The Accurate Reloading Forums THE ACCURATE RELOADING.COM FORUMS Hunting African Big Game Hunting AccuBond vs. PartitionGo | New | Find | Notify | Tools | Reply | |
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I have always used Federal 250 grain Nosler Partition in my .338 WM. I have killed Moose, Caribou, and Brown Bear all with this load. They all went down quickly including the Brown Bear. I will be heading to Namibia in 2010 for my first Africa hunt, which will focus on the usual plains game suspects. I have been reading endlessly on here as well as other sites trying to learn all I can about hunting in Africa. Here's my latest question. I visited the Federal website and looked at the latest offerings in ammo. My favorite 250 grain NP is still available and as I stated I have had great success with this load. I also see a 225 grain AccuBond (which I have never used). The ballistic comparison places the AccuBond as a flater shooting round with higher energy in foot pounds and less wind drift compared to the 250 grain NP. Have you folks used the AccuBond and were you happy with it? Any other comments on the choice between the two? Thanks Jim ______________________ DRSS ______________________ Hunt Reports 2015 His & Her Leopards with Derek Littleton of Luwire Safaris - http://forums.accuratereloadin...6321043/m/2971090112 2015 Trophy Bull Elephant with CMS http://forums.accuratereloadin...6321043/m/1651069012 DIY Brooks Range Sheep Hunt 2013 - http://forums.accuratereloadin...901038191#9901038191 Zambia June/July 2012 with Andrew Baldry - Royal Kafue http://forums.accuratereloadin...6321043/m/7971064771 Zambia Sept 2010- Muchinga Safaris http://forums.accuratereloadin...6321043/m/4211096141 Namibia Sept 2010 - ARUB Safaris http://forums.accuratereloadin...6321043/m/6781076141 | ||
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Jim, Federal is discontinuing the Accubond in favor of their new Trophy Bonded Tipped bullet. Federal's parent company owns Speer (Trophy Bonded Bear Claw etc). Unless you find someone still holding some .338 Fed cartridges, you'll have to reload them or order from Nosler, Superior etc. Great bullet and I can highly recommend it. David Gray Ghost Hunting Safaris http://grayghostsafaris.com Phone: 615-860-4333 Email: hunts@grayghostsafaris.com NRA Benefactor DSC Professional Member SCI Member RMEF Life Member NWTF Guardian Life Sponsor NAHC Life Member Rowland Ward - SCI Scorer Took the wife the Eastern Cape for her first hunt: http://forums.accuratereloadin...6321043/m/6881000262 Hunting in the Stormberg, Winterberg and Hankey Mountains of the Eastern Cape 2018 http://forums.accuratereloadin...6321043/m/4801073142 Hunting the Eastern Cape, RSA May 22nd - June 15th 2007 http://forums.accuratereloadin...=810104007#810104007 16 Days in Zimbabwe: Leopard, plains game, fowl and more: http://forums.accuratereloadin...=212108409#212108409 Natal: Rhino, Croc, Nyala, Bushbuck and more http://forums.accuratereloadin...6321043/m/6341092311 Recent hunt in the Eastern Cape, August 2010: Pics added http://forums.accuratereloadin...261039941#9261039941 10 days in the Stormberg Mountains http://forums.accuratereloadin...6321043/m/7781081322 Back in the Stormberg Mountains with friends: May-June 2017 http://forums.accuratereloadin...6321043/m/6001078232 "Peace is that brief glorious moment in history when everybody stands around reloading" - Thomas Jefferson Every morning the Zebra wakes up knowing it must outrun the fastest Lion if it wants to stay alive. Every morning the Lion wakes up knowing it must outrun the slowest Zebra or it will starve. It makes no difference if you are a Zebra or a Lion; when the Sun comes up in Africa, you must wake up running...... "If you're being chased by a Lion, you don't have to be faster than the Lion, you just have to be faster than the person next to you." | |||
