Thoughts on AB vs BT

Gunner46 · Mar 26, 2015

I'm planning a 'Lope/Mule Deer hunt, in E. Wyoming this fall and I've already decided to go with a 140gr for my 7mm-08. What are your learned opinions on the AccuBond vs the Ballistic Tip for this hunt. There's not a gnat's hair difference in accuracy etc. between the two out of my M77. I'm loading 43.0 gr of Varget @ 2825 fps.

Thebear_78 · Mar 26, 2015

I think you'll be hard pressed to tell the difference. Guess you just need to decide white tip or red! The deer won't be able to tell

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JD338 · Mar 26, 2015

I used the 140 gr BT in a 280 Rem for a few years taking quite a few WT deer.
Its been my experience that the BT drops deer in their tracks with a shot into the chest. With
the AB, they run a short distance with the same shot placement.

JD338

DrMike · Mar 26, 2015

JD338":1e6rvbdw said:
I used the 140 gr BT in a 280 Rem for a few years taking quite a few WT deer.
Its been my experience that the BT drops deer in their tracks with a shot into the chest. With
the AB, they run a short distance with the same shot placement.

JD338

With the velocities generated by the 7mm 08 (or the 280, for that matter), the BT will give you all the performance you could want. JD338's observation mirrors my own.

6mm Remington · Mar 26, 2015

Pick you poison on this one. Both are great and won't disappoint you!

nvbroncrider · Mar 26, 2015

I'd run the BT cheaper to shoot and at those velocities the BT will work just fine. If you were over 3k I'd say the AB.

Guy Miner · Mar 26, 2015

The little 115 gr Ballistic Tip at 3120 fps from my .25-06 has done real well on mule deer and pronghorn.

In 2012 I was invited to share the camp with two terrific people, Steven and his wife Storm. He was using a .280, she had a 7mm-08. He handloaded the little 120 gr Nosler Ballistic Tip for both of them.

Between the two of them, they took four shots, killed four animals, dropping them Right Now in each case. I see no need for the bonded bullet on mule deer & pronghorn, at "normal" velocity.

Am sure you'll tag your game with either the AccuBond or the Ballistic Tip.

Best of luck!

Guy