collapse

Advertisement


Author Topic: Nosler ABLR and Hornady ELDX weight retention???  (Read 6194 times)

Offline Karl Blanchard

  • Trade Count: (+24)
  • Explorer
  • ******
  • Join Date: Aug 2008
  • Posts: 10667
  • Location: Selah, WA
  • Jonathan_S hunting apparel prostaff
  • Groups: Sitka Gear Fan Boy for LIFE
Re: Nosler ABLR and Hornady ELDX weight retention???
« Reply #15 on: July 15, 2019, 09:40:06 AM »
I ran the 190gr 30 cal ABLR for a season and shot 12 animals with them from 60 yards to 750 yards. Amazing performance. My complaint is they are incredibly finicky to load. I'm a pretty darn good hand loader and I could never get the accuracy/speed in my rifle that I expected from a gun capable of .3 accuracy with other bullets.  If they were more forgiving they would be my all time favorite bullet. They performed like traditional accubonds but without the velocity limitations for reliable expansion.

Following season i gave the 212gr eldx. Great accuracy and very easy to load with. 8 animals taken with them. While they killed just fine, I never got that that "wow" moment with them. Jacket/core separation was a given, which I don't mind all that much as long as it does it inside the body cavity and reeks havok inside.

I ended up going away from them as lot to lot variances was inconsistent and with the heavier weight I had a hard time spotting my shots. Went back to the 185gr Berger vld's and dont plan on looking back.
What caliber did you try those in? I used the 185 bergers in my 300 WM and liked their performance.
300wsm
It is foolish and wrong to mourn these men.  Rather, we should thank god that such men lived.  -General George S. Patton

Aaron's Profile:  http://hunting-washington.com/smf/index.php?action=profile;u=2875
Aaron's Posts:  http://hunting-washington.com/smf/index.php?action=profile;area=showposts;u=2875
Aaron's Facebook:  https://www.facebook.com/aaron.blanchard.94

Offline ELKBURGER

  • Washington For Wildlife
  • Trade Count: (+18)
  • Frontiersman
  • *****
  • Join Date: Nov 2008
  • Posts: 2528
  • Location: La Center, Wa
Re: Nosler ABLR and Hornady ELDX weight retention???
« Reply #16 on: July 15, 2019, 12:20:02 PM »
I ran the 190gr 30 cal ABLR for a season and shot 12 animals with them from 60 yards to 750 yards. Amazing performance. My complaint is they are incredibly finicky to load. I'm a pretty darn good hand loader and I could never get the accuracy/speed in my rifle that I expected from a gun capable of .3 accuracy with other bullets.  If they were more forgiving they would be my all time favorite bullet. They performed like traditional accubonds but without the velocity limitations for reliable expansion.

Following season i gave the 212gr eldx. Great accuracy and very easy to load with. 8 animals taken with them. While they killed just fine, I never got that that "wow" moment with them. Jacket/core separation was a given, which I don't mind all that much as long as it does it inside the body cavity and reeks havok inside.

I ended up going away from them as lot to lot variances was inconsistent and with the heavier weight I had a hard time spotting my shots. Went back to the 185gr Berger vld's and dont plan on looking back.
What caliber did you try those in? I used the 185 bergers in my 300 WM and liked their performance.
300wsm
:tup:

Offline Yondering

  • Political & Covid-19 Topics
  • Trade Count: (+1)
  • Longhunter
  • *****
  • Join Date: Sep 2013
  • Posts: 504
  • Location: Sedro Woolley
Re: Nosler ABLR and Hornady ELDX weight retention???
« Reply #17 on: July 15, 2019, 06:44:13 PM »
I am a huge nosler fan......but the ABLR gets a really bad rap by most I have talked to.   I would shoot the standard accubond before the LR's any day of the week.  The acuubonds will shoot to 800-1000 yards without a problem.   I hunt my 6.5 to 600 and it is stupid accurate with standard accubonds.

The bad rap is because most hunters, including the OP, don't seem to understand the purpose of the ABLR even with the giant hint in the name. They're designed for lower velocity impacts that occur at longer range. A 240 yard shot with a high velocity 28 Nosler is definitely not what that bullet was designed for. The fact that it worked well anyway speaks to how versatile it is, not how it's a bad bullet. That's just a bad application for a great bullet.

