Accubonds On Lighter Game

Togwotee · Jul 12, 2015

After 15 years and many accurate rifles I found one that will shoot Accubonds. a 300 win mag shooting 165 gr bullets at 3300 fps.

I planned on using this rifle with 168 gr ballistic tips on my WY sheep hunt this fall but after finding it will shoot the AB as well I'm tempted to use them . my concern is underexpansion at longer range like the Hot Cores were famous for.

Most accounts people talk about are on elk size game which slower expaneion is fine on , what about deer size game at longer range?

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RELH · Jul 12, 2015

Dude I can not help you with the expansion velocity for the Accubonds. Try contacting the maker as most will have the expansion information based on the velocity the bullet hits at. Also you might consider taking a high shoulder shot that will break heavier bone and give you the expansion you need to destroy the lungs and put the animal down.
Good luck on the hunt.

RELH

Togwotee · Jul 12, 2015

I stop in at Nosler all the time but since Mike retired the conversation is pretty much out of the brochure. like most things Nosler isn't what it used to be at all .

I'm sure they work to some degree, but I doubt they're nearly as effective as the ballistic tip once the velocity starts dropping. I suppose I could trade them out for ballistic tips if it's a shot over 300 yards.

Something about a sheep tag that makes you worry about things you normally wouldn't.

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WapitiBob · Jul 12, 2015

You'll be just fine. I shoot TSX at antelope from a 7stw.

Have a fun hunt.

mtmuley · Jul 13, 2015

I can't count the number of deer and antelope I've killed with an Accubond. Out to 703 yards. Go hammer a sheep with one. mtmuley

cbeard · Jul 13, 2015

They are fine bullets-one of the best. Use them with confidence.

Sheep hunting tends to cause significant cases of "paralysis by analysis" and causes folks to over-worry about every little thing. Sheep are not hard to kill. Neither are they super wary ghosts that are likely to require extremely long shots.

The two hardest things about sheep hunting are:

1)Affording a hunt/drawing a tag; and
2)Getting into good sheep country/finding a ram.

After that, executing a good stalk and shooting the ram is just like with any other animal. (Probably easier than most.) Any good medium bore rifle with a decent hunting bullet the rifle likes will do the job nicely. The most important thing is to have confidence in your rifle. I used the same Sako .270 with Winchester Powerpoints that I have been using on Texas whitetails for 35+ years to take my ram last year. That's what the rifle likes so "If it ain't broke-don't fix it."

Good luck!

travishunter3006 · Jul 13, 2015

They will work without an issue.

Zeke · Jul 13, 2015

What is "long range" to you?
If you're shooting so far that the velocity drops below 1800 fps then you might have something to concern yourself with. That's a damn long ways and shouldn't be an issue. Shooting at those extended ranges is more the exception than the rule.

I'd concern myself with accuracy first and then proper expansion at more appropriate ranges.

In other works: Accubonds are just fine! I've used them on antelope to elk, from close to far ranges and never found them wanting.

Good luck in Wyoming!
Zeke

PS: I'll be using them in Wyoming on BH sheep too but about any quality cup and core bullet would work find for sheep also.....unless you need to use a racking shot.

30Hart · Jul 14, 2015

What Zeke said...

Togwotee · Jul 14, 2015

Long range on this gun is 600 yards, I can hit the gong to 700 everytime but 600 is as far as I'm confortable. if I need to shoot longer than that I'll have my McWhorter on my wifes horse shooting 190 Bergers if I'm close enough to get my hands on it.

If I make a 400 + yard shot I think I'll slip a ballistic tip in if I have time but it would seem I am better off to carry accubonds in the gun for an all around bullet.

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MTShasta · Jul 14, 2015

I use the 180 Accubond in my .300WSM at 2950fps and have taken deer, elk, hogs, antelope and 3 rams with that load. Last August I took a Stone Ram at 744 yards with that load and it performed perfectly. It exited the ram after going through both shoulders and it may still be going? I think you will be well pleased with the Accubond. I'm using it again this Sept in the Yukon on moose, mtn. caribou, and hopefully a grizz.
Hope this helps.
MT

ElevenBravo · Jul 15, 2015

I use 165gr Accubonds in my 300 WSM on hogs at close range, and they die pretty quick. Typically, the bullet goes right through the boiler room and leaves a 4-finger hole on the exit side. One smaller hog I shot last year had the entire exit side of his ribcage blown out, which is why I switched to .308 Win for ranges under 100 yards.

Unless you're looking at sniping sheep at a kilometer, a muzzle velocity of 3300fps will give you good performance through all practical ranges with Accubonds.

I'd hesitate to use a ballistic tip at 3300fps. Nosler's maximum velocity for their BT bullets is 3200 fps, and generally I've heard that 3000fps is the fastest you want to push a ballistic tip. Anything faster could lead to the bullet exploding on impact, or as a friend of mine called it "looks like a grenade went off inside the thing".

Togwotee · Jul 15, 2015

I'd say 3200 is still too fast, but it would be under 3200 at impact unless he is so close you could hit him with a rock.

The ballistic tip can be a bit overkill at high velocity, but I've killed big bucks with this same ballistic tip load at 100 yards with pass throughs . I have not had to take a quartering shot with them however and I can foresee problems at closer ranges there.

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