Hunting season is coming soon. Here in British Columbia the season starts in most areas September first for bowhunters and gun hunting opens on the 10th of the same month.With this in mind I’ve increased my time at the shooting range. While I try to shoot all year long as much as I can but as hunting season draws closer I make every effort to shoot at least one day every single week to get proficient with my gun. Over the years I’ve shot a great variety of different loads from Remington, Federal and Winchester, all of which have performed well. The ammo companies feature a wide variety of standard and premium bullets in a staggering array of combination's and for most calibers.
Today’s factory loads are of a quality that matches those of hand loading. Groups of 2 to 3 inch (5 to 7 centimetres) out of the box are not unheard of. The trick is to find the right ammunition that marries well with your favourite hunting rifle. Once you found that happy medium you can tweak to perfection. The more different loads, bullet styles/weights you try the better you will be able to obtain tight groupings. Up to 1 inch groups are absolutely doable with factory loads. Said that, personally I don’t bother to achieve such accuracy. For deer hunting 2 to 3 inch (5 to 7 centimetres) groups are plenty good enough for deer hunting at your established shooting distance.
In my favourite deer rifle, a Weatherby Vanguard in .270 I use Federal Premium Vital-Shok tipped with a Nosler Partition bullet weighing 140 grains. This combination performs well in my gun with 2-inch groups at my maximum shooting range of 250 yards (228 metres).
I wonder what other hunters use as their favourite deer ammo. Do you try different factory loads to find the best for your gun? Do you have a special favourite that you always use? Or, do you just buy and use whichever happens to be sale in the stores?
Let’s talk about it!
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Deer Hunting Ammo, Remington, Winchester, Federal, Deer Bullets, Hunting Rifle
2 comments:
Othmar,
I tend to stick with the premiums. I stocked up on the Remington Safari Grade with Swift A-Frames in 180 gr for my 30/06 Weatherby several years ago. I shoot the cheap stuff at the range, but all I am doing there is keeping the fundamentals squared away. My rifle is sighted in for the Safari grade, and the inexpensive UMC stuff I shoot just shoots lower. I don't hunt with the cheap stuff, just practice.
By keeping to the premium ammo, and having my rifle dialed in to the same, I am assured that come what may, whitetail, bear, hog, moose whatever, I will make that all important first shot.
Best regards,
Albert
The Rasch Outdoor Chronicles
That's a sound approach. Although I shoot a .270 Win the .30-06 is my all time favourite. It's a proven do-it-all caliber that has taken more game animals from deer to moose and bison than any other.
-ov-
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