It is a common belief that the most accurate and deadly ammunition would lead to the most humane round for hunting. The rounds are designed specifically for deer hunting, but they also have positive impacts on other mammals. Hunting with these types of rounds has been shown to decrease hunter kill rates by up to 90%. The idea behind such rounds is that they expand upon contact with the animal, cutting through organs and causing internal bleeding.
Nosler Partition VS Accubond: Accurate Hunting Bullet
Performance On Game:
The Nosler BT has more penetration than the Ballistic Tip, with a higher BC of .544 to .467. The Ballistic Tip has been shown to retain its energy longer and expand more quickly. Because of this, the BT is more likely to hit vital organs and cause fast bleeding.
Accuracy:
The Nosler Partition has better BC (0.461) than the Accubond (.405), but not by much, which does not suggest much difference between them accuracy wise, despite there is little difference in their averages shot spread on target with standard deviation; .9 for the BT and 1 SD for the AB.
Performance On Deer:
Both bullets have similar BC and energy, but the Accubond has more muzzle velocity (2810fps vs. 2580fps). The ballistic tip also has more BC. When comparing penetration, the BT is better at penetrating while maintaining large wound channels; the AB is better at penetrating and causing mortality. In other words, both poisons are equally lethal to deer.
Excellent Penetration:
Both bullets have similar BC. However, the BT is more likely to stay on the same path of the shot because it does not swerve through internal organs and cause tissue damage.
Good Expansion:
The BT expands slower, but it also expands to a larger diameter than the AB. Therefore, when compared with other bullets, they are considered minor. In addition, the animal will bleed less and be less stressed. Due to this reason, there is a higher risk that these two rounds will kill deer, although history suggests otherwise.
Easy Expansion:
The Nosler BT has a slower expansion rate than the Accubond and is more likely to stay on the original path of the projectile; this means that it does not offer instant expansion upon impact with a game animal. As a result, there would be less stress on the animal’s internal organs and fewer chances of bleeding out, improving tracking.
Recoil:
The Nosler BT has a lower BC, which leads to minor damage upon impact. In addition, the AB has more muzzle energy than the BT, making it more likely to cause wound channeling on impact.
Poor Terminal Performance:
The Nosler BT is known for having the least dramatic and fastest expansion of all .338 magnum rounds. Even so, it offers greater penetration than many other options, so it is worth trying even if, at first, you are unsure of its performance in the game. In terms of energy and penetration, it consistently meets your expectations.
Bearing Surface:
The Nosler BT has a lot more bearing surface than the Accubond, meaning it may have a more challenging time expanding. However, despite this disadvantage, experience shows that it is very effective on game.
Ballistic Coefficient:
The BT has significantly higher ballistics than the AB, so that it may be less likely to fall short of your expectations for an expansion bullet. The BT can be used for hunting even if you are not a massive fan of this bullet or generally shoot low-energy bullets for hunting.
Accubond VS Ballistic Tip Performance On Game
It is relatively easy to see why the Ballistic Tip is a fantastic game-getting bullet. The tremendous unique performance that it offers can be attributed to its construction.
The Ballistic Tip has a pressed-in lead tip, which functions very similarly to the Nosler partition. However, it enables the building of ballistic pressure very quickly and releases it slowly again. As a result, penetration and expansion will be equal between different ranges, so you don’t have to worry about both. Additionally, this type of tip means that your bullet will not clog up, which could ruin its chance at expansion.
The Accubonds are not as famous as other bullet types, but it makes up for its high BC and performance. In addition, the Accubond is notable for its very flat ballistic coefficient. In other words, the bullet can penetrate multiple layers of tissue without becoming stuck or losing momentum. Thus, despite its poor name recognition, the Hornady Blitzbullet has many benefits for hunting rifles and cartridges.
Picking the Right Bullet
Among all the options available, the Nosler ballistic tip is the all-around go-to bullet for plinking, target shooting, and hunting. Known for its accuracy, it has been around for many years as well.
- For Deer Hunting: The Nosler Ballistic Tip Hunting bullet is one of the most popular bullets used for deer hunting in North America. The Nosler Ballistic Tip Hunting bullet is capable of taking any deer-sized game animal up to black bears. It was developed as a hunting bullet and had the best performance potential of any traditional hunting bullet.
- For Elk Hunting: The Nosler Partition or Accubond bullets are recommended for elk hunting. A soft point hunting bullet designed for superior accuracy and explosive expansion.
- For Mule Deer Hunting: The Nosler Varmint hunting bullet is recommended for mule deer hunting. The Varmint bullet balances flat trajectory, proper weight retention, maximum energy transfer, and deep penetration.
- For Whitetail Deer Hunting: The Nosler Ballistic Tip Hunting bullet is recommended for most deer hunting situations. The Nosler Ballistic Tip Hunting bullet is capable of taking any deer-sized game animal up to whitetail deer. It was developed as a hunting bullet and had the best performance potential of any traditional hunting bullet.
