How similar do 'related' projectiles act e.g. Accubond vs Ballastic tip

[canoetrpr]

Each of Nosler and Hornady offer a premium bonded projectile, Accubond and Interbond respectively. Each also have a ballistically similar cousin, the Balllistic Tip and SST, offered in the same weights and each has the same BC in the same weight with its bonded cousin.

Question for those who have loaded the bonded and non bonded variants:

Given:
- Same rifle
- Same powder
- Same weight bullet
- How do the Nosler Accubond and Ballistic Tip OR Hornady Interbond and SST compare with each other in:
-- Accuracy
-- Muzzle velocity
-- Ballistic drop at ranges

Note: I'm not asking about how the Accubond compares to the Interbond. That maybe a question for another day.

As you know, the non chemically bonded variant is typically 1/2 the price of the other. I'm trying to get an estimate of: if I pick up X grns of Ballastic Tip, can I expect X grns of Accubonds to be liked by my rifle to the same extent as the Ballastic Tip?

 

[Eagleye]

The short answer is: Not necessarily. They may act similarly, but they may not.
Some have stated that the Accubond is simply a bonded Ballistic tip.

That is also not necessarily true, since in sectioning both designs, I see differences in jacket construction between the two.

Additionally, in any given weight and diameter, the Accubond is slightly longer than the equivalent Ballistic Tip, due to a heavier jacket.
This difference is not as pronounced now, with Nosler's issue of "hunting" ballistic tips. These bullets have heavier jackets than the "varmint" BTs.

I have a 7x57 that shoots the 140 Accubond very well, indeed, with groups averaging right around ¾ moa.
In this rifle, the 140 Ballistic tip will not average under 1¼ moa with the same load, brass, primer, etc.

I can get the BT to shoot sub-moa, but with a different powder and in a different case.

I do not normally use the Hornady SST, and when I did, was not pleased with it...too fragile for my liking.

Regards, Eagleye.

 

[leveractionjunkie]

In my experience no. With Hornady I have found their newest load data is for the gmx if there is gmx interbond and sst in the same data. I've had up to 400fps difference between the 3 when working each to max data. Generally point of impact has varied as well.

Rob

 

[Magnum_Tom]

I had such terrible groupings with Nosler Accubonds, BTs and BT Hunting that I gave up on Nosler. I alternated string for string, Accubond, Interbond, BT, SST etc while working up from min loads in 308 Win and 300WinMag. Nosler were consistently 4-5 * moa while Hornady were just over moa until I found my loads and then they went sub moa.

 

[horseman2]

Speer 160 grain Mag tips and Speer Grand Slam in a 280 Remington with WW brass, Federal Gold Medal Magnum LR primers and 59.0 grains of IMR7828SSC.
The Mag Tips group 2.5" right and 1.5 low. The G/S is 0.5 high and 2.0 left.
Overall they are quite similar with the G/S having a slight B/C advantage. Velocity is over 2800 fps.
Group size for three rounds was 3.0 for the G/S and 1.25 for the Mag Tips at 200 metres. The Mag Tips have been previously very good performers but I had a chance to change and the G/S looked like a better option.