how do you choose your ammunition?
 

After hearing so many people use the cheap ammunition excuse when choosing a cartridge I must ask just how you choose the loads you hunt with.Do you simply buy whatever load is cheapest and go hunting?Do you test several loads and then choose the one that shoots best in your gun?Do you bother to re zero you gun when changing loads?(brand,bullet weight,style,etc.)

RE: how do you choose your ammunition?
 

I only buy rimfire and shotgun shells and load for all my rifles and handguns. I would have to quess that most all handloaders are like myself and go out to test all changes made in each cartridges. Makes a real good excuse to HAVE to go to the range.

RE: how do you choose your ammunition?
 

I handload all my hunting ammo also. If I had to use factory ammo I would sight the scope in with Remington ( cheap stuff ), then try several different loads to see which shoots best and then stick with that one. However experience with different brands says that Hornady's factory loads are about the most consistent.

RE: how do you choose your ammunition?
 

having bad expiriences with cheap ammo i buy premium now..usually thefederal nosler ballistic tip...this year though my friend taught me to handload and i used sierra game kings and they worked great for me...i choose a round made to expand rapidly like a good hp or a nbt...when changing rounds i always resight in..ive seen some 4+inch changes at 50yds with diffrent rounds...you pay for what you get...ammo is something i dont want cheap of now...i want something thats going to stay together and do its job....

RE: how do you choose your ammunition?
 

I reload myself but would like to hear from those that use factory loads.A lot of people stated cheap ammo as one of the reasons for choosing their cartridge and that is why I am asking.I am wondering just how important cheap ammo really is to some people.

Edited by - stubblejumper on 12/29/2002 17:12:20

RE: how do you choose your ammunition?
 

I use the Wally World specials. I like the 180 grain Remington "Core-lokts" out of my 30/06. I've tried 150 grains but my rifle likes the 180's so I stick with them. I will buy 10 or 12 boxes when there are on sale. This way I will get the same lot number. In my elk camp we all shoot 06's and we all shoot Remington 180's. This way we can practice with our rifles generally about every other month, with the bullets we will hunt with.

I have never had a problem with the "Core-lokt" bullets. I have taken 15 elk, 2 black bears, 5 antelope, 5 mule deer, 1 cougar, and 1 whitetail. Lost animals have been 1 elk, not because of the bullet but it's placement. I had killed an elk the year before with my muzzleloader by hitting it in the small of the back breaking it's spine dropping it on the spot. The spike bull was 1/2 way behind a small spruce tree, covering his front 1/2. I decided to line up my muzzleloader on the bull, I was lining-up the sites on it's back & planned on pulling thru the pine & waiting till he stepped out----Well I decided to set the "set-tigger" on my T/C Renegrade------- I was on the wrong trigger, the shot hit the bull in small of the back breaking it's spine anchoring him on the spot. Back to the lost cow elk---This was the following year and I had the exact same shot on a cow. The difference were: 1 it was on a ridge top & if the cow came out she would be gone into the dark timber with the first step. And I had my 06 with a scope so I thought I could place the bullet in the small of the back. Wrong!! I trailed that cow for the rest of the day, several miles in the dark timber. I found a couple of her beds but was never able to catch up to finish the job. That was 20 years ago when I was young & dumb. It would not have mattered what caliber or bullet type, it was a dumb shot!!

In my elk camp the other guys have taken another 15 or so elk over the years again using 180 "Core-lokts" without a problem. And in all honesty most of them have been 1 shot kills.

I've also handloaded my 06 for bighorn & mtn goat. I used 180 Hornady spire points with 56 grains of IMR 4350. I used a friend's press, scales, etc to work up the load. He is a handloader much like you all. He guided me thru the entire process. Anyways with this handload I can have 4 shots touch one another & the 5th would be 1/2 high---- Not bad from sandbags & a hunting rifle. The ram was taken at 160 yards & the goat was taken at about 50 yards. IMO, Remington "Core-lokts" would have the same results.

When I practice shooting, generally I shot my 22 the most. To be honest 20 shots out of the 06 & I don't want to shot anymore. So I will shoot the 22 & the shoot 4 or 5 rounds out of the 06 at various ranges--50 yards to 200 yards. My wife & I will usually use a box of 06 rounds & a couple hundred 22's . With the 06, the target is a clay pigeon, not a paper target. I figure the elk does not care if it's the top of the heart or the bottom---He's dead. With my wife I will generally fill up a 1 liter Pepsi bottle with water & have her shoot at it. She can really tell when it's hit.

As for reloading rifle rounds, I think it's a hobby. Lot's of reloaders like to shoot the tightest groups possible and if that's your thing, Well that's great. To save money well I don't buy it. Not with the 06 like I use. Now, if you a varmit shooter, well that's a different story---You can use up 100's of 22-250 rounds sitting on a good prairie dog town.

