30 Cal 150 gr Accubond = How tough is it

[Boonie]

I bought me a new elk rifle. Now I'm having a lot of fun working out all the variables. The rifle is a Sako Model 75 Deluxe 300 WSM. Magazine length limits the COL to 2.941 on this particular rifle. Which also controls my bullet to lands distance with the exception of different ogive shapes on different bullets. So far what it shoots the best is the Sierra 200 gr SBT. This bullet has a couple of faults. 1 it extends into the case when loaded to this COL. 2 When the mag is loaded by the time you get to the fourth shell you are shooting a flat point bullet which has to hurt the BC to some degree. So I would like some opinions. I'm an old benchrest shooter. I don't take offhand shots, I don't take running shots, I shoot year round not just before hunting season, I always take some kind of rest if the shot is over 30 yds. So 99.9% of the time I know where my bullet is going. Besides that my hunting buddy won't take any excuses and it's a 1600 mile ride home. Now all that said my questions are
1 Will the 150 gr AccuBond handle 3200 + velocities
2 Is it a adequate bullet for an elk sized animal ( if it isn't I guess there are a lot of people who are hunting with 270's and 7mm's with too light bullets)
3 There is a significant difference between the 150 gr AccuBond and the 150 Partition in retained energy at longer ranges. These two bullets come the nearest to fitting the dimensions of this rifle. Without bullet intrusion into the powder capacity. When loaded to the COL of this rifle. Also the AccuBond has an advantage with the bullet tip being resistant to deformation in the magazine.
So give me your opinions guys . What do you think?
:?:

 

[JD338]

The 180 gr AB would be a better choice. Why don't you look at the 165 gr AB as a compermise? The better SD and BC will get you to where you want to be.
The Ab's are tough! I have revovered the 200gr AB from my 338 RUM at 3200 fps at 50 yds in milk jugs filled with water and they held together. :shock:

JD338

 

[FOTIS]

180 AB or PT for elk! :lol:

 

[R Flowers]

Once again, I have to agree with JD338. He has the right idea with selecting the 165 AccuBond as the bullet of choice.

My 300WSM (Rem 700XCR) simply does not shoot 180 Partitions worth a darn. If it did, that would be my bullet of choice, period. It is the only hunting rifle I own that will not shoot Partitions, but that is the way it is, darn it. It shoots 180 Sierra flat base bullets into groups of less than a 1/2 inch when I do my part, but shoots patterns with Partitions.

I shot a couple of wild hogs with the 180 Sierra and 180 AccuBond and was reasonably happy with either bullet. However, the velocity was only 2950 fps and my other hunting rifles shoot closer to 3200, so I wanted more speed to make my trajectory closer to my other rifles. And, with either bullet I was using VERY compressed powder charges.

So, I switched to the 165 AccuBond. I am getting very close to 3200 fps and great groups. My powder is no longer crunching like crazy as I seat the bullet. I have shot a couple of hogs with it and have been quite happy. No bullets recovered, they went out the other side.

Sure, I would prefer a 180 for elk, but I bet that 165 AccuBond will not bounce off. My dad has shot several elk with his 300 Wby Mag using 150 Partitions, no problems.

Work up to a max load with H 4350 or IMR 4831 and you should have plenty of medicine for elk with that 165 AccuBond.

 

[remingtonman_25_06]

I wouldn't go with a 150g as an all around bullet in a 300 WSM, more like a 165g AB or 180g AB...They'll hit harder and hold together better, not to mention penetrate a lot deeper on elk size game. The 200g sierra you have isn't bad choice either. Trust me on this one when I say battered tips dont mean didly squat to 700-800 yards. I know this for fact...My 300 RUM w/200g AB's @3200fps got smashd tips on everything that was in the magazine, didn't hinder performance one little bit. The 2nd, 3rd, and 4th shots all have battered tips from so much recoil and seating them out so far. The AB tips will still get smashed or chipped, trust me...

The AB's are quite tough...IF you do any kind of expansion tests like I have, you'll see they can handle velocity quite well..I've used the 110g in my 25-06, the 140g in a 270, the 160g in a 7 RM, and the 200g in a 300 RUM. In all instances, they held up at least 60% of there weight, if not 65% in wetnewspaper test shot at 100 yards...

Sure the 150g AB is "adequate" but why not have a little heavier bullet, something with a litle more insurance and be "more then adequate"???

 

[baltz526]

go with the 150gr AccuBond, great bullet. i have one sitting on my desk that i shot into a green 10" jackpine it penitrated 8" and has a perfect mushroom. it had approximatly a 2700fps impact velocity out of a 308 winchester, it will kill trees very good :lol: last time i hunted the steens for elk it was my backup rifle

 

[Mighty Peace]

I shoot a Sako m75SS 200WM with handloaded 180gr Accubonds. Great bullet . Under 1/2" groups @ 100m. I loaded up some 200graniers and shot them at the range with good groups. I do have a box of 150 thinking of using them for deer but the 180's is what I always shot from the 300WM with great success @ moose, elk, deer, bear.

My buddy uses 180's also in his Tikka T3 LS 300WSM.

Best overall performance bullet for the 300WM and 300WSM in my opinion.


Mind you I shoot 140gr Accubonds from my two Tikka T3 270WSM's @ same animals with great success also. My wife took her first bull moose last season with a 325m shot-doublelung complete pass thru with the 140gr Accubonds.

So that tells me bullet placement is the key. The 270WSM with the 140's Accubonds sure has impressed the hell out of me.

 

[Weatherby guy]

Boonie, In my 300 wsm Browning A-bolt I shoot Imr 4064 58.5 gr. fed 215 with 150 CT . IT shoots half inch groups consistantly.

 

[clearwater]

Have anyone worked up the trajectories and retained energies of the
150, and 180 accubonds using the actual velocites from their guns?

I was surprised in that in one of my rifles,
the 150's gave better accuracy and retained energy. When I tried
the 180's I got pressure signs earlier than would be expected and the
accuracy was ho hum.

 

[Alaska]

For elk size game I suggest the 180 AB or 180 Barnes TSX

The 168 Barnes TSX w/ IMR 4831 or Reloader 19 would also be a good all around bullet for elk/deer in the 300 WSM.

I would only use the 150's for deer size game only and IMR 4064 a excellent powder for the 150's.