Hunting & Fishing 7mm 160 gr Accubond vs 160 gr Partition

[ChrisAU]

If both shoot the same out of your rifle, which are you choosing for whitetail deer under 150 yards AND elk out to 500 yards?

 

[WB300]

What cartridge are you planning to shooting them out of?

Both bullets will perform on Elk, but i would like to factor in more details before i make a recommendation.

Hopefully others with more experience than me hunting Elk will chime in too.

 

[ChrisAU]

280AI. Chrono’d the partitions around 2980 last year and didn’t have quite the accuracy I wanted (still plenty fine, right around 1-1.25 MOA), but then had questionable terminal performance at close range on whitetail. Got some Nosler factory loads with 160 AB’s that just came out this year to try, plan on doing that very soon.

 

[WB300]

Both bullets should do fine for either game.

As for the questionable terminal performance on deer at closer range, i suspect the bullet isn't opening enough unless you hit bone. Those are tough bullets. I hunt across the border from you in south GA and these deer are small. I've had more deer run with my 300 Win Mag than my 243 out to 200 yards. I've since switched to shoulder shots for the 300WM at closer ranges. I lose more meat, but I don't have to track.

Between the 2 listed, just me, but I'd choose the Accubond. The higher BC should cheat the wind better and maintain more velocity on impact at longer ranges on Elk (all things being equal). Some like the Accubond, some hate it. Same for Partitions.

Hopefully more will add to the conversation.

Whatever you decide... Good luck. And keep the thread updated with your progress. Pics of gear and hunt results are always welcome.

Will

 

[ChrisAU]

Thanks Will, and I do agree about the expansion. I love that a partition always leaves a blood trail, but not a fan of having to trail in the thickets here. The last whitetail I shot this past season I had to get a machete to get to. This was my second season using partitions and every deer I shot died and was recovered, so its hard to complain about a 100% record.

However, the slower 308 with 180 grain PTs definitely got them to expire quicker than my new 280AI with 160 grain PTs. All behind the shoulder shots. Late this season I coached myself saying I’d switch to high shoulder shots to anchor them, but old habits die hard and even after 20 years of hunting I still get excited enough to go on autopilot when shooting game.

No doubt the partitions are lasers and will pass through any whitetail down here, but this year Nosler came out with factory loads for the 280AI with 160 grain AB’s, got 3 boxes this week and plan to try them soon.

My rifle puts the 160 grain PTs right at 1 MOA, maybe a touch more. I do expect my Cooper 92 to shoot better, even with factory ammo. Hoping these Accubonds are the ticket. I’d like to see 3/4 MOA or tighter at 100 now that I’m getting into longer range shooting and hunting.

 

[Nitrosteel]

I also live/hunt deer in south GA. I use 160 gr accubonds in my 7mm-08 and haven’t had a problem with them yet. Also shot a wildebeest in Africa and 2 impala earlier this year with it. No problems there either - so I feel like it would work for elk also. I switched from partitions a few years ago because I wasn’t getting the expansion I wanted. Went to ELD-x and they just seemed to explode up close - so went to accubonds. I get good expansion, but also penetration. I know the partitions are tougher and in some ways better. But I think the accubonds are a very good compromise and they have shot well in all of my rifles from 7-08, 325 wsm and multiple 308’s.

 

[Healy]

I shoot the 160grain accubonds out of a Bergera ridge and it will constantly shoot 5 shot groups 3/4” Moa,

 

[XTREM HTR16]

Accubond

 

[longshooter]

Tailor your shot to DRT.

 

[45.308]

Partition here. Not sure what your experience but never had a failure from 80 to 420 yards in 338, 300, 06, 7mm. I don't deer hunt; moose and bou for meat but have goat, taste terrible and sheep and bear.

Hunting accuracy is overrated to me. I don't need to hit a dime at 300 yards with sub moa group. 1 moa has been plenty accurate for me to fill the freezer.

Sounds like you already made your decision.

good luck