Pretty sure I understand it's purpose just fine. Never asked what the bullet was for or anything about velocity or range. I asked about weight retention and other peoples experience with it. I almost NEVER recover bullets so, while I do shoot, I do not have a ton of experience in weight retention after shots no matter what the range.

If you understood what the ABLR was intended for, why did you use it for a high velocity short range application? That's a bit like hauling plywood on a Corvette.

Offline BULLBLASTER

  • Non-Hunting Topics
  • Trade Count: (+15)
  • Old Salt
  • ******
  • Join Date: Oct 2008
  • Posts: 8104
Re: Nosler ABLR and Hornady ELDX weight retention???
« Reply #18 on: July 15, 2019, 06:59:44 PM »
I am a huge nosler fan......but the ABLR gets a really bad rap by most I have talked to.   I would shoot the standard accubond before the LR's any day of the week.  The acuubonds will shoot to 800-1000 yards without a problem.   I hunt my 6.5 to 600 and it is stupid accurate with standard accubonds.

The bad rap is because most hunters, including the OP, don't seem to understand the purpose of the ABLR even with the giant hint in the name. They're designed for lower velocity impacts that occur at longer range. A 240 yard shot with a high velocity 28 Nosler is definitely not what that bullet was designed for. The fact that it worked well anyway speaks to how versatile it is, not how it's a bad bullet. That's just a bad application for a great bullet.

Pretty sure I understand it's purpose just fine. Never asked what the bullet was for or anything about velocity or range. I asked about weight retention and other peoples experience with it. I almost NEVER recover bullets so, while I do shoot, I do not have a ton of experience in weight retention after shots no matter what the range.

If you understood what the ABLR was intended for, why did you use it for a high velocity short range application? That's a bit like hauling plywood on a Corvette.
Who cares? The purpose of the thread was asking for experience from other guys that have used them.

Offline jasnt

  • ELR junkie
  • Political & Covid-19 Topics
  • Trade Count: (+5)
  • Old Salt
  • ******
  • Join Date: Feb 2010
  • Posts: 6539
  • Location: deer park
  • Out shooting
  • Groups: WSTA
Re: Nosler ABLR and Hornady ELDX weight retention???
« Reply #19 on: July 15, 2019, 08:53:40 PM »
Yup who cares, nosler sucks anyway.....come on over to the dark side :chuckle:


 :kneel: :mgun2: :stirthepot:
https://www.howlforwildlife.org/take_action  It takes 10 seconds and it’s free. To easy to make an excuse not to make your voice heard!!!!!!

The commission shall attempt to maximize the public recreational game fishing and hunting opportunities of all citizens, including juvenile, disabled, and senior citizens.
https://apps.leg.wa.gov/RCW/default.aspx?cite=77.04.012

Offline b23

  • Non-Hunting Topics
  • Trade Count: (+7)
  • Frontiersman
  • *****
  • Join Date: Jan 2010
  • Posts: 3313
  • Location: Spokane Wa.
Re: Nosler ABLR and Hornady ELDX weight retention???
« Reply #20 on: July 15, 2019, 10:33:02 PM »
Yup who cares, nosler sucks anyway.....come on over to the dark side :chuckle:


 :kneel: :mgun2: :stirthepot:

LMAO!  Trouble maker...  :chuckle:

Offline jasnt

  • ELR junkie
  • Political & Covid-19 Topics
  • Trade Count: (+5)
  • Old Salt
  • ******
  • Join Date: Feb 2010
  • Posts: 6539
  • Location: deer park
  • Out shooting
  • Groups: WSTA
Re: Nosler ABLR and Hornady ELDX weight retention???
« Reply #21 on: July 16, 2019, 04:26:06 AM »
Yup who cares, nosler sucks anyway.....come on over to the dark side :chuckle:


 :kneel: :mgun2: :stirthepot:

LMAO!  Trouble maker...  :chuckle:
just trying to thin the air a bit. As much as I hate to say it....both the acubonds are great bullets.  If weight retention is your preference then use the original and if you want a bullet that will expand even way out where some bullets wouldn’t open the lr will do it.......of course if you want the “best” you’d shoot bergers :chuckle:

If lead is a concern try hammers. 
https://www.howlforwildlife.org/take_action  It takes 10 seconds and it’s free. To easy to make an excuse not to make your voice heard!!!!!!

