308 125 gr AccuBond at 3150 mv?

[BoomFlop]

How will the 125 grain Ballistic Tip at 3000 fps (Nosler Factory) compare to the 125 grain Accubond at 3150-3200 fps (Custom Factory)?

What differences will I see as far as performance on game from these bullets versus 150-165 grain?

Thanks everyone!

 

[RT2506]

Bottom line realistically it don't matter which weight hunting style bullet you use in your stated conditions. If you put any of them into the vitals deer are dead. Now some may run off a certain distance until the bleed out but they will be dead just the same. I have had more in their tracks kills with the 125 BT than any other bullet with comparable bullet placement. The Ballistic Tips are designed to operate best with an impact velocity under 3000 fps Nosler says. In my experience they really start to work best below 2800 fps down to about 1900 fps. If you do your part and put any bullet where it is supposed to go have a sharp knife ready to dress your deer.

 

[BoomFlop]

What is the difference in performance between impact velocity being say 3000 fps versus say 2700 fps?

Thanks so much!

 

[Canhunter35]

What is the difference in performance between impact velocity being say 3000 fps versus say 2700 fps?

Thanks so much!

Shot placement will be the only noticeable and repeatable difference

 

[jsthntn247]

I go in the opposite direction. 180 Berger elite at 2600 yields better on game performance.

 

[BoomFlop]

Do not believe 180 Berger Elites are available in a factory load

 

[xsn10s]

Available with 185gr. https://www.midwayusa.com/product/1...er-185-grain-berger-juggernaut-open-tip-match

 

[tankgijohn72]

What is the difference in performance between impact velocity being say 3000 fps versus say 2700 fps?

Thanks so much!

Just take a look at nosler's website/box for the accubond and BT bullets. They show expansion for each bullet at different velocities. "Performance" is a very subjective term, but the AB is bonded so it will hold together a little better than the BT. But, not much discernable difference between them at similar velocities. "performance" should be defined as dead/not dead. I am looking at the same thing as you for a .308 I recently bought, 125 accubonds out of 20" barrel (haven't loaded them yet). Should be a solid deer killer to ~400 yds. The deer I have shot under 300 yards with .300 WM, .270, .243 and 6.5 creedmoor have all been pretty boring. Bullet through the lungs and the fall over within 50-75 yards. Don't overthink it. Get a hunting bullet that shoots well out of your rifle, practice a lot and head to the woods.

 

[BoomFlop]

I was under the impression that the Ballistic tip and Berger bullet benefits is the rapid/explosive expansion. Sounds as though if they are shot at lower velocities, that they are just a plastic tipped Interlock or Core Lokt (cup and core) then correct?

I believe short range bullet performance is equally important at all ranges. I know most of you probably could care less with my questions for my 200 yards and under questions all the time (maybe I need to find a different forum), however, I figured the long range crowd would be the most knowledgeable in regards to equipment than the average guy.

Thanks for everyone's time.

Steve

 

[tankgijohn72]

Pretty accurate. I shot a very large doe this year at 25 yds from a short barreled 6.5 creedmoor. Impact velocity was around 2575fps with 140 gr Nosler BT. Was rather unimpressive, but extremely effective. Double lung. She jumped and ran approximately 40 yds and went down. Exit wound was maybe and inch or so. If bullet was recovered it was probably similar to the pic near the bottom of this page https://www.nosler.com/ballistic-tip-bullet/ For your intended purposes, I would try the 125 AB that you mentioned earlier or the 130 ttsx for woods hunting inside 200. I have had very good success with barnes bullets on deer. The key with any bullet is to match the intended distance (impact velocity)/cartridge/bullet/game animal to get best results.

 

[BoomFlop]

Some mention that "speed kills" and the guy at Berger said the issue is that the velocity at that range is too fast and that I need to slow them down.

Super confused! Slow, fast, Extreme expansion or bonded? Holy crap! LOL

 

[tankgijohn72]

Overthinking it. Barnes TTSX, Barnes LRX, nosler BT, federal fusion, federal powershok copper, Hornady AMAX are all bullets I have used to kill deer. For your hunting situation, virtually any bullet will work out of the 308. Bullets through vital organs kill, the rest for the most part is just marketing. Most issues with bullets will arise at longer ranges, or on very large animals. Almost all bullet manufacturers label their products with recommended uses. Follow their recommendations. Make good shots and pay attention when tracking and you wont lose an animal.

 

[BoomFlop]

Once again, over thinking or stating anything will work is what I'm talking about. We spend hours of our lives everyday on this forum trying to figure out how to kill animals at 1000 yards....overthinking it or anything will work is like.....get closer is it not? Our equipment and the thought and research is 80% of the hunt.

I realize I can hunt the rest of my life with a basic cup and core bullet and still kill big Wisconsin whitetails. I am tired of deer shot with a rifle running further than deer shot with my bow.

Something has to work better than something else. I've killed more Pope and Young whitetails than I can count and shot some great deer with a rifle (only a 9 day season), and I just like to learn and research.

 

[Canhunter35]

I'd take the heavier bullet but there is a best of both worlds, the 168eldm superformance. I don't remember what velocity they run at, but it's fast!

I use the 168 eld in my 308 and imo it's one of the best deer hunting bullets available

Not sure what else you're wanting, I think the amax/eldm are top notch deer killing bullets.

This is an excerpt from Nathan foster's terminal ballisitcis website. I'll provide the link below>

Hornady's A-Max bullets are simply outstanding when used for hunting. The 155 grain Amax is best suited to smaller deer/ light bodied game, effective out to and beyond 800 yards. The 168 grain A-Max produces excellent results on a wide range of body weights, though best suited to game weighing no more than 80kg. Wounding performance is interesting in that following a cross body chest shot (down to 1400fps impact velocity), fragments of the A-Max can be found in other vital organs including the liver and kidneys and the arterial system of the spine. Perforated bowels can also be expected from time to time. The Amax is very forgiving with shot placement though - it should never be expected to produce fast killing with poor shots as it is not 100% reliable in its ability to produce fragmentary wounding throughout. Carcass inspection is very important prior to meat retrieval.

The 168 grain A-Max is a reliable, wide wounding, fast killing bullet, down to velocities of 1400fps. From an MV of 2670fps at minimum, this equates to 800 yards. Nevertheless, generally speaking, it is difficult to ensure fast clean killing on game past 650 yards due to the effects of wind drift on the .308 Winchester cartridge. Using the .308 and A-Max past 650 yards requires great skill<

>The 168 grain A-Max bullet with its higher SD, has a light advantage over the 155 grain bullet with fragmentation occurring over a longer distance during the course of penetration. Ballistics gelatin is completely hopeless as a means of understanding the terminal performance of these loads. While the 155 grain bullet will occasionally suffer surface bullet blow up when used on tough animals, the 168 grain A-Max handles a wide range of body weights and densities, producing better performance on larger animals at longer ranges where velocity is down towards 2000fps. Hornady have done very well with the SF version of the 168 grain A-Max load and it is impossible to duplicate these velocities in most 20-22" barreled rifles.<

I pulled it from this page:
https://www.ballisticstudies.com/Knowledgebase/.308+Winchester+7.62+NATO.html