I've used ABLR on close range (50-70 yards) on mule deer and at ~125 yards on elk. The bullets (launched from a 7WSM) killed quite efficiently. I Can't say that the mulies or the elk were any deader than those shot with Partitions or with AccuBonds, but maybe they were a "little more dead."
I purchased a couple of boxes when they were first released that had three or four in each box sans tips or with the tips falling out. Being in the Great White North, there wasn't much Nosler was prepared to do, though they did send me a couple of Nosler caps. I used the "tipless (untipped?)...
Rodger, you may not consider these competition worthy, but many people would be thrilled with loads that produced such accuracy. For sure, you will want to test the loads for velocity when you are able.
Dolly Varden have always proved to be sluggers. They were plentiful in the river of the Lower Mainland. While they didn't perform aerobics as did steelhead, they were sluggers giving powerful slugfests deep in the current. I recall my son-in-law crying out in alarm after tying into a massive...
I do miss fishing for steelheads since moving to the north. Dont make it over to the coast all that much. Now I have to content myself with pike and walleye, rainbow trout and grayling. Tough life.