nosler partition verse nosler accubond
- Thread starter minnesota
- Start date
Have used both. Bang, dead moose. Wound channels and organ damage looked the same.
I suppose some would say the AccuBond is more of a long range bullet because of its profile and higher BC.
From what I have seen the difference between the two bullet styles is more a matter of personal preference than the end result on the animal.
I suppose some would say the AccuBond is more of a long range bullet because of its profile and higher BC.
From what I have seen the difference between the two bullet styles is more a matter of personal preference than the end result on the animal.
I personally prefer the partition… In my experience the partition makes a slightly larger wound channel. Most of the deer, goat & hogs I have shot with accubond in 25cal & 30cal,I had complete pass through with just a small .8 size hole.
But saying that they killed things with in the first few yards after being hit, with the odd one making it 50 yards or so before piling up.
I like the nosler product and have used it for over 25 years on lots of medium size game from the small 22 cal 60gr partition,110 accubond 25 cal and the 180gr 30 cal.
I wouldn’t hesitate to use either accubond or partition on my next hunting trip.
I also think that Barns makes an excellent product in the TSX . I think it might just have the Performance edge on the partition or accubond product but at a significantly higher cost per bullet.
But saying that they killed things with in the first few yards after being hit, with the odd one making it 50 yards or so before piling up.
I like the nosler product and have used it for over 25 years on lots of medium size game from the small 22 cal 60gr partition,110 accubond 25 cal and the 180gr 30 cal.
I wouldn’t hesitate to use either accubond or partition on my next hunting trip.
I also think that Barns makes an excellent product in the TSX . I think it might just have the Performance edge on the partition or accubond product but at a significantly higher cost per bullet.
In my opinion they are both excellent bullets, but they are both different bullet designs and will perform a bit differently as well.
I like the Partition for heavy boned or heavy skinned game where you need a really tough bullet, but one that expands as well. They have nearly the penetration of a solid, but do the damage of an expanding bullet. Very good on big, tough animals, such as elk, or when using a smaller caliber, such as a .25 caliber, on some of the larger medium game, like a large mule deer.
The Accu-Bond is a bit better for longer ranges as it has a higher BC and will also expand decently at lower velocity, like you would have with a long range impact. But they are still much stronger and will hold together through bone better than a standard ballistic tip will. I think they are great for the really fast magnums we have now, as they are tough enough to hold up through a high velocity impact up close, yet have the BC for long shots and will still expand as well.
I would take either on a large game hunt without question, though they each have their own high points. With the Partition, Accu-Bond and Ballsitic Tip, you would have a trio of bullets that will cover the full spectrum of hunting, with a tough bullet for heavy boned big game, a good long range big game bullet, and the ballistic tip for lighter boned medium game where you want more expansion and don't need to break heavy bone or rip thick hide. Combine these with a round like the 30-06, 7mm Mag or similar round, and you have a very versatile hunting rig that will take any medium and large game that the US has to offer.
I like the Partition for heavy boned or heavy skinned game where you need a really tough bullet, but one that expands as well. They have nearly the penetration of a solid, but do the damage of an expanding bullet. Very good on big, tough animals, such as elk, or when using a smaller caliber, such as a .25 caliber, on some of the larger medium game, like a large mule deer.
The Accu-Bond is a bit better for longer ranges as it has a higher BC and will also expand decently at lower velocity, like you would have with a long range impact. But they are still much stronger and will hold together through bone better than a standard ballistic tip will. I think they are great for the really fast magnums we have now, as they are tough enough to hold up through a high velocity impact up close, yet have the BC for long shots and will still expand as well.
I would take either on a large game hunt without question, though they each have their own high points. With the Partition, Accu-Bond and Ballsitic Tip, you would have a trio of bullets that will cover the full spectrum of hunting, with a tough bullet for heavy boned big game, a good long range big game bullet, and the ballistic tip for lighter boned medium game where you want more expansion and don't need to break heavy bone or rip thick hide. Combine these with a round like the 30-06, 7mm Mag or similar round, and you have a very versatile hunting rig that will take any medium and large game that the US has to offer.
I have shot both in the last few years and I have been leaning more toward the Accubond for no particular reason. I shot 3 antelope this year with my 270 Winchester using 110 grain Accubonds and all were 1 shot kills at an average range of 300 yards. I recovered 2 of the bullets in the far hide and they retained about 75% and expanded to about .5 inch. I have also used the 110 grain Accubond in my 25-06 for Mule deer and have a series of 1 shot kills with it. The last deer I shot with the 100 grain partition in my 25-06 went 40 yards at the most so can't complain about it either! I have experienced very little meat loss with the Accubonds. Both are very accurate in my rifles.
