Have Your Tried the Nosler AccuBond?

[147 Grain]

I believe the Nosler AccuBond is one of the best all-around bullets there are to choose from.

For starters, the AccuBond is a Ballistic Efficient round with an aerodynamic BC of .509 - enabling more downrange energy on target.

Example:

When comparing a bullet's energy in a 30-06 versus a 300 Win Mag, if you put a premium 180-gr. Nosler AccuBond bullet in a 30-06 at 2,750 fps MV and compare it to a plain jane Winchester 180-gr. Power Point in a 300 Win Mag at 2,960 fps MV, the 30-06 AccuBond will have an amazing 104 ft. lbs more energy at 300 yards: that's right - 2,005 versus 2,001 (Source: Winchester's 2005 Ammo Catalog, p. 10 - 13).

So you see the 180-gr. AccuBond with a BC of .509 easily makes up for and passes the 210 fps velocity advantage the 180-gr. Power Point had because of its much lower BC of only .349.

In this case, the 30-06 180-gr. AccuBond outperforms a 300 Win Mag 180-gr. Power Point at 300 yards.

Moreover, a Nosler Technician recently reported that in comparison to the Hornady InterBond, the AccuBond not only expands more than the InterBond (providing more shock), it also penetrates more by shedding shrapnel along the way to the point where the slightly smaller bullet actually penetrates more than the larger mushroom on the InterBond.

The AccuBond's design took 4 1/2 years in the making.

I like this bullet because it provides excellent expansion and its unique ability to slowly shed weight enables it to penetrate more than the competition, so you get the best of both worlds.

http://www.nosler.com/accubond.html

 

[147 Grain]

P.S. No affiliation with Nosler other than one of many satisfied customers.

 

[H&Hhunter]

I like the paint, trim and flash. But I am wholly unimpressed with this bullet as a hunting bullet. At least in a magnum configuration. They over expand and give very shallow penetration at magnum velocity IE anything over 3000fps.

They may however be a simply fantastic round for your .30-06 at 2700FPS I haven't tried them as of yet out of a standard velocity rifle.

On two occasions now I've recovered NAB bullets That failed miserably in my opinion.

One was on a bull elk last year the rifle was a .338 RUM launching a 225gr NAB at somewhere over 3000fps 209 yards. The hunter hit the elk on the point of the shoulder on a quartering on shot. The elk went down to the shot but got back up and was finished with a second shot form the hunter. That one went behind the diaphragm and exited.

I recovered the first round it had hit the point of the shoulder deflected along the shoulder blade and penetrated just at 8 inches. The bullet lost over 40% of it's weight.

the second was on a deer last season with a .300 Weatherby Mag and an almost identical shot at around 200 yards. This shot killed the deer but the bullet was a ditto lost nearly 40% of it's weight and penetrated less than 10 inches. which in this case was enough to get the job done.

I haven't given up on these bullets yet as I like a lot of things about them but I wouldn't use them on heavy game until I've seen what they'll do at realistic velocities.

Greg

 

[H&Hhunter]

147,

I was just looking at that other post you did on premium bullets. Dude you REALLY like Nosler bullets.

Nothing wrong with that!

 

[147 Grain]

Question:

Aren't your magnum calibers at 200 yards like my using a 30-06 on an animal at 25 yards, which I'd expect almost any bullet to not hold up (as designed)?

Just about any bullet that hits bone is going to look like hell afterwards.

 

[H&Hhunter]

Question:

Aren't your magnum calibers at 200 yards like my using a 30-06 on an animal at 25 yards, which I'd expect almost any bullet to not hold up (as designed)?

Just about any bullet that hits bone is going to look like hell afterwards

Answer.

two actually.

1. No not all bullets come apart like that when hitting bone at high velocity. I have a very nice collection of Barnes X, Swift A-frame, Trophy Bonded, Woodleigh and Rhino Solid shank bullets that look good enough to print in a bullet add after having smashed some serious bone at close range.

Polomar tip bullets just aren't designed to hold together like those mentioned.

2. I don't really care what a bullet looks like after smashing into something solid. What I care about is performance. And 8 inches of penetration is not performance I'd call anywhere near acceptable.

This is not a bullet that can be trusted to get the job done on heavy boned, thick skinned, and any dangerous game.

It is however a very nicely designed flighty bullet. It is also a fairly good comprimise as a hunting bullet but that is what it is. A comprimise.

Have you ever killed anything with an NAB, and if so did you recover the bullet?

I am speaking from experience not marketing hype.