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Are they just discontinuing the AccuBond? Will they still offer the NP in 250 grain? They are both still on the website.  ______________________ DRSS ______________________ Hunt Reports 2015 His & Her Leopards with Derek Littleton of Luwire Safaris - http://forums.accuratereloadin...6321043/m/2971090112 2015 Trophy Bull Elephant with CMS http://forums.accuratereloadin...6321043/m/1651069012 DIY Brooks Range Sheep Hunt 2013 - http://forums.accuratereloadin...901038191#9901038191 Zambia June/July 2012 with Andrew Baldry - Royal Kafue http://forums.accuratereloadin...6321043/m/7971064771 Zambia Sept 2010- Muchinga Safaris http://forums.accuratereloadin...6321043/m/4211096141 Namibia Sept 2010 - ARUB Safaris http://forums.accuratereloadin...6321043/m/6781076141 | |||
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David, Don't tell me....where did you hear that Federal is dropping the Accubonds?? They are awesome in my 7mm, and I have taken a ton of plainsgame with it, including a leopard. Tell me it's not so! | |||
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Why change from the partition that you have great confidence in to the Accubond that you've never used? It is a good bullet, but I believe your already using the better one of the two. Dirk "An individual with experience is never at the mercies of an individual with an argument" | |||
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Nosler makes the Accubond. Federal offered it in their premium line of ammo. Now, Federal owns Speer. Speer makes bullets. Speer now makes a new Trophy Bonded Tipped bullet. Federal is dropping the Nosler Accubond bullet in favor of their new TBT bullet. It's business. I'm still pissed over Federal dropping the Speer Grand Slam bullet  However, the new Speer TBTipped bullet is a hybred looking affair: half Nosler, half Barnes. I posted the story, but you can find it on the Federal site. Should be a great bullet but time will tell. I bought 13 boxes of my .280 Federal with Accubond bullets in AR recently. No one else has any. Option 1: buy Nosler cartridges. They are now in the ammo business. 2. Reload your own, or ask a friend. 3. Get them at any of the custom reloading firms.Dirk; Partitions are great, but the Accubond in most cases will out perform the Partition in down range energy and accuracy. But the old saying: "shoot what you shoot best" still applies. Not all rifles will love the Accubond, but all of my rifles do.  Good hunting, David Gray Ghost Hunting Safaris http://grayghostsafaris.com Phone: 615-860-4333 Email: hunts@grayghostsafaris.com NRA Benefactor DSC Professional Member SCI Member RMEF Life Member NWTF Guardian Life Sponsor NAHC Life Member Rowland Ward - SCI Scorer Took the wife the Eastern Cape for her first hunt: http://forums.accuratereloadin...6321043/m/6881000262 Hunting in the Stormberg, Winterberg and Hankey Mountains of the Eastern Cape 2018 http://forums.accuratereloadin...6321043/m/4801073142 Hunting the Eastern Cape, RSA May 22nd - June 15th 2007 http://forums.accuratereloadin...=810104007#810104007 16 Days in Zimbabwe: Leopard, plains game, fowl and more: http://forums.accuratereloadin...=212108409#212108409 Natal: Rhino, Croc, Nyala, Bushbuck and more http://forums.accuratereloadin...6321043/m/6341092311 Recent hunt in the Eastern Cape, August 2010: Pics added http://forums.accuratereloadin...261039941#9261039941 10 days in the Stormberg Mountains http://forums.accuratereloadin...6321043/m/7781081322 Back in the Stormberg Mountains with friends: May-June 2017 http://forums.accuratereloadin...6321043/m/6001078232 "Peace is that brief glorious moment in history when everybody stands around reloading" - Thomas Jefferson Every morning the Zebra wakes up knowing it must outrun the fastest Lion if it wants to stay alive. Every morning the Lion wakes up knowing it must outrun the slowest Zebra or it will starve. It makes no difference if you are a Zebra or a Lion; when the Sun comes up in Africa, you must wake up running...... "If you're being chased by a Lion, you don't have to be faster than the Lion, you just have to be faster than the person next to you." | |||
