OK, have heard both good and bad regarding the performance of the TSX on bigger game from the 7-08.
Wondering about the Accubond or another premium bullet for best, and consistant results. My prefernce is for good expansion AND deep penetration in one.

Question:
For a 'do all' big game bullet which do you prefer?

Choices:
Nosler Accubond
Nosler Partition
Barnes TSX
Hornady SP
Other

 

I use the Partition in every rifle that shoots them well, and go to the Accubond as Plan B if the rifle does not agree with Partitions.

2 years ago I shot a finisher shot into the brisket of a northern MN whitetail. The muzzle was against the deer or at most 1/2" off of the skin. Was a 130gr Accubond from a .270 at about 3100 fps, so impact velocity was same as muzzle velocity. had bodacious penetration< expansion and weight retention. Would have to reweigh it to see exact retained weight, but remmebr it waas over 50%. awesome accuracy in every rifle i hhvae tried them in so far.

You cannot leave out the SWIFT AFRAME as the "do all big game bullet"
Bob
DRSS

I'm not sure what can be considered "bad" about performance of the TSX on bigger game. I have now seen three TSX's fail to open on game. One included a 120gr TSX from a 7mm-08. In every instance the animal was in a world of hurt despite the "failure". This has convinced me that I much prefer a failure of this kind as apposed to the other.

Another thing. If 150lb deer are considered "bigger" game then I don't think it matters much what you shoot at them. In fact I and a buddy shot 6 Mule Deer does one morning last year. My three with the 7mm-08 and the 120 gr ballistic tip, and his three with the 280 rem and the 140 TSX. It was an experiment of sorts and we could not tell any noticeable difference in reaction to the shot or how quickly they died.

quote:

Originally posted by Chuck Nelson:
I'm not sure what can be considered "bad" about performance of the TSX on bigger game. I have now seen three TSX's fail to open on game. One included a 120gr TSX from a 7mm-08. In every instance the animal was in a world of hurt despite the "failure". This has convinced me that I much prefer a failure of this kind as apposed to the other.

Another thing. If 150lb deer are considered "bigger" game then I don't think it matters much what you shoot at them. In fact I and a buddy shot 6 Mule Deer does one morning last year. My three with the 7mm-08 and the 120 gr ballistic tip, and his three with the 280 rem and the 140 TSX. It was an experiment of sorts and we could not tell any noticeable difference in reaction to the shot or how quickly they died.

Great point! In my case 'bigger game' would include Elk and Bear.
The area's I hunt are exclusively very mountainess, with straight up and down terrain, filled with blow down. My needs are to 'stop' a large animal as quickly as possible to keep it from running to the bottom of an inaccessable canyon full of berry bushes. I lean toward heavier bullets for this purpose in most calibers.
I realize that with the 7-08 I'm trying to turn 'David' into Goliath, and looking for the best option to accomplish this.

He went 30 yds.

I think for a mild cartridge (not a criticism) such as the 7-08 that the Nosler Partition or Accubond would be about perfect. I'd be very happy with whichever one shot best in my rifle. I honestly don't see why you would need the added penetration but smaller wound channel of the TSX. I'm a TSX fan but I feel it is best suited for the ultra velocity rounds and big bores. I did use the 180 TSX in Africa in my '06 but I just felt like it was not giving me the quick kills I might have expected with a more frangible bullet.

Mark

Heh Mark, nice to hear from you.
Well, I have a bunch of the TSX loaded up, from 120, 140, and the 160 grain bullets. I'll be trying them next month.
That said, I do agree that a faster fragging bullet will kill at least medium game a little quicker. I'm thinking seriously about giving the Accubond a try and trying to decide which weight to spend my money on.
Most of my hunting experience has been with the .30-06 and larger calibers, for which I use standard Hornady's; and for them the Hornady's work just fine. Your input is greatly appreciated as I'm gathering all the experience I can here for the smaller 7mm.

I've taken a few head of Deer with the 7-08 years ago with the Ballistic tips, and for that they worked great. But for Elk or Bear they come apart a little more then I like.

