Accubonds/Partitions vs Scirocco/A-Frames

[Mountaineer]

@farmer_john i have struggled to get them to shoot well in at least 6 other rifles I have. I always try a box since they are such a good bullet.

 

[Miletic]

And the frame is too hard.
Try with softer bullets. There are many of them on the market. Rws has perfect bull, and Eld-x is great for what you want. Accubond to

 

[coreydb]

There's more great selections available than your picks, so give them serious consideration as well. I've had success with many of them with no particular favorite.

 

[uplander01]

Use Barnes, always available, always accurate, and always kill what you're aiming at.

 

[Rare Breed]

The problem of course only the accubonds seem to be available…all others OOS

 

[Csnakes03]

To answer a few questions, my shot distances would be anywhere from almost point blank to 400 yards max(Ideally 300ish). I know some folks like to shoot further, and are very capable, but I would prefer to stalk in closer. I originally bought this Rifle with the thought that both myself and my wife would be shooting it. She could probably get used to one of my '06's but hasn't spent any time shooting them.
As far as my quarry, primarily African plains game zebra/BWB or smaller. Eland is on my list at some point, but I will use a larger caliber/cartridge.
I guess my main concern all around is I want a bullet I can trust that also shoots accurately enough from my rifle.
Everyone who has chimed in has given me some great insight and I greatly appreciate it!!

 

[AimSmall]

For me, accuracy was:
1. Speer Gold Dot .23
2. 130 SCIROCCO .40
3. 143 AB .5
4. HAMMER .55

Field results:
1. SCIROCCO, hands down

Bigger animals, use a bigger caliber and A-frames, if they shoot well.

 

[steve white]

As listed by OP, the B team vs the A team.

 

[Boredrill]

AFrame

 

[Nhoro]

All of those bullets will work well on plainsgame below eland. All are relatively tough bullets with the A frame topping the list. Shot placement is most important and all of those bullets will put plainsgame down. I dare say even eland if you avoid the shoulder bone.

 

[Captain Jack]

I've shot a lot of bullets with Accubonds in various calibers, most recently a pile of plains game with the 270 gr. AB in .375 H&H, including the zebra in my profile photo. They have always performed well for me, and I've never lost an animal to one.

As for the Sciroccos, my experience with them is limited to the 75 gr. in .223, but I've shot a whole mess of coyotes with them and, based on their performance there, wouldn't hesitate to use that setup on pronghorn or whitetail where legal to do so. Tough and accurate bullets, but again, I have very limited testing data to go off of.

I've never shot the Partition or A-frame on game, so can't offer much there.

 

[Captain Jack]

That should say "shot a lot of ANIMALS" with Accubonds. Posting before coffee will get you every time.

 

[Gomer]

That should say "shot a lot of ANIMALS" with Accubonds. Posting before coffee will get you every time.

I read it before coffee and didn’t even catch it!

 

[Philip Glass]

I'm looking for some advice based on experience for those who have shot both at game, and also for those who have reloaded. I'm leaning towards the Nosler Accubonds over the Sciroccos just because they are heavier in the caliber I'm looking to reload (6.5PRC) but I'm torn between the other 2. From a design perspective it seems the Accubonds and Sciroccos will be better at longer ranges, but I dont really see a scenario where I would shoot anything beyond 400 yards, so does it matter? I had issues on 2 animals shot with the Berger 156g bullets on my last trip to Africa a month ago (didn't do well on a quartering away blesbok and basically failed on a quartering to shot on a Hartebeest resulting in me losing the animal..) and want to find a bonded bullet that will have good performance downrange.
Thanks!

I’m sorry you had to find out the hard way that Bergers are not hunting bullets.
Accobond =A-frame: harder, good expansion
Partition=Scirocco: softer, more expansion

Any of the aforementioned bullets will do very well for you. Let us know how it goes!

 

[Wildwillalaska]

For plains game if you are contemplating shots out past 200 yards, I would lean into the Accubond and Scirocco lines as both are bonded boat tail bullets with better BC than the Partition and A-frame.

