nosler ammo question

[bobcat]

So when you say your bullets are keyholing do your targets look like this?

[eastcoastguy]

Ahh nope they dont. The 2nd hole is touching the first. Both straight it, guess we all use different  terms. Key holing to me is when the 2nd rd almost makes it through the first hole but makes the hole a hair bigger  on the side it hits. If that makes sense. Sorry for the confusion

[bobcat]

Okay, well the term keyholing normally is used when the bullets aren't being stabilized for whatever reason and are tumbling, and hitting the target sideways.

So basically what you're getting is one hole groups. That's what I would call it.

[fastdam]

If your commited to the accubonds you could always start handloading. I doubt you will regret it.  There are other good bullets though.

[eastcoastguy]

Any recommendations?  I want a hard hitting bullet. Around the 140 to 150g range

[Bob33]

Ahh nope they dont. The 2nd hole is touching the first. Both straight it, guess we all use different  terms. Key holing to me is when the 2nd rd almost makes it through the first hole but makes the hole a hair bigger  on the side it hits. If that makes sense. Sorry for the confusion

http://hunting.about.com/od/guns/g/definition-of-keyhole-bullet-keyholing.htm

[2labs]

Any recommendations?  I want a hard hitting bullet. Around the 140 to 150g range

Ttsx or tsx or maybe the good ole partition.

[fastdam]

I would do what 300 RUM suggested by testing different factory loads and see what you learn from the tests.  Your gun will tell you what to use

[Rich_S]

Since you are using factory ammo, like others said, find what works and stick with it. Accuracy isn't worth a dime if you can't get your bolt open in the field.

If I were loading my own, I would start by making sure my chamber is clean and relatively dry. It shouldn't be wet with oil. I would check the seated length of the bullet regards to the start of the rifling. If your chamber puts the bullet in contact with the rifling, that can lead to overpressure and a sticky bolt. Next I would get a chamber cast on your rifle to see if it is within standards. If it's a bit short, the case length could be causing problems. Either trim the cases or get the chamber reamed to specs.

Is the bolt difficult to rotate or hard to pull back? Two different symptoms with different causes. So much fun to diagnose and finally cure. The latest problems I've had were with Ruger single-actions. Teo of them were with .30 carbine revolvers. Both of them had chambers which were right at minimum length. Trimming the cartridges a bit shorter than SAAMI standards cured the problem, but the next owner might find the same thing if he shoots factory ammo. The third problem child is a Ruger Hawkeye single-shot pistol in .256 Win Mag. This turned out to be both a short and tight chamber. Since I alter .357 mag cases to .256 win mag, I was able to shorten them and squeeze them down. I don't shoot factory ammo because it's mostly out of production or custom-made and very expensive. What I've got is for display only.

You probably don't need another hobby so stay away from reloading. You'll never save a dime (in the long run) and it's addicting. 

[300rum]

I am going to take a guess that it is headspace issue but you still haven't said what cartridge you are shooting? 

Out to 400 yards or so (farther really) the bullet that you use hunting doesn't mean a whole lot out of the tried and tested big game bullets.  Accuracy is and always will be king.  Since your bullets are touching at 100 yards, you have solved the accuracy issue (the most important), that is plenty accurate, so you you want to keep this ammo if at all possible.  What we need to find out is if you are on the edge of over pressure.  If there isn't any primer flow and maybe just some flattening, that is fine, I'll take that.  If you can't get your bolt open, that's a problem..... 

Again,is your bolt just a tad hard to open or do you have to beat on it to get it open?  If it is just a tad stiff and there isn't primer flow, stay with the load.  The load is telling you that it is on the edge of overpressure and you are getting about all you can out of it.  A Chrono would help you solve this too....