I've shot a pretty good sized mulie doe from front to back with a 130 gr TSX from a 270 at about 150 yards. No problem.
Hunting with 2 different bullet weight
- Thread starter 6.5x55swm
- Start date
I've shot a pretty good sized mulie doe from front to back with a 130 gr TSX from a 270 at about 150 yards. No problem.
front to back ok, back to front.......no
- Location
- Somewhere on the Hudson Bay Coast
If I was packing a .270 I would carry more than one load under the following circustances:
A) a small game load provided that it flew in coincidence with the sighting of the primary load, and would be a bullet style, probably cast, that would not allow me to confuse it with a full powered load
B) in big bear country I would have a self defence load that included a heavy for caliber bullet loaded to mederate velocity that could be used effectively within 25 yards. This would be particularly true if my primary load was the 130 gr load. The bear load would be in the top round in the magazine or the round in the chamber up until I was making my stalk on the target game animal.
A) a small game load provided that it flew in coincidence with the sighting of the primary load, and would be a bullet style, probably cast, that would not allow me to confuse it with a full powered load
B) in big bear country I would have a self defence load that included a heavy for caliber bullet loaded to mederate velocity that could be used effectively within 25 yards. This would be particularly true if my primary load was the 130 gr load. The bear load would be in the top round in the magazine or the round in the chamber up until I was making my stalk on the target game animal.
If you had a deer and a Moose tag, you may wish to carry two different rounds. However, he referred to hunting deer only with a longer and shorter shot. Really no need to carry two rounds, and I don't base my loads on regularly shooting deer in the ass.
I guess that all depends on where you find the deer?The old CIL 160gr end up in the brisket and a Texas heart shot drops them on the spot.Plus you can eat right up to the bullet hole like a 6.5 156-160gr slug.I've had old WT bucks let you almost step on them til they bolted.Like a jackrabbit chin on the ground trying to hide their rack.Lots of nerve.It doesn't wreck any meat between the hams.I happened upon a quanity of these bullets cheap and have used them up for close range jumpshooting.To each their own I guess.............Harold
I have always been one for the 2 load theory but times are changing as well as my bank account.
In my 280 Rem I load 139gr SST's for the long shots on deer and 150gr Partions when hunting bigger game.
In my 300RUM I load 180gr Scirroco's and 200gr A-Frames
In my 375 Rum I have been loading 260gr Accubonds and 300gr Partitions and 300gr GameKings.
I am now switching to 140gr A-Frames in the 280 and sticking with 200gr A-Frames in the 300RUM & 300gr A-Frames in the 375 RUM.
I just don't have time to load and keep on top of all the different trajectories anymore and feel that one bullet that can do everything for each rifle is all I need to deal with.
In my 280 Rem I load 139gr SST's for the long shots on deer and 150gr Partions when hunting bigger game.
In my 300RUM I load 180gr Scirroco's and 200gr A-Frames
In my 375 Rum I have been loading 260gr Accubonds and 300gr Partitions and 300gr GameKings.
I am now switching to 140gr A-Frames in the 280 and sticking with 200gr A-Frames in the 300RUM & 300gr A-Frames in the 375 RUM.
I just don't have time to load and keep on top of all the different trajectories anymore and feel that one bullet that can do everything for each rifle is all I need to deal with.
I like to keep my variables to a minimum I just use one load for everything in my rifles. I did just buy a 7x57 and I might work two loads up for this one. A 140 grain deer load and a 175 grain load just because....
My dad and one of my hunting buddies carry there hunting loads in there 30/06 and then their 220 grain Power Point bear rounds in their pockets when hunting. It seems to keep them happy I don't point out the "4" 220's in there belt pouches are really going to be of no use in a close encounter with a grizz...
My dad and one of my hunting buddies carry there hunting loads in there 30/06 and then their 220 grain Power Point bear rounds in their pockets when hunting. It seems to keep them happy I don't point out the "4" 220's in there belt pouches are really going to be of no use in a close encounter with a grizz...
- Location
- Somewhere on the Hudson Bay Coast
The key here is that if an individual is to carry more than one load at a time, those loads must A) shoot to the same point of aim within the range they are intended to be used, and B) serve a purpose that the primary load cannot fill.
Your Dad and his pals would be better served if the first round in the magazine was a bear load and medium game loads followed below it. If the opportunity for a shot at a deer occurs in thick cover, the 220 will kill the deer, but if they get a longish shot there's time to run the 220 through the action and load up a 150 or 165 gr bullet to reach out there. If they have a dangerous bear encounter, the heavy bullets will never be used if they are carried in a pocket. Within 25 yards, the heavy bullet load will shoot close enough to the primary load that no sight adjustment would be necessary, but if they were to consider a shot out to 50 yards, they had better know where that load prints when the rifle is zeroed for another.
