Hi guys,

Bullet weigth seems to be an emotional topic but I'll ask anyway.

1) Nosler AccuBond
Would there be any reason and if so, what, to use the 200 grs bullet in favor of the 180 grs in a .30-06?
The fact that the 180 grs bullet will achieve higher velocities does not count high in my books....
Looking at Norma's factory data there seems to be mostly a theoretical advantage the 200 grs has in terms of kinetic energy with the Oryx bullet.

2) Woodleigh 240grs
Has anyone real life experiences with the bullet?
Would there be any real reason to use it favor of a standard weight bullet (i.e. 180 grs)? Or is is mere for nostalgy and "duplicating" the .318 WR in a .30-06?

Someone may wonder what I hunt.
Well, mostly biggish game i.e. wild boar and moose, but the .30-06 will see plains game action in Namibia next year, and likely also whitetail this season.

I've used the AccuBond in an 8mm with excellent results. It's a good balance for both big and small, and the accuracy I achieved in my rifle was nothing shy of splendid!

- Lars/Finland

Lars,

I have settled on 180gr Nosler Partitions in my 3006. Over the years I have shot most of the common weights from 110gr to 220gr.

The 240 Woodleigh would seem to be a powerful short range bullet. It should have great stopping ability if constructed properly.

I think if I need more bullet weight, maybe I should go up in caliber,i.e. 338 win mag, etc.

For my $ it would be hard to beat the 180 Accubond in the 30-06.

As to the accubond I use it for most of my hunting.

I've mostly settled on the 180 partition in mine but I would say, choose whichever shoots best in yours.

I think the '06 and a 180gr bullet is one fine, balanced combination.

quote:

Originally posted by wasbeeman:
I think the '06 and a 180gr bullet is one fine, balanced combination.

+1

I have two 30-06 rifles

One is shooting 150's and the other is shooting 180's

Both Accubonds

I'd check my twist before I bought the 240gr.

180gr NBT's are hard to beat. Accurate, open quick, have enough mass to get the job done, and can be had for a non-premium price.

The Woodleigh was brought out for the 100th anniversary.

I've used the same bullet in 38's on big game (Water Buffalo) and it hits damn hard and kills well in the right place.

In the wrong place, it's just like any other smaller calibre, it needs more follow up shots !!!

I think if you are shooting bigger animals with soft heavy bullets at lower velocities they work very well. If the bullet is to stiff for the velocity it doesn't mushroom well and pokes a small hole clear through.

Depending on what you are expecting to be hunting I would suspect the average guy would be well served by the 200gr Accubond and the Woodliegh 240gr would be to stiff to even open up unless the shot was very close.

I'd maybe use the 240gr in a bigger .30 cal magnum with a faster twist barrel, but based on my experience with an old Hornady 220gr RN in the '06, I wouldn't even consider the 240gr.

The 180 in the '06 is a compromise. It works well in multi game scenarios but the 165 would be better for some and the 200 better for others.

I would use the 180gr accubond for allround hunting. The 200gr oryx is better than the 180gr in 3006 speed for moose,bear and boar (opens a little less)no need for a spitzer for that kind of hunting. 240gr woddie would be a perfect round for bearhunting with barking dogs there most shots are closer than 20 meter.

/Kimmo

Ihave taken most of my game animals with the 180 nosler, and in the 06 it just seems perfectley balanced @2850-2900 fps
A few years a go i had a weak moment and took it to the Kampchatka Peninsula and shot a brown bear, took the bear behind the last rib and the 200 gn nosler come out through the off side shoulder blade, then i took the same load to ZIM shot 4 impalas, two sable two kudu zebra and a leopard, all one shot, in between i have shot a few deer and the more i use the 200 gn in the 06 the more i like it. In fact if i was only allowed to use this load for the rest of my life i would feel very content

Which Nosler is that? The AccuBond or the Partition?

What velocity do you load it at, please, M 98?

- Lars/Finland

Since we tout the '06 as verstile you need to match the bullet to the game. If you want the simplicity of one bullet weight it will be a compromise all around. 150, 180, 200/200. Just my $0.02

The 200gr Accubonds work very well on deer sized game. My brother used them this past season to take a nice buck and a big doe. As long as you keep the velocity above 2400ft/sec. Accubonds will open up just fine.

SCHAUCKIS
With my 200 gn nosler partition load i use NORMA MRP and run it at a vel of 2700, the 180 gn nosler partition i use MRP also and run it at 2880
One thing i have noticed is that the 200 gn Partition breaks shoulders/bones real well, and gives nothing away to the 180 load despite the lower velocity.

no doubt a 180 gr nosler partition has easily taken every big game animal (perhaps not elephant) on every continent, in the last 50 years. the 06' is the most popular hunting cartridge worldwide, and the 180 is far and away the most popular weight bullet out of the 06'. that said, no need for a bigger bullet. nosler continues to compare the accubond to the partition, so i'd go with a 180gr accubond and just practice until the next hunt. if you want a heavier bullet, go for it, but past performance using a well constructed (and placed) 180gr bullet demonstrates it is more than sufficient. whatever you select, may all your kills be the one shot variety.

I used to use 180NPs exclusivey in the 30-06s, until I had one blow up about 8-9 years ago. I know one incident does not constitute data, but it still gave me pause.

I shot at a broad side bull moose at 100 yards from a bipod aiming for the point of the shoulder and he didn't even look up, just continued with his grazing. Thinking I must have hit some intervening brush, I stood up and he bolted. The second shot hit the lungs and exited, the third hit 2" above the first and dropped him in his tracks. The first had just desintigrated on the surface of the joint and not penetrated at all.

I switched to 220 partitions and 220 hornadys (2 of my 06s shoot them like no tomorrow) and haven't had an issue since. I admit that might have happened even if I stuck with 180s, but don't feel I gave up anything as most of my shots are well within 200 yards anyway.

Cheers,
Bob

BOB
funny you mention the old 220.... because i have had such great sucess with the 200 NP i got my self a couple of packets off 220 partitions from the pro shop to play with and at short range i think they will work a treat on anything from small blacktail to a big moose @2550-2600 fps....in really like that large exposed lead nose!!!

Phil Shoemaker in the Alaska forum has real world experience with the 240 Woodleigh bullet. I think he is shooting a 8" twist rifle too.
dmw