 

[ClarkEMyers]

I really like Noslers too but........

Question:
Aren't your magnum calibers at 200 yards like my using a 30-06 on an animal at 25 yards, which I'd expect almost any bullet to not hold up (as designed)?

Just about any bullet that hits bone is going to look like hell afterwards.

I don't have nearly the experience of some others but I do expect my 200 grain Nosler partitions to perform just fine from a .30-'06 as well at 25 yards as at 250 - but I've never shot

heavy boned, thick skinned, and any dangerous game.

in Africa or anyplace where I could get the sort of experience so many others have - best I could do is pick my shots on familiar ground in the mountain west.

I did buy several hundred (lifetime supply of one lot each bullets, cases and 4895) Nosler Accubond at 260 grains in .375 for a pseudo-Scout in .376 Steyr - which hardly overdrives any bullet but is a very handy thing for a woodswalker who may kick elk out of the brush on north faces.

In fact I have hopes that this combination of rifle and load will do for the rest of my life what I expect from the 200 grain partition in the .30-'06 but with a more handy or at least lighter rifle. I don't have meaningful experience yet with the Steyr but at this point if I did have a chance to hunt Africa I would surely follow Mr. Ching's published load development with Woodleigh (my only experience with Woodleigh is 9.3x62 where they do just fine of course but I expect that).

I'm afraid for me the AccuBond in smaller calibers and lighter weights at higher veolocities will carry the taint of the Ballistic Tip for good or bad (and there are some applications for the Ballistic Tip but shoot anything isn't one of my own choices) until I've shown myself otherwise. I do figure the .376 Steyr with Accubond will be enough gun for my purposes.

Anybody want to chime in with more personal experience with the AccuBond?

 

[hps1]

I have used the 225 gr. Accubond in my 338 Win Mag @ 2800 fps. to take two deer and let a friend use my rifle to take a nilgai cow. Have yet to recover a bullet, but they all did their job. The does were DRT and the nilgai cow managed to run less than 75 yards.

Had a few doubts that the A/B's might be a bit explosive based on performance in the two deer, both small does about 110-115# field dressed. Both were broadside lung shots, just behind shoulder so no heavy bones involved. Entrance holes on all animals about .40 cal. but the exit hole (if you can call it that) into the chest cavity was about 2" in diameter, indicating the front portion of the A/B had expanded rather violently on somewhat light resistance. The "entrance hole" into the opposite rib cage was probably less than 1" as was the exit hole in hide behind opposite shoulder.

The nilgai was shot in some heavy brush and my bud did a good job of threading the needle. The cow was at a slight angle, he hit her just behind the shoulder and the bullet angled back to mid-rib cage where it exited making approx. 1-1 1/2" hole in hide. Couldn't weigh the cow but guess her to weigh between 325-375# live weight based on damage she did to my boom.

All in all, suspect that the A/B will work well at standard velocities but I really prefer the Nos. Partitions and trust them to perform at any reasonable velocity, both in expansion and penetration. The A/B's are really accurate, though.

Entrance hole a bit hard to see, high on the shoulder.

Exit wound.

Regards,
hps

 

[H&Hhunter]

hps 1

Thanks for you input. I think that the NAB is probably better suited for the velocities you are talking about I.E. < Than 3000fps. I'd still be interested to see how that bullet does after contacting heavy bone even at those velocities.

My guess from looking at some expended NAB's is probably not to good.

 

[hps1]

H&H Hunter: One was on a bull elk last year the rifle was a .338 RUM launching a 225gr NAB at somewhere over 3000fps 209 yards. I recovered the first round it had hit the point of the shoulder deflected along the shoulder blade and penetrated just at 8 inches. The bullet lost over 40% of it's weight.

That bullet should have been moving @ 2635 fps @ impact at 209 yds. Any bullet will lose some penetration on heavy bone, but that is why I like the Swift A Frames or Nos. partitions for deep penetration.

Not enough info on the 300 Wea. to calculate vel. @ impact.

Hit an eland standing broadside just behind the shoulder @ 140 yds. w/300 gr. A frame from 375 H&H, hit no large bones and obtained full passthrough. 2nd shot entered just behind last rib as he tried to run, penetrated right at 30 inches and retained weight was 289 gr.; again, no major bones hit. Can't beat the partitions when penetration is needed, but the Accubonds sure shoot well in my 338 .

Regards,
hm

 

[H&Hhunter]

HM,

I'll give em that. They are some shootin little turkeys. Just like most Nosler products.