?

 

[bruce moulds]

chris,
you might find sierra conventional soft points more consistent all round than plastic pointed bullets, and just as accurate.
bruce.

 

[CBH Australia]

chris,
you might find sierra conventional soft points more consistent all round than plastic pointed bullets, and just as accurate.
bruce.

Thanks Bruce,
I need an affordable projectile for shooting pigs. I will check out Sierra.
Dead is dead but we like shiny things and things.
I will check out that gunshop you use. I haven't been there in years.
I also need to start a notebook on what is suggested but what the actual results are or any notes on ammo and performance.
I keep vague reloading notes but have tried all sorts of .308 projectiles over time.
For this .280 I want to do it right. I expect it should shoot well and I want to hit gongs any 400-500 for practice and experience.
All my loading has been find a projectile and book loads testing .5gn increments then test accuracy . Shoot pests.
Only one bullet the Zmax showed signs of poor performance and I think I know why.
On the other hand I want a load soft point or BT that is accurate and for hunting. If I am travelling to hunt I want every advantage, the bullet cost is the cheap part.

 

[Bob Nelson 35Whelen]

Thanks Bruce,
I need an affordable projectile for shooting pigs. I will check out Sierra.
Dead is dead but we like shiny things and things.
I will check out that gunshop you use. I haven't been there in years.
I also need to start a notebook on what is suggested but what the actual results are or any notes on ammo and performance.
I keep vague reloading notes but have tried all sorts of .308 projectiles over time.
For this .280 I want to do it right. I expect it should shoot well and I want to hit gongs any 400-500 for practice and experience.
All my loading has been find a projectile and book loads testing .5gn increments then test accuracy . Shoot pests.
Only one bullet the Zmax showed signs of poor performance and I think I know why.
On the other hand I want a load soft point or BT that is accurate and for hunting. If I am travelling to hunt I want every advantage, the bullet cost is the cheap part.

@CBH
Good luck finding any cheap projectiles mate. Even the humble Sierra and hornaday have skyrocketed in price lately.
Bob

 

[Firebird]

Coyote with Remington .300 wm 180 accubond at 300 yards.
Small Muley 180 gr accubond from .300 wm at 80ish yards.
Wyoming antelope 160 accubond from 7mm stw at 300 yards in Wyoming winds.
And another small muley from my dads old adl Remington 700 .30-06 with Hornady interlock 165 grain. It’s the last pic-Used that rifle just so we could show dad a buck taken with his old rifle. I restored it and did some upgrades then we agreed it should be given to one of the grandsons and keep it in the family. All loads are hand loads which I worked up for my stw and my brothers’ rifles. My nephew bought his first rifle himself and I did the load work up for him-the .300 wm Remington

 

[Firebird]

Those were all this years harvests. None of those bullets were recovered so nothing to weigh. All one shot kills-bullet placement, bullet placement.
There was some discussion on the tip colors-all Accubonds have white tips. Ballistic tips are done by color per caliber and e tip have green tips. Accubond long range have a dark grey tip.
there is also a ballistic silver tip.

 

[Firebird]

I am not a nosler slob-I use multiple bullets when I do load work up based on friends and family preference or bullets I especially like. I load multiple powders until I find what each gun likes and I load for accuracy first and speed second.
I do like the accubond as you can see-I have had some success with the long range accubond. But I do use many bullets from many companies and don’t claim complete loyalty to any of them.
It is very possible that there was a bad run of them which performed poorly-but nosler quality control is generally pretty good in MY experience.

 

[Firebird]

I mentioned my brothers 200 inch mule deer and here is my mtn goat-I’ve told that story on here before. Both killed with my Remington 700 in .300 wm and 180 accubond @3050 fps. Both were spine shots and both roughly 300 yards. Bullets passed through and animals anchored, dead before we got to them. took the goat in the days before rifle upgrades were made-weird, it even worked back then.

Same rifle we shared in South Africa but we used 200 gr trophy bonded bear claws that trip-the original ones, before the company was bought and the bullets re engineered-But not improved.

 

[C.W. Richter]

That’s good, I have been using Nosler BT Hunting version. I shoot pigs and they stay down if I do my part and hit in the right spot. They are accurate and accuracy builds confidence and that improves results.