- For Turkey Hunting: The Nosler Partition or Accubond bullets are recommended for turkey hunting. A soft point hunting bullet designed for superior accuracy and explosive expansion.
Is It Possible For Ballistic Tip Bullets To Explode?
Several misconceptions exist concerning Ballistic Tip bullets. First, people get scared that they can explode upon impact, primarily if somebody uses low-velocity lead ammunition or hollow-point rounds. As a result of their solid lead tip, these bullets cause other solid objects to strike them. However, as long as other solid objects do not contact them, they should have a low probability of an explosion.
Different Types Of Bullets
The “ballistic tip” bullets are probably the most popular and common type of bullets. However, there are five different types of bullets.
- Full Metal Jacket: This solid copper bullet or brass jacket in the center and a hollow point at the bullet’s tip. Full Metal Jacket bullets do not have any jacket whatsoever. These bullets are usually made out of soft lead or an alloy that is not as hard as regular lead. These bullets are usually made out of soft lead or an alloy that is not as hard as regular lead.
- Soft Point Bullets: These types of bullets have a hollow point at the tip. Bullets in this category are usually made out of the lead. They also have a wider diameter than most other bullets, enabling them to penetrate through the thickest part of the game before starting to spread out, making them difficult for the game to survive.
- Ballistic Tip Bullets: These bullets have a solid lead tip and are commonly known as “ballistic tip.” These bullets are usually made out of lead. Ballistic tip bullets are more accurate than other types of bullets and better penetration for hunting.
- Partition or “Spitzer” Bullets: These bullets have a blunt nose that gives them the ability to penetrate and expand quickly without losing momentum. The partition bullets are made out of the lead and have a ball-like shape.
- Boat Tail Bullets: These bullets have a rounded tip with a pointed base broader than that of a full metal jacket bullet, which enables them to penetrate through the thickest part of the game without slowing down as much as other bullets do.
Choosing the Best Long Range Hunting Bullet
Bullets are made out of different materials and are designed for different uses. Typically, bullets are designed for hunting, target shooting, or plinking. You will use the same type of bullet for hunting as you would for target shooting or plinking.
1. Shooters Bullet Round: The shooters’ bullet round is several brands that produce small groups of differing calibers. However, if you are looking for accuracy, there are 7.62×51 factory ammunition rounds commonly used by professional shooters, although the price can be hard to swallow.
2. Handloaders Bullet Round: Handloaders bullet round is designed for those with different cartridges for different calibers; however, since this ammunition is reloaded, it can be more expensive than factory ammunition.
3. Ranked Bullet Round: This includes the Hornady InterBond, Barnes TTSX, and the Nosler Accubond bullets. These are hard-hitting bullets with a ballistic tip that offer excellent long-range performance. However, they are pretty costly to shoot at a distance of 300 yards.
4. High Impact Velocity Bullet Round: These types of rounds are commonly used for medium to large games such as deer, feral hogs, and elk. They are affordable to shoot and deadly for the medium-sized game. However, these are not the best selection for long-range hunting on a hard target.
5. Low-Velocity Bullet Round: These rounds include the Hornady SST and the Speer TNT bullets. These accurate bullets have a tipped design for deep penetration. Still, their acceptable accuracy is limited to 100 yards, making them great for minor games such as coyotes, varmints, turkey, and other small animals that you can get within this range.
Where To Buy Nosler Ballistic Tip?
Nosler Ballistic Tip is available from hunting shops and retailers. However, they are best bought online. You can purchase these bullets from websites like Amazon and eBay for much less than you would find them in a retail store.
Features To Look For:
- Impact Hardness
The Barnes TTSX has an impact hardness of 425-450 grain bullets. It penetrates up to 1″ of 10% gelatin when shot at 1000 feet per second. The impact of this bullet is hard enough to give you the best penetration.
- Penetration
For a bullet that is designed for deeper penetration, the Barnes TTSX bullets are ideal for this purpose. These bullets can go up to 14″ deep into your target. Thus, elk and deer are easily targeted as well as smaller mammals including rabbits.
- Expansion At Different Ranges
The Nosler Ballistic Tip has an excellent expansion rate, even at long ranges (up to 300 yards). In other words, once the Nosler passes through the skin, muscle, and bones, it will expand to at least .6 inches. As a result, they are the best long-range hunting bullets.
- Cost
The Barnes TTSX and Nosler Ballistic Tip are usually priced similarly; however, the Barnes TTSX can be more expensive than most Nosler Ballistic Tips.
Conclusion
Both of these bullets are designed for different hunting purposes. The Nosler Ballistic Tip is lighter in weight than the Accubond bullet; however, it is more solid and sturdy because it has a thicker jacket. On the other hand, the Accubond is heavier than the Ballistic Tip because its core material is denser than a Nosler Ballistic Tip.