Hunting cartridges you plink and volume shoot with?

I don't plink or shoot targets with my hunting rifles as a rule, I only zero them on the range then hunt with them.
Any high volume shooting I do is done with either the .223 or 6mmBR, and those are in rifles designed for match shooting.
Cat
 
Most of my shooting is during the winter months. It's mostly envolved around load development, with either a new rifle or bullet weight/length. Other than that, I line-up my rifles in autumn and then practice at various distances. I have absolutely no single cartridge that I shoot for plinking, case in point, I have no favorite cartridge, I love them all.
 
Of all my rifles, my M700 Classic, chambered in 6.5 x 55 gets the most use. [It is on it's 3rd barrel]
I love the mild-mannered, accurate, effective Swede. Any bullet from 100 grains to 160 works well.
I have recently acquired a M700 Classic in 257 Roberts....it is likely to see quite a bit of use, as well.
EE.
 
.308 mostly for large caliber. I would love to shoot .303 more but it's so expensive to buy off the shelf ammo. Where you guys finding cheap .303? Or does everyone just hand load it?
 
Ruger 308 said:
.308 mostly for large caliber. I would love to shoot .303 more but it's so expensive to buy off the shelf ammo. Where you guys finding cheap .303? Or does everyone just hand load it?
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Any shooting I do with my .303's ( most of my rifles actually)is done with hand loads .
I do have some factory ammo I use for function testing or for a chronograph baseline, but 95% of my shooting, regardless of cartridge ,is done with hand loaded ammo.
Cat
 
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Ruger 308 said:
.308 mostly for large caliber. I would love to shoot .303 more but it's so expensive to buy off the shelf ammo. Where you guys finding cheap .303? Or does everyone just hand load it?
Click to expand...

I buy the odd box of PPU 174gr fmj if I just want to shoot 5-10 at some steel, it’s the cheapest and you get good brass out of it. Once I figure out a cast and jacketed load for it I’ll plink more with it.
 
308 win or 6.5 Creedmoor....6.5 CM is easier to shoot, 308win has longer barrel life.

Both have no problem to harvest moose.
 
Eagleye said:
Of all my rifles, my M700 Classic, chambered in 6.5 x 55 gets the most use. [It is on it's 3rd barrel]
I love the mild-mannered, accurate, effective Swede. Any bullet from 100 grains to 160 works well.
I have recently acquired a M700 Classic in 257 Roberts....it is likely to see quite a bit of use, as well.
EE.
Click to expand...

wow that would be a lot of shooting, how many rounds do you suppose it's taking to wear one out and what is 'wore out'...accuracy drops off below a certain point? and what's your most common loadings...bullet weights and are you loading them warm?
 
High volume rounds I hunt with - 223AI and 44 mag. 75/88 eld’s for plinking and killing in the 223AI’s, and 240 hardcast at 1000fps in the 44 mag, same thing.
 
Used to be able to buy that Hertinberger 308 Win surplus for cheap. That imo was the single best plinking ammo for hunting practice. Reasonably accurate too.
 
Past:
I too did most of my plinking with a hunting rifle with my Rem 700 Classics in 6.5x55!
I was shooting 500-700 rounds/year with them. Such an enjoyable cartridge/rifle to shoot!
Got away from it for 10 years as we were focused more on our archery and then making Team Canada to go to the World's in 2017.

Today:
My 6.5 CM will probably see as much use as my 6.5x55 these days for plinking.
After that, the 250 Savage's will probably see as much plinking, as the 6.5's.
Another mild cartridge that is a joy to spend a day with at the range!
 
Guess it’s ripe time to contribute rather than make light.

The .308 is really the only answer for a high velocity big game round to plink with. Even plinking with it is debatable since the Norc and Barnaul dried up, the cost is high now but at least it is readily available by the case. Stocked up on 2 cases of gold match again recently, it wasn’t cheap but it was less than Canadian Tire hunting ammo.

My fave rounds to shoot are .25s, but they’re not 200 round day plinkers. Components are too scarce now, and the barrels shoot out much quicker.
 
What ever my main hunting rifle was at the time. Was a 3006 then 300win mag now a 300wsm but do to retirement budget and availability of components, not enough. So bulk 12g slugs and 22rf :(
 
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