So tell me about 7mm, 160gr. accubond's

Havent used ever used them, and planning on running them in a 7 RM as an all around, from here to way out there bullet.

So what can you all that use them tell me about my choice?

Hey splatter, here is a cut and past job from my recent African hunt featuring the 7mag and 160AB's. Maybe this will help some.

Originally Posted by JGRaider

I finished up the trip tallying 2 each of oryx, wildebeest, hartebeest, impala, springbuck, several jackals, a kudu bull, and the mountain zebra. I had one heckuva great time, learned a whole lot, got in lots of shooting, and just fell in love with Namibia.

A word about my gear. I was very, very satisfied with everything I brought. The 7mag performed flawlessly, the VX6 is one helluva fine hunting scope, the 8x32 euros...well, they are even better than I already knew they were. They have a huge depth of field. I hardly had to focus them at all, all week long due to this. They are tack sharp as well.
I was also very pleased with my shooting. Every animal was a one shot kill except for the terrible shot I made on one of the oryx. I drilled him through the neck, hitting no bone, but he was bleeding pretty a little, at times. I did get to see these African trackers do their thing though, as they tracked this thing over a mile where I was able to put a finisher in him. Often times the tracking was over and through grassy, sandy, rocky, and a combo of all three. Amazing to say the least.

Here's the bullets and data for those who care:

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These were the only 5 bullets recovered. The rest were passthroughs. The 160's were sizzling along pretty good at 3100+ at the muzzle. Combine that with impact at 100-140 yards, smashing through shoulders, etc. I was still a bit surprised that the bullet recovered from the zebra lost so much weight. Didn't really matter though, because the animals only ran from 0-65 yards are so before falling over.

Hope you guys enjoyed reading this adventure, and thanks again to all who answered my many questions, and offered top shelf advice. I appreciate it immensely.

Have used them on a few deer and antelope and have seen them on elk out of 7mm stw and they preformed flawlessly

Made for each other like peanut butter and jelly. My favorite combo was with H1000 powder, but IMR7828ssc performs really well too.

Have only used them in a 7x57 and they worked very well on all manner of African critters.

Haven't used them on any critters, but my 280ai loves them

We all know barnes's like to jump, but what have you found for distance off the rifling for these?

Trying to get an active thread going here.

Pics of any recovered bullets?
Any of you that shoot lr, how's bc's and drop?

splatter we have burned a pile of them at the range started at 3200 fps....to 600 yards they land about like a 160 Partition; ballistic tables not withstanding. Differences are minor.

I don't hunt with them myself but the other guys have talked about that.

Yes they shoot good.

Pics:

http://forum.nosler.com/viewtopic.php?f=49&t=26297

Originally Posted by splattermatic

We all know barnes's like to jump, but what have you found for distance off the rifling for these?

Trying to get an active thread going here.

Pics of any recovered bullets?
Any of you that shoot lr, how's bc's and drop?

My most accurate loads in both 7mags have had anywhere from .010 to .005 jump. R22 and Retumbo worked very well.

I set up my 7 WSM just as you are wanting to do - 160 AB for everything that needs shot with that gun/set-up. I load them over 70 gr H1000 for 3025-3050 in my WSM. They group sub-moa. H4831 works almost as well but is a bit slower at 2950 or so.

Haven't killed anything with the 160 AB but did with the 140 from the same gun. Not impressed with the 140 gr version on game but think I used early AB and understand the 160 is a bit more robust.

JG - thanks for the link to your other post - very good info.

I've used 3 different boxes from different lots and haven't been overly impressed in the accuracy. I've tried them in 4 different rifles with r22,h1000,h4831sc and IMR 4831. I could get ok accuracy if they were really slow but then what's the point? They have a short boat tail and a lot of bearing surface. I can almost always run 168 vlds faster even though they're heavier. And I don't have to work to make Bergers shoot well. If I wanted to shoot Noslers I'll load 150 ballistic tips. They always shoot well and are stout enough for anything I point 7
mags at.

In my opinion from working with 160 AB's and the 7RM, I have found the best accuracy at near max velocities/near max pressures. The 71.5g Retumbo load goes 3115 and is very accurate, the 66.5g R22 gives 3063 in another rifle. Gotta use that chrono and work up safely.

Got my barrel today!
Did a quick oal measure.
3.360, so I have plenty of magazine room. The 160 does extend down below the shoulder a bit.
Now to get to class and swap barrels.

The 160 NAB and 7RM are a very good match for NA game. Partition performance in a prettier package. As Bob noted, not much difference at normal ranges.

I like them at 2900 or so, but have not shot anything other than deer and hogs. They will go through multiple hogs if you play your cards right.

I've shot them out of a 7STW for antelope, mule deer, and elk. Recovered 3 or 4. Performance is flawless. Great bullet for the faster 7mms...

I shoot them out of my 280 AI @ 2935 fps getting 3 shot 3/8 " groups. Stinking neighbor kid {18 years old} had never touched my gun and sits down to all 3 touching at 250 yards. 61.0 gr of IMR 7828... not the ssc stuff. I killed a AK black bear that squared 6' 11" at 284 yards putting the bullet thru both shoulders and was rolled up under the skin on the off side. You could see the bullet mark on the hide when we skinned it. I thought it would be the most accurate bullet/gun combo I had ever hunted with till these guys got me to try the 162 Amax. It didn't like 7828 but loved 61 gr of R22 netting the same speed and cutting the group in half. The 7828 seemed to pick a lot of speed and cut group sizes the harder you pushed it.. I don't know how you could ask for a better bullet in 7mm as the accubond. As a side note... the bullet that killed my bear was a Nosler 2nd. I should have bought 5000 instead of 500.

I ve used them out of a 275 Rigby on UK Deer species, and Wild Boar. My Go To load is 47.5 Gns H414 , Norma brass, Fed GM210M primers, seated 35 thou short of the lands. They shoot into smaller groups that I can usually shoot, and thats less than 1/2 MOA at 2740 fps. They just work, all pass through, and the beasts are DRT or thereabouts . Whats not to like about that. I shall stick with them until someone comes up with something better, which may take a while.

I love them. They have always been accurate enough for me in a hunting rifle. I load them in my STW's, 280AI, and a couple of 280's and have taken a ton of stuff with them. I shot an aoudad back in January with one of my STW's and 439 yards, he ran about 30 feet and fell over dead. Here is one thing I have noticed in all of the animals I have taken with them. They don't leave much of a blood trail if any. But, they are either DRT, or don't run more than about 20-30 yards at the most.