I decided to test 4 bullets I've been reloading to see how they perform at close range from my 257 Roberts. I used 42 Gr of H4350 and all muzzle velocities were between 2700-2800 according to QuickLoad. I don't have a chrony but a 100 fps spread should be fairly close.

The bullets were 117 Sierra Pro Hunter, 120 Gameking HP, 115 NBT & 110 Accubond. I set up five one gallon water jugs on a table and fired from about twenty feet away.

The Pro Hunter penetrated the third water jug, the core separated and only lead shrapnel was found in the 3rd jug weighing 26.6 grains.

The Sierra HP is supposed to be a tougher bullet but it also had core separation and I found only the jacket in the 3rd jug. Complete core fragmentation.

The 115 NBT performed much better. I found the bullet and jacket in the 4th water jug. The core did separate in the 4th jug but it obviously held together until the very end. Weight retention was 67.7 grains and .490" diameter.

The 110 Accubond was found in the 5th jug, perfect mushroom weighing 71.9 grains and .483" diameter.

All were extremely explosive on the first 2 jugs. Anyone of these bullets would be fine for deer but based on my test I have more confidence in the Noslers exiting.

The Accubond was extremely explosive, actually sprayed water on me from 20 feet away and the shock wave buckled the card table.

Thanks for taking the time to post your results.....Love it....

Those accubonds are turning some eyes in deer camps all over!

I have had great results with the accubond on deer as well.The last deer the bullet exited at 350 yards,with an awesome blood trail for the few yards it made before he expired.The shoot well out of my 25's too.

Nice info! Thanks. roger

Thanks for posting your results. I am loading Accubonds for my son's 257 Roberts. I have been a Nosler fan since the mid 1950s. Partitions have always done what they said they would do.

I am now a fan of the Accubond. I've used the Accubonds in my 8X57R on hogs and the results were outstanding. Looking forward to seeing results from the 257s.

You guys take a lot of game @ 20 feet..???

quote:

Originally posted by Don Edwards:
You guys take a lot of game @ 20 feet..???

Doesn't everyone?

We really like to stalk 'em up close here in Texas!

3 pigs at about 20feet in december number 4 got away because i had to jump.

Well, by golly...I can certainly see where you Texas boys need a good reliable 20 ft. bullet.
In the Okeefenokee in S.E. Georgia, if we got that close...we just went ahead and grabbed'em by the hind legs,flipped'em over, and tied their feet together. Then you can stick'em, spear'em, shoot'em in the ear w/ a .22, or..as most often happened..just turn'em loose to chase again.

I dont have a rifle in 25 cal but with my 7mm STW I can attest to the lethality of the 160 grain Accubonds. Carribou 115 yards pass through, it destroyed lungs and heart. 2 mature whitetailed does at around 100yds or less with equal effectiveness. The Accubond is one hell of a bullet.

quote:

Originally posted by Don Edwards:
Well, by golly...I can certainly see where you Texas boys need a good reliable 20 ft. bullet.
In the Okeefenokee in S.E. Georgia, if we got that close...we just went ahead and grabbed'em by the hind legs,flipped'em over, and tied their feet together. Then you can stick'em, spear'em, shoot'em in the ear w/ a .22, or..as most often happened..just turn'em loose to chase again.

My reliable 20' load usually is in a revolver of 41 cal or bigger. We never turn one loose, any good pig is a dead pig, there are too many here already.

As to the testing, I have done similar with various brands through they years with my standard 25-06 and most sufficed for the purpose used. The most often used loads were however Nosler 115gr Partitions and the 110gr AB. Both of these have performed no matter the range or game sought after.

I am now trying out a few with my 25-06 AI as the velocity has been increased a couple hundred fps, and so far everything has done well with the very limited testing I have done. One surprise was the 120gr Rem CL which held up extremely well after blowing a decent boar off it's feet at around 110 yards. The impact velocity was somewhere in the 3000fps+ range based upon my Exbal drop table. After passing through the 1"+ onside shield, shoulder blade, then the offside shoulder blade and shield it came to rest just under the hide. Nicely shroomed out just like a magazine ad.

