Nosler BT/Accubond
- Thread starter reed
- Start date
Help Support Long Range Hunting Forum
I have no experience shooting big game with ballistic tips. I have shot a lot of deer and antelope with the Accubonds though and they worked excellent. I was using a 300RUM and 308.
Varminator 911
Well-Known Member
Same question
My experince on big game is only with the Ballistic Tip. At close range they have killed feral hogs and a mountain lion very well. But mine were all very well placed shots thru the ribs into the vitals.
The most frequent complaint I've read about the Accubonds is that they don't expand enough, occasionally too much. BTs in the hunting wts have a good reputation for being stouter than one might expect. This leads me to wonder if the BT might actually be a better long range bullet, where inadequate expansion might be the issue. They are both very accurate, from what I've read and in my experience. Another big plus for the BT: they are significantly cheaper.
I don't have enough experince at long range to help.
My experince on big game is only with the Ballistic Tip. At close range they have killed feral hogs and a mountain lion very well. But mine were all very well placed shots thru the ribs into the vitals.
The most frequent complaint I've read about the Accubonds is that they don't expand enough, occasionally too much. BTs in the hunting wts have a good reputation for being stouter than one might expect. This leads me to wonder if the BT might actually be a better long range bullet, where inadequate expansion might be the issue. They are both very accurate, from what I've read and in my experience. Another big plus for the BT: they are significantly cheaper.
I don't have enough experince at long range to help.
284stak
Well-Known Member
Reed:
Have used both in my 7mm wildcat - 140gr going about 3400fps. The accubond is actually more accurate in my gun. Both bullets performed as designed. When the ballistic tips were recovered on the offside --- only the jacket was present. The accubonds when recovered on the offside were nice mushrooms with about 67-70% wt retention. Have shot deer with the BT from 50-350yds and deer/elk with the accubonds out to 560yds. Animals have gone anywhere from 5 yds to 70yds --- with both bullet types.
I would personally pick the accubond, as it is the better elk bullet and both are great deer bullets. I have found it much easier to pick one bullet/powder combo and learn the ballistics on that one setup, rather than dealing with multiple variables.
Have used both in my 7mm wildcat - 140gr going about 3400fps. The accubond is actually more accurate in my gun. Both bullets performed as designed. When the ballistic tips were recovered on the offside --- only the jacket was present. The accubonds when recovered on the offside were nice mushrooms with about 67-70% wt retention. Have shot deer with the BT from 50-350yds and deer/elk with the accubonds out to 560yds. Animals have gone anywhere from 5 yds to 70yds --- with both bullet types.
I would personally pick the accubond, as it is the better elk bullet and both are great deer bullets. I have found it much easier to pick one bullet/powder combo and learn the ballistics on that one setup, rather than dealing with multiple variables.
Ridge Runner
Well-Known Member
BT's/accubonds
I've shot .284 ballistic tips and accubonds in several 7mm's from the /08 to a 7mm Allen mag, this spans a velocity range from 2800-3600 fps.
My thoughts on this is a 140 ballistic tip at less than 3000 fps behaves almost identical to an accubond at 3500. once in a great while a BT will separate but this is usualy at close range when heavy bone is encountered, the close range also allows for pinpoint shot placement so as far as deer are concerned really doesn't make much difference.
At 280 velocities I think I'd opt for a BT, I've shot the 140 BT's from my 7mm STW at 3550 fps and killed deer with them from 75-626 yards and never had any complaints.
RR
I've shot .284 ballistic tips and accubonds in several 7mm's from the /08 to a 7mm Allen mag, this spans a velocity range from 2800-3600 fps.
My thoughts on this is a 140 ballistic tip at less than 3000 fps behaves almost identical to an accubond at 3500. once in a great while a BT will separate but this is usualy at close range when heavy bone is encountered, the close range also allows for pinpoint shot placement so as far as deer are concerned really doesn't make much difference.
At 280 velocities I think I'd opt for a BT, I've shot the 140 BT's from my 7mm STW at 3550 fps and killed deer with them from 75-626 yards and never had any complaints.
RR
In 7mm, the BT is available in 120, 140 and 150 gr weights while the AB is available in 140 and 160 gr.
The 140 gr is the only common weight. I have killed several WT deer and a couple of Caribou with the 140 gr BT in 280 Rem with no problems. I would pick the one that shoots the best and not look back.
BTW, 57.0 grs RL19 with a 140 gr BT in 280 Rem shoots well under MOA.
JD338
The 140 gr is the only common weight. I have killed several WT deer and a couple of Caribou with the 140 gr BT in 280 Rem with no problems. I would pick the one that shoots the best and not look back.
BTW, 57.0 grs RL19 with a 140 gr BT in 280 Rem shoots well under MOA.
JD338
Fiftydriver
Official LRH Sponsor
I used the 7mm Rem Mag with a 140 gr Ballistic Silvertip for years as my go to rifle. Worked perfectly on heavy northern whitetail and mule deer from 50 to 500 yards.
In your 280, it would work just as well because of the slightly lower velocity. I have never seen any reason not to use a "HUNTING" ballistic tip on deer as long as velocity is kept under 3300 fps.
That said, the Accubond will open and expand as easily as the ballistic tip but will retain even more weight so it may be the perfect bullet.
Either will work great for deer, there really is not a bad choice to make here, the Accubond just a bit more penetration insurance.
Kirby Allen(50)
In your 280, it would work just as well because of the slightly lower velocity. I have never seen any reason not to use a "HUNTING" ballistic tip on deer as long as velocity is kept under 3300 fps.
That said, the Accubond will open and expand as easily as the ballistic tip but will retain even more weight so it may be the perfect bullet.
Either will work great for deer, there really is not a bad choice to make here, the Accubond just a bit more penetration insurance.
Kirby Allen(50)
I recommend you spend more time reading reports on the Ballistic Tip. I hear a lot of stories of those blowing up with no penetration on big game. I believe you will find the exact same accuracy with the Accubond, notice that the BT and the Accubond have the exact same BC listing for same grain selections. I have heard very very few complaints about Accubond performance on big game, except primarily for those in the camp of near 100% weight retention, which is not a trait of Nosler. My experience is with Accubonds from 270, 280, and 7mm Mag and all have worked very well. You have a smal sample of responses here, go out and read more first.
jdlotto
Member
Loads for your Rifle
Try this web site they have every load possible WWW.Ballistics.NTInnovations.com I tjink i spelled it right..It is a awesome site ..try it....
Try this web site they have every load possible WWW.Ballistics.NTInnovations.com I tjink i spelled it right..It is a awesome site ..try it....