I keep telling myself that I'm going to make it back to the Yukon for a Dall sheep hunt. If and when I do, I'll be packing my .375 Ultra, and I still have a few 260 gr Nosler BT's loaded for the adventure. Because I'd be in bear country, I'd also carry a 380 gr round as the first round out of the magazine, as I do at home. This is where it would be until I was ready to begin a stalk on a sheep.
At home it's the same, when I'm hunting the medium game loads are below the 380. The 380 will work on any big game should I need a fast close range shot so, the only need to change to the 260 is if the range exceeds 150 yards, and if it does, I have time to cycle the top round out of the rifle. The drop of the 380 at 300 yards is 22" when sited for 150 yards. A drop of 22" is a bit much to deal with when the range is unsure. The 260 drops only 9" at 300 when loaded to a moderate 2600 fps. At full speed (2850) the drop is 7.5" and I doubt I could make use of the difference at 300 yards. If I can get closer I do.
My small game load of a 270 gr Hornady or a 300 gr cast ahead of 18 grs of Unique makes a flat subdued bang when it fires. I have fired this load within sight of caribou, and they have not reacted, although I'm not sure if this would continue to be the case during a hunting season where a herd has been exposed to gun fire. While these loads are accurate and shoot to point of aim out to 100 yards; their purpose is to take small game at 25 yards which they do with no more violence than a HI-Speed .22 LR.
If I am moose hunting I would probably carry 300 gr TSX's, although the 260 gr AB's work as well for big deer. If I loaded the rifle with 300 gr TSX's the 380's would probably stay at home. The 300 TSX will deal with any truculent polar bear, so there would be no need for the heavy weight, and often, although not always, moose hunting occurs further inland where polar bear problems are less likely.
I'm sure this will cause some to question if I doubt that a 260 gr AB would kill a polar bear. Not at all, but in a close range defensive shooting the 380 is the only expanding bullet I tested that did not loose mass with close range hits. My criteria was that I would pass on any bullet that I could make fail when fired into the same test media at the same range. The 380 expanded to nearly an inch and the wound cavity was 2-4X that of any other bullet tested. For bear work, that's the bullet I want.
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Just read an interesting article on the internet that was discussing the intended designs of different bullets and the Partitions and Accubonds are designed to only retain 60% of their original weight.
Whereas the TSX, A-Frames etc are designed to retain over 95% of their original weight.
I'll do a search and see if I can find the article again it was a good read.
Here is an excellent article from Rick Jamison who is one of my all time favorite writers.
http://www.huntingmag.com/guns_loads/HMbul_0905/index.html
Here is the article I was refering too...
http://www.gunsandhunting.com/leaded.html
Whereas the TSX, A-Frames etc are designed to retain over 95% of their original weight.
I'll do a search and see if I can find the article again it was a good read.
Here is an excellent article from Rick Jamison who is one of my all time favorite writers.
http://www.huntingmag.com/guns_loads/HMbul_0905/index.html
Here is the article I was refering too...
http://www.gunsandhunting.com/leaded.html
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Silly rituals like when you're packing out a sheep carrying a .270/ 130gr and meet a grizzly on the trail.Lucky for me the 130gr are printing 3" high at 100 and the 160's dead on same range.I win bear, loses!I've been doing this for 40years all wrong I guess?......................Harold
Do you really believe that the 130 wouldn't have killed the bear? In that case as someone else said do what makes you feel best. I've packed a 165 grain 30 cal for the largest part of 45 plus years hunting and never felt under gunned.
- Location
- Ft. Mac. Alberta
One load for each rifle, period.
That way, you won't have to choose which one to use, and won't get them mixed up by mistake.
That may be a bit old school, but it has served many hunters well
( myself included)for a zillion seasons!
Never mind if a particular bullet "will not do this or that" , it will kill if properly placed, bottom line....
Cat
That way, you won't have to choose which one to use, and won't get them mixed up by mistake.
That may be a bit old school, but it has served many hunters well
( myself included)for a zillion seasons!
Never mind if a particular bullet "will not do this or that" , it will kill if properly placed, bottom line....
Cat
BC Bigbore
CGN frequent flyer
- Location
- BC's Peace Country
When I was a pup I used 165gr BTSP loads in my .30-06 all the time. Back then we shot moose close enough to the roads to hook on a rope and drag 'em out. Later, ATC's (trikes) came along and now we'd shoot moose way back were grizzlies were plentiful. I started to load the '06 with 220 grainers when gutting, quartering & packing out meat. At forty or fifty feet, accuracy was good enough and I figured the 220's at about 2300fps would work well for that purpose. Nowadays, with the exception of reduced loads for small game, I use only one load in each rifle. For example, my .270WCF big game load is a 140gr Accubond at just under 3000fps, although my reloading bench has 100gr SP, 130gr Partitions, 130gr Ballistic Tips, 140gr Accubonds, 140gr Ballistic Tips, 150gr SP and 150gr Partitions on the shelf.
