Picking an elk bullet: 180 NAB vs 168 ABLR in 30-06

[insanelupus]

180 AB

Don't fix what ain't broke.

 

[lightsout144]

For elk try a monolithic copper bullet. I've had great success with the Hornady CX 165 grain out of my 30-06

 

[35WhelenAI]

I would have recommended the Barnes TTSX/LRX however he wasn't asking about and the poll didn't include them. Therefore I won't recommend them based on 30 years of experience. ;-).

 

[Okie_Poke]

For elk try a monolithic copper bullet. I've had great success with the Hornady CX 165 grain out of my 30-06

I would have recommended the Barnes TTSX/LRX however he wasn't asking about and the poll didn't include them. Therefore I won't recommend them based on 30 years of experience. ;-).

I have boxes of both 168 ttsx and 175 LRX. Neither shoot as well as the accubonds and I don’t get as much velocity from them as I’d like. I really thought the 168 might be the ticket, but it’s just not out of two of my 30-06s now.

 

[35WhelenAI]

I have boxes of both 168 ttsx and 175 LRX. Neither shoot as well as the accubonds and I don’t get as much velocity from them as I’d like. I really thought the 168 might be the ticket, but it’s just not out of two of my 30-06s now.

Absolutely, you need to hit what you're aiming at, accuracy is always the first step. Lol.

 

[35WhelenAI]

If I wasn't shooting monos for the last 30 years, I would be doing an accubond or partition.

 

[oregonoutdoors]

ABLR bullets can be very sensitive to seating depth. I talked to a tech at nosler at their pro shop who recommended finding the rifles favorite seating depth / jump and then working your charge up. I was struggling finding the right load combo for my sons .308. Once we found the proper seating depth it shoots those 168's into tiny little satisfying groups. His .308 win with a 20" gets 2800fps, I bet you could push them closer to 3k, maybe a different powder?

 

[NorthIdahoDude]

ABLR bullets can be very sensitive to seating depth. I talked to a tech at nosler at their pro shop who recommended finding the rifles favorite seating depth / jump and then working your charge up. I was struggling finding the right load combo for my sons .308. Once we found the proper seating depth it shoots those 168's into tiny little satisfying groups. His .308 win with a 20" gets 2800fps, I bet you could push them closer to 3k, maybe a different powder?

At the risk of a minor derailment, what powder in a 20" 308 is pushing 2800 FPS with a 168 anything? I'd be loading pretty hot to get a 150 much over 2800 in a 20".

 

[199p]

Ide go the 168

While i havnt used that bullet myself i have used the ablr in 6.5 and 7mm and the bullet performance was better than the og ab that i found did not cause as much internal damage and both bullets exited.

 

[oregonoutdoors]

At the risk of a minor derailment, what powder in a 20" 308 is pushing 2800 FPS with a 168 anything? I'd be loading pretty hot to get a 150 much over 2800 in a 20"

46gr of varget (book max) with a cci mag primer. Gun is an older browning abolt micro medallion. Nice to have a barrel shoot a little faster than expected vs my tikkas that are always slower.

 

[MallardSX2]

I don't know much about killing elk with bullets. I have done a ton of asking and research and everyone points towards the accubonds. I got me a box of them for my kids 7-08. We will see what happens.

 

[Okie_Poke]

Deleted redundant. See next post.

 

[Okie_Poke]

ABLR bullets can be very sensitive to seating depth. I talked to a tech at nosler at their pro shop who recommended finding the rifles favorite seating depth / jump and then working your charge up. I was struggling finding the right load combo for my sons .308. Once we found the proper seating depth it shoots those 168's into tiny little satisfying groups.

I have heard this but I didn’t have any trouble. I can’t remember what I set the jump at, but it’s jumping.

His .308 win with a 20" gets 2800fps, I bet you could push them closer to 3k, maybe a different powder?

I’m sure I could step on it a bit with a ball powder or Reloder 16. But the latter is rare as hen’s teeth and I usually get worse accuracy results with a ball powder. Also, I keep quite a bit of h4350 around because I use it in two other rifles. I could experiment, but I’m more inclined to get past load development.

My current load is book max charge of h4350 in norma brass, WLR primer. Rifle is Tikka lite chopped to 20”

 

[Aviator]

180 AB all day long!

 

[Blurry1]

Jumbled thoughts here but I really don’t see the point of the ABLR in your stated range. I’m sure it’s kills but as I understand it is designed for more on the max end of your range. I personally have no experience with them but if 180 accbonds are what you know it’s a no brainer for me.