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+1 Antlers Double Rifle Shooters Society Heym 450/400 3" | |||
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That's my intuitive thought as well except that the AccuBond out performs the NP in flatness and power according to the stats on the Federal website. I planned on seeing what folks who used the cartridge here thought of it. Then I would buy a box and see how my rifle likes them. If they grouped as good as the 250 NP's and everyone thought the AccuBond held up after hitting game I would consider a switch. But now that I have found in this thread that they will not be available ongoing then I guess it's a moot point. I don't reload and don't need a new hobby. ______________________ DRSS ______________________ Hunt Reports 2015 His & Her Leopards with Derek Littleton of Luwire Safaris - http://forums.accuratereloadin...6321043/m/2971090112 2015 Trophy Bull Elephant with CMS http://forums.accuratereloadin...6321043/m/1651069012 DIY Brooks Range Sheep Hunt 2013 - http://forums.accuratereloadin...901038191#9901038191 Zambia June/July 2012 with Andrew Baldry - Royal Kafue http://forums.accuratereloadin...6321043/m/7971064771 Zambia Sept 2010- Muchinga Safaris http://forums.accuratereloadin...6321043/m/4211096141 Namibia Sept 2010 - ARUB Safaris http://forums.accuratereloadin...6321043/m/6781076141 | |||
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if it ain't broke, don't fix it. if you have confidence in a bullet, why change? as an aside, i have always used 250 gr. Noslers in my .338 and taken a ton of plains game with no problems. Vote Trump- Putin’s best friend… To quote a former AND CURRENT Trumpiteer - DUMP TRUMP | |||
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I can't speak to the AccuBonds, but I have a lot of experience with 250 NP in .338. They have worked superbly on everything from duiker to eland. If your gun shoots them well, stock upon them and go hunting! | |||
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David, Is it just the AccuBoands they are discontinuing? Will the 250 NP's continue to be made by Federal? ______________________ DRSS ______________________ Hunt Reports 2015 His & Her Leopards with Derek Littleton of Luwire Safaris - http://forums.accuratereloadin...6321043/m/2971090112 2015 Trophy Bull Elephant with CMS http://forums.accuratereloadin...6321043/m/1651069012 DIY Brooks Range Sheep Hunt 2013 - http://forums.accuratereloadin...901038191#9901038191 Zambia June/July 2012 with Andrew Baldry - Royal Kafue http://forums.accuratereloadin...6321043/m/7971064771 Zambia Sept 2010- Muchinga Safaris http://forums.accuratereloadin...6321043/m/4211096141 Namibia Sept 2010 - ARUB Safaris http://forums.accuratereloadin...6321043/m/6781076141 | |||
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In a 338 win mag, both will work just fine. At higher velocities (30-378 type, >3200 fps) the accubonds dont penetrate well, they disintegrate, but you wont be getting those velocities with the 338 win mag. | |||
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I used the Nosler 225 Partitions on my plains game hunt last June and was very pleased. However, I have since bought and loaded some 225 Accubonds and found them to be fully as accurate and having a slight edge in trajectory and retained energy. Particularly if you are shooting at longer ranges (250 yards and more), I feel the lighter, faster 225 grain bullet offers an edge over the good old 250 partition for plains game. | |||