Now I have a MEC that I use to reload my shotshells. I'm a trap shooter & generally shoot 4 rounds a week. But that's another story


Hope that explains it, alittle to you Stubblejumper.

RE: how do you choose your ammunition?
 

Did my post get on the board?

RE: how do you choose your ammunition?
 

Stubble as strange as it may seem there are a lot of people that only shoot the cheap stuff .I know quite a few that probably only shoot thier gun once or twice a year and do very well at getting deer . Accuracy is great for those that want it but to a lot of people a one inch group is not that important . I hand load everything I shoot but it wouldn't bother me to use factory ammo if that is all I had available .

Edited by - halcon on 12/29/2002 23:03:23

RE: how do you choose your ammunition?
 

sine i don't reload yet. i pick my ammo depending on what game i hunt.
i always buy premuim ammo.if my gun likes it i always try to shoot federal premiums.for whitetail deer up in maine that the shots will be from point blank ranges to a possible 200yds. i like a bullet that will expand instantly but still hold up under those velocities.
the only other big game animal i can hunt without spending $$$$ would be black bear. so i try to pick a more bonded bullet that will hold better in there tough body frame.
but i buy cheap ammo only to break in my guns

RE: how do you choose your ammunition?
 

I used core-lokts in my 243 cause that is what my dad used. I have never had them let me down. I have no problems using that particular 'cheap' ammo.
I have a 44 mag rifle, that I am still searching for a good bullet. I've tried the 10$ a box ammo up to the 30$ a box, and haven't really liked any of it. I will try and find a handload by next season.

RE: how do you choose your ammunition?
 

Now I'm rolling my own, but before, I'd buy a box of everything I could that had a bullet that claimed to do what I needed, then test everything.....with winchester proving to be best almost everytime. You just have to remember, rounds are cheap for a reason, it's cheaper to make them than the premium stuff, so you know something isn't up to snuff in them, be it the raw materials, or the machinery, at any rate it's not good enough.

Start with a reliable maker, someone you've always heard of, and test and test again.

Screw the 10 ring, keep them in the zero!!!

RE: how do you choose your ammunition?
 

I handload some for some of my guns, and I look for similar bullets in those calibers that I don't reload. For example, I have had good luck with Sierra Game Kings. I don't reload for my Nagant (7.62x54R) but found Sellier and Bellot makes a 174 gr bullet based on the Sierra BTHP.

RE: how do you choose your ammunition?
 

Getting in late on this. It bothers me when someone makes assumptions about "cheap ammo." What is more important to me is accuracy and dependable results no matter what the price.

When I bought my 308, the shop owner handed me a box of Core-lokts free. Proved to be extremely accurate in my rifle. Over the next 10 years or so, I proceeded to kill a load of deer, black bear, a moose, caribou, coyotes, and fox. Funny thing, I'd squeeze the trigger and they would fall over dead.

Then I was told that they were "cheap" and not very good. Well, I'm game to try things so I bought several boxes of Federal Premiums. Not as accurate as the Core-lots but certainly acceptable. I like the preformance of the Gamekings and would recommend them. Over the next 8 years, I proceeded to kill a load of deer, black bear, another moose, coyotes, and fox. Funny thing, I'd squeeze the trigger and they would fall over dead.

However, I'm paying double for a box of Federals with the same results.

RE: how do you choose your ammunition?
 

I roll my own from IMR powder and Hornady spire point bullets in both my .270 and .30-06.

RE: how do you choose your ammunition?
 

There have been a couple of times when I went back home to hunt whitetails with my dad in PA. We could not find a box of 300 Savages. It seems the big retailers like to handle the large volume sales of the 06,270,308 etc. Some stores will order a small quantity of stock so it will turn. So I ordered about 6 boxes from my sporting goods store here and gave them to him for Christmas.

RE: how do you choose your ammunition?
 

I shoot core lokt out my rem 700 for deer and there very accurate.but for an Elk hunt Ill shoot a premium bullet just because its a little tougher.

RE: how do you choose your ammunition?
 

