Is there interest in a 6.5mm 150gr Accubond?

[TaylorC]

Top loads in the PRC are capable of breaking 3k with the 150gr ABLR out of a 24" barrel. Surely I'm not the only one interested in trading the BC for a tougher bullet. Inside of 400 the importance of those two is reversed.
The ABLR was uniquely designed to expand at longer ranges, but sacrifices integrity at higher velocities up close.
With roughly the sectional density of the 200gr .308", the 150gr AB would be a solid choice for most real-world bull elk hunting versus the Instagram 800-yard shots so many people conjure in their minds.
Am I alone here? There's a strong trend toward lighter faster, especially with monos, but I've still got one foot in the heavy-for-caliber camp. The PRC has made room for a class of bullets that have all but died out. Frankly if I could find a supply of 1̶6̶0̶g̶r̶ 156gr Oryx I'd be all over it.

Love to hear thought for or against. I imagine with some market pressure Nosler could be convinced to make a third 6.5mm, considering the 7 has three and the .308 has five....

 

[cal30_sniper]

And here I am running the opposite direction with 107gr TMKs.

I’d rather have some more good options in .257 instead of more bullets in a crowded .264 market.

 

[TaylorC]

Yep, it seems crowded in general, but this class – heavy for caliber in not an extreme longrange format is all but absent. There's the 160gr RN Interlock, and... uh.....

 

[cal30_sniper]

Have you checked out the Berger 156 EOL?

 

[Steve O]

I’ve had great results with 142g LRAB, can’t see how 8 more grains would help.

 

[cal30_sniper]

Yep, it seems crowded in general, but this class – heavy for caliber in not an extreme longrange format is all but absent. There's the 160gr RN Interlock, and... uh.....

Lapua 156gr Mega
Norma 156gr Oryx
Norma 156gr Alaskan
Norma 156gr Vulcan

Stock up when you can get them.

 

[TaylorC]

Lapua 156gr Mega
Norma 156gr Oryx
Norma 156gr Alaskan
Norma 156gr Vulcan

Stock up when you can get them.

Yep, mentioned the Oryx in the OP. Let me know if you see them. Norma USA told me no plans to bring them back over here.

 

[TaylorC]

Yep, m

I’ve had great results with 142g LRAB, can’t see how 8 more grains would help.

It isn't the 8 grains I'm talking about, its the dropping of the "LR." We already have a 150gr ABLR.

 

[TaylorC]

Have you checked out the Berger 156 EOL?

Yes I've read up on it. Similar problem with explosive results at high velocity, designed to maximize BC above all else. If I wasn't clear in the OP my quest is for a normal-range heavy, not catering to the terminal performance needs of an 800-yard shot on big game.

 

[cal30_sniper]

Yes I've read up on it. Similar problem with explosive results at high velocity, designed to maximize BC above all else. If I wasn't clear in the OP my quest is for a normal-range heavy, not catering to the terminal performance needs of an 800-yard shot on big game.

Suggest poking around the forum a while and reevaluating your take on “explosive results”. It’s kind of a cornerstone around here.

If all you want to do is lob 150grs at short to medium range (nothing wrong with that at all), you’re kind of barking up the wrong tree with a 6.5PRC. They already make a 6.5CM and a .308 for that.

 

[cal30_sniper]

Yep, mentioned the Oryx in the OP. Let me know if you see them. Norma USA told me no plans to bring them back over here.

Nothing the Oryx will do the Mega won’t. Last I saw the Oryx was at Raven Rocks. They get a lot of stuff in from Norma that doesn’t show up anywhere else.

Megas are in stock at Grafs:

LAPUA 6.5(.264) 155gr SP BULLET MEGA 100/bx - Graf & Sons

The Lapua Mega is for hunting big game. The Mega is at its best in the field and typically more than duplicates on impact, causing an immediate shock effect. It is a mechanically bonded soft point bullet with a protective copper jacket. This ensures that the bullet´s lead alloy core remains...

www.grafs.com

 

[TaylorC]

Nothing the Oryx will do the Mega won’t. Last I saw the Oryx was at Raven Rocks. They get a lot of stuff in from Norma that doesn’t show up anywhere else.

Megas are in stock at Grafs:

LAPUA 6.5(.264) 155gr SP BULLET MEGA 100/bx - Graf & Sons

The Lapua Mega is for hunting big game. The Mega is at its best in the field and typically more than duplicates on impact, causing an immediate shock effect. It is a mechanically bonded soft point bullet with a protective copper jacket. This ensures that the bullet´s lead alloy core remains...

www.grafs.com

For sure, Mega is somewhat analogous to the 160 Interlock. With either of those you're going to seat a lot deeper than something like the AB profile. Don't really want to digress into a "X will do the job," since that's true against virtually any bullet choice.
I'm starting with the premise that the Accubond (or Oryx, somewhat correlate) is a great design and that the PRC can handle the 150ish grain handily.
For that matter, the 7mm has a 175gr Partition I'd love to see matched with a 150gr 6.5mm. Same with the A-Frame (in theory, since no one's actually seen them in years.)

