ABLR’s won’t shoot

[nksmfamjp]

The regular price for the .30 cal 190 is ~$95/box.

I too have had inconsistent grouping results with the ABLRs. When I read on this thread folks are weight and ogive sorting to get them to group consistently, that frustrates me for the price/box on these "premium" bullets. I'm not into sorting hunting bullets…especially at that price…

I will say I shot and killed a cow elk at 418 yards with the 190 ABLR. Worked well. After the hunt I went to the range to check zero and they were shooting all over the place.

At that price, I'd rather shoot Hammers.

So, $95 for 100 = expensive

$68 for 50 = fair price

That's like $0.4 more per bullet. Are the elk more dead with Hammer bullets?

 

[mightyman]

I bought some 129 grain 260 Nosler ABLR at Midway on sale clearance
May have more in sale…

 

[coyotezapper]

If powder charge is right, sorting is not necessary with any bullet for hunting accuracy. In LR BR or F-class sorting helps.

 

[JakeC]

So, $95 for 100 = expensive

$68 for 50 = fair price

That's like $0.4 more per bullet. Are the elk more dead with Hammer bullets?

I think his point is that you get to use all of the hammers instead of culling an unknown amount for being inconsistent. .95 each is a premium price but having to sort is not premium, believe that's what he said. Love them or not, machined bullets are extremely consistent.

 

[FireFlyFishing]

So, $95 for 100 = expensive

$68 for 50 = fair price

That's like $0.4 more per bullet. Are the elk more dead with Hammer bullets?

I think his point is that you get to use all of the hammers instead of culling an unknown amount for being inconsistent. .95 each is a premium price but having to sort is not premium, believe that's what he said. Love them or not, machined bullets are extremely consistent.

Correct. Load and go.

 

[Mike D Texas]

The regular price for the .30 cal 190 is ~$95/box.

I too have had inconsistent grouping results with the ABLRs. When I read on this thread folks are weight and ogive sorting to get them to group consistently, that frustrates me for the price/box on these "premium" bullets. I'm not into sorting hunting bullets…especially at that price…

I will say I shot and killed a cow elk at 418 yards with the 190 ABLR. Worked well. After the hunt I went to the range to check zero and they were shooting all over the place.

At that price, I'd rather shoot Hammers.

I've not sorted anything and most of mine are "blems" from Shooters pro shop. Once I quit trying to make them jump and put them .010-.020 off the lands I've not had any issues with them. I've shot them on steel out to 1560 yards with pretty great groups. I did have to lower the bc a little to true them up but once you find your dial ups, who cares.

 

[FireFlyFishing]

I've not sorted anything and most of mine are "blems" from Shooters pro shop. Once I quit trying to make them jump and put them .010-.020 off the lands I've not had any issues with them. I've shot them on steel out to 1560 yards with pretty great groups. I did have to lower the bc a little to true them up but once you find your dial ups, who cares.

I have some 168s and 190s left over. Maybe I'll try the sorting method with the close to the lands.

 

[Jester896]

tagging in..t.his has been a good read. I had given up on my 6.5WSM and 142ABLR. I was necking down Norma .270WSM and tried several powders. All I could get was over pressure and heavy copper fouling with 4" or worse groups at 100. I picked up some limited run Bertram 6.5WSM head stamped to start trying again after 2 years and still have a good many 129s and 142s left. I can see now that I will start at least .050 shorter than where I left off to see what I get.

 

[Rifleman97]

How far is 'a lot' of jump that you've experienced with them?

I've had pretty good luck with ABLR out of my 30-06 (I don't really use them for really long range, but I wanted to try them in a gun that's cheap to shoot)

I don't have my book with me but IIRC I was jumping them .070 or .090. I remember it was odd and close to .1 but that's all I can remember without my book (I'm stranded in a snow storm in MO right now :/ )

I was getting .4-.5 MOA at 200, .75 MOA at 100. Seemed like they gained some stability a little bit further out of the barrel?

They work great on game at the velocities I've used them (2350fps and below impact velocity) but I've heard a lot of horror stories about them falling apart and not in a productive way at high velocities. I think they work well for the Low speed expansion but they just don't hold up if you get a closer shot than they were made for.

When they run out however I'm switching back to hornady for targets and standard accubonds for game. For my magnums I run Bergers. The ABLR's do work fine for me (specifically the 210's which is all I've tried) but I want to go back down to 178-185 weight class pills for my '06 for better velocities again. It was a fun experiment but I'm going back to tried and true once they're gone.