I have been an avid hunter since I was six years old. I started hunting with a Daisy BB gun which my Grandpa bought for all the grandsons on thier 6 th Xmas. When I was 10 my Dad bought me a 22 cal. Pellet gun which I used until I was 12 when Dad gave me a 20 GA shotgun and Grandpa gave me his old Pump 22 rifle. I have sort of kept a log of the Ammo I used, how it worked in different conditions, What didn,t work well and so on. I have been lucky enough to learn most of this stuff from expierance. I have been a combat shooter, silhouette shooter, hunting guide and ran my own gun store for about fifteen years. I have sort of logged what my hunters use and feedback from cusomers. Thanks to the good bullet companies which have kept raising the bar of bullet quality, most factory ammo has had to do the same to compete. I love to reload and with all the target shooting I have done, I had to to keep cost down. This said If I were to just hunt, I would never find the need to relaod with all the quality ammo we now have. My favorites are Winchester Silver tips and Hornady custom ammo. I have had good luck with Remingtons good ammo as well And Federals Premium stuff is FANTASTIC. As someone else here said, it is a good Idea to buy several boxes at once with the same lot numbers. Hope I didn't tell you twice what you wanted to know.



Edited by - James B on 01/03/2003 21:35:57

RE: how do you choose your ammunition?
 

I buy only Premium ammo off the shelf. I match the bullet style, gr, etc to the game I plan to hunt. I always sight in and fine tune between different bullet styles, manufacturer, grains and even lot numbers of the same bullet I may have picked. I let my gun or guns decide what bullets I chuck at game. To me it is absolutely essential to know my gun/load is where it has to be before I take to the field. I love shooting, practicing and playing around with different bullets...it definitely makes me a better shooter. The more I practice, the better I get. I always say confidence is often the hidden factor in hunting. If I am confident in my load and gun that is one less thing to factor in for getting my game and ultimately being successful.

RE: how do you choose your ammunition?
 

I think I'd have to count myself as someone who'll take ammo price into consideration for future rifle purchases. I recently picked up my first rifle, a Browning A-Bolt 270WSM, and wished I'd looked around at the ammo situation a bit more before buying. I did quite a bit of lurking on this and other boards, checked out a number of articles, and kind of got "swept up" in the short magnum idea after settling on the 270.

A friend was in the same boat, looking at the same time, and I recall that on the way to look at some rifles I suggested we stop by Wal-Mart and check out the ammo price and availability. He kind of dismissed the idea, I dropped it, and off we went. Our rational was, as far as a hunt went, the cost of a box of ammo was almost insignificant. At the gun store I fell in love with the Browning Classic Hunter, and took the plunge. My friend ended up getting the same rifle and caliber.

Now that I've picked up the rifle, mounted the scope, and made a trip to the range to sight in, I've grown more and more frustrated with the ammo price and lack of availabiltiy. I end up seeing four or five types of 270 ammo and can only find the WSM ammo sporadically, and never at a local store. In reality, the apples to apples on the ammo, 130 grain BST in 270 vs 270WSM, the price delta was only a couple dollars a box, if I could find it. But there were a lot of other types of 270 ammo that weren't even available for the WSM. What I failed to take into account is the amount of practice I'd want to/need to do to become proficient. I've been taking my pistol to the range for years and know that without some practice the chances of putting a slug in the boiler room at 200 yards is close to zero.

I finally gave up and ordered 200 rounds of 130 grain BST on the Internet from MiWall (www.miwallcorp.com). The price ended up being around $22 a box after tax and shipping, saved around $90. I also picked up four or five of the popular books on reloading and have been studying up. I plan on starting to handload soon. Availability of some of the WSM reloading components is starting to seem as frustrating as ammo availability, so I'm glad I have a case to tide me over.

All that being said, by the time I make my next purchase I'll probably already be handloading. If not, and maybe even if I have started, I'm certainly going to take a good look at ammo price and availability before taking out the credit card.

RE: how do you choose your ammunition?
 

This may sound weird, but the only rifle I buy factory ammo for is my .270 Wby Mag. And obviously, I don't buy it because it is cheap. It is horribly expensive, but I can't seem to beat the Weatherby factory by handloading when it comes to both accuracy and velocity. I still enjoy developing my own loads for the gun, but I guess I'll be paying $51 a box until someone can develop a load that beats the boys (and girls) at Weatherby. <img src=icon_smile_wink.gif border=0 align=middle>

Good Dogwork and Good Hunting

RE: how do you choose your ammunition?
 

Seattlesetters, something is wrong here.....do you use a chronograph for the velocity of the factory loads VS the handloads......because there's no way you shouldn't be able to at least equal the performance of Factory ammo......and I'd trade the gun off before spending $51/box for ammo!!!

RE: how do you choose your ammunition?
 

Vapodog - 150gr NP factory ammo chronos out of my gun at 3210-3220fps. It groups .70-.80&quot; pretty consistently off of sandbags. That is very fast and very accurate.

I can get to about 3150fps with the handloading recipes I've tried with that bullet. Accuracy is a bit less, but still acceptable.

The factory ammo is indeed expensive, but it is so good it's scary.

Good Dogwork and Good Hunting