129gn ABLR
- Thread starter Pescavore
- Start date
- Nov 4, 2004
- 27,044
- 13,403
- Thread starter
- #3
6.5 creedmoor, 22in Howa 1500 thin profile barrel with a suppressor
the ABLR's I'm using are jumping ( I THINK ) .050" and .070" . I get good accuracy with them . a lot of guys fight with this bullet trying to find accuracy . I have read some guys are close to the lands and other guys are jumping .100" + . these bullets seem to be all over the place , as for where they shoot best . I don't think I have worked with them yet in my Grandson's 260 , which would be very similar to your 6.5 creed .
as for hunting , so far what I see I like . I took a whitetail inside of 50 yards with a high velocity 7mm 175 grain bullet . it passed through , the animal collapsed , and I don't remember there being excessive meat damage . all positive the way I look at a hunting bullet . sorry I couldn't be of more help .
as for hunting , so far what I see I like . I took a whitetail inside of 50 yards with a high velocity 7mm 175 grain bullet . it passed through , the animal collapsed , and I don't remember there being excessive meat damage . all positive the way I look at a hunting bullet . sorry I couldn't be of more help .
Ridge_Runner
Handloader
- Sep 29, 2006
- 1,476
- 918
I like accubonds but not till you get impact velocities of 3200 fps or more. Better, cheaper, more accurate options available. I stick with Berger VLD's or Hornady ELDM's in the 140 flavor in my creed. To each his own.
Blkram
Handloader
- Nov 25, 2013
- 3,433
- 4,319
Sorry have not tried this bullet yet.
The only rifle I have that showed any liking for ABLRs in factory ammo tried to date is the 142 gr ABLR in my 6.5 PRC. And I have yet to to take game with it.
As for handloading the ABLR, I have only played with the 150 gr ABLR in my 280 Rem, and my rifle would not do less than 2 1/2" groups if memory serves, while DrMike's 280 produced great groups with the same load. As stated above, the ABLR seems to have proven to be a finicky bullet to get consistent performance from. Some rifles really like it, while others just hate them. Kind of like with Barnes. Not much middle ground.
Since I rarely shoot game beyond 300 yards (just a handful in 38 years of hunting), the AccuBond is my preferred bullet as it is so easy to find good loads for in all of my rifles from .257 on up to .375 cal.
As with any rifle, each will show its preference, and there is naught but to experiment with the bullet(s) of your choice, and then play with various components, and seating depth to find the one solution that will produce best for you with your rifle/ammo combo. Sometimes there is no shortcuts in this pursuit.
Stick to the data in your reloading guides or ballistics program, such as QuickLoad, and best of luck in your quest.
The only rifle I have that showed any liking for ABLRs in factory ammo tried to date is the 142 gr ABLR in my 6.5 PRC. And I have yet to to take game with it.
As for handloading the ABLR, I have only played with the 150 gr ABLR in my 280 Rem, and my rifle would not do less than 2 1/2" groups if memory serves, while DrMike's 280 produced great groups with the same load. As stated above, the ABLR seems to have proven to be a finicky bullet to get consistent performance from. Some rifles really like it, while others just hate them. Kind of like with Barnes. Not much middle ground.
Since I rarely shoot game beyond 300 yards (just a handful in 38 years of hunting), the AccuBond is my preferred bullet as it is so easy to find good loads for in all of my rifles from .257 on up to .375 cal.
As with any rifle, each will show its preference, and there is naught but to experiment with the bullet(s) of your choice, and then play with various components, and seating depth to find the one solution that will produce best for you with your rifle/ammo combo. Sometimes there is no shortcuts in this pursuit.
Stick to the data in your reloading guides or ballistics program, such as QuickLoad, and best of luck in your quest.
Last edited:
phil
Shooter!
- Jan 4, 2023
- 169
- 299
I’ve been considering running these in my 6.5 Mega, or the 142gr.
Or the 130gr AB.
Or the 130gr AB.