Well, I think I'll grab a box of the Accubonds on our shelf next time around and give them a try. . . . . Thanks all!
And take care Mark!

quote:

Originally posted by MARK H. YOUNG:
I think for a mild cartridge (not a criticism) such as the 7-08 that the Nosler Partition or Accubond would be about perfect.

Mark

I've used a 7-08 for deer several years now and agree with this completely.

what about the 140 gr Berger VLD? they claim it will smash through bone before fragging inside and all the reports I have read say it is like a grenade going off in the kill zone DRT. I haven't tried them yet but plan to very soon.

I just did a google search on Berger VLD failures and there are some published reports,
usually close range and the bullet hit the shoulder so that isn't a good idea. So on second thought probly a bad idea, go for a shoulder buster instead.

I am a firm believer in the terminal performance of the Nosler Ballistic tip bullets and have been using them for years with continued success. The problem with the partitions and the solid cores is their slow or lack of expansion. I can't remember all the deer I saw knocked off their feet with a double lung plus vital hit from a Partition that got back up. They all killed the deer but I have never seen a deer put down with a BT that got back up. Just too much soft tissue damage.

The Accubond is essentially a beefed up Ballistic tip providing the same type of terminal performance but with a beefier construction for use on larger game such as Elk, Moose, etc... or allowing for a lighter bullet to perform like a heavier one on smaller game, example: 130 gr. .277 performing like a 150 gr. .277 caliber.

I vote Accubond!

quote:

Originally posted by Captain Finlander:
I can't remember all the deer I saw knocked off their feet with a double lung plus vital hit from a Partition that got back up.

I'm with you on the BT and Accubond but this statement was troubling since the Accubond was built to mimic the Partition. The Accubond might be a little more explosive but the Partition is designed to blow the front core and penetrate with the rear. Both were designed to retain about 65% of their weight.

You've seen several instances of deer getting back up from double lung with a partition?

Yes, I have seen them get back up. My uncle just shot a doe at about 100 yards with me looking over his shoulder. We were in an elevated box blind and he placed the perfect double lung hit behind the front shoulders. The doe was knocked clean off her feet as expected but got back up and hopped into the wood line. I have never seen a deer get up from hat same hit with a Ballistic Tip. For the record he was shooting a 7mm mag with 160 grain partitions at 3100 fps. It is all academic because the doe only went a few more yards before expiring but I am always puzzled by the why's. This is by no means a slam on the Partition, which I loaded for him in the first place, just an analysis based on over 25 years of shooting white tail deer.

Our little hunting group all use hand loaded ammo from 243 to a 308 Norma Magnum and have used all kinds of bullets from Speer Hot cores, SGK, old Barnes XBT's, Hornady interlocks, Nosler Partitions and Nosler BT's. The Nosler BT's are the most destructive bullets we've ever used and as an example, I shot a deer quartering so the bullet entered the right side behind the front shoulder, angled across the body exiting behind the rib cage on the off side. The bullet acted like a grenade opening up a gaping wound channel on the off side with the internals falling out. This is with a 150 grainer out of a 270 winchester. The Partitions are not that destructive because they have limited expansion which is more controlled than the unlimited and quicker expanding BT's.

I have not used the new Accubonds but based upon their construction I would still place them above the Partition because they will continue to expand until exiting. The Partition is a big game bullet for guys looking for the anchoring shoulder shot capability but still offer decent expansion. It is truly the most versatile hunting bullet and that is why my uncle uses it on everything from white tails to elk but it just isn't the best option for smaller game IMO.

I've used the 160 gr. accubond on whitetails and caribou. That bullet has performed flawlessly on every animal that had the misfortune to step in front of them. If you are like me and are too lazy to track wounded animals the accubond will fit your bill nicely.

Thanks for sharing Captain. I pretty much hunt with Ballistic tips, Hot Cors, Interlocks or Gamekings for deer. I don't use magnums so it's cup and core, whatever shoots best in that particular rifle.

Can't get Accubonds to shoot in my rifle, so it's back to the TSX!