Hi,

Those who have practical experience: Is the North Fork .30 cal 180grs bullet noticeably harder than the AccuBond?
I'm seeking a general use bullet (well, who isn't?) to suit game from roe deer to moose and that could also be used on a plains game safari for game smaller than Eland.

In my 8mm I've been very pleased, indeed, with the AccuBond but the North Fork certainly seems to be a competitor provided it opens up also when hitting a fairly light animal.

While I'm at it; in a .30-06 I don't suppose there's a real life difference between the 180 and 200grs bullets of same brand and type?

- Lars/Finland

I think you will find that the Northfork will be a slightly stronger bullet retaining more weight at the terminal end. It also is a banded bullet and will reach your desired velocity with less pressure. It also will not foul your barrel as much. I shoot both bullets and really like both but if I had to pick one bullet to do it all it would be the Northfork.

Either choice would be great. Actually, I think the Nosler Accubond is a better bullet than the Partition.

In my 30/06 I just use a 165 grain TSX.

I use 165gr accubond for all from roedeer to moose and it works well in my .308w. Northfork is to expensive for me as a all purpose bullet.

I have used 110gr Accubond in 25-06; 165gr Accubond in 30-06 and 180gr Accubond in 300WM for some years now and it’s a great general deer/moose bullet ! I have also used the 250gr. in 9.3x62 for wild boar with very good results. It’s my main all purpose hunting bullet !

I recovered this 180gr Accubond bullet (on the left) between the shoulder blades of a big Reindeer bull.....retained weight was 119gr or 66% just as advertised by Nosler ! (on the right) is a 130gr Nosler BT for comparison with its 40% weight retention (recovered from another Reindeer bull).

I have shot the North Fork bullets for several years now. From .270 WSM up to .416 Rigby. They are without a doubt the toughest and most accurate bullet now offered in this country. I am shooting some Accubonds and have also shot Partitions for years. For Deer sized animals it is what the shooter prefers. For the larger animals I will be loaded with the North Forks when I am in the field. The solid rear shank of the North Forks make them almost indistructable and for me their accuracy has been unmatched. I shot a Cape Buffalo in the Selous with a 400 grain .416 North Fork stem to stern and the bullet still had 99.1% of it's original weight. I have some old tried and true Partition loads that I will never give up, but the newer bullets also have some strong points. Good shooting.

Thank you - this is the info I was after and it appears that my assumptions were right.

If one can get the rifle to shoot at the same point of impact, then of course two loads (i.e. two bullets) is a good solution. But if this does not work, then probably for all-round use the AccuBond is a sterling choice.

- Lars/Finland

For the most part, I can only comment on the Northfork, 225 gr., .338 bullet. I recovered one bullet on the first moose I shot with it. I don't know how it happened, but I swear that I hit him in the left front shoulder and we found the bullet lodged under the hide on the right, rear quarter. MV was 2800 fps and the range was about 175 yds. at a steep down hill angle. That bullet is a perfect mushroom and weighs 218 grs. - (maybe 217 - I forget offhand). It sits on my desk as I write this. Though more expensive, my experience is that NF's are slightly more accurate than the stndard Partition and retains weight better. I can't comment on the Accubond - have never used 'em. Regarding the Partition, I believe they are designed to lose about 15% of their weight and have found this to be about right. No flies on the Partition tho. I use the 150 gr., .227 Northfork bullet in my .270 WSM and my opinion is that they really aren't necessary for normal deer sized game & I'd probably not use them for that purpose. I have taken 1 caribou with the .270 WSM & the 150 NF worked fine, however I saw no real difference in performance between it and the 150 gr., .2777 Partition. In short however, I am a die hard, NF fan. Good luck.
Bear in Fairbanks

They are both fine bullets as are many others.
IMHO when you really want to get er' done, you go with monometals. I happen to like Barnes but I'm sure the Nosler, Hornady and Laupua would work as well. 3 35 calibers (35 Whelen) recovered (a rare event) from a Deer, Elk and Moose out to 225 yards. All quartering away and all ended up in the neck, after wrecking everything in their paths.




BTW Obama did not say that to Putin, he said it to President Dmitri A. Medvedev of Russia. Putin is otherwise occupied buying up the world's gold reserves.

Artshaw:
Ooops, my bad. It's removed. Thnx for the heads up.
B.I.F.