I am interested in the Accubond LR, Long Range version. I just ordered 200 at a good price. I am having a .280ai built and will probably run 120’s in my 7mm-08 and then 150’s in the .280ai for most hunting or culling ordered 168gn Accubond LR to test them and test my skill. I’m not shooting game at stupid ranges but would like to have the skills.

Would you try them again in light of the support here? Maybe they did improve.
My experience with the Nosler BT Hunting has been good, accurate and dependable.
The Hornady SST handloads I used in Africa went well and game we’re all one shot kills with the Blie Wildebeeste taking a 200m sprint.
You say you made a perfect shot on but the game went into the next country. I suspect it was not a perfect shot. Maybe it felt good but the shot placement was not good.
Yes some BT’s blow up on impact. I expect they are varmint types. I witnessed this myself. I shot a pig at about 150m headshot bang flop.
Same day same everything i shot a running pig hitting “a bit far back” to the rear ribs , slowed it down. I made a good shot on the shoulder and hardly slowed it. I took a few steps and head shot it.
On inspection the shoulder shot was nasty but probably did not penetrate. I expect it pretty much blew up on the shoulder pad.
Why, it was a Hornady 168gn Zmax Fromm a .308. I think these are a version of a varmint bullet. At 150m after losing some speed with a good headshot it went well (possibly penetrating well due to velocity ) at 30m it basically blew up.
I believe that Nosler Ab LR might Be constructed in a a way to perform at Long Range due lower velocity in flight.

Another thing I will add is that Soft Point ammo has worked for years, it is still good for taking game and still kills. I like the BT’s and like to start with an accurate load as shot placement is paramount.


As of late....I've witnessed the Nosler Accubonds and Nosler Balistic Tips are having similar performance on game from our group of hunters. On recovered bullets of each type we are getting 66% weight retention from both.

How do you section Bullets and get a neat straight result????
I’m about t you tube this but how many people section Bullets or have tried?

No. For African (and most) PG-type hunting, the Partition exceeds its terminal performance. For crazy long shots, use ELD-X or VLDHs, and for DG Swift A-Frames and Barnes Banded Solids! Woodleighs are great too, but availability in America is a problem at times (both SP and Solids.) Fool me once...

 

[CBH Australia]

Woodleigh’s are readily available here and sold worldwide.
Others here have said that they do not think they are a premium bullet many like them.
I’ve ordered some Accubond at old prices, I will look out for Sierra but to date Nosler BT have given me a balance of accuracy and performance.

Using the outfitters rifle in SA I used Hornady SST handloads, again I did not question performance or retrieve Bullets, one shot kills seem to tell the story.

 

[CBH Australia]

chris,
you might find sierra conventional soft points more consistent all round than plastic pointed bullets, and just as accurate.
bruce.

Bruce,
I can give these a go. I burned up 200 factory load 139gn Hornady SP in my 7mm-08 and load with 120gn Nosler BT so I have some Sierra and Woodleigh on hand.
I'm not sure what my fixation is with plastic tips I have bought what old stock I can on special in my travels I guess I just thought it's a shortcut to accuracy and the results from my .223 using 55gn Varmint are good.
I do need to shoot more and test some stuff.

 

[bruce moulds]

chris,
why do you think plastic tips are the road to accuracy?
bruce.

 

[CBH Australia]

@bruce moulds That, I don’t know, I guess I just thought technology , ballistics and stuff I don’t really have a handle on .
Yes I’ve been loading for years but never shot competitively.
I have found Nosler effective and accurate and probably thought the ballistics of these help with various aspects of wind drift, general accuracy and performance.
Still, Learning everyday, I have a few Nosler on hand so I won’t run out this year at least.

 

[Bob Nelson 35Whelen]

Bruce,
I can give these a go. I burned up 200 factory load 139gn Hornady SP in my 7mm-08 and load with 120gn Nosler BT so I have some Sierra and Woodleigh on hand.
I'm not sure what my fixation is with plastic tips I have bought what old stock I can on special in my travels I guess I just thought it's a shortcut to accuracy and the results from my .223 using 55gn Varmint are good.
I do need to shoot more and test some stuff.

