Home Forums Reloading Big Game Rifles Switching between Nosler BT and AB

In an effort to keep my wallet heavier I was going to do the initial load workup for my .243 using the 90gr BT. After narrowing down the field a bit, I was going to switch over to the AB since that's what I'll eventually want to use. Anyone have any experience switching between the 2 with minimal changes to loads or group sizes?

For me in 7mm bullets at least, they did not load or shoot the same. 140 BT/140AB

It has worked pretty well in several rifles, I guess you just have to try and see...

For me, they generally shoot in the same group, with NBT shooting a little better.

I have read reports of BT’s and AB’s shooting to the identical point of impact with similar precision. My experience has been they were close but the Ballistic Tip always shoots better.

My 7-08 with 140's of both flavor shot identical, tested to 600......

Did it in a .270 with 130s, either bullet hits in the same group.

7x57 with 140 grain does it for my rifle.

I have had good luck switching between the 140 BT/AB in 7mm. A similar try with 165g 30 cals didn't work as well.

Tried 165’s in my 30-06 several years back. The 165 NBT shot fantastic but the 165 Accubond was around 2”. POI was 4-5” off as well between the two.

The Ballistic tip will kill just as well,

I have also but in the 140's the BT and the AB are different bullets

That depends on when you bought them. At one point this was true, but now Nosler's standardized the designed between the BT's and AB's. Only difference today is the bonding.

I've done this in order to save money, it worked with 180 .30 cal in 2 .300 Weatherbys and a .300 saum. I know it's not saving a lot, and when a combination doesn't work, you may lose what you tried to gain. Such is reloading and being a Looney!

Well, I guess I'll give it a whirl. I have an almost proven load I compare against.

You are incorrect, The 270cal 140 gr is the one anomaly in Noslers line up.
To this day the 140gr AB has a BC of .496 and the 140gr BT has a BC of .456, I thought this was a misprint by Nosler but it's not. I have several box's of both current production and they are not the same bullet.

I’m surprised in these comments about shooting the same . I have not had the luck many have . In any chambering , and all calibers. Hmmmm

Same here a lot easier to get BT shoot well !

My experience is very limited. I am currently working on the the 30-06 with the 165 NBT and the 165 NAB. I have seen the "higher pressure, poorer accuracy" a little and the online reading I have done is supporting it.
The ABs may produce just a little more pressure and velocity at the same OAL as the BTs, and quite often, with poorer accuracy.
BUT, I am learning that the ABs may want to be seated a fair bit further off the lands than the BTs. I have not yet tested this myself but many have reported much better accuracy with ABs when backed off the lands a bit more than the BTs like. This will also tend to drop the pressures back in the ABs so they more closely match the velocities the BTs produce with the same charges.

So give this a try. I am just in the early stages of it but the research I have done supports the above.

Cheers,
Rex

With exactly the same load, sometimes as much as 2” L/ and about the same vertically.

POI may have been well away from the same load with a 180 A/bond, the velocities were within a few fps of the same loads with a 180 A/bond. The only way to know is to give them both a try.