Thread: Berger vs Accubonds

Afternoon,

At present I shoot the 140gn Bergers in my .284. I don't generally use the heavier projectiles due to mag length restrictions. Now I am due to load some more rounds up and was just curious about the 140gn Accubonds and how people have found them. Would they perform any better or worse than the bergers? Obviously I reaslise that different rifles prefer different projectiles, but I was just keen to hear of peoples experiences if they had used them.

I will have a look to see if you can get them in the sample packs to try if the general consensus is positive.

Cheers
Scott.

The two are as far apart as its possible to be, in terms of bullet construction.

Berger = soft and highly frangible
Accubond = hard (bonded) and very high weight retention.

This can make a really big difference in how the animal reacts when hit. Accubonds can be super effective, or a bit disastrous, depending where they strike - not enough resistance like too far back behind the shoulder and they will over penetrate and fly straight through the beastie, with a narrow wound channel. Whereas the frangible bullet has a much higher chance of connecting with something important that outs the animal down faster.

Personally I like a partially fragmenting bullet, and am not that keen on bonded bullets. But I do know for sure that the Accubonds fly very well and are reliably accurate, as a good buddy only uses Accubonds in his three rifles. Just the way he rolls. He shoots for the front shoulder and I’ve only seen him have the one fail with Accubonds, too far back.

Originally Posted by Flyblown

The two are as far apart as its possible to be, in terms of bullet construction.

Berger = soft and highly frangible
Accubond = hard (bonded) and very high weight retention.

This can make a really big difference in how the animal reacts when hit. Accubonds can be super effective, or a bit disastrous, depending where they strike - not enough resistance like too far back behind the shoulder and they will over penetrate and fly straight through the beastie, with a narrow wound channel. Whereas the frangible bullet has a much higher chance of connecting with something important that outs the animal down faster.

Personally I like a partially fragmenting bullet, and am not that keen on bonded bullets. But I do know for sure that the Accubonds fly very well and are reliably accurate, as a good buddy only uses Accubonds in his three rifles. Just the way he rolls. He shoots for the front shoulder and I’ve only seen him have the one fail with Accubonds, too far back.

Thanks. That's the sort of stuff I was after. I'm tempted to give them a go as I mainly shoot for the shoulder as well and if they are reliably accurate then that is the main point for me...not that the Bergers are un-accurate.
There was someone on this forum that had good sucsess with the ballistic Tips in their .284, But I just had some bad experiences with ballistic Tips in my 25-06 that made me wary....

Originally Posted by Kudu

Thanks. That's the sort of stuff I was after. I'm tempted to give them a go as I mainly shoot for the shoulder as well and if they are reliably accurate then that is the main point for me...not that the Bergers are un-accurate.
There was someone on this forum that had good sucsess with the ballistic Tips in their .284, But I just had some bad experiences with ballistic Tips in my 25-06 that made me wary....

Try the 110 Accubonds in your 25 06, very very impressive results

Originally Posted by Moa Hunter

Try the 110 Accubonds in your 25 06, very very impressive results

Shot a lot of deer and Tahr with the 115 NBT in 25/06, never failed to kill it on the spot, 117 Prohunter never failed me either.

Originally Posted by Moa Hunter

Try the 110 Accubonds in your 25 06, very very impressive results

I would have but I sold the 25-06 many years ago.

I used 140 AB in my 280Ai and 284 and because I shoot f all deer and because I always shoot for the engine room and or shoulder I always found them to be an excellent bullet, I’ve also used the TTSX and GMX and although they killed I had walker/runners; maybe 10-100m but still not as effective as the ABond or the boringly reliable SPoint that are synonymous with dead on the spot shots.
Bergers have always been the best in any rifle I’ve had for bucking wind and accuracy. Easily.


