129gr ABLR Ammunition from Nosler (Blems)

[LRRPF52]

OK, so I was out testing some nosler blem ABLRs in hand loads. The fastest accurate load I got out of an 18" AR averaged 2217 FPS. This will do for up to 300 yard shots if we are using 1000 FPE as a cutoff. Has anyone shot deer with this bullet with lower impact energy than 1000 FPE? I know these will expand down to 1200FPS, but by then we are talking about less than 500 FPE which seems inadequate.

It will do 2410fps from 18” barrels using CFE223 and still be around 50,000psi, depending on your chamber.

It expands down to 1300fps, which is well beyond what anyone would use it for, other than an inexperienced hunter throwing a Hail Mary shot at extreme distance they shouldn’t be attempting.

At 2300fps mv, it will maintain 900ft-lbs to 400yds with ~1776fps impact speed.

Use a VLD-seating stem and double-seat them, with a half-seat initially, rotate the cartridge in the shell holder, then fully-seat. It will tighten up concentricity and shrink the groups a little.

If you use magazines that allow longer COL, you can seat them out a bit and get a little more wiggle-room with your charge weights. Nothing crazy, but it might allow you to find the accuracy you’re looking for with some more velocity.