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I assume Fed will keep the Partitions, but as Speer or any of their own bullet mfr's come up with similar designs, away will go the competitors bullets. Again, it's business. I shoot both the Partition and Accubond. I prefer to use the best performing bullet and for me, that is Accubond. Winchester's XP3 has me worried, so it's out for the time being. Next to try will be the Speer TBT I mentioned. To some, I use a pea-shooter in Africa (.223 & .280) but A. I'm not hunting Dinosaurs (I wish) B. I'm a fairly good shot and C. My rigs work. There should be ample boxes of .338 Fed/Accubonds lying on shelves so make a few Internet searches and calls. Good hunting, David Gray Ghost Hunting Safaris http://grayghostsafaris.com Phone: 615-860-4333 Email: hunts@grayghostsafaris.com NRA Benefactor DSC Professional Member SCI Member RMEF Life Member NWTF Guardian Life Sponsor NAHC Life Member Rowland Ward - SCI Scorer Took the wife the Eastern Cape for her first hunt: http://forums.accuratereloadin...6321043/m/6881000262 Hunting in the Stormberg, Winterberg and Hankey Mountains of the Eastern Cape 2018 http://forums.accuratereloadin...6321043/m/4801073142 Hunting the Eastern Cape, RSA May 22nd - June 15th 2007 http://forums.accuratereloadin...=810104007#810104007 16 Days in Zimbabwe: Leopard, plains game, fowl and more: http://forums.accuratereloadin...=212108409#212108409 Natal: Rhino, Croc, Nyala, Bushbuck and more http://forums.accuratereloadin...6321043/m/6341092311 Recent hunt in the Eastern Cape, August 2010: Pics added http://forums.accuratereloadin...261039941#9261039941 10 days in the Stormberg Mountains http://forums.accuratereloadin...6321043/m/7781081322 Back in the Stormberg Mountains with friends: May-June 2017 http://forums.accuratereloadin...6321043/m/6001078232 "Peace is that brief glorious moment in history when everybody stands around reloading" - Thomas Jefferson Every morning the Zebra wakes up knowing it must outrun the fastest Lion if it wants to stay alive. Every morning the Lion wakes up knowing it must outrun the slowest Zebra or it will starve. It makes no difference if you are a Zebra or a Lion; when the Sun comes up in Africa, you must wake up running...... "If you're being chased by a Lion, you don't have to be faster than the Lion, you just have to be faster than the person next to you." | |||
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I have used the partition on most African plains game and all north american big game. No bullet kills quicker than the partition in my opinion, not TSX, not A-Frame, nothing. It is not a bullet for thick skinned dangerous game, but you will get the same results on African plains game you got on north american big game with it. No need to change. | |||
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In my opinion the only bullet better than the Partition was the North Fork. Now that they are no longer produced (I did manage to keep 28 boxs for my use), if I were you I would shoot the partition and not worry. Good shooting. phurley | |||
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All good advice....thanks. David, Do you know if Federal has plans to continue with the Partition? ______________________ DRSS ______________________ Hunt Reports 2015 His & Her Leopards with Derek Littleton of Luwire Safaris - http://forums.accuratereloadin...6321043/m/2971090112 2015 Trophy Bull Elephant with CMS http://forums.accuratereloadin...6321043/m/1651069012 DIY Brooks Range Sheep Hunt 2013 - http://forums.accuratereloadin...901038191#9901038191 Zambia June/July 2012 with Andrew Baldry - Royal Kafue http://forums.accuratereloadin...6321043/m/7971064771 Zambia Sept 2010- Muchinga Safaris http://forums.accuratereloadin...6321043/m/4211096141 Namibia Sept 2010 - ARUB Safaris http://forums.accuratereloadin...6321043/m/6781076141 | |||
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Frostbit, consider this: if you were Federal, would you continue to sell your ammo with someone else's bullets...and you own a bullet manufacturing company (Speer)? They will as long as sales are good. The first time they go limp...bye bye Partition. However, I'll mention this again: Nosler is now in the cartridge business. Here's some offers from Midway: Nosler Custom Ammunition 338 Winchester Magnum 250 Grain Partition Box of 20 Product #: 370127 Status: Out of Stock, Backorder OK Our Price: $62.99 Nosler Custom Ammunition 338 Winchester Magnum 225 Grain Partition Box of 20 Product #: 465987 Status: Available Our Price: $62.99 Better yet: Nosler Custom Ammunition 338 