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I use 140ABs as a bush load in my 284, Great for up close out to 250 yards. They’re not a long range pill as @Flyblown has stated they are a tough bonded pill. 150 gn partitions are better & while true not long range they have a frangible front section, bc is crap but still good to 300 or 350. 154SSTs would be good do everything round or the new 150 AMAX? Some guys run the 150 BTs have not used these myself, but guys using them seem to get good results. Another option in the 145 Speer HC SPBT.

Originally Posted by chainsaw

I use 140ABs as a bush load in my 284, Great for up close out to 250 yards. They’re not a long range pill as @Flyblown has stated they are a tough bonded pill. 150 gn partitions are better & while true not long range they have a frangible front section, bc is crap but still good to 300 or 350. 154SSTs would be good do everything round or the new 150 AMAX? Some guys run the 150 BTs have not used these myself, but guys using them seem to get good results. Another option in the 145 Speer HC SPBT.

I just had a look on the Hornady site. They were not showing a 150gn A-Max..........

Originally Posted by chainsaw

I use 140ABs as a bush load in my 284, Great for up close out to 250 yards. They’re not a long range pill as @Flyblown has stated they are a tough bonded pill. 150 gn partitions are better & while true not long range they have a frangible front section, bc is crap but still good to 300 or 350. 154SSTs would be good do everything round or the new 150 AMAX? Some guys run the 150 BTs have not used these myself, but guys using them seem to get good results. Another option in the 145 Speer HC SPBT.

I didn’t say that!

Originally Posted by Flyblown

I didn’t say that!

ah the intricacies of the english language. " as @Flyblown has stated they are a tough bonded pill."
My bad, i sued the word tough, instead of hard. LOL.

Originally Posted by chainsaw

ah the intricacies of the english language. " as @Flyblown has stated they are a tough bonded pill."
My bad, i sued the word tough, instead of hard. LOL.

Its all good @chainsaw.

They’re not a long range pill as @Flyblown has stated they are a tough bonded pill.

Its the “long range” bit I didn’t say. No mention of the words long or range! And you are right, they certainly aren’t long range bullets.

One of the things I have never understood is the love affair some of the poms have with hard bullets for little deer. Time and time again you read or hear about roe or fallow or even muntjac shot with bullets that are designed for large medium game animals like heavy red stags, or proper big game. Hard, heavy, tough bullets I’d select if I wanted to shoot an eland. Not all the poms, but its more common than you’d think. I get that they want an exit wound in case they need to track, but they need to track as often as they do because the bullet has pencilled straight through and its run away!

There’s a vid by one of the better known roe stalkers complaining about Sierra GameKings, when he’s shooting 180gr 30 cals at roe deer, well behind the shoulder. (because they also don’t understand anatomy but that’s another story.) Both deer get knocked over, get up and hurtle off. Nuts.

I love the AB and the LRAB in my 6.5's (x.284 & x68 RWS Magnum)

I have found them to be great on animals, last being a nice 9pt Red, smashed his brisket head on at 211m, he turned left and died standing, without a word of a lie, that was a 129g LRAB from the 6.5x.284

Just load tested the 142g LRAB in my RWS, 5 load trial produced this, 3 shots 100m, yes they are accurate...

Originally Posted by Double Shot

I love the AB and the LRAB in my 6.5's (x.284 & x68 RWS Magnum)

I have found them to be great on animals, last being a nice 9pt Red, smashed his brisket head on at 211m, he turned left and died standing, without a word of a lie, that was a 129g LRAB from the 6.5x.284

Just load tested the 142g LRAB in my RWS, 5 load trial produced this, 3 shots 100m, yes they are accurate...

Attachment 100945

Very correct - all 5 missed the center!




Just.....

kudu, hornady have dropped the Amax and split it into 2 lines. the ELD-m for target work and the ELD-x for hunting.
From what I have read (only shot a couple of goats with them). the m line is basically the old amax with a New tip. Like the bergers they make a good long range hunting bullet. The X version is like the AB's, a good short to medium range hunting bullet. have not used the X's but read that the heavier jacket does push up pressure so a lighter load may be needed.
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