ABLR at close range

[The_Whitetail_Kid]

For those who have used this bullet at short distances >200 yards, how has it done? Wanting to test it out this year but wasn't sure how it would perform up close. Already got a solid load worked up with it. 6.5 PRC, and 150 ABLR going 2830. I won't be using it for elk or anything too large just mature whitetail and hopefully a muley this fall.

 

[Theringworm]

175g out of a 28 Nosler at 80-100yds on an Alaskan moose. He went 15 yds and piled up. Found the bullet underneath the opposite side under its hide.

 

[LongWayAround]

I put two 142ablr into an elk at like 30 yards. Both passed through. Dead elk.

Two more 142's into a different elk where the first shot was about 60yd and the second was frontal, much closer.

I didn't really pay attention to wounds then, but it was dead right there

Shot a deer at about 200. Bang flop.

6.5 CM, no idea on the velocity

 

[Undrgrndprdcts]

142 6.5cm mv approx 2650 iirc, very large whitetail doe ~100 yards, drt but complete pass through.

 

[jahaze]

I shot my cow elk last year with a 150-grain ABLR .270 at 40-yards, dropped dead. I don't think they have to be used long range, but I wanted to be ready just-in-case.


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[NorthIdahoDude]

I've never shot a critter with one (still trying to get one to shoot straight in a gun I own - no luck yet), but I pounded a few 168 and 190 308 ABLR's (and some 168 7mm's as well) into both muddy clay and hard/dry dirt (both of which should be a lot harder on the bullet than a critter), and they held together just fine, nice little mushrooms recovered. These were at 30-06 and 7x57 speeds, not uber-ultra-supa-mag speeds, but these were near point blank impacts also.

My only note was that they did loose a bit more weight than a standard AccuBond (the ABLR's all retained +/- around 50% vs regular Accubonds out of the same guns retained around 60-65%), so I'd probably go at least one size heavier than I would if using a standard accubond, but my personal tests I described above convinced me they aren't going to explode on impact/fail to penetrate.

 

[Lou270]

I have shot several pigs including a few good size boars with 165 ablr in my 6.8W. sub 100. Out of the 20” barrel the factory load was running similar velocity as your 150s. All of the shots have exited. They are bonded and have a thick jacket at base but the nose is very thin/fragile compared to a regular accubond so expect they lose more weight up close but the base will remain intact

Lou

 

[cuerro viejo]

142 6.5cm mv approx 2650 iirc, very large whitetail doe ~100 yards, drt but complete pass through.View attachment 905111View attachment 905112View attachment 905114

Exact same with 129 ablr 6.5 CM at 30 yards

 

[turbobrick]

I've loaded the 129ablr in 260rem for a bunch of closer in kills, 2 pronghorn at about 100, a mule deer at 120 and 180, and another pronghorn at 230, all were DRT with great terminal performance.

 

[ShortMagFan]

I’ve shot a few white tails with the 129 ablr out of a 6.5 Saum. All under 200 yards. They all died as they should have. I’d think about it as a ballistic tip up close and an accubond way out there

 

[Calcoyote]

I've loaded the 129ablr in 260rem for a bunch of closer in kills, 2 pronghorn at about 100, a mule deer at 120 and 180, and another pronghorn at 230, all were DRT with great terminal performance.

Perfect. This info helps. I have a 260 Rem and purchased some 129g ABLR and was getting ready to start load development. I was wondering about the terminal performance. What powder did you use? I was planning to start with H4350.

 

[Hunt eat repeat]

I’ve killed everything from antelope to buffalo with em at ranges mostly under 200 yards. Some bullets recovered, some not. Everything died quickly.

 

[turbobrick]

Perfect. This info helps. I have a 260 Rem and purchased some 129g ABLR and was getting ready to start load development. I was wondering about the terminal performance. What powder did you use? I was planning to start with H4350.

I used A2700 since I was chasing absolute velocity, I switched to lead free a few years ago so, I don't have any info with a different powder since they discontinued it.

 

[wyogoat]

Exact same with 129 ablr 6.5 CM at 30 yards

X2, Used the same bullet for an Aoudad at 40 yards and worked fine.

 

[TXHunt]

I'm loving this thread. I love Nosler bullets but have shied away from the ABLR based on the negative reviews I've heard about them at close range. This is painting a different picture.

 

[NorthIdahoDude]

I'm loving this thread. I love Nosler bullets but have shied away from the ABLR based on the negative reviews I've heard about them at close range. This is painting a different picture.

Same - I read a lot of negative reviews early on, and had some qualms, that's why I did the 'shoot it into dirt and/or mud' testing (far harsher on the bullet than an actual critter) to see for myself. Basically, they do loose a lot more weight on impact than a regular AccuBond, which means they won't penetrate as deep or as well as a comparable weight regular Accubond, which might have been the cause of the bad reviews; people expecting identical performance to a regular Accubond, and getting more like the performance of an ELD-X that doesn't core-separate.

Now, if I could just get ABLR's to shoot worth a damn in any of my rifles, I'd be on to something, LOL - so far, the closest I've ever come is 1.5 MOA in 2 different rifles (168's in a 308, and 190's in a 30-06), which limits the range because of accuracy to the point I might as well use regular Accubonds. Every other gun I've ever tried them in, they are 2+ MOA all-day. Sighs.