Elk Bullet Recommendations

[JimmyHoffa]

the partitions are more like the barnes tsx imo.  The accubonds or "accubombs' were the ones that disintegrate on impact and barely make it across the chest cavity.

[Buzz2401]

I have heard that before.  But it is not the way it intended to work and not my experience with the Accubonds but alot probably depends on speed when it hits.  On the other hand never pulled a piece of partition out of an animal that weighed more then 50% of its original weight.  I have a few Barnes that are 100% weight retention and perfect expansion.  I do feel the Accubond is over rated but also feel kill factor is 90% bullet placement and 10% bullet construction.

[WAElkhunter89]

Not to derail your thread, but that's a great area. My Opa, father, and I always hunt this area. We all drew out for cows this year. My Opa drew this tag a few years ago and was able to connect on a nice 5x5 bull. Saw a monster bull in the area we hunt last year, at least a 6x6 if not bigger. Good luck to you!

[Rick]

A partition is nothing even close to the same as a Accubond.  Totally different type of bullet.

Nosler disagrees with you.  The Accubond is essentially a more streamlined Partition.


http://faq.nosler.com/index.php?action=artikel&cat=2&id=2&artlang=en

[Taco280AI]

TTSX or Partition, both good choices

[demontang]

I've shot accubonds a lot. Even shot a bull in the shoulder at 40 yards to try and keep him from running in to a nasty canyon. It broke the ball of the shoulder went through the top of the lungs and through the shoulder blade and out. Takes Hell of a bullet to do that. The ballistic tips on the other hand blow up. My accubonds I recovered from my bear was perfect mushroom and enter the chest and was under the skin at the rump. I've shot partitions and had about the same weight retention on a recovery bullet as a accubonds. Shot a few solids and not the greatest experience with them. Pencil through the animal a few times which ended in me loosing the animals. Wife shot a deer at 70 yards with a 243 accubonds. In and out took out a rib each side. I shot a deer at 130 with a Barnes and it penciled in and out I think animal never recovered no blood to speak of but it knocked the buck down.

[Taco280AI]

All depends on what you want the bullet to do. If you're going to punch through soft tissue, a mono isn't what you want. But if you're going to go through heavy bone, hard to be a mono. If you might either, something like an Accubond is great.

[Buzz2401]

A partition is nothing even close to the same as a Accubond.  Totally different type of bullet.

Nosler disagrees with you.  The Accubond is essentially a more streamlined Partition.


http://faq.nosler.com/index.php?action=artikel&cat=2&id=2&artlang=en

I guess I stand corrected it was my understanding the Accubond had better weight retentions but I guess not.  I knew the partition had low weight retention but from what I have read and experienced the Accubond was better but as Nosler states themselves I guess its not. I'm actually surprised Nosler would post low weight retention numbers like that for their bonded offering.  Most other companies advertise above 90% for theirs. Bullet construction is still quite a bit different and don't really understand why a bonded bullet is losing so much material.  I've only shot a few animals with the Accubond so my experience with them is much less then say the Partition or the Barnes TSX.

[fishngamereaper]

Accubnonds where doing to much damage for my liking. Switched to the Barnes a couple years ago and am really happy with the performance. 7 mm mag. I got better groups with the Barnes as well.

[Rick]

Partitions are the classic elk bullet.

[BULLBLASTER]

I'd pick a partition over a Barnes without a second look. 

[combs338]

I'd pick a partition over a Barnes without a second look. 

x2

[meatwhack]

In my opinion accuracy is the key. A well placed shot with either bullet is going to be lethal. I've used Barnes a lot myself and have friends that use partitions and accubonds. I've also used Bergers and know several people that have killed Bulls with them with good success. I will say this about the Barnes bullet as I've recovered and weighed most of them. If you want a bullet that stays together and retains nearly all its weight then this is a good choice every bullet I've recovered has looked identical to their advertisement of a perfectly mushroomed bullet with uniform pedals.

[JDHasty]

I'd pick a partition over a Barnes without a second look. 

x2

 

They work and work well.  Been using 200 gr 30 cal  for decades in the 300 Wby

[Stein]

The TSX and Partition are both very, very proven elk bullets - if not #1 and 2, certainly in the top three of proven designs.  Between the two would be personal preference, I chose TSX because it is lead free and zero chance of having a small chunk of lead in my meat.  It also shoots extremely well out of my rifle.

You aren't going to get any scientific evidence that one is better than the other because they are both just flat out deadly bullets on elk.  Pick the one you have most confidence in.