I just wished they made the AB in a 115 or 120gr version.

The test was between 2700-2800 fps which could be various distances depending on what your rifle is. Water jugs are really tough on bullets especially at that speed. I shot the Sierra's first so I was really surprised how well the Noslers performed. The NBT did extremely well for a non bonded bullet... just slightly behind the Accubond.

Thanks for posting your results! I have a 257R and I do shoot the Nosler Partitions. I was however pleasantly surprised at the Accubond results. I was hesitant to use those, but no longer.
Peter

I'd be curious to see the test done at 50 and 100 yards.
I've never shot a game animal at 20' that I can recall.
Thanks for the test though interesting results. I've been extremely happy with the Sierra's I've been shooting Deer and Antelope with and can't see myself changing for anything, nonetheless thanks for posting your results.

Would love to see that test on a .257, 117 Hornady RN. I wonder how that bullet would fair.

Thanks for posting your results. I've always had great results at longer distances with my 257R, but have had some poor penetration up close. I mostly hunt thick stuff and shots are often measured in feet. The deer seldom provide a broadside shot. When I get only an entry hole, there is no blood trail; tracking is very difficult. I like holes in both sides, especially when the entry hole is a quarter inch. Think I'll have to try the NAB.
Bfly

Wow, that's some great info.
I'm loading 44.5 grains of H-4350, with the 110 grain Accubonds, in my Ruger M77, chambered in 257 Roberts. I should be pushing close to 3000 FPS.

does one think the bullets will have WORSE results at 100 yards?

thanks for the work.. my bob loves the accubonds.. pigs don't think much of them.. but, then again, behind the eye, they don't have much to think with

Scott,

Very nice. There is a lot to be learned testing bullets. Do not let the naysayers bother you, take a look at the big bore forum we have also been testing a few bullets.

BTW I test at 32-33' and have shot game that close that I guarantee you will not tie up.

Its always fun to read the results of bullet tests. Sierra's seem to get beat up a lot over the core/jacket separation issue but in my experience they kill game very well. I used a 257R with 100gr Sierra flat base spitzers pushed to around 2900 to take three feral sheep, two ewes and a large ram at a range of about 150 yds. Three shots and all dropped in their tracks. Considering the price difference and usually great accuracy I tend to judge by the results. I have also used 120 gr Partitions on whitetail bucks which always have punched through and exited but the deer have always traveled a bit before falling. Don't get me wrong, I think most all of the premium bullets are super but I think this core/jacket hold together issue is overblown. If I hunt larger and heavier I'll use larger and heavier calibers.

quote:

Originally posted by larkin:
Its always fun to read the results of bullet tests. Sierra's seem to get beat up a lot over the core/jacket separation issue but in my experience they kill game very well. I used a 257R with 100gr Sierra flat base spitzers pushed to around 2900 to take three feral sheep, two ewes and a large ram at a range of about 150 yds. Three shots and all dropped in their tracks. Considering the price difference and usually great accuracy I tend to judge by the results. I have also used 120 gr Partitions on whitetail bucks which always have punched through and exited but the deer have always traveled a bit before falling. Don't get me wrong, I think most all of the premium bullets are super but I think this core/jacket hold together issue is overblown. If I hunt larger and heavier I'll use larger and heavier calibers.

I would agree. Sierra's were very explosive and would be fine for deer. I was just surprised that the NBT performed so much better since some people believe it's a varmint bullet. The Accubond was very impressive.

quote:

Originally posted by Mike70560:
Scott,

Very nice. There is a lot to be learned testing bullets. Do not let the naysayers bother you, take a look at the big bore forum we have also been testing a few bullets.

BTW I test at 32-33' and have shot game that close that I guarantee you will not tie up.