Winchester Magnum 180 Grain AccuBond Box of 20 Product #: 981970 Status: Closeout Special Our Price: $56.04 Compare at: $58.99 You save $2.95 Read up on the Accubond. I'm telling you, it's kick ass deadly. Better fps and ft lbs. A 180 grain out of your .338 WM is smokin' but they offer heavier bullets if needed. Gray Ghost Hunting Safaris http://grayghostsafaris.com Phone: 615-860-4333 Email: hunts@grayghostsafaris.com NRA Benefactor DSC Professional Member SCI Member RMEF Life Member NWTF Guardian Life Sponsor NAHC Life Member Rowland Ward - SCI Scorer Took the wife the Eastern Cape for her first hunt: http://forums.accuratereloadin...6321043/m/6881000262 Hunting in the Stormberg, Winterberg and Hankey Mountains of the Eastern Cape 2018 http://forums.accuratereloadin...6321043/m/4801073142 Hunting the Eastern Cape, RSA May 22nd - June 15th 2007 http://forums.accuratereloadin...=810104007#810104007 16 Days in Zimbabwe: Leopard, plains game, fowl and more: http://forums.accuratereloadin...=212108409#212108409 Natal: Rhino, Croc, Nyala, Bushbuck and more http://forums.accuratereloadin...6321043/m/6341092311 Recent hunt in the Eastern Cape, August 2010: Pics added http://forums.accuratereloadin...261039941#9261039941 10 days in the Stormberg Mountains http://forums.accuratereloadin...6321043/m/7781081322 Back in the Stormberg Mountains with friends: May-June 2017 http://forums.accuratereloadin...6321043/m/6001078232 "Peace is that brief glorious moment in history when everybody stands around reloading" - Thomas Jefferson Every morning the Zebra wakes up knowing it must outrun the fastest Lion if it wants to stay alive. Every morning the Lion wakes up knowing it must outrun the slowest Zebra or it will starve. It makes no difference if you are a Zebra or a Lion; when the Sun comes up in Africa, you must wake up running...... "If you're being chased by a Lion, you don't have to be faster than the Lion, you just have to be faster than the person next to you." | |||
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Thanks David, Nosler will only ship to the lower 48 according to their website. I'll do some poking around up here and see what's out there. ______________________ DRSS ______________________ Hunt Reports 2015 His & Her Leopards with Derek Littleton of Luwire Safaris - http://forums.accuratereloadin...6321043/m/2971090112 2015 Trophy Bull Elephant with CMS http://forums.accuratereloadin...6321043/m/1651069012 DIY Brooks Range Sheep Hunt 2013 - http://forums.accuratereloadin...901038191#9901038191 Zambia June/July 2012 with Andrew Baldry - Royal Kafue http://forums.accuratereloadin...6321043/m/7971064771 Zambia Sept 2010- Muchinga Safaris http://forums.accuratereloadin...6321043/m/4211096141 Namibia Sept 2010 - ARUB Safaris http://forums.accuratereloadin...6321043/m/6781076141 | |||
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David, The new TBtipped, sounds like a very interesting development for Federal.  http://www.gunsandammomag.com/gun_columns/notes/0712/ Frostbit, Why not try some factory ammo with the A-Frame, or get Superior Ammo to load whatever you want? The new 225Tipped TSX from Barnes should be an outstanding projectile as well in a 338...... Verbera!, Iugula!, Iugula!!! Blair. | |||
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Accubonds have done a great job on heavy plains game for several forum members, YOu might PM BobC and ask his opine. Rusty We Band of Brothers! DRSS, NRA & SCI Life Member "I am rejoiced at my fate. Do not be uneasy about me, for I am with my friends." ----- David Crockett in his last letter (to his children), January 9th, 1836 "I will never forsake Texas and her cause. I am her son." ----- Jose Antonio Navarro, from Mexican Prison in 1841 "for I have sworn upon the altar of god eternal hostility against every form of tyranny over the mind of man." Thomas Jefferson Declaration of Arbroath April 6, 1320-“. . .It is not for glory, nor riches, nor honours that we are fighting, but for freedom - for that alone, which no honest man gives up but with life itself.” | |||
