Just read the following article
http://www.24hourcampfire.com/index2.html
in which the accubond was used in Africa to take a variety of game. It seems to work pretty well, but I had some concerns based on the evidence presented. Specifically the weight retention of the bullets.

Take a gander and see what you think. I can't remember the average weight retention of partitions, but somehow these seem low to me. Now I know some of you are VERY hard to please and call almost anything less than 90% retention a bullet failure, but I am pretty easy to please. The article says that this could be a commercial for the accubonds. Do the results count more than the retention, or are these figures a little low for your taste?

quote:

Originally posted by befus:
Just read the following article
http://www.24hourcampfire.com/index2.html
in which the accubond was used in Africa to take a variety of game. It seems to work pretty well, but I had some concerns based on the evidence presented. Specifically the weight retention of the bullets.

Take a gander and see what you think. I can't remember the average weight retention of partitions, but somehow these seem low to me. Now I know some of you are VERY hard to please and call almost anything less than 90% retention a bullet failure, but I am pretty easy to please. The article says that this could be a commercial for the accubonds. Do the results count more than the retention, or are these figures a little low for your taste?

Befus, I'm not a fan of those type of bullets and you've picked a topic that is fairly subjective. At any rate, for my tastes they are a little light. I would probably opt for the Swift Scirocco in that type of bullet. I think the partition would be a better choice but since I'm not a fan of Nosler anyway, I'd probably go with an A-frame. Just my two cents.

befus

This is one of those on going debates with no crystal clear answer. Having said that I think that weight retention in and of itself means nothing. Tissue damage and sufficient penetration are what causes quick kills. That is what makes the NP such a magnificent bullet. The front blows off just like it's supposed to and causes great tissue damage and then the back part about 60%-70% continues to penetrate and often exits. The NP does not look pretty but it always works.

Regards,

Mark

Sounded more like promotional story than anything else.

My friends and I went through some lengthy testing different calibers and loading combinations including 7mm mag., 308 win, 300 weatherby, 30-378 weatherby, 338-378 weatherby, 375 H&H, 416 Rigby, 458 Lott. What we/I found was, in general, the mono-metal bullets produced the best accuracy and terminal performance has been fantasic.

Over the past year kills were on bob cats, Whitetail, Mule Deer, Zebra, Heartebeast, and Cape Buffalo all with great terminal performance.

Unless something changes I will stick with the Barnes TSX and North Fork bullets. If GS solves their distribution problem in the U.S. I would like to give them a try.

I had great luck with 260 accubonds in Namibia last July. Most bullets exited, we recovered 3. The lightest was at 55%, well mushroomed, through heavy bone on a mountain zebra. The others were from kudu and gemsbok, retaining 75%+, with excellent mushrooms. Don't know about the lighter calibers, but it's a fine plains game bullet in a 375. Bob

quote:

Originally posted by cobra:At any rate, for my tastes they are a little light.

Actually, whether you like them, or not, that is the whole point behind bonded bullets: Heavier bullet terminal performance in a lighter package. One can't look at bonded weights with a "non-bonded" eye.

RSY

quote:

Originally posted by RSY:

quote:

Originally posted by cobra:At any rate, for my tastes they are a little light.

Actually, whether you like them, or not, that is the whole point behind bonded bullets: Heavier bullet terminal performance in a lighter package. One can't look at bonded weights with a "non-bonded" eye.
RSY

Not to be rude, but when it's my money, yes I can. Like I said, the topic is subjective.

I haven't hunted w/ the NAB yet, but have used the NP for everything except my buffalo (NorthFork) & only ever recovered one, a 210gr/.338. It retained 80% of it's weight. My tests in wetpack support this as well. Now that's from a sedate .338-06 @ 2700fps. Sim. tests have shown that the NAB expands just a bit more w/ sim. weight retention, about 75% @ higher impact speeds. I can live w/ that.

I think weight retention is only valuable information if you are concerned about penetration. For instance, if you are using the AB's on whitetail-sized game, significant penetration isn't needed and a simple BT that disintegrates inside does the job perfectly. On the other hand, if you're looking more at elk or moose, the weight retention will give you an idea of whether the bullet will adequately penetrate, since decreased weight is going to adversely affect the momentum that's carrying the bullet through.

Personally, I think the results are far more important UNLESS you're trying to judge the bullet's usefulness against game larger than the test animal. In this case, it may be important to discover whether the bullet has sufficient energy to carry it through a larger animal. Since energy is a factor of weight and velocity, the retention is therefor important.

You're right about it being a very subjective issue. In a similar vein is the argument over whether it's better to have a bullet expend all it's energy inside the animal or pass through. Largely, it's a matter of opinion, but really, how can you argue with results?

I enjoyed the article..
I've hunted with Partitions for years and I switch off between MatchKings & BallisticTips for holes in paper.
I shot the Accubonds this year and killed three animals with them and they performed as well as any Partition I've ever used. And I like the fact that they don't blow-up and come apart like the BTs.
..and every bit as accurate as the BTs &the MatchKings !!

There is an article in this month's Bugle about a hunter shooting and losing an elk. He found the carcass after the coyotes had been at it, and found the entrance hole but no exit. My recollection is that the bullet was a nosler partition.

If this is the case, then shooting partitions does not guarantee an exit wound, and none of the bullets are perfect.

My guess is that any of the premium bullets, and most of the standard bullets are so good that it does not matter. Many of you apparently get to spend a lot more time in the woods than I do, but for me the biggest potential improvement in performance is from developing my skills, not bullet performance.

If I had more time to hunt, I wouldn't need so many guns.

Originally posted by Corax:

quote:

but for me the biggest potential improvement in performance is from developing my skills, not bullet performance.

Couldn't have said it better myself!

friar

quote:

There is an article in this month's Bugle about a hunter shooting and losing an elk. He found the carcass after the coyotes had been at it, and found the entrance hole but no exit. My recollection is that the bullet was a nosler partition.

If this is the case, then shooting partitions does not guarantee an exit wound, and none of the bullets are perfect.

My guess is that any of the premium bullets, and most of the standard bullets are so good that it does not matter. Many of you apparently get to spend a lot more time in the woods than I do, but for me the biggest potential improvement in performance is from developing my skills, not bullet performance.

It would be interesting to know if it was a light or heavy for caliber Partion or if it was even a light caliber.

Just knowing it was a Partition doesn't give a strong indication of bullet performance.

I am not sure that one kill decides anything. It can build or degrade confidence of the hunter however. Any bullet in the wrong place may not perform as you might wish. Check my signature.

One of the guys is thinking about using the 260 Accubond in his 375 H&H on our Oct Elk hunt in Wyoming. If he does I will report on it.
I was thinking about using it in my 375 H&H on my Idaho black bear hunt, cannot make up my mind between it and the 250 Trophy Bonded Bearclaw, both in factory loads.