Home Forums Reloading Big Game Rifles Barnes vs Accubond

I've been shooting 140 accubonds in a 270 WSM since I've owned it. Always had good accuracy and good on game performance. Now my supplies are getting low and I'll have to work up a new load for this fall. I have been debating on trying my luck with Barnes and see if they could take place as my go to round for deer sized animals. I've always liked the idea of having two holes in an animal rather than just a entrance. Seems like the barnes would be better in that department. Also if I shoot something a little lighter like the 110 TTSX it would shoot a little flatter but wouldn't hold up to wind as well. That wouldn't be a bad thing either.

So I'm looking to here opinions / suggestions on which way to go. Stick with what has worked ( as boring as that is ) or try a 110 TTSX, 129 LRX, or 130 TTSX. Also am wondering what others experiences with barnes in 270 WSM are, favorite loads, on game performance, ect. ...

Any input would be appreciated, thank you.

Have you had issues with the Nosler AB exiting animals? Just wondering. Taken a few mulies and elk with the 140AB's outta my 270WSM and it has done pretty well.

Most of the time no. Have had one hard quartering shot on a mule deer that didn't exit ( ended up in opposite side rear quarter and that didn't bother me ). A buddy borrowed that gun and while I didn't see it he said he had no exit on a broadside shot on a whitetail doe.

So I guess when I think about it no, usually there is an exit with the accubonds. Maybe that helps answer some of my questions.

Yeah, I'd have to see it to believe a rib shot with a 140 and 270WSM not exit on a rib shot. Not that it couldn't happen, just seems unlikely most of the time.

I had one blow through the tops of the shoulders on a big bull and wad up under the skin on the far side, and another through the top of a 4x4 muley at 275. Entered on the left of the spine and came out under the neck for at least a few ft of penetration. I thought back when I shot the bull the bull should've exited, but it really did take alot of abuse and did everything it was supposed to do.

Plus, the BC on that 140 is pretty good for long shooting. Not that it matters a ton, but it doesn't hurt.

Either way, if you just wanna experiment, I think the 270WSM with a full load under the Barnes would be a great performer. Plenty of speed to make sure they always open up.

BriBri,

Last year, I tried out some 130 gr. Nosler E-Tips in my .270 WSM. I also have shot 140 gr. Accubonds, as well as Barnes TSXes, but never been really happy with the accuracy.
Not only do the E-tips give me better accuracy, but they have an excellent BC, and I get 3300 fps MV, making this a very flat-shooting load, indeed.
Only shot one critter with this load, a whitetail last fall at a lasered 313 yards. Chest hold, bullet exit, immediate DRT.

Yeah, if I wanted to work up another load for mine, I would look pretty seriously at the ET. I hear alot of great things about them and they mushroom in a more traditional manner.

That load you have at 3300 sounds like a screamer. Talk about a load you could anything with! Any details you could share on that load? I think I have a bag of the ET's laying around. Wouldn't mind experimenting some with them. Also, what kinda rifle are you using?

Much prefer the AB's to Barnes....and I almost always get two holes.

Barnes hands down. No question of exits and great expansion while dropping down a few bullet weights and picking up speed.

It's always fun to try new bullets and loads, I've had good results with Accubonds and TTSX's ,but I just could not get the Etips to group at all in a proven rifle, for the most part Barnes TTSX's and Nosler Accubonds were very easy to work up accurate loads for, I would be looking at the 129 gr LRX and more likely an entrance and exit hole!

My T3 .270 WIN (not WSM but pushed them t0 3200 fps) shot great with the 130 etips which I used because my Tikka was extreme accurate with them. Only had that gun for a short time but on the one mule deer and one Whitetail they were DRT.

Barnes, easy extra benefit lots less blood shot meat too IME

I've run Barnes TSX and TTSX through my two 25-06 and through my 7mm-08. All shot sub-moa targets. The problem I have had with them is that on the 8 whitetail and 4 axis I've shot with them, exit wounds have been sub-1/2" in size. In the area of Texas I hunt in a blood trail is a necessity. 3 of the whitetail and 1 of the axis were DRT. The others ran from 30 to 75 yards in fairly heavy brush with little to no blood trail.
I switched to the AB in the 25-06 and ballistic tips in the 7mm-08. All are shooting sub-moa groups (one of the 25's is near a .4-5 shot group). The 4 whitetail and 3 axis I took with them this past year - 3 whitetail were DRT, the 4th ran about 40 yards. Exit wound on all was 1" or a little more and not much blood-shot meat. The 3 axis, 2 were DRT and 1 ran about 60 yards (shot her a bit low and took out the heart and lower part of the lungs). Exit wound on this one (with the BT's) was about 1.5"

Just my experience with them. I'll more than likely put them (the Barnes) up on the classifieds sometime soon.

YMMV

If you just want to try the Barnes, I would load up a 110Tipped and run it hard. I think you'll be surprised at the fun factor.

I have not shot the Barnes, but have used the Accubonds in 25-06, 7mm-08, 280rem, & 300 win mag. I was extremely happy with them in all except the 25-06. The 3 deer shot with them fragmented every time. They never took a step. On each deer, I found fragments in the neck. All shots were taken behind the shoulder. I can't give a good reason for it. All the other calibers have never allowed a deer to take a step. 75% have had exit wounds. They are my favorite bullets.

A good article I ran across that might be helpful

http://www.thediyhunter.com/big-gam...bullets-tsx-ttsx-243-wssm-270-wsm-rifles

I've loaded some 130's for my 308 @ around 3050 fps. They are very accurate, but I haven't put one into game yet.

Great article, thanks for posting.

I am curious what most people who use mono bullets get for exit hole size. I like to have a exit hole but if the bullets just pencils through it doesn't help much. I'm not worried about the under 100 yard shot hitting heavy bone on the way. I'm wondering about the 300 + yard shot going between two ribs. What kind of expansion I'm I going to see on something like that?

I bet your going to have a hard time improving on the 140AB.. The 150 PT does really well in my 270WSM and penetrates a little further, but it still probably do much better than the 140AB.

IME barnes 25 6.5 , 7mm & 308 bullet hole size in , golf ball sized exit

Barnes for breaking shoulders....