@CBH
Mate you have champagne tastes in projectiles for our details. If'n those 139 soft point were accurate enough I would have stocked up on them more bang for your Bucks.for my Whelen I pay 66 dollars a hundred for Hornaday 200s and 250s why do I want to pay $76 for 50 Speers or Sierra, $120 for 50 accubonds, 65 bucks for 50 Woodleigh.
For my 25 50 115 grain nosler combined technology silver tip sets me back $53 for 50 the 117grain SST is 71 bucks a hundred and if I buy in bulk I can 500 100grain Remington core lockts for a couple of hundred dollars.
For your 223 buy bulk 55 grain V Max or Sierra 55 grain Roo load . Both very accurate but the Sierra is a better game bullet in my opinion.
The money you save could go towards your 280AI.
Bob

 

[CBH Australia]

I guess it’s not so much the “Plastic Tip” that I expect is going to be more accurate but the premium projectiles.
That said I have used a lot of plastic tips and plenty more soft point over the years.
I’m not a high volume shooter and bullets are the cheapest part of the hunt.
To date I have had good results with Nosler .

I have had the 500 count packs of Sierra, used Taipan, Speer, Hornady, Myra, Outer edge, Woodleigh, Winchester and
When I think about it I have burned through a few not being a target shooter.

I’ve seen the Red Mist when a Nosler makes a headshot.

I plan to use premium projectiles in the .280ai build as it won’t be shot that much. I could live without it but it’s interest and really started with me wanting a light rifle for regular walks up the creek. I looked into Carbon Fibre stocks and it’s grown from there.

Being the thread is about Nosler Accubonds it caught my attention, I’ve only used the Varmint and Hunting labelled Nosler.

I’ve heard the term buying scores in relation to shooters using expensive projectiles at the club. For the volume I use paying the gap on premium projectiles Doesn’t seem that bad, if I am buying accuracy for hunting then I’m ok with that.
I’m not discounting the others I am the first to say that soft points worked for years.
I am particularly interested in what people think of Nosler Accubond LR from the thread.
I have some ordered at old pricing so I’m keen to give them a go. I do want to test myself and my rifle at longer ranges and I still don’t think I will shoot at game much past 200, I took a 230m shot in SA but it was measured and the ph said aim right on and the Impala went straight down.
Testing the rifle and myself is as much about testing the components I chose to be assembled and the bloke doing the work.
It’s only an interest and a hobby and really this is my first build. Possibly the only one I’ve got most of what I need covered, I need to shoot more to appreciate them.

 

[shootist~]

@CBH Australia
For true long range hunting with the 280AI you might want to give the 162 gr Hornady ELD-X a try at some point. My professional shooter friend (shooter/instructor for a NGO) used it last year in a custom 280AI for New Mexico Oryx with good results. I've also seen him get hits on our steel at 925 yards with the same rifle.

I like the Nosler Ballistic tips as well if matched to the game. My 10 point Whitetail was taken with the 150 BT in a 308W. Almost dead going away and I was able to slide the shot right down the ribcage at 50 Yds. DRT.

 

[Bob Nelson 35Whelen]

I guess it’s not so much the “Plastic Tip” that I expect is going to be more accurate but the premium projectiles.
That said I have used a lot of plastic tips and plenty more soft point over the years.
I’m not a high volume shooter and bullets are the cheapest part of the hunt.
To date I have had good results with Nosler .

I have had the 500 count packs of Sierra, used Taipan, Speer, Hornady, Myra, Outer edge, Woodleigh, Winchester and
When I think about it I have burned through a few not being a target shooter.

I’ve seen the Red Mist when a Nosler makes a headshot.

I plan to use premium projectiles in the .280ai build as it won’t be shot that much. I could live without it but it’s interest and really started with me wanting a light rifle for regular walks up the creek. I looked into Carbon Fibre stocks and it’s grown from there.

Being the thread is about Nosler Accubonds it caught my attention, I’ve only used the Varmint and Hunting labelled Nosler.

I’ve heard the term buying scores in relation to shooters using expensive projectiles at the club. For the volume I use paying the gap on premium projectiles Doesn’t seem that bad, if I am buying accuracy for hunting then I’m ok with that.
I’m not discounting the others I am the first to say that soft points worked for years.
I am particularly interested in what people think of Nosler Accubond LR from the thread.
I have some ordered at old pricing so I’m keen to give them a go. I do want to test myself and my rifle at longer ranges and I still don’t think I will shoot at game much past 200, I took a 230m shot in SA but it was measured and the ph said aim right on and the Impala went straight down.
Testing the rifle and myself is as much about testing the components I chose to be assembled and the bloke doing the work.
It’s only an interest and a hobby and really this is my first build. Possibly the only one I’ve got most of what I need covered, I need to shoot more to appreciate them.

