Home Forums Hunting & Shooting Ask The Gunwriters AccuBond... The Rest of the Story?

A year ago I decided to switch from my old standby (Nosler Partition) to the Nosler Accubond.

I'm pretty sure I have killed about 30 Florida Whitetails with a 308 150gr Partition and every one of them exited except one and that one traveled through the deer end to end in a 4.5yr old buck that was 145 pounds and was just under the hide in a hind quarter.

None ever required a second shot and all but one was DRT. Most of them were in the 120# to 140# weight range.

The only thing I was looking for was no more flattening of the tip in the magazines due to recoil, which is no big deal, and a little bit better accuracy. I got both but never did get the accuracy I was used to getting with Ballistic Tips.

I've only killed three deer with Accubonds and only one was a shot to the lungs and the other two were neck shots. This is very little evidence to base a permanent switch on and I felt I needed to return here for more information.

I just did a search and didn't find a lot of talk about the AccuBonds so what are you finding?

I hope this thread doesn't get a bunch of "my bullet is better than your bullet" thread but that's a risk you run.

Does anyone here have any actual experience to share?

$bob$

Very happy with both the accuracy and the very limited experience (2 pigs and two deer) on the 110 gr AB out of my Bob.

Only one critter to date with an AB, the same bullet as Pugs used in a 250AI and a 6 1/2' bear, complete penetration and [bleep] messed up just fine.

Why change..Iffin it ain't broke/don't fix it.I see no reason to change bullets or experiment.When a bullet works for me year after year,it's a keeper, even if it's old news on the net.


Jayco

I use 200gr Accubonds in my 325WSM to kill 2 caribou in Canada 2 years ago both were over 200 yd shots and the guide and my friend that I was hunting with could hear loud smakes when the bullet hit them.Both were rolled over from impact and complete pass thru's,we were all impressed with the bullete.

My family and I have been using various ABs in cartridges from .257 AI up to .375 H&H for several years. So far, we have not experienced anything that I would classify as a "failure". They perform as advertised, as far as I can tell. I have found them a little easer to load for, compared to Partitions, and they don't ruin as much meat as the BTs do.

I'm yet to kill with an AB though they shoot like a sonofa bitch. Planning on loading some 140's for the 280 Rem this season.

CLB

I've only killed a 1/2 dozen deer with them so it's not a great sampling but all have worked like they were supposed to work.
I shoot the 180's in a 300WSM, the 225's in a 35 Whelen and the 140's in a 7SAUM.

Been shooting Accubonds in my 7mm Rem Mag and a 338 Win Mag. Killed a few whitetails deer, an elk or 2 and a bighorn sheep as well as a hand full of pronghorn. They work for me and are giving me sub moa groups.

You're probably going to like the 140 AB in .280.
Been shooting them in mine for several years now- extremely accurate, great performance on game from little to big, very high BC (.496, IIRC).

In addition to handloading, I also use the great Federal Vital Shok ammo, loaded with the 140 gr. AB. I don't know if that round is still in production, but I took no chances- I have a healthy stockpile of the stuff. These rounds go over my chrono at 3030 fps, this out of a 22" barrel, and consistently produce sub MOA groups.

Good bullet.... there are no bad premium bullets...."it depends".

The Accubond is the except same shape as the Ballistic Tip (same size bullets) according to Nosler so it seems the accuracy should be the same. I have some Accubonds but haven't tried them yet. I use Nosler Partitions in my 30.06 and .270 Gibbs. I really like the results so far. They're very accurate and all have passed through the deer I've shot. I don't like the lead tips getting deformed so I'm going to try some of the NP's with the protected tips. They might be a little more accurate

I've taken 1 pronghorn with a 140 AB from a 270 WSM at about 225 yards. Bullet entered just inside the right shoulder and exited at the end of the ribs on the left side. Straight through, antelope went right down. The entrance and exit holes were small but insides were a real mess.

Ernie

Like you, I used the Partion for years, still use them in my 7-08 and .308 (140's & 150's).

I shoot the AB 160's in 7 Short Mag and 7 Rem Mag. They are the 2nd most accurate bullet I've used in either gun (behind BT's).

I've probably shot 40 animals with it (Whitetail Deer & Hogs) since I switched in 2002.

In my experience, they handle bone quite well (high shoulder shots) and offer more expansion than the Partition, penetration as been good as well.

I like 'em.

JM

I've only run them for two years, with some being 110gr 257's and the others being 130gr 264's. I haven't been impressed with the penetration on the 110's (deer), but the 130's have performed nicely (hogs). I think they are a good bullet overall for use on medium-sized game.

If you want to protect the softpoint then get a Nosler partition with a protected point..

I have not used the accubonds yet on game, but I have used enough bonded core bullets to know they all work, how could they not...but my question to you is why would quit using a bullet like the 150 gr. Nolser partition when its served you that well? just bored??

I have found the Nosler 150 or 180s work extremely well on deer in our area and they average 150 pounds with a few kicking over 200..I use the 150s in my 308 and the 180s in my 30-06 and the 200s and 220s in my 300 H&H, mostly Nolsers and Woodleighs as a matter of fact. But I have a bunch of Accurbonds ready and waiting for the next opertunity to hunt.

I've been using them since they first came out. I don't know exactly how many deer I have taken with them but it has been quite a few. I'd say I shoot between 8-12 whitetail deer a year and for the last 5 or so nearly all have been with Accubonds. In addition I have used the Accubonds on sheep, caribou, and mule deer. I get consistently superb accuracy out of every caliber I've shot them in. On game performance is very similar to the Partition. I'll use em on about anything I hunt but IF i'm going for dangerous game I'll still be pushin Partitions.

I have never shot them at critters but have tested a boatload out of mt two 280 Ackleys at paper looking for the holy grail. Bottom line for me is I can't get them to shoot nearly as good as a ballistic tip. They shoot ok, better than an inch, but I can usually put the ballisitc tips through the same hole. I may retry them if they ever come out with a 120 grainer. For now the 120 Ballistic tip gets the nod. I've never had anything walk away from a 120 BT from 50-630 yards.

Son has shot a few deer with the 140 AB on 50 gr of H4350 in a Ruger 7x57. For penetration the most impressive was on a small 110 or 115lb deer at about 40 yds qtring to. Smashed the front shoulder joint, bone fragments everywhere in the shoulder, and ended up in the ham. While the carcass was hanging I laid a steel yardstick cattycorner across from the entry hole to about where the bullet was found and it was 32".

Six mature WT with a 130AB from a 270WSM, all high shoulder shots, all exited, all dropped straight down.