Nosler Accubond Long Range 7mm 150gr

Prerylyon

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Apr 25, 2016
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Happy Saturday. Curious if anyone has any hunting and reloading experience with the subject bullet?

I would be loading it in .280 Rem for an older model 70 featherweight, primarily looking at it for working up an elk load; but also interested in any experiences with other cartridges, as well as on-game kill performance. Thanks! 😉

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Tim McCoy

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Dec 15, 2014
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I tried that exact combo, my gun did not like them, so no reports on animals. I have seen quite a number of too soft, blows up complaints. I don't know if guys were pushing it 3,200-3400+ in uber magnums and had 50 yard shots or if it is too soft. Said to expand down to 1,300 or so, so it's much softer than a regular AB. I know a bonded bullet can and will frag under some circumstances. My thinking was at moderate 280 velocities there is a decent chance it would work well. Suspect the 168 grain offering would eliminate too soft worries at 280 velocities, if you are concerned about that.
 

Prerylyon

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Yeah, I dunno if its a pipe dream, but if within safe limits, I was hoping to push them at least 2,800 fps out the front door. It is only a 22'' barrel, so I've got that going against me as well. 😞

Wanted to see if I could achieve a little more range, on paper the ballistic coefficient and sectional density look pretty impressive, other things aside.

I have a chrono, so I can check speed, also can keep an eye for pressure signs-if it seems to look promising. Thanks for sharing your experience! 😉

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Tim McCoy

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Dec 15, 2014
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I can push 145 Barnes LRX at 3,013 from my 24" tube, so says my chrono anyway. My rifle loves them and they perform very well on game, more like a higher SD bullet due to the mono construction. So I'd bet 2,800 out of a 22" tube is easily done, 2,850+ or so is what I'd expect from a 150. Good luck.
 

6mm Remington

Very Active Member
Mar 27, 2011
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I used to have a .280 Remington and love that cartridge! It is a very good round for just about anything you want to hunt here in North America. I used 140 gr. Partitions with great success in my .280. I sold it a few years back as I wanted to get a different rifle in the same chambering. I ended up building a .280 AI. It's a great round also.

I don't have any experience with the Long Range Accubonds, but I can tell you without a doubt that the regular Accubonds are one of the best bullets out there. I've used it in my 6mm Remington, 30-06, and my son's 300 WSM. I have tested expansion and penetration in water jugs from 25 yards to 100, 200 300, 400, and 500 yards and they perform flawlessly. Hard to find a better bullet. The Nosler Partition is right with it though as far as performance. Real world use on game animals has also been very impressive!

I'd try loading some 140 gr. Accubonds or regular 150 gr. Accubonds in your .280 using IMR4350 or H4350 for starters. That seems to be a great powder for the .280. There are some great new powders out though that also merit a look. Best of luck and if I can be of more assistance shoot me a PM.

David
 

Bonecollector

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Mar 9, 2014
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I've been researching this bullet and the negative review outway the positives.
I am looking at other options now.
 

HuskyMusky

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Nov 29, 2011
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IL
You may want to try a 160gr....

bigger bullets lose less velocity... as to actual velocity loss, % may be a different story, but BC's are BC's


Yeah, I dunno if its a pipe dream, but if within safe limits, I was hoping to push them at least 2,800 fps out the front door. It is only a 22'' barrel, so I've got that going against me as well. ��

Wanted to see if I could achieve a little more range, on paper the ballistic coefficient and sectional density look pretty impressive, other things aside.

I have a chrono, so I can check speed, also can keep an eye for pressure signs-if it seems to look promising. Thanks for sharing your experience! ��

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Bonecollector

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The BC appears to big grossly inflated on these ABLR bullets according to popular opinion of those doing testing. I don't care for the false advertising. I'm sure they will work fine. It just doesn't set well with me.
 

Prerylyon

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Apr 25, 2016
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I used to have a .280 Remington and love that cartridge! It is a very good round for just about anything you want to hunt here in North America. I used 140 gr. Partitions with great success in my .280. I sold it a few years back as I wanted to get a different rifle in the same chambering. I ended up building a .280 AI. It's a great round also.

I don't have any experience with the Long Range Accubonds, but I can tell you without a doubt that the regular Accubonds are one of the best bullets out there. I've used it in my 6mm Remington, 30-06, and my son's 300 WSM. I have tested expansion and penetration in water jugs from 25 yards to 100, 200 300, 400, and 500 yards and they perform flawlessly. Hard to find a better bullet. The Nosler Partition is right with it though as far as performance. Real world use on game animals has also been very impressive!

I'd try loading some 140 gr. Accubonds or regular 150 gr. Accubonds in your .280 using IMR4350 or H4350 for starters. That seems to be a great powder for the .280. There are some great new powders out though that also merit a look. Best of luck and if I can be of more assistance shoot me a PM.

David
I just happen to have 1/2 a jar of IMR4350 in the basement. 😉

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Prerylyon

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The BC appears to big grossly inflated on these ABLR bullets according to popular opinion of those doing testing. I don't care for the false advertising. I'm sure they will work fine. It just doesn't set well with me.
If I get some, I'll post up my results. It very well may be that they are. They almost look too good, which begs the question, right? 😞

The cool thing about reloading is that with enough range time, the truth should come out for the load and rifle combo you're messing with.

