Nosler LRAB's?

[MKotur325]

Any of you have a chance to field test the Nosler LRAB's this year? I have a .325WSM that I'm thinking about gutting for an action and building either a 7WSM or .300WSM precision stick. Love Nosler slugs, and Love the AB. Wondering how folks found them to work on furry critters, and if anyone has pushed the range envelope on them to see if the BC's perform as advertised.

Any help appreciated.

 

[noharleyyet]

Rollout has been very similar to Obamacare. I finally gave up...in the early stages of Berger VLD Hunting and Classic load development.

 

[jryoung]

Here's a report from a guy that has taken 4 animals with them.

http://www.24hourcampfire.com/ubbth...32/Fourth_animal_with_168gr_LRAB_#Post8335832

 

[MKotur325]

So... You are saying they've been as hard to find as Federal GMM 175gr in .308win?

I had a case on back order for just over 60 weeks before I canceled the order...

 

[fishing4sanity]

Like NHY said, the LRAB's have been pretty tough to find, I looked for several different bullets and only came across the .270s in 150gr. In load development and at the range they proved to be more difficult to work with than the Berger VLD's I had been using, in the end we never could get them as accurate as the VLD's. In the field I only got to use one, a whitetail at just under 200 yds, I didn't recover the bullet. Conclusion: I'll keep messing with them and try more LRAB's when I can get my hands on them, at the range their BC's don't seem to hold up to VLD's in my limited use of the .270 LRAB's.

 

[MThuntr]

I saw some 7mm LRAB's as Factory Seconds...they were gone before I could complete my order.

 

[SagebrushSlayer]

I just got done loading some 277 150gr up. Once I get out to a range and test them, I will report back. I am trying Reloader 19 and 25, also IMR 4350.

I tried RL 19 this past Sept. Not promising based off the ones I shot so far. I am shooting them out of a stock Tikka T3. From what I have researched, they do ok in groupings as long as the reloader isn't trying for max FPS.

If you want to test some for yourself, buy the Nosler Custom Ammo. You can buy them online through a variety of suppliers. If your gun doesn't shoot well (1 MOA or less) then you can move on.

 

[WapitiBob]

They are more accurate when compared to a like Berger and the same load specs from my personal experience. On game they come apart more so than a comparable hunting vld, from several accounts I have seen. I bought my last box and won't be using them for an elk bullet.
Shooting the 175's from a 7STW.

 

[1_pointer]

Bob- I'd be interesting in reading the accounts where a LRAB is coming apart more than a Berger. Gotta link to it? Find it surprising considering the designs of each of them.

 

[dustinf]

Bob- I'd be interesting in reading the accounts where a LRAB is coming apart more than a Berger. Gotta link to it? Find it surprising considering the designs of each of them.

I'm surprised by this as well. I've only killed one animal since switching to Bergers, and I can't imagine how it's physically possible for a bullet to come apart more than a Berger. The wound channel was polluted with sand like pieces of bullet.

 

[sbhooper]

I'm surprised by this as well. I've only killed one animal since switching to Bergers, and I can't imagine how it's physically possible for a bullet to come apart more than a Berger. The wound channel was polluted with sand like pieces of bullet.

I agree. Bergers are way overrated as a hunting bullet. They will cost less than the LRAB, but of the two, I would take the Nosler.

Personally, I will stay with the bullet that has been killing stuff for many years-the Partition.

 

[upper deck]

I killed 2 animals this year with the 150 7mm ABLR, the mv was 3170. The antelope was shot at 350 yards with no bullet recovery and the mule deer was shot at 80-90 yards. I did recover the bullet from the mule deer I figured it was still traveling around 3000 - 3050 fps when it hit him. He was a strong quartering towards me, so the bullet entered in the front shoulder and found under the hide on the opposite side



After I cleaned up the bullet it weighed 79 grains so a touch over 50% retained weight on a close range impact.




I have shot these out to 500 yards and seem to hold there BC. I wouldn't consider myself an expert on LR shooting but I was very happy with the accuracy with them.

 

[sbhooper]

That looks like great performance to me.

 

[noharleyyet]

http://www.longrangehunting.com/forums/f17/accubond-lr-comparison-g7-bc-test-115818/

 

[WapitiBob]

They thinned the jacket on the ALR's to promote the 1300 fps expansion. I read enough shot animal accounts over the last month to decide not to use them. The reports showing retention when shot into water looked good but enough of the too quick expansion on game for me to decide not to go that route. Just a choice I have made. Doesn't mean it's the right one for everybody. UpperDeck certainly had good results.
My 200 yard groups went from .75" to .6 with the ALR's, just switching out the bullets.

Off the top of my head:

http://www.24hourcampfire.com/ubbthreads/ubbthreads.php/topics/8198010/1

http://www.24hourcampfire.com/ubbthreads/ubbthreads.php/topics/8335832/1

http://www.24hourcampfire.com/ubbth...78/Re_168gr_LRAB_two_more_reports#Post8271178


http://www.monstermuleys.info/dcforum/DCForumID5/21414.html#.Ur73E4CIrDc


an interesting read I found a few weeks ago:

http://www.longrangehunting.com/forums/f19/comparing-berger-210-vld-215-hybrid-88657/

 

[belly-deep]

I've heard they are a little soft as well (at least, when compared to the old ones).

Which makes perfect sense because after all, they are a long range hunting bullet.


Then again, I've always thought the originals were about perfect as an all-around bullet.

 

[dustinf]

They thinned the jacket on the ALR's to promote the 1300 fps expansion. I read enough shot animal accounts over the last month to decide not to use them. The reports showing retention when shot into water looked good but enough of the too quick expansion on game for me to decide not to go that route. Just a choice I have made. Doesn't mean it's the right one for everybody. UpperDeck certainly had good results.
My 200 yard groups went from .75" to .6 with the ALR's, just switching out the bullets.

Off the top of my head:

http://www.24hourcampfire.com/ubbthreads/ubbthreads.php/topics/8198010/1

http://www.24hourcampfire.com/ubbthreads/ubbthreads.php/topics/8335832/1

http://www.24hourcampfire.com/ubbth...78/Re_168gr_LRAB_two_more_reports#Post8271178


http://www.monstermuleys.info/dcforum/DCForumID5/21414.html#.Ur73E4CIrDc


an interesting read I found a few weeks ago:

http://www.longrangehunting.com/forums/f19/comparing-berger-210-vld-215-hybrid-88657/

Just to clarify, I wasn't questioning your findings.

Thanks for posting the information.

 

[WapitiBob]

I didn't think you were. Hopefully there is some info in there some can use.

 

[mtmuley]

You can read all you want on the
web, but loading them and using them is the way to decide if they work or not. mtmuley

 

[SagebrushSlayer]

I know this is a 6 month old+ post, but thought I would post my results so far on the .277 150 LRABs.

My Tikka T3 likes 60 gr of RL-19 the best, out of three different powders I had. My grouping is right at 1/2 MOA. I was wanting anything 3/4 MOA or better. This powder was alot better than IMR 4350. The first two groups with that powder gave me 1.5-2.5 MOA groups. I will be giving the RL-19 a try this year for hunting and will update its results on any deer I may shoot.