BT's vs AB's

[Gunner46]

No, I'm not going to question which is more accurate, or a better hunting bullet. But, I am curious if anyone has done a side by side test with each, of identical caliber, weight, powder charge, etc and made a comparison as to their similarities (i.e. impact point, group size, pressures, velocities) ?

I'm just starting to work with my 7mm/08 and 140's. I've shot 150 BT's (40.5 grs, R-15, 2650 fps) since I bought it 15 yrs ago with 100% 1st shot kills, though that was always inside 150 yds at whitetails and pigs. I'm trying to develop a more general load that could include ranges out to 500yd, if Absolutely necessary. Hate to waste the money on hard to find 140 AB's, if I can get away with doing the prelim's with the BT's.

 

[JD338]

Its been my experience that the BT and AB will shoot very close but to the exact POI.

JD338

 

[Vince]

I recently asked this question but focused on seating depth.

I was informed that the bullets are the same as far as seating depth and ballistic coefficient. One respondent reported that there is approximately a 1" difference between the two bullets.

That's close enough to do load work up in my opinion.

Vince

Sent from my SGH-M919 using Tapatalk

 

[hubcap]

In my .270 the AB and BT hit the same at 100 yrds.

 

[preacher]

I would think the Ballistic Tip would still be the champ for you, especially at the longer ranges. I admittedly have not used the Ballistic Tips on game since the mid 90's and the AccuBond on only a few head. To me the AB was comparable to the Partition...a very good thing for sure. However, I read all the time of guys using the upgraded "Hunting" Ballistic Tips on heavy game all the time, with great results. IMHO in a 7mm08 I would use the Ballistic Tip (only game I killed with my 7mm08 I had was with the 139SST, which was still pretty fragile)...unless the ABs are all you can find! ha Good luck Pard, Jim

 

[NYDAN]

I just checked two sets of targets I had shot back to back with 140 gr. BT's and AB's in my 270 Win. The points of impact are close but not exact. On those two sets of targets, the AB's printed about 1/2" higher at 100 yds. I seat the BT's closer to the lands than I do the AB's.

I shot the 140 gr. BT's in my 7mm-08 and really liked them. I killed several deer with them. I don't remember recovering any bullets.

 

[SJB358]

I have done much more with a PT and a BT than a BT and AB, but my 264 shoots both of them exactly them same..





Those were shot at 250 yards. The POI difference between the two was me adjusting the scope between groups.

I use the same seating die setting and load to a T..

Not saying it'll work for all of them, but it works for me in this case. I do have really good luck with using BT's and PT's. My son's 7x57 shoots the 150 BT and PT to the same POI out to 400. Speeds are a little faster with the BT, but only about 20 FPS. Same for the 264 load, the AB load is a touch faster..

I am sure you can do it relatively easy. I have always did my load work with the BT, then swapped over to the AB or PT and left the seating die the same. This has been a good place to start and very little, if any tweaks needed to make it real good.

 

[salmonchaser]

I can't help much on the side by side test, but out of my o6 they shot a "smidgen" to the right of the ballistic tips. Same powder, primer, case and length. That test was a year before I found and joined this group. A smidgen is a unit of measure, less than an inch. Group size was the same, under an inch for both. I would have a much more scientific answer if I do a comparison now.
I really like the ballistic tip for deer, antelope etc. I've shot two deer from above, through the spine between the shoulder blades. In both cases the bullet was destroyed, very minimal damage inside the chest cavity. Both were about two hundred yards. I don't think of that as bullet failure, both were DRT. Simply gives me reason to use a different bullet on heavier boned critters.