I too have used both, I tend to migrate towards Accubonds in larger calibers above 6MM, as I believe the power/range capability afforded by larger calibers will make this bullet work nicely. In my 6MM deer rifle I am using Partitions. Both are equally accurate in a well tuned rifle/load combo.
Frank
Frank
I think that the Accubond is the best of both worlds. It flies and is accurate like the ballistic tip. It starts to open up like the ballistic tip but holds together like the partition and keeps on trucking. I get better accuracy out of the Accubond. I have used the 130 gr Accubond out of my 27 3/4" barrel 264 Win mag at 3350 fps muzzle velocity to take 5 deer. All have been one shot DRT shots. Shots were from 80 to 250 yards. I only recovered one bullet from a big buck shot almost facing me at 111 yards. Bullet entered the edge of the left shoulder and was found in the right ham when cutting up the meat. Text book mushroom and weight was 87 grs.
xr650rRider
Silver $$ Contributor
I reload for 9 guys in my hunting group. We all shoot Accubonds. 4 years ago, 167" 200 lb+ Missouri whitetail, shot in the chest @ 40 yards with .300 Win Mag Encore with 180 Accubond. Bullet was under the skin on the rear hind quarter. Perfect mushroom 68% weight retention. 4 Elk bulls killed with .338 RUM with 225 grain Accubond, no bullet recovery. They all broke both front shoulders and exited. 2 Elk bulls killed with .325 WSM with 200 grain Accubond, all exited. 3 Elk killed with .300 Win Mag using 180 Accubond, recovered 1 bullet this year. 175 yard shot, broke both front shoulders and bullet was under the hide on the opposite shoulder. We laughed wondering how much the skin stretched because a 1" circle was bald. 67% weight retention, perfect mushroom. 1 Mexico mule deer shot with .25-06 with 110 Accubond. I forgot to weigh the bullet. Look about the same weight retention. Two Canadian whitetails shot with .300 Win Mag 180 Nosler Accubonds both clean pass thru's. I could keep going but you get the point. They work very well and they are more accurate than the partitions in everything I've tried them in. I did buy a box of 60 grain partitions for .223 that will be deer slayers for 3 kids.
My wife has taken three antelope with .300 WM (w/muzzle brake) using 150 gr. accubond all recovered within 100 yards. I took a kodiak brown bear with a .338 partition. He was down is seconds. I have been doing quite a bit of target shooting lately with a 7mm rm using 160 gr. accubond. Plenty happy with the accuracy. If your gun shoots them equally well, I don't see where you could go wrong with either.
TheOtherZilla
Pull my finger
I have never shot the Accubonds. I have shot the partitions in all my rifles since the 70's?? Mostly in 270's which includes dozens of dead elk, deer, antelope [243, 95 gr partition] and one Moose.. The Moose was the exception as I used a 160 Barnes in my 270.. . Been shootin partitions a long time. I know what the partiton will do and see no need to change.. I have 40 years of hunting stories to back it up as well..
This link to a rather dated article is interesting. The Nosler Partition did quite well, but there are better ones, like Remington CoreLock. Must have been done before Nosler AccuBond. The Sierra MatchKing is a disaster...
http://stevespages.com/jpg/bestbullet.jpg
http://stevespages.com/jpg/bestbullet.jpg
I shot Nosler Partitions for years because I felt they were the best option available. Then came the Nosler Balistic tip and the Swift Scirocco. Then Nosler Accubond and then the Scirocco II. I have shot a lot of them from 22 caliber to 375. The Nosler Partition gave above average accuracy. The front end of the bullet blew up upon impact and the back end continued to penetrate. The Nosler Balistic tip gave superior balistics but blew up on impact.The Swift Scirocco had a new technology tapered jacket thickness, bonded core bullets and nylon tip. These bullets gave better than expected performance in calibers 7mm and above. Swift came out with a solfter more maluable jacket so they could make smaller caliber Sciricco bullets.
Both the Nosler Accubond and Swift Scirocco have tapered and bonded cores the main difference is the cost. The Swift Scirocco cost in excess of $50 per 50 bullets and the Nosler Accubond cost just over $28.00 per 50 bullets. Ironically the Nosler Balistic Tip and the Accubond have very simular profiles and BC. The Balistic tips cost bout $16.00 per 50 so they make great practice ammo. I have found that Swift Scirrocco take about 10 shotsw to condition the barrel before they will hold a group.