@CBH
Chris I'm still laughing. I said that after I had my second and third rifles built, I'm now up to number 4. It's a pity they don't still do the Tipan bullets, i still have 300 135 grainers for my 303. What did you think of the outer edge, they are bloody accurate and deadly medicine on game.
Bob

 

[CBH Australia]

Bob, I picked up the outer edge in Orange at the gunshop, just a case of I was there and they told me all about them.
I loaded them, sighted them and shot some pigs, probably foxes too, I did not have any failures or I would remember.
I only had one pack in 130gn I believe. Off hand I cannot tell you the twist rate of my factory Tikka. I know Outer Edge actually mark the optimal twist rate on the box. They recommend a twist rate based on weight in a given calibre and market it this way or push the recommended twist rate first.

My understanding is that heavier bullets need a faster rate of twist in the rifling. How forgiving is this for the average hunter? Say between 125gn and 180gn in a .308. I googled Tikka twist and it’s 1in 11.

Outer edge suggest 1-11 for there 130-150 class projectiles, Tikka make it 1-11 and there is a lot of 150gn factory ammo on offer, Coincidence or just a marketing strategy of Outer Edge to impress us with their ballistics knowledge? They have done the thinking for us.

I’m sure many will look to pick a projectile based on the game they pursue, pick a weight class we believe we should be using for said game and have preference to a bullet type, BT,Soft Point or Hollow Point.

Obviously we need to find if our preference works in our rifle. With a little thought we consider is I think suitable , should I run 220gn in a 1-11 twist. .308 . Perhaps not but under 100m on heavy game it might be preferable.

It seems all factory Tikka 30cals are 1-11

I might interested in the Accubonds opinions and experiences but has anyone else tried outer edge?

My idea is to find what I like stock up and be consistent. I don’t spend a lot of time on load development but I might when this new rifle is built but I then hope to settle on a load and stick with it.

 

[Bob Nelson 35Whelen]

Bob, I picked up the outer edge in Orange at the gunshop, just a case of I was there and they told me all about them.
I loaded them, sighted them and shot some pigs, probably foxes too, I did not have any failures or I would remember.
I only had one pack in 130gn I believe. Off hand I cannot tell you the twist rate of my factory Tikka. I know Outer Edge actually mark the optimal twist rate on the box. They recommend a twist rate based on weight in a given calibre and market it this way or push the recommended twist rate first.

My understanding is that heavier bullets need a faster rate of twist in the rifling. How forgiving is this for the average hunter? Say between 125gn and 180gn in a .308. I googled Tikka twist and it’s 1in 11.

Outer edge suggest 1-11 for there 130-150 class projectiles, Tikka make it 1-11 and there is a lot of 150gn factory ammo on offer, Coincidence or just a marketing strategy of Outer Edge to impress us with their ballistics knowledge? They have done the thinking for us.

I’m sure many will look to pick a projectile based on the game they pursue, pick a weight class we believe we should be using for said game and have preference to a bullet type, BT,Soft Point or Hollow Point.

Obviously we need to find if our preference works in our rifle. With a little thought we consider is I think suitable , should I run 220gn in a 1-11 twist. .308 . Perhaps not but under 100m on heavy game it might be preferable.

It seems all factory Tikka 30cals are 1-11

I might interested in the Accubonds opinions and experiences but has anyone else tried outer edge?

My idea is to find what I like stock up and be consistent. I don’t spend a lot of time on load development but I might when this new rifle is built but I then hope to settle on a load and stick with it.

@CBH
Chris
Outer edge have even done the legwork and they also provide the optimal load data for each projectile.
The 140grain outer edge punches well above it's weight in the 308.
My son used them on his Burchells zebra. At 150 yards the zebra was dead but ran another 20 yards. His second shot at around 170 yards was 2 inches from his first (off sticks) and it was good night. Both shots were thru and thru with massive damage. At the skinning shed it was hard to tell the difference in damages between a 300 win mag and 212 grain ELDXs and the 140 outer edge. They also mushroom like standard projectiles plus they are about the same price as the accubonds or cheaper.
I found them to be extremely accurate with less than half inch groups out of a big standard Howa.
Bob