Charlie-NY
Handloader
- Mar 11, 2005
- 1,548
- 1,181
I loaded the 142 ABLR in my buddy's 6.5Creed. He shot two whitetails with the load. A big 8 pointer was hit in the neck. The bullet blew the opposite side of his neck off. UGLY! Later in the week he took a doe with a broadside shot to the lungs. Another massive wound and giant exit. Both deer dropped to the shot.
We stopped using the ABLR for shots under 200yds.
We stopped using the ABLR for shots under 200yds.
phil
Shooter!
- Jan 4, 2023
- 169
- 299
Sounds like it’s just right for behind the shoulder.?!
Charlie-NY
Handloader
- Mar 11, 2005
- 1,548
- 1,181
That doe was hit behind the shoulders and it sure wasn't pretty. LOL I've never used ABLR bullets myself but recently bought a few boxes to test for accuracy in my rifles. Generally, I'm shooting long, but you never know when a nice animal walks out in front of you. Last year I was watching an injured bird through my binos. (Yeah - I was bored) The bird was only about 30yds away. While watching him flop around, a set of hooves appears in the bino's view. I dropped the binos and see a big 8 point buck staring right at me.
DrMike
Ballistician
- Nov 8, 2006
- 38,171
- 8,240
Yup, they'll sneak in on ya' like that!That doe was hit behind the shoulders and it sure wasn't pretty. LOL I've never used ABLR bullets myself but recently bought a few boxes to test for accuracy in my rifles. Generally, I'm shooting long, but you never know when a nice animal walks out in front of you. Last year I was watching an injured bird through my binos. (Yeah - I was bored) The bird was only about 30yds away. While watching him flop around, a set of hooves appears in the bino's view. I dropped the binos and see a big 8 point buck staring right at me.
My Dad always said , " just when you least expect it "
DrMike
Ballistician
- Nov 8, 2006
- 38,171
- 8,240
I recall a massive bull moose walking past at less than seven yards as I rested against a balsam and closed my eyes in prayer. (Yes, I was actually praying for family members!) I was so startled that I could only watch him plod along and into the trees. On another occasion, a large mule deer buck bounded to a stop less than five feet away as I munched an apple and watched for mulies down in a valley. Yup! That one got away as well. I shot an even bigger mulie later than morning as he came in to a grunt I was using. After shooting that one, I became aware of an even larger mulie buck standing about twenty yards behind the one I tagged. I'm learning to make sure I keep my eyes open and survey the entire scene. And yes, I've learned to keep my eyes open when I pray!
I have been using the 6.5mm 129 gr, ABLR for a number of years now in my 6.5 Grendel bolt action loaded to 2600 fps muzzle velocity. It is an absolutely great killer in that little cartridge. I loaded it to just under 2700 fps muzzle velocity for my Kimber Hunter 6.5 Creedmoor which I used this season as I’d had a POI shift in my wooden stocked CZ-527 6.5 Grendel last season - in south west Mississippi it rains a lot so I hunt in the rain fairly regularly leading to the POI shift.
I have been pleased with the accuracy in both rifles. The 6.5 Grendel has a jump to lands of 100 thousandths or 0.1” , the load in the 6.5 Creedmoor has a jump to lands of 75 thousandths. The 6.5 Creedmoor Kimber Hunter will when I’m doing my part put 3 shots in 1/2”. For the distances I shoot that is more than good enough. Terminal performance of the bullet has been excellent. I’ve only caught one of them in a deer which was after shooting through the near shoulder, the spine and going through the off shoulder it was caught just under the hide. That shot was 30 minutes after sundown with a deer walking that I was trying to shoot in the base of the neck so I wouldn’t have to drag him out of the thick brush he was headed towards. He dropped in his tracks but as dark as it was I didn’t keep the crosshairs exactly where I needed to hence going through both shoulders…
So I don’t know what kind of information or testimonials you are looking for but it is an excellent bullet that likes a lot of jump to the lands and performs well when you hit your game.
