Thread: Nosler Accubond Vs Ballistic Tip terminal performance

Asking because I've never used Accubond, got a load worked up for them. Have found BT's very good on deer.
Any comments?

The following is an unhelpful post:

Based on the excellent performance and accuracy of the 150gr BT in my 308, I see no need to bother with accubonds.

My limited experience with accubonds 165 gn in .30/06 (2900 fps mv) is they expand well if you punch them into the shoulders and retain about 65 to 70% of their weight at close to moderate ranges (under 300m).

The bt’s shoot to same/almost same poi on the same powder charge and cheaper to practice with or longer range use.


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@Dicko could make a good dual loading then. Accubonds for say stags up close in the Bush and BTs for open country/longer range?

I bought a sample pack to test with this in mind. The ABs did have the same POI, so thought that was good. But subsequent success with the BTs has been so good I've haven't pursued the process any further. I have four loaded rounds of ABs which I'll use in the roar this year for shits and giggles, and then may have something to contribute to this thread...

Originally Posted by RugerM77

Asking because I've never used Accubond, got a load worked up for them. Have found BT's very good on deer.
Any comments?

Depends on caliber, speed and targrt game

In a 308 bush pig I use 125 accubonds because i am pushing fast to get reasonable trajectory from short barrel

But a 125 BT in a 30-30 because an accubond would be too tough at lower impact velocity

180 accubonds in 300wsm are great on tahr and reds
165 BTs in 300wsm are massive meat waster in reds

Accubonds are the answer to chamberings with a launch speed of 3000 fps or more where softer bullets may blow up or not penetrate.
What are you shooting them in and at what speed ??

As an aside, whilst a lot of ballistic tips are meant to be aggressive in their expansion, the 8mm jobbies are meant not to be and have a very stout jacket. I think comparisons with SSt's seem to pop up but definitely don't apply to the 8mm projectiles

Accubonds great to double lung through the shoulders up close

Ballistic tips great to double lung tucked in behind the shoulder through a rib at any distance

When we lived in Oz my mate in Victoria convinced me that the Accubond is the greatest bullet ever invented. Got me to buy some and do load development ahead of red deer and fallow in NSW. I ordered two boxes thinking they were 100 a box and just about had a fucking fit when they turned up and it was only 50.

Anyway my comment is exactly as per @7mmsaum above. I used 150s in 308 Winchester at probably 2800fps and deer fell over if shot through the shoulders. Only shot half a dozen with them but enough to be sure that with good shot placement they will do the job. But my old buddy is a tracking dog fanatic and he always insists on the meat saver shot and consequently he spends half his day tracking the bloody deer, which when he shoots them run off as if they haven’t even been hit. The Accubond over-penetrates if shot through the ribs only and isn’t a great bullet for a heart or rear lung shot. I kind of think he does it on purpose, more for the tracking thrills. Whatever floats your boat I guess.

When we shoot together here in New Zealand he has to use my ammunition, which is soft fragmenting bullets. Nosler BT, ELDX, ELDM, Speer BTSP, GameKing. Consequently we don’t need a dog and all the time we would be tracking if he were in charge is spent shooting more deer. (Slightly tongue in cheek but not actually that far off in reality as most of the deer bang flop DRT)

Harder bonded bullets have their place, but in the 150 / 165 / 180gr class, in my view you need tough heavy game to get the best out of them, so I would only choose them if shooting heavy red stags with a Magnum cartridge.

@Moa Hunter. 7 x 57 140 grn @ 2700. I'd suggest my question's been well answered. I mainly hunt Jap so I'll stick with the low supply of BT's that I have left. Only grabbed the accubonds because I couldn't find BT's. They do shoot well though.

Originally Posted by RugerM77

@Moa Hunter. 7 x 57 140 grn @ 2700. I'd suggest my question's been well answered. I mainly hunt Jap so I'll stick with the low supply of BT's that I have left. Only grabbed the accubonds because I couldn't find BT's. They do shoot well though.

They will still be fine in the 7mil but just expect 50% of the deer to run at the shot before piling up. The really great thing with AB's that they leave some big globs of blood on the ground where the deer was when shot, so a hit can be confirmed without doubt. They will also kill a deer that is hit at a funny angle because they will penetrate to get to the important bits. Great medicine for stags

I found 140gn ABs and BTs shot same POI in 7mm08 model 7. Both accurate. The ABs were fantastic on big pigs but both were never found wanting really.

Originally Posted by Moa Hunter

They will still be fine in the 7mil but just expect 50% of the deer to run at the shot before piling up. The really great thing with AB's that they leave some big globs of blood on the ground where the deer was when shot, so a hit can be confirmed without doubt. They will also kill a deer that is hit at a funny angle because they will penetrate to get to the important bits. Great medicine for stags

That bit ... esp roaring stags.

@Dama dama thats a yes. But check your impacts out at 200 m plus as in some cases i find the poi a touch apart. Now you can get a 160 gn 7mm BT there is a similiar wt BT/AB pill in all 6.5, 7mm and .308 weights I believe.