New 2013 Nosler Accubond LONG RANGE Bullets

[BigDMT]

I read that Nosler is re-designing their Accubond line to compete with Berger's long rein of High BC dominance. Supposed to be released sometime in 2013. Called the Nosler Accubond-LR bullets. Looks pretty interesting to me.

Not sure if the BC's listed are "estimated" or if they have actually been determined from testing because they significantly BEAT the Berger VLD's BC's in all bullet weights. According to the description below it seems that these bullets have been tested thoroughly for expansion and performance. The All-Mighty Berger VLD might finally have a challenger for long range hunting

Here's the description from Nosler;

"New Nosler Accubond Long Range!

Bend, Ore. – October 31, 2012 – Nosler, Inc. is pleased to announce the release of their new line of AccuBond® Long Range bullets. Developed through a combination of bullet manufacturing techniques that are unique to Nosler, the design of the AccuBond®-LR allows for the highest B.C. possible in a bullet of the same caliber and weight. Designed with an optimum performance window ranging from 3,200fps to 1,300fps, the unique tapered jacket geometry and proprietary bonding process of the AccuBond®-LR allow it to expand rapidly for effective energy transfer and significant tissue damage while retaining sufficient weight to ensure deep penetration into the vitals. The AccuBond® bonding process allows the AccuBond®-LR to perform reliably on game throughout the entire velocity range, eliminating the problem of being “too close” often encountered with other high-B.C. bullets. The high-performance boat tail, long ogive, and polymer tip combine to make the AccuBond®-LR the sleekest, flattest- shooting, bonded, hunting bullet ever created. The ogive of the AccuBond®-LR is designed to provide excellent accuracy in a wide variety of firearms without the necessity of being loaded close to or in contact with the lands. The new AccuBond®-LR will be packaged in 100 count boxes, and will initially be available in the following calibers and weights."


You 270 cal fans will finally be happy to see a very high BC bullet for hunting! Although I am not a 270 fan, I feel the followers of the 270 are well overdue for a good long range bullet

However, they kind of left the 6.5mm fans (like myself) wanting more by only producing one bullet in that bore size, but the 30 cal may make a bit more of a comeback in popularity with the high BC 190gr pill.

The BC's listed for the Nosler Accubond-LR are as follows;

Caliber Weight G1 BC G7 BC
6.5mm 129gr .561 .285
270 cal 150gr .625 .317
7mm 150gr .611 .309
7mm 168gr .652 .353
7mm 175gr .672 .364
30 cal 190gr .640 .325
30 cal 210gr .730 .366

Extremely impressive to say the least if these BC's are accurate. What do you fellas think?

 

[Trapper243]

If those BCs are correct, it will be worth the time to try them out, and just when I thought I was done doing load development for the hunting rifles.

 

[BigDMT]

I may give Nosler a call on Monday to get the full details on these very intriguing bullets. The big questions in my mind are;

1. What are the required barrel twist rates for these bullets?

2. Will our barrels have to be twisted tighter than they are for Berger VLD's thus limiting our lighter bullet weight selections?

3. Will the twist rates required be less/equal to Berger VLD's so we can shoot them in the same rifles that meet Berger's requirements?

4. If a slower twist will work, will it be slow enough to shoot them in factory rifles?


I'm sure they will be accurate bullets, but would like to know which rifles I can use them in?

 

[mytwo60]

This is very good news. This will start a BC war now.

Bring it on!

 

[Glenn Powell]

And they had better have some load data for them in their new book! With H4350 in the 6.5×284!

 

[1holeaddict]

The Premium Bullet crazy just stepped it up a notch. Its going to be like Black Friday and all the supply houses better bulk their staff up for the thousands of calls they are going to get asking "Do you guys have any of those new Noslers yet?" I am surprised they are offering them in 100 count boxes and cant wait to hear about the real life performance.

 

[Mr. Ten-X]

Give me a bonded core bullet over a simple jacket with a pressed core for extreme hunting any old day. Particularly one rooted in hunting, thoroughly tested in a consistent medium and one that will hold up. Nosler just raised the bar a BIG notch.

I expect that old Steve and Dave at Hornady won't be far behind with their resources.

 

[Mr. Ten-X]

Now that I have had a chance to digest this, my only wish is that Nosler would have tooled for the 140gr in 6.5mm instead of the 129gr weight. Every other caliber appears to be at the upper limit of weight to get max BC except the 6.5mm. It might be as the result of no magnum or short-mag cartridges available in 6.5mm and the are reliant mostly upon the 6.5/284, 6.5/06 and 6.5 Swede crowd as customers. They went straight to 150gr for the .277" booolit, I assume because of the 270WSM.

Won't whine too loud however because it seems like every time the booolit manufacturers have a new product intro, the red-headed step child 6.5mm must wait for them to get running strong with the calibers that are the truly the bulk of the market, which the 6.5mm will never be. At least we know the 6.5mm will be coming, though likely last.