Nathaniel Lambeth
Both the Nosler Accubond and Swift Scirocco have tapered and bonded cores the main difference is the cost. The Swift Scirocco cost in excess of $50 per 50 bullets and the Nosler Accubond cost just over $28.00 per 50 bullets. Ironically the Nosler Balistic Tip and the Accubond have very simular profiles and BC. The Balistic tips cost bout $16.00 per 50 so they make great practice ammo. I have found that Swift Scirrocco take about 10 shotsw to condition the barrel before they will hold a group.
Nathaniel Lambeth
I've been hunting with Nosler Partitions for many years because they were the best performing bullets for hunting purposes. I still use Partitions in some calibers like 358 Win. However my go to bullet for hunting is now the Accubond. They're more accurate and have better B.C. so they are a better bullet for longer shots. Accubonds provide a good wound channel and excellent penetration.
Here's a photo of a moose I shot in 2008 at a measured 504 yards with a 200grs AB out of a 300WM at muzzle velocity of 2935fps. The AB entered behind the right shoulder (slightly angled) blew up part of the hart end exited through the left shoulder. The moose dropped on the spot and did not live more than 7 or 8 seconds.
Here's a photo of a moose I shot in 2008 at a measured 504 yards with a 200grs AB out of a 300WM at muzzle velocity of 2935fps. The AB entered behind the right shoulder (slightly angled) blew up part of the hart end exited through the left shoulder. The moose dropped on the spot and did not live more than 7 or 8 seconds.
Both great bullets but my choice is the partition since Ive never had a failure with them. I have had one relative faiolure with the AB. 7mmWSM;140gr AB; small whitetail; angle of shot put a touch of the rumen in path of bullet(still got lungs). Deer was recovered after going down, getting back up and "leaving town". A small piece of bullet exited with pinhole exit wound. Blood trail was about 1 drop, which fortunately pointed to the right trail. Point is, a 100 #whitetail shouldnt cause a bullet to strip petals and essentialy fail to leave an exit wound. I will stay with the partition.
Up until this past season I used the partition, and accubond. I used the partition bullet because of it's ablitly to break bones and keep going. I was a big fan of taken shoulder shots. Then I became a big fan of shooting just behind the shoulder. (whitetail deer lung shots) as well I was shooting deer at futher, and futher distances. So I used the Accubond I get better accuracy out of the accubond. I got involved into F/open and FTR in 2010. With the accuracy that I am getting out of Berger bullets in Comp. I couldn't help but wonder if the Berger Hunting bullets would do the job that Berger claims as well get the accuracy I wanted. Many say they have had great results. So I decided to try them this year. The 130gr Berger out of a 270wsm is now my go to bullet for whitetail deer size game. So far I've only had the chance to take a deer with this bullet at 322yrds. It worked flawlessly! I like the Accuracy that I get out of the Berger over any other bullet. I feel confident with the 130gr Berger above RL-17 leaving the barrel at near 3400fps will do the job on a whitetial even at 600yrds. I say 600yrds because this is the furthest I have shot it and have made repeatable cold barrel shots at a 3d whitetail achery target, and hit with in the kill zone everytime. Three shots are going just under 1 moa. Shooting with my backpack laying on a log. However If I was going to hunt anythng that has really big bones like Brown bear, moose, or Elk I think I would just go back to the Trusty Partition and close the distance to make up for the accuracy. I will be going south in 3 weeks to hunt Hogs in South Carolina. I'm tempeted to take a shoulder shot to see what the Berger will do, but I doubt I will do that. I do not like to have to track a hog in the swamp and thick stuff they live in down there! As well those hogs can be mean as hell when they want to be! Brain shot only for hogs! You never get a shot past 100yrds where we hunt hogs anyway. So I'm not going to waste the meat just to test a bullet. I love Nosler bullets, but becoming very fond of the Berger hunting bullet!!
Mark
Mark
I have the most experience with partitions both 180 gr for elk, and 165 gr for deer in my 30-06. Many 1 shot kills over the years. They still group about 1.5" at 100 yds in my Ruger M77 with thousands of rounds down the barrel. My Mauser custom in 257 Roberts likes the 110 gr AcuBond and groups at about 0.8". Have killed 1 antalope with it. Droped on the spot at about 250 yds, complete broadside penetration. Antalope arn't hard to kill though if you hit them where you should. I decided to go with Barnes TS in my 300 WSM at 3,025 fps. Only elk I killed was at only 75 yds and complete broad side penetration. My personal opinion is, that any of the premium bullets your rifle likes should do the job. They all are more than adequate for the largest thin skinned game we hunt in North America, if placed in the proper location. For dangerous game I have no experience yet but hope to get some one day.
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