7mm 168 grn Long Range Accubond Field report/Recovered Bullet

[Gutpile]

I got bit buy the whole LONG RANGE bullet bug last year and bought some Long Range Accubonds for my 7mm and gave them a shot so to speak. This was pulled from my whity this fall. It is a 168 grn 7mm LR Accubond from a Max load of hunter in a 7mm Mag. Velocity unknown. Not a Text book shot placement but you may find it interesting. Shot hit just above the tail on a straight away slightly downhill shot, I cant remember the exact distance but it was 225-250 yds. It passed clear through and lodged under the skin in the neck. It totally missed the vitals and the deer required a killing shot. I wish I could find the bullet from the point blank killing shot but have lost it. It blew a HUGE hole in the deer on the near side and did massive damage. It lodged under the skin on the far side. So the penetration of this bullet is a bit strange. It is made for long range hunting which I understand but I think I'm going to stick with standard Accubonds, partitions, or interbond. The only thing I don't like about the partion it they really tend to blood shot a lot of meat  which I don't notice with the accubond. I also killed an elk with these at 200+ and the first shot hit the leg bone and it was like a damn bomb went off. Only a piece of bullet or bone entered the lung. A killing shot was required which hit high and dumped the animal. It died quickly. I know a partition would have penetrated and believe a standard accubond would have. I honestly don't think these things offer any real benefit over the standard accubonds. I know you long range guys are gonna blah blah blah me and that's ok but I just don't trust these things for future hunts. Lastly accuracy for me was really not all that good out of my Tikka. I knew that my shots would be 200-300 yards and I knew that I could make a shot at those ranges so I decided to give the LR AB a try even though they weren't giving me the groups I want to see. That bullet is very sleek and sexy but a 3" group at 100 yards is 12" at 400 and that's a miss or a cripple shot. Flame away but that's my take. LoL. I'm currently working up loads with accubonds, deep curls, and interbonds to name a few but Im done with these LR accubonds



66 grains retained



Please don't use my loads without working up to them

168 LR AB (4 shots) 72 grns Hunter

162 grn interlock H1000 (3 shots)

162 Interlock R22 (4 shots)

[Curly]

That is a nice looking mushroom.  And nice buck.  Congrats on the buck and thanks for sharing the review of the LRAB.  If I can find some 30 cal LRAB, I might try them on antelope this year.

[Gutpile]

I wouldn't even hesitate to use them on lopes

[BOWHUNTER45]

No brainer to me ...162 GR Horn...is the bullet  I can not force myself to change bullets ...Nice buck by the way 

[Gutpile]

They sure shoot good in that Tikka.  But I really believe in bonded bullets and partitions. I'll know Monday what I'll stick with when I get done with the other test loads and find out the speed and accuracy of the others. We'll see. 

[Biggerhammer]

I use the 162 Hornady's in a 7x57 with excellent results but I'm a die hard Nosler guy and have cleaned house with the Accubonds over the years. Great pics.

[BOWHUNTER45]

I experimented years ago and I have not found any bullet to compare to an InterLock ...I never seen one blow to pieces yet ..They always hold good retention and they always lay a smack down on whatever they come in contact with 

[BOWHUNTER45]

I use the 162 Hornady's in a 7x57 with excellent results but I'm a die hard Nosler guy and have cleaned house with the Accubonds over the years. Great pics.

I decided I will try them this year ...since it is about the only bullet I have not tried 

[Gutpile]

I experimented years ago and I have not found any bullet to compare to an InterLock ...I never seen one blow to pieces yet ..They always hold good retention and they always lay a smack down on whatever they come in contact with 

That's what my buddy says. He thinks I'm an idiot for still trying out a different load after seeing how well the Tikka shot them Oh well, that's part of the fun of being a gun nut I guess.

[jason stevens]

Nice buck and I agree accubonds are not great. Try stepping up to 175-185 grain I shoot that load at 500 all day but that's me.each shooter is different some can shoot 800-1000 yards some can't.doesn't matter what load you have in reality it comes down to conditions , weather, and hw much coffee you had.

[Gutpile]

I think the original accubonds are fantastic and they can certainly reach out there just as well as the LR variety and I think they are a tougher bullet.

[WoodlandShooter]

Standard Accubond is indeed built tougher than the ABLR.

I have no experience with the 7mm 168 grain ABLR. What is the minimum required rifling twist??

Just going off of my 270 info, my 165 Matrix bullets need a 1/9, and since the 270 caliber ABLR is essentially the same length, they IMHO also need a 1/9. The 7mm may also need a fast twist barrel...

[buckfvr]

As for the 7mm......the 168 vld, both Matrix and Berger suggest 10 twist.......I asked Rbros if my 9.5 twist would be OK and he says its fine.

[ssanthuff]

I shoot the Berger VLD 168 hunting bullet in my 7mm Rem Mag in my Tikka with great results.  I use R22 or H4831sc with my test and hunting loads.  I've never before seen blood trails like I get from the Bergers.  I have also been playing with the Sierra 160g game king boat tail hollow points which seem to have a bit thicker jacket than their SPBT and hold together better on larger game like Elk and create similar internal damage to the Bergers but have a higher BC.  I've shot two elk with the game kings and dropped them instantly.  I've used the Bergers on a bear and a deer this year and had tremendous results with the cavity created from the bullet.  They do exactly what they advertise and with the BC on these bullets for long range, you can't beat them.  I love the Tikka and also recently got the bug for long range shooting.  Good luck.

[Gutpile]

Have you chronied them. What kind of speed are you getting?