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I would opt for the Nosler, if it ain't broke, why are you trying to fix it? My favorite plainsgame bullet in the .338 win and I have shot a heck of a lot of game with it, is the 210 gr. Nosler...Actually you will be surprised to know that it will penetrate as well as the 250 gr. Nosler and is a little more violent in doing so...You will get an exit hole 90% of the time..I shoot it at 3010 FPS, and its flat and deadly on Eland, Zebra, Wildebeest and Kudu....It is also a great bullet for open country elk etc. My other .338 Win bullet is the wonderful 300 gr. Woodleigh at up to 2500 plus a tad FPS in my rifle, but my accuracy load and hunting load is 2450 FPS, it just hammers the big stuff and sticks an elks nose in the dirt with a Texas heart shot.. Ray Atkinson Atkinson Hunting Adventures 10 Ward Lane, Filer, Idaho, 83328 208-731-4120 rayatkinsonhunting@gmail.com | |||
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Federal not using Accubond is a real bummer for me. I just bought four boxes of 260gr for my 375 H&H to take to Namibia in two weeks--  time to start with something else. nothin sweeter than the smell of fresh blood on your hunting boots | |||
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I've been using 180 Federal Accubonds (300 WSM) for Whitetail and Mule Deer. I can't believe they're disco'ed. I will switch to Winchester's Accubond bullet. | |||
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Anyone have experience with Nosler Accubonds in 9.3mm? I will be switching over to that bullet in my 9.3x62mm when I run out of RWS H-Mantles. LLS  | |||
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I haven’t tried the Nosler Accubond in 9.3 on game yet but I tried some loads this week-end in my Sauer 9.3x62 and on paper Wow....! At least 2 kind of loads with Viht. N-140 in just one hole at 100 metres. Incredibly Accurate ! Maybe I will send some pick later....  | |||
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As I mentioned several times in this post, Nosler is now loading their own cartridges with their own Accubond bullets. Visit their web site or Midway, Cabela's etc., and ye shall find. No need to worry. Accubonds are available to those that do not reload. Good hunting...and shooting, David Gray Ghost Hunting Safaris http://grayghostsafaris.com Phone: 615-860-4333 Email: hunts@grayghostsafaris.com NRA Benefactor DSC Professional Member SCI Member RMEF Life Member NWTF Guardian Life Sponsor NAHC Life Member Rowland Ward - SCI Scorer Took the wife the Eastern Cape for her first hunt: http://forums.accuratereloadin...6321043/m/6881000262 Hunting in the Stormberg, Winterberg and Hankey Mountains of the Eastern Cape 2018 http://forums.accuratereloadin...6321043/m/4801073142 Hunting the Eastern Cape, RSA May 22nd - June 15th 2007 http://forums.accuratereloadin...=810104007#810104007 16 Days in Zimbabwe: Leopard, plains game, fowl and more: http://forums.accuratereloadin...=212108409#212108409 Natal: Rhino, Croc, Nyala, Bushbuck and more http://forums.accuratereloadin...6321043/m/6341092311 Recent hunt in the Eastern Cape, August 2010: Pics added http://forums.accuratereloadin...261039941#9261039941 10 days in the Stormberg Mountains http://forums.accuratereloadin...6321043/m/7781081322 Back in the Stormberg Mountains with friends: May-June 2017 http://forums.accuratereloadin...6321043/m/6001078232 "Peace is that brief glorious moment in history when everybody stands around reloading" - Thomas Jefferson Every morning the Zebra wakes up knowing it must outrun the fastest Lion if it wants to stay alive. Every morning the Lion wakes up knowing it must outrun the slowest Zebra or it will starve. It makes no difference if you are a Zebra or a Lion; when the Sun comes up in Africa, you must wake up running...... "If you're being chased by a Lion, you don't have to be faster than the Lion, you just have to be faster than the person next to you." | |||
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