The commission shall attempt to maximize the public recreational game fishing and hunting opportunities of all citizens, including juvenile, disabled, and senior citizens.
https://apps.leg.wa.gov/RCW/default.aspx?cite=77.04.012

Offline CoryTDF

  • Make it Rain!!!
  • Non-Hunting Topics
  • Trade Count: (+5)
  • Frontiersman
  • *****
  • Join Date: Feb 2009
  • Posts: 3184
  • Location: Walla Walla
  • Look at me I'm blowing a duck call!
Re: Nosler ABLR and Hornady ELDX weight retention???
« Reply #22 on: July 16, 2019, 09:25:44 AM »
I am a huge nosler fan......but the ABLR gets a really bad rap by most I have talked to.   I would shoot the standard accubond before the LR's any day of the week.  The acuubonds will shoot to 800-1000 yards without a problem.   I hunt my 6.5 to 600 and it is stupid accurate with standard accubonds.

The bad rap is because most hunters, including the OP, don't seem to understand the purpose of the ABLR even with the giant hint in the name. They're designed for lower velocity impacts that occur at longer range. A 240 yard shot with a high velocity 28 Nosler is definitely not what that bullet was designed for. The fact that it worked well anyway speaks to how versatile it is, not how it's a bad bullet. That's just a bad application for a great bullet.

Pretty sure I understand it's purpose just fine. Never asked what the bullet was for or anything about velocity or range. I asked about weight retention and other peoples experience with it. I almost NEVER recover bullets so, while I do shoot, I do not have a ton of experience in weight retention after shots no matter what the range.

If you understood what the ABLR was intended for, why did you use it for a high velocity short range application? That's a bit like hauling plywood on a Corvette.

You sir are hilarious. I guess I forgot to have me secondary backup  "short-range" rifle on standby in the case that my long range gun was useless because the animals just happened to be closer than 2156372634579624395679247365924673724357862473656792463578624375624635971657624356770924365247350762430756247835624783659-857264305762403756079243 yards away. I would love to see your set up for hunting! I bet if your million yard gun was on your shoulder and you had an animal jump at less that seven trillion yards you would give it a pass due to the risk of bullet separation. Do you teach classes? I would love to learn from such a skilled and knowledgeable master of the shooting arts such as yourself.  :rolleyes: :rolleyes:
CoryTDF

"The only thing necessary for the triumph of evil is for good men to do nothing"
- Edmund Burke (1729-1797), British statesman and philosopher

 


* Advertisement

* Recent Topics

Toutle Quality Bull - Rifle by ReidMcSquatch
[Today at 03:24:51 PM]


Pocket Carry by Shawn Ryan
[Today at 03:03:08 PM]


AKC lab puppies! Born 06/10/2025 follow as they grow!!! by scottfrick
[Today at 02:14:23 PM]


Calling Bears by bearmanric
[Today at 02:07:32 PM]


2025 Crab! by Stein
[Today at 01:48:55 PM]


Sauk Unit Youth Elk Tips by Kales15
[Today at 01:04:52 PM]


2025 Coyotes by JakeLand
[Today at 12:20:54 PM]


Price on brass? by Magnum_Willys
[Today at 12:18:54 PM]


AUCTION: SE Idaho DIY Deer or Deer/Elk Hunt by Dan-o
[Today at 10:28:23 AM]


Utah cow elk hunt by kselkhunter
[Today at 09:03:55 AM]


KODIAK06 2025 trail cam and personal pics thread by kodiak06
[Today at 07:03:46 AM]


Unknown Suppressors - Whisper Pickle by Sneaky
[Today at 04:09:53 AM]


Early Huckleberry Bull Moose tag drawn! by HillHound
[Yesterday at 11:25:17 PM]


THE ULTIMATE QUAD!!!! by Deer slayer
[Yesterday at 10:33:55 PM]


Archery elk gear, 2025. by WapitiTalk1
[Yesterday at 09:41:28 PM]


Oregon spring bear by kodiak06
[Yesterday at 04:40:38 PM]


Tree stand for Western Washingtn by kodiak06
[Yesterday at 04:37:01 PM]


A lonely Job... by Loup Loup
[Yesterday at 01:15:11 PM]


Range finders & Angle Compensation by Fidelk
[Yesterday at 11:58:48 AM]


Willapa Hills 1 Bear by hunter399
[Yesterday at 10:55:29 AM]

SimplePortal 2.3.7 © 2008-2025, SimplePortal