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Prerylyon

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Found several interesting threads on some other venues going back the last 3-4 years on these long range ABs; probably the most interesting one dealt with rifle twist being a variable in stabilizing the bullet, to the extent that these higher ballistic coefficient pills might not reach their fullest advertised potential in any old rifle.

I started out as an aerospace engineer before switching to electrical engineering late in the game, so I was able to decipher some of the greek being bantered. 😆

IDK. I guess I may yet still try them?

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BruinPoint

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Sep 6, 2011
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Found several interesting threads on some other venues going back the last 3-4 years on these long range ABs; probably the most interesting one dealt with rifle twist being a variable in stabilizing the bullet, to the extent that these higher ballistic coefficient pills might not reach their fullest advertised potential in any old rifle.

I started out as an aerospace engineer before switching to electrical engineering late in the game, so I was able to decipher some of the greek being bantered. 😆

IDK. I guess I may yet still try them?

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I'm shooting 168s in a 9.5 twist Sako and holding MOA to 700+ yards. I've only killed one animal, a good sized cow elk with them but no complaints yet. I think pre-conceived notions and contrary attitudes have a lot to do with the negative reviews out there.

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Prerylyon

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Good points. Aside from the limitations on budgeting for components, as I shared, I enjoy the experimental aspects of tuning a load to my rifle. I'll let the rifle tell me what it likes. Really appreciate the members sharing their experiences to help me know the different options that are available-some I might not have considered without their sharing them.

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DRUSS

Very Active Member
Jun 22, 2014
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nw oregon
Have a friend shooting 168s out of 7mm RUM . Has killed 2 bulls with them first was about 50-65 yds. Found 2 bullets at the hide 70% weight retention,nice mushroom. One bull at 410yds. 3 pass thru exits. Great internal damages to Lung area. Not sure of exact velocity he doesn't have a chronograph.
I am hoping to try the 150s,168s in my 280AI. And see what happens so far no sweet spots. 3/4" best so far. Gun has done much better with ballistic tips and accubonds.
 

Prerylyon

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Apr 25, 2016
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Cedar Rapids, IA
Have a friend shooting 168s out of 7mm RUM . Has killed 2 bulls with them first was about 50-65 yds. Found 2 bullets at the hide 70% weight retention,nice mushroom. One bull at 410yds. 3 pass thru exits. Great internal damages to Lung area. Not sure of exact velocity he doesn't have a chronograph.
I am hoping to try the 150s,168s in my 280AI. And see what happens so far no sweet spots. 3/4" best so far. Gun has done much better with ballistic tips and accubonds.
There's 1 example that appears to support the wide velocity range of lethality claimed for those bullets.

ABLR aside, its pretty cool in this day and age we have so many bullet choices.

Have any of the members ever thought about a 'bullet swap'? Something totally voluntary where we send each other a handful of bullets to try? I don't think it would cost much and it would allow others to try before they buy. I know a couple guys offered to send me a few bullets last year. I'd be cool sending out a few of the bullets that I might have if someone wanted some to try. Maybe worth a thread, just an idea. 🐴

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LaHunter

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Aug 24, 2012
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N.E. LA
I have a M700 7mm rem mag that I guess would be considered semi custom. It has a Krieger barrel with a 1:9.5" twist.
I gave the 150 ABLR a try with IMR 4350 and never got better than about 1.5 MOA at 200 yards. I think I went through a whole box before giving up. I had been shooting .5 MOA with Nosler 150 grain BT bullets along with the IMR 4350 powder.

I gave the 168 ABLR a try with IMR 7828 and never got better than 1 MOA at 200 yards. I went through about 1/2 box before giving up on these.
I now shoot the regular 160 grain AB with IMR 7828 and get better than .5 MOA out to 700 yards, if conditions are good.

VLD type bullets do have a wind drift advantage vs non vld type bullets, but the trajectory advantage of vld type bullets really doesn't show up until you get out to the 500-600 yard range. Just something to consider. Also, the regular AB has a solid reputation of being a reliable performer on game.

Hope you have better luck with the ABLR bullets than I did.
 

DRUSS

Very Active Member
Jun 22, 2014
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nw oregon
If you were looking for 150gr LRAB I could help. Have quite a few of them maybe 8 boxes worth


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Prerylyon

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If you were looking for 150gr LRAB I could help. Have quite a few of them maybe 8 boxes worth


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Shoot me a PM. I have some 140 and 150 Sierras in 7mm if ya wanna swap, might have some of the Sierra 140 HPBT too, would have to double check.

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mcseal2

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Mar 1, 2011
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midwest
I helped pack out a nice bull elk shot with the 150 ABLR. It was hit 3 times through the chest, all 3 exited at about 400yds. My buddy was shooting a 7mm Rem Mag. I don't think he chronographed the load. They shot 1 to 1.25" groups for him. He has since switched to a different load because his rifle liked the 140gr regular Accubond better.