Just got a new rifle in .260 rem. I dont reload but am going to have some custom loads worked up for this rifle. I have been looking at nosler accubonds and nosler ballistic tips. Any thoughts on which would be best for whitetail?

I don't like the ballistic tips for anything really.....maybe predators.
Accubonds are supposed to fly like the bt, but hold together like a partition. Gonna try some this season and see how I like them.

Either will work in it for whitetails. The 130gr accubond would be my choice and is what I use in the 6.5-284 with good results along with the 140gr partition. BTs for deer use the 120gr version, that is what I plan to load in the Grendel this year.

If you want to try partitions 100gr or 125gr would also be good choices.

Nosler makes a 100gr BT, I would stayaway from it for deer and use the 120s.

NO BT's

If you like Nosler the SST is proven. Neighbors shot four deer with my reloads and were 4 for 4

I've had deer run 1/2 a mile with both lungs punctured with a BT in .270. That was a one time experiment and short lived.

Almost my entire life I've used Sierra Spitzer BT Game Kings....and I've never had to look for a deer.

Accubonds would be my choice if you are going to limit your decision to two choices.

BT's sure do shoot well though.

I was really leaning towards the accubonds.They have them in 130gr and 140gr. Which would you choose with this barrel length and twist?

22" barrel
1-8 twist rate

Of the two the OP has it narrowed down to, the Accubonds get the nod from me.

I would go with the 130s in the 260.

Accubonds, or better yet Barnes TTSX

SST is a Hornady Bullet
Ballistic Tip is a Nosler bullet.
Have used a lot of 7mm Ballistic Tip Bullets both 140gr and 120gr and of 20+ deer all were one shot kills and watched them all fall so I guess I have just been lucky.

Thanks for the input!

I have had the same experience but figured it was a matter of time before one blew on entry and didn't penetrate. I'm now using Accubonds in all my rifles.

ABs are great. I don't fool with BTs under .30cal and still would prefer the ABs.

For Texas deer and pigs, I don't think it will matter much. Both will have a good end result. But if you want a little extra insurance, I'd go with the AB. Like stated, a Hornady SST would be a great choice, or a 140 grain A-max. The A-max is a great hunting bullet, and holds together well and is a great target bullet too.

Where the Ballistic Tips really shine is at lower impact veolicities like long range or in reduced recoil loads. Another is Pistols like Contenders or Encores where the short barrel yields lower velocities. For those I would rather use BT than accubonds otherwise I use Accubonds these days. But like I said above Never lost an animal to the BT and watched them all drop.

I would look at the 129gr SST. It's half the price of the accubond and performs very well on deer. I have quiet a bit of load data for .260 when you get to that point. Also there's nothing wrong with exploiting the 1:8 twist. Try some of the heavier bullets.

I have had outstanding results with Accubonds in 25 and 30 caliber and will soon be using them in 6mn and 7mm as well.

ABs have a sterling reputation and BTs not so much. I haven't shot anything with ABs but I know several who have and they all are very impressed with their performance while no one I know is really impressed with the BT's performance.

accubonds

Looks like its accubonds, hands down. Now that i know which bullet and grain, how do i choose a brand of brass? Or does the brass not make that much of a difference

I personally use Remington Brass, not because of quaility or anything. When I get a rifle, new or used, I automatically do a 40 round break in on the barrel. Generally I use Coreloks to do that, so I have 40 once fired rounds to work with and then top off as needed. Alot of times I can get two boxes of ammo for what they charge for one bag of new brass so I feel I am literally getting more bang for my buck. I will tell you this, do mix brass you will see a differnce.

It is not cheap but I like Nosler Brass. It is weight sorted, prepped and very uniform

Educate me here. How is Barnes better?

The barnes round carries a higher weight retention through the target. What I like most about this is I can use a lighter barnes round and get the same results as a heavier other. Take my 7-08, In an accubond I shoot a 140gr but in a Barnes TTSX I shoot a 120gr. The higher velocity and higher weight retention buts it on par with the 140gr Nosler. I used to think it was all smoke and mirrors, until I started shooting Barnes two years ago. I won't go back.

What happens when one performs like the Barnes that didn't expand in the thread last year?

BTW was anything ever decided on what caused It's failure?