 

[onelastshot]

And they had better have some load data for them in their new book! With H4350 in the 6.5×284!

I second that motion! Would someone please tell me why many reloading manuals still do not carry data for the 6.5 284? If anyone comes up with some pet loads for this I would appreciate them sharing with us.
Lastly, I fully agree, why couldn't they give us a 140 grainer instead of 129? Seems like the 6.5 is always neglected.

 

[Roe]

Good news, if these bullets fly as promised they should be excellent!

 

[ar15topgun]

I really like the promising look of the .270 bullet. Should work well with my .270wsm.

 

[Mr. Ten-X]

Although I did express my feelings to Nosler regarding their choice of bullet weight in the 6.5, there is likely very little they will do to change it at this point for deliveries in 2013. Tooling is likely scheduled/ordered already and the above press release coincided with the start of the annual meeting of the NASGW show. Programs are set in stone and that is that.

 

[BigDMT]

Although I did express my feelings to Nosler regarding their choice of bullet weight in the 6.5, there is likely very little they will do to change it at this point for deliveries in 2013. Tooling is likely scheduled/ordered already and the above press release coincided with the start of the annual meeting of the NASGW show. Programs are set in stone and that is that.

No big deal. I'm plenty happy with every aspect of performance i get from the 6.5mm berger 140gr vld's so I don't mind waiting til a larger 6.5 selection comes out for the Accubond LR.

Until becoming a huge 6.5 fan for hunting, I was a huge 30 cal fan. That 190gr AccubonLR may warrant a reason for me to build another 30 cal custom rifle.

 

[nddodd]

Here's a link to where I first heard the announcement of this bullet. It might help answer some questions.

http://www.longrangehunting.com/forums/f19/introducing-accubond-long-range-100932/?highlight=Accubond

 

[BigDMT]

According to Nosler, they expect these bullets to be on store shelves by the end of March 2013

 

[Mr. Ten-X]

The AccuBond-LR bullets will be available in stores by the end of March 2013.

We designed this year's offerings to stabilize in standard twist rate barrels when loaded to standard book velocities, hence the 6.5mm 129gr. We determined that a 140gr would be too long to stabilize in standard twist barrels. We will consider offering longer, heavier designs intended for faster-than-standard twist barrels in the future.

Keep in mind, this is just our initial offering and we will be expanding the line in the future. If we aren't yet offering the weight or caliber that you want, let us know as we do take your requests into account when designing new products.

_________________
Mason Payer
Assistant Director of Public Relations
800-285-3701 ext. 1030
masonp@nosler.com
Nosler
Excellence, Integrity, Service

Well crud

 

[M700]

I've had limited, but good, experiences with the regular Accubonds. They have proven accurate and effective on game. Looking forward to trying some of these new long range Accubonds - and am sure Nosler will be adding more different bullets to the line, likely including some longer/heavier bullets.

Guy

 

[Minesweeper3433]

I might wager that the reasoning behind the lighter weight bullet for the 6.5 is that their new design is longer. Requiring a faster twist so they may have gone with the heaviest that the standard 8.5 twist barrels we see so many of in 6.5 can handle. This is of course conjecture on my part. My 300 winmag already had a new barrel on the way from pacnor, and schneider so there is a good possibility of me trying them out. The old 180 grn Accubonds shot amazing out of my krieger barrel but I have abused that barrel pretty severely in the last few years so time for a newer one.

 

[BigDMT]

The problem with Nosler is that they always try to tend to the "john doe" factory rifle owners first, then the serious long range shooting reloaders/hunters, and lastly...the competition shooters or people who have the money to create an entire rifle around a particular bullet design.

I am a little sore myself not to see a 139-142gr Accubond-LR, but will live without it just fine for now.

I really don't understand why they didn't attack the .338 market right off the bat??? That's a huge market! Especially with the significant amount of long range bullet demand following the .338 Lapua boom.

I personally will be starting a build on a .338-375 Ruger for long range elk and dangerous game. I would have been happier than a fat kid in a candy store to see a 250gr .338 bullet with a G1 BC of .725+. Hopefully they won't leave the .338 market out for long.

 

[bricktop]

And they had better have some load data for them in their new book! With H4350 in the 6.5×284!

I second that motion! Would someone please tell me why many reloading manuals still do not carry data for the 6.5 284? If anyone comes up with some pet loads for this I would appreciate them sharing with us.
Lastly, I fully agree, why couldn't they give us a 140 grainer instead of 129? Seems like the 6.5 is always neglected.

From a hunting perspective I think they made the move with 130gr class 6.5mm bullets to target primarily the 6.5 Creedmore and 260 Remington crowd (which many probably don't all have an 8-twist, and I think the 120-130s work better in these cases?), which other than 6.5x55 are probably the most common hunting 6.5mm cartridges. I know we love 6.5x284 but I don't think it's so common out in Elmer Fudd's world.