Accuracy VS "on game performance"
 

When reloading "FOR HUNTING" do you just look for an accurate high velocity load or do you consider what type of bullet will give the best performance on the game and distances it is being shot at?

For example I have shot a couple of deer with Rem. factory 250 grain bullets in my .35 whelen. It seems to me that these bullets may be ok for Elk, Moose and big bears but they went throught the deer without opening up and doing a great deal of damage. (three deer had to be followed up and shot again) I would like to load up a more fragile bullet if I am going to use the .35 whelen for deer again. {a 200 grain round nose?a 180 gr. flat nose? a 220 gr. flat nose? a 180 gr.Silhouette Jacketed Handgun? a 225 gr. Spitzer Partition?}

Handloading often seems "all about getting higher velocity and more accuracy." For a hunter, what happens to the bullet inside an animal is as important as "hair splitting accuracy".

Robin

RE: Accuracy VS "on game performance"
 

I think that's the beauty of handloading...you don't have to pick. You can have both. (as long as your bullet selection is within reason) You can pick the bullet you want for its terminal ballistics and then "play" with it to get as accurate as possible.

RE: Accuracy VS "on game performance"
 

Handloading to me is getting the right bullet for any given animal to shoot most accuratly, if the velocity is there good, if not oh well, I have the best bullet, and it shoots accuratly, I can figure the ballistics for it for any velocity.

RE: Accuracy VS "on game performance"
 

In my experiance handloading is "all about" whatever my requirement is. If I am loading for hunting, I am going to start with a bullet that is appropriate - a hunting bullet chosen based on a number of criteria. If I am loading for plinking, I will probably choose about the cheapest bullet I can find. For match shooting, accuracy is all I would care about - would probably start with a match bullet.

I generally don't care too much maxing out velocity... as long as the velocity is approp. for what I am doing, that's all I care about. So for hunting I will generally look for a load in the upper 1/3 or so of the load range. For plinking - probably the lower 1/3.

RE: Accuracy VS "on game performance"
 

RE: Accuracy VS "on game performance"
 

i have to agree also... none of my handloads except for very long range varmit stuff are very "hot" they are extremely accurate instead... i take great pains to make everything as consistant as possible... my hunting loads are a few tenths of a grain off of a middle of the road load... i don't care for the recoil of big heavy bullets burning the throats of my barrels out and for the ranges i shoot i don't need a mack truck when a duramax will do...

velocity ain't everything... if you can't hit the broad side of a barn or your shoulder is bruised for 3 days...

Jamie

RE: Accuracy VS "on game performance"
 

I choose the bullet first. Then pick two powders of nearly the same burn rate one stick, one ball, then let the rifle sort 'em out. The accuracy really has to be bad for me to abandon the bullet.

RE: Accuracy VS "on game performance"
 

Duffy I bet those 250 grainers are still traveling!

If you are accepting of round nose bullets, (some shooters just gotta have pointy lead!) I would suggest the 200 grain round nose for thin skinned critters like deer. Since you reload, you could go into the same lead that Remington loads for the 35 Remington if you need. I would be very surprised if that did not mushroom well for you.

RE: Accuracy VS "on game performance"
 

No, don't use 35 remington load data in a 35 Whelen. As far as the .358 corlokts go they are all the same whether it's used in a 35 rem or whelen. I like 180-200 gr hornady interloks for whitetail on top of 4064.

RE: Accuracy VS "on game performance"
 

Same lead (ie, bullet)

RE: Accuracy VS "on game performance"
 

Duffy, as a reloader, we do get caught up too much with clover leafs. I will be the first to admit it. We get to caught up with velocity and pretty groups. At least I would say 90% of us do.

Its good to find a balance. A window of operation you expect from a gun.

For instance, I have a custom 300RUM. I expect. .7MOA with a 200gr bonded bullet kicking at 3100fps from the muzzle. This is what I expect. I think I have found it too. It was a long hard road. Sure my 1.1MOA partition load was plenty for any game.

My 308 medallion. I expect at least 1.2MOA performance from a 165gr load kicking at 2750fps. If I don't get it, I keep trying. In this case its for deer, and any soft pointed quality bullet will do from corelokts to BT. I found it with Sierra Gamekings and Varget.

RE: Accuracy VS "on game performance"
 

Exactly what I do, but for the FIRST shot in the chamber, they are reloads PSP 150gr..First shot with cold barrel!!!


KEEP ON ROOTING!!!

RE: Accuracy VS "on game performance"
 

I load for accuracy. Velocity doesnt really matter to me but I prefer fast loads. I only load the 2 best bullets on earth. Nosler and Sierra and I know they will open up in the animal.

RE: Accuracy VS "on game performance"
 

Hello Duffy. Son, if you are shooting a 35W for deer, and worried about accuracy then something is wrong with this picture. Goodness, we are talking about a moose gun here. What ranges are you shooting these deer? The bullets you have been using are for large thick skinned animals....not deer. There may not be a bullet made for what you are trying to do. Save the 35W for the big boys and find a more reasonable cartridge for deer hunting....IMHO. Regards, Rick.