Thanks Mike. I've been following your thread. You inspired me to do some testing of my own. I'm just using water jugs because it's cheap and easy. I plan on testing some 338 bullets out of my 338 Federal. I plan on testing at around 2,000 FPS to simulate a 300 yard shot. I keep hearing how the 338 Federal is a 200 yard gun and 338 bullets are too tough for it. I don't believe it so I plan on testing some bullets.

scott: something to think about, and I don't really know the answer. But if you slow the bullet down to simulate a long range shot, you have slowed the rotationaly speed down, also. Will a bullet at a velocity of 2000fps and a rotational speed of say 144,000 rpm, perform the same as the same bullet at the same speed but at 180,000rpm? Maybe someone smarter than me knows the answer.

quote:

Originally posted by olarmy:
scott: something to think about, and I don't really know the answer. But if you slow the bullet down to simulate a long range shot, you have slowed the rotationaly speed down, also. Will a bullet at a velocity of 2000fps and a rotational speed of say 144,000 rpm, perform the same as the same bullet at the same speed but at 180,000rpm? Maybe someone smarter than me knows the answer.

Wouldn't it be the same? Isn't it determined by the rifle twist? 2000 fps at the muzzle should be the same a 2000 fps at 300 yards. Unless I'm missing something.

just to use round numbers, let's say a bullet leaves muzzle with a velocity of 2000fps in a 12" twist. It's rpm is 120,000.

If it's MV is 3000 fps, it's rpm is 180,000. If at 200 yards, this bullet has slowed down to 2000 fps, it's rpm is still much higher than 120,000. Because the bullet faces more drag on it's forward movement, than its rotational movement.

So if you lauch a bullet at 2000 fps and it hits the ballistic medium at 2000fps and 120,000. Is that comparable to the same bullet hitting the same medium at 2000 fps and say 160,000 rpm.

I don't know the answer, but I know the conditions are not the same.

Olarmy,
I think you will find that the faster rotating bullet will have "slightly" more penetration. This is due to the bullet's rotation moving material out of the way as it spins, Be it ballistic medium or meat.


"Back off man!!I'm a Scientist.."

good stuff, i have been thinking of what pills to use in my .25-06 on deer, might try the accubonds.

bullocks ...

on a soft (expanding) bullet, a FASTER spinning bullet will have LESS penetration .. once it hits, it will expand at about the same rate, and unevenly ... the faster rotation will cause the bullet, now unstable, to yaw faster ...

what does this all mean? it will hit 1 degree difference into the dirt, 20 yards past the animal..

twist, once a bullet is stablized, means VERY DARN LITTLE

My .257 caliber bullet test:

Rifle: Encore 25/06
Scope: Nightforce 4.5-22X
Bullet: Berger 115 gr. VLD
Range: An estimated 225 yards

The bullet hit in the rear of the left leg. Results; dead deer.

Larkin,
You hit the nail on the head and that has been my experience as well. Sierra spoken here!
I use Sierra's 55gr.224 varmint bullets on deer with outstanding results. Regardless of the rotational twist of the bullet or what your e-load tells you, it's what's laying on the ground that counts, not counting prone shooters.
From 30cal to 224, i've not found Sierra's to be wanting for anything!

Stepchild

Scott, I am glad those accubonds are working out for you! Jimmyp

Scott

I just did the same test with my Bushmaster AR-15 in .223 (all these posts on how wimpy the 223 peeked my curiosity).

I was shooting Remingtons 62gr core-lokt ultra bonded core bullet. It penetrated into the third jug, was in one piece, and weighed 60.1grs! Not bad for a little varmint round!

I would like to shoot a small doe first with this, just to see how it does. I do not consider this a stunt after seeing the terminal effects, first jug blew apart, second was smashed pretty bad, and after entering the third, i figured about 10 to 11 inches of penetration....

