Accuracy with different bullets!

[db102550]

I seem to be getting better accuracy with the NOS BT than the NOS AB. This is, of course same bullet weight and load, case, seating, etc. Anyone have any experience with this they can lend me?

Don

 

[rick smith]

Not unusual for different bulets to react differently. You may have to play with seating depth/powder load to get the NAB to shoot the same.Rick.

 

[Oldtrader3]

My experience has been the same on most Accubonds but not all. The 160 gr 7mm AccuBond is about the same as the Partition in my 7mm Rem Mag. The bearing surface of the AccuBond is longer than the Partition or Ballistic Tip which will change the loading characteristics anyway.

 

[onesonek]

I only have experience with 3 different AB's in 3 different calibers. I find them to be more fickle to load for than the BT's. Not that they can't be accurate, but they are different than the BT's, and so it's not suprising they generally won't shoot the same loading variables as the BT's. Although I can't quite seem to get the accuracy level out of the AB's as I do from the BT's
One wouldn't think there wouldn't be a major difference, looking at the two,,,but.
We as consumer's, don't know if there is a difference in the jacket material and or the core composition, that may have something to do with it. But then throw in the bonding process itself, and you have a completely different bullet. It's bound to act differently than it's BT counterpart. Be nice if they shot exactly the same, but in reality, that would wishful thinking.
Sometimes it can happen however, and that would be lucky from my point of view. Each rifle is a law unto itself when that happens. More the exception, than the norm.

 

[DrMike]

It is almost impossible to make generalised statements concerning accuracy when using different bullets. There are simply too many variables. I have rifles that are highly accurate with Partitions, yet they won't shoot AccuBonds with any degree of accuracy approaching that of the Partitions. Other rifles shoot Ballistic Tips very well while not shooting AccuBonds quite so well. The more common rule, however, is that AccuBonds will give better accuracy than the other bullets. However, there are always exceptions to the rule. Find what your rifle likes, and use it.

 

[Mountain Goat]

... Find what your rifle likes, and use it.

That is about as simple and to the point as it gets when it comes to accurate hand loads. I'm as guilty as the next person spending too much time force feeding our rifles the bullets we want to shoot instead of listening to what the rifle is telling us it likes.

My latest headache was a friend's XCR II in 7 Rem mag. His cousin's pet load is the 140gr TTSX's and H1000, bullets seated way out. My friend brought me the components, and we started out load work-up. I didn't like the velocity or group spread from the start. It just didn't feel right. We continued to force this formula down the rifle's throat until I finally said, "stop." Let's start from scratch not knowing anything about this new rifle. My friend agreed.

A powder and seating depth change made the TTSX's shoot respectable groups, nothing spectacular. Then came along the 160gr AccuBond and RL-22. I can't imagine finding a more accurate and consistent load for this rifle. It's not what he wanted at first, but he has yet to miss the 400yd gong with this load. The deer don't like it too much either.

I had a 280 that loved the 145gr Speer BTSP over all else
Retumbo and a 150gr Partition has "accurized" a few 270WSM's for me. (not real speedy at 2940fps)
My Savage 243 dislikes any 100gr bullet. Oh boy, do the 95gr NBT and PT sure shoot though.

just a few examples that I remember off the top of my head. I'm sure we've all been there.

 

[db102550]

Thanks for the replies. I guess I tend to agree with MG and others that suggest not to fight the gun but go with what works the best. In all reality, I seriously doubt that the terminal performance of these two bullets will differ enought to make a difference on whitetails.

 

[Antelope_Sniper]

I seem to be getting better accuracy with the NOS BT than the NOS AB.
Don

Don, this is to be expected. In general the simpler the bullet design, the more accurate it is. Bonding is a complex process, and can introduce excentricities into the bullet. Consequently, the simpler cup and core design of the BT tends to deliver greater accuracy. In many calibers a heavy for caliber BT around 3k at the muzzle tends to be a great formula for delivering accuracy, down range ballistics, and turning critters into dinner.