I cannot speak to personal experience on african game as I have only used my Rigby or larger double rifles in Africa. At some point if I were to bring a smaller bore rifle for dedicated plains game use, I would go with an Accubond since it is what I know, love, and can almost always readily find.

While I have taken six mountain sheep with Berger Hybrids, it is the only species I've used them on. I have taken a few moose with partitions, but somewhere north of 9 moose with accubond bullets in either .30 or .338 calibers, and well more black and brown bears. I love Accubonds because they just perform as well as they shoot. Bergers are accurate and buck the wind wonderfully, but I would not use on anything that isn't a noted soft-sided animal. I have zero personal complaints with them for myself, they performed well on each of sheep I used them on here in Alaska and Mexico, BUT you are not the first having problems with them.

 

[txtrout75218]

While not in your list, I would see how a Barnes mono shoots out of the PRC too.you would still have a lot of speed for the bullet under 300 yards.

My daughter used a 7-08 with a Barnes 140 grain TSX last year on a zebra stallion at about 115 yards. Was a front quartering shot. That was almost a full passthrough.

After going through a shoulder, ling, heart lung, rib. Not bad.

I would have no concern using it on a BWB at reasonable distance.

But If I limited myself to your list, whichever one my rifle would shoot the best. And if you were to happen to find a box of Norma Oryx bullets, that would be a great option too.

 

[Hunter-Habib]

I'm looking for some advice based on experience for those who have shot both at game, and also for those who have reloaded. I'm leaning towards the Nosler Accubonds over the Sciroccos just because they are heavier in the caliber I'm looking to reload (6.5PRC) but I'm torn between the other 2. From a design perspective it seems the Accubonds and Sciroccos will be better at longer ranges, but I dont really see a scenario where I would shoot anything beyond 400 yards, so does it matter? I had issues on 2 animals shot with the Berger 156g bullets on my last trip to Africa a month ago (didn't do well on a quartering away blesbok and basically failed on a quartering to shot on a Hartebeest resulting in me losing the animal..) and want to find a bonded bullet that will have good performance downrange.
Thanks!

AccuBonds and A Frames are both bonded. Therefore more ideal for tough framed game.

 

[Cherokeetracker]

Csnales03
You have been given good advice along with personal experiences. The only thing not mentioned was the scirracco is designed to open at lower velocities. Weather lower by distance or a reduced load.
You Sir will have to find what your rifles likes best. Not at 100yds or meters but at 200 and at hopefully you can test at 300-400. This knowledge should give you added confidence in the gun's ability, along with your ability.
Correct and precise bullet placement is Paramount.
Just a reminder that reading the wind is a big deal with smaller calibers and longer distances.
This can be done. I am saying this can be done by you and your final selection if you are willing to apply money and time. That time and money spent, will be worth it.
But even with all that each animal and situation is different.

 

[Rare Breed]

I have to tell everyone, I have never really had much doubt when I have finally made a decision but in the case of hunting my leopard on my second try, I have to say I have changed about 5 times!!! Finally, both @AZDAVE and my PH Divan told me in a direct comparison to my choice of Swift A Frames in 286 grain that while a great bullet just too much for a leopard...yes, it would probably kill it and certainly no problems if through the shoulder bones but not the best choice if shooting through the lungs...they both told me to go with the Nosler 250 grain Accubonds given I cannot find any partitions. I just got my four boxes, one to tweak my scope and three to take on the hunt. At least no one can say I am stubborn!!!!!

 

[Csnakes03]

Again, I have to say thanks to everyone who has been contributing to this thread. You all are a wealth of knowledge, and its much appreciated. I did grab a box of 150gr Nosler ABLR to see how reloading goes with those. Trying to maximize my odds with the heaviest bullets I can find. I have 3 different powders to test also, and will likely grab some sciroccos direct from Swift and see how those do as well.
Looking forward to working up loads and seeing how they do. Thankfully I do have access to an area where I can attempt 400yd+ shots, but as I've stated before, Im not particularly interested in long range hunting (though it seems 300-400 is about as close as you can get to Baboons and I really want to hunt one on my next trip).