Years ago I used my CAR-15 on Kodiak Island for blacktails. I loaded the Nosler 60-grain SolidBase bullets to 2750 fps, fired six shots and took five deer. The first buck didn't react to the shot so I fired again, whereupon he walked a few feet and dropped dead. The rest I just shot once and waited ten seconds for them to tip over. Only one bullet was recovered from a 175 yard shot, hitting a rib on each side and stopping under the hide. That bullet weighed 56 grains and expanded to 0.31".

For me I consider this a 'stunt' as I have plenty of more capable rifles and handguns I could have used. Why a stunt? Because that year on Kodiak there were great numbers of deer, and I passed up many dozens of deer waiting for perfect shots - broadside standing deer under 200 yards. Any place else and I would have probably gone home empty-handed or wounded some animals. It can be done of course, but you have to know your limitations. I could have killed several of those deer with a .22LR, but so what?



.

Folks I shoot factory ammo loaded with 110 gr accubonds in a .25wssm Win Coyote Lite ,it is very accurate and has performed well on whitetails up to 220 lbs and 200+ yards. I shot a trotting coyote with it at 230 yards and it almost cut is neck into. I also have very good luck with a cheaper load that Winchester developed the bullet for 25-06 ,120 gr PEP great bullet.
110 accubonds Win supreme factory .25wssm

I would be curious to see how the 100 and or 115gr Nosler Partition would do in the same test.

quote:

Originally posted by N E 450 No2:
I would be curious to see how the 100 and or 115gr Nosler Partition would do in the same test.

I just shot what I had. From everything I've read and other tests I've seen, the accubond mimics the partition. There was a recent test on nosler bullets in the American Riflemen and the partition and the accubond performed almost the same at the same velocity and weight. I think the accubond retained slightly more weight but just by a few grains. Penetration was the same. The accubond is really interesting because it's designed to shed 30% of it's weight. Some of the other bullets like the Interbond try to retain 90%+ of bullet weight. I look at some of the advertised mushrooms and I don't like what I see. The mushrooms are so big and deformed it looks like they would not penetrate very deep.

Accubonds are my favourite leadcore huntingbullet, they work just like I want them to do.

But, when I started hunting I shot quite a few roe and some moose with a 270 win and Sierra bullets. 130 SPBT for roe and 150 RN for moose, never a problem and great prescision. According some guys here both Sierras and the 270 should be useless, at least for moose.

quote:

Originally posted by 900 SS:
Accubonds are my favourite leadcore huntingbullet, they work just like I want them to do.

But, when I started hunting I shot quite a few roe and some moose with a 270 win and Sierra bullets. 130 SPBT for roe and 150 RN for moose, never a problem and great prescision. According some guys here both Sierras and the 270 should be useless, at least for moose.

Some Sierra bullets are extremely tuff. I loaded a 215 Sierra in my 338 Federal to 2400 fps to simulate a 100 yard shot. Penetrated 8 water jugs but did not open. Sierra recommends it for the Win Mag and not the 338 Federal. They are right. It's simply too tough. The bullet on the right is a factory 200 grain fusion for comparison. It penetrated 5 jugs and weighed 167 grains. Not all Sierras are constructed the same.

Scott,
After reading your initial posting of test results my interest was peaked. I have recently had some concerns about my Roberts and 25/06 results with Sierra 100gr and Red Deer culs.
I did my usual load development with 100gr NBT and 110gr Accubonds in both rifles. I was amazed! Neither rifle liked the NBT's nearly as well as they liked the Accubonds with any of the powders I used. The following are where I landed:
257 Roberts
110gr Accubond
Once-fired Remington brass
CCI Lg rifle primer
Varget
Chronographed 2787fps

25/06
110gr Accubond
Once-fired Remington brass
CCI Lg rifle primer
IMR4831
Chronographed 3007fps
Both rifles shot equally well providing sub MOA for five shots at 100yds.
The Roberts is a Stevens 200 re-barrel.
The 25/06 is a Vanguard Synthetic(the cheap one).
Thanks for your time and effort in testing and sharing.
GOOD LUCK and GOOD SHOOTING!!!