The main thrust behind my post is that it seems like the PRC has a lot of potential for thumping hard and heavy inside of 400, but all of the heavy bullets are designed and marketed for the ability to perform at 800, not particularly idealized for a 300-yd shot like the ones I have in mind.

If I'm the only one thinking a long these lines, it is what it is. But I'm hoping to get a measure of that, at least in the Rokslide realm.

 

[cal30_sniper]

For sure, Mega is somewhat analogous to the 160 Interlock. With either of those you're going to seat a lot deeper than something like the AB profile. Don't really want to digress into a "X will do the job," since that's true against virtually any bullet choice.
I'm starting with the premise that the Accubond (or Oryx, somewhat correlate) is a great design and that the PRC can handle the 150ish grain handily.
For that matter, the 7mm has a 175gr Partition I'd love to see matched with a 150gr 6.5mm. Same with the A-Frame (in theory, since no one's actually seen them in years.)

The main thrust behind my post is that it seems like the PRC has a lot of potential for thumping hard and heavy inside of 400, but all of the heavy bullets are designed and marketed for the ability to perform at 800, not particularly idealized for a 300-yd shot like the ones I have in mind.

If I'm the only one thinking a long these lines, it is what it is. But I'm hoping to get a measure of that, at least in the Rokslide realm.

You might have your answer in the observation that they weren’t popular enough to keep regularly importing them.

The die for big 6.5s was cast way back when with the 264 Win Mag. 140s moving fast will accomplish anything you can think of in this hemisphere. Not clear what a 160 bullet buys that slowing down a 140 won’t.

I’ll stop polluting your thread, but if these weights were going to be popular in 6.5mm, they’d already be making them.

Edit to add: the Interlock, Oryx, and Mega are all within an eyelash of each other. Nothing one will do that any of the others won’t. If you need a tougher bullet for some reason, you’d be looking at monos.

 

[The Guide]

I have three 6.5 PRC rifles and have settled on 3 bullets depending upon the game and circumstances. 127 LRX for antelope and deer for close range hay field work or were are going to donate meat. 147 ELDM for general hunting and shooting. 156 Berger for deer and elk. I don't take silly "raking" shots and none of those bullets have ever bounced off a shoulder blade. Not sure what a bonded 150 grain would add to the current field of bullets that isn't already cover by another bullet.

Jay

 

[TaylorC]

I have three 6.5 PRC rifles and have settled on 3 bullets depending upon the game and circumstances. 127 LRX for antelope and deer for close range hay field work or were are going to donate meat. 147 ELDM for general hunting and shooting. 156 Berger for deer and elk. I don't take silly "raking" shots and none of those bullets have ever bounced off a shoulder blade. Not sure what a bonded 150 grain would add to the current field of bullets that isn't already cover by another bullet.

Jay

And it seems this is a pretty common sentiment. What exactly are folks doing with a 175gr 7mm Accubond? Presumably there's a market for that....

 

[The Guide]

And it seems this is a pretty common sentiment. What exactly are folks doing with a 175gr 7mm Accubond? Presumably there's a market for that....

Maybe, but not in any of my 7mm rifles. If I was to use a bonded 7mm bullet, it would be lighter than that. In my experience, bonded bullets work best when they are lighter (medium for caliber) and driven fast. I know there is a market for the bullets I like (175 Berger for example) as many times they are sold out.

Jay

 

[cal30_sniper]

And it seems this is a pretty common sentiment. What exactly are folks doing with a 175gr 7mm Accubond? Presumably there's a market for that....

There isn't a 175gr 7mm Accubond. There is a 175gr 7mm Accubond LR. If that's what you're referring to, they're probably enjoying the .65 or better G1 BC that bullet has been measured at.

You might be referring to the 175gr Partition. If so, I don't know what someone would use that for. Maybe looking for some extra wallop? It has the same form factor as a 160gr Partition, so I can't see what you'd gain by using the 175 other than recoil.

 

[Castle Rock]

Not sure what a bonded 150 grain would add to the current field of bullets that isn't already cover by another bullet.

Jay

It would be really good for beating up the landscape, can’t let all that good wallop go to waste

 

[TaperPin]

I’d hope it’s only a matter of time when traditional shooters with fast twist guns who like a bullet that holds together would come onto Nosler’s radar, especially in the smaller calibers for the exact reason the original poster mentioned. In many areas elk hang out in shots may be 50 yards at a weird angle of something making tracks to get away from you, to 500 yards across an opening. Not what an ABLR is good at, but a heavy Accubond would be ideal. Every time I see ABLR load I literally think to myself, that holds up well at long distance but it’s too bad it can’t be used elk hunting in the timber.

So far only the heavy for caliber Accubond is the .338” 300 gr. The marketing department must know there is demand in the smaller calibers, so my guess is it’s a conscious effort to avoid cutting into ABLR sales. Any weights ABLRs are offered in should have the standard version as well.

 

[sndmn11]

Is someone showing the bonded accubond to have a different terminal result than the bonded accubond long range through testing?