Switching ammo types while hunting?

[Slaymoar]

I would like to be able to carry more than one type of ammo when hunting. Sometimes when hunting the application might change and I would like to switch ammo to match that situation, and because I can. Or sometimes I am hunting something one day, and the next week I am hunting something else. In this case there is no range trip so I don't get to season the barrel first.

Say I like the CCI standard velocity for low noise and where I don't need as much impact, but when I want more impact, I want to switch to Velocitors.. I know where to dial my scope for each load - but in terms of seasoning - how would that affect bullet trajectory? Would it be minimal enough not to matter, or would there be a huge difference where I should stick to either wax or plated ammo?

Thanks

 

[Camo tung]

I would like to be able to carry more than one type of ammo when hunting. Sometimes when hunting the application might change and I would like to switch ammo to match that situation, and because I can. Or sometimes I am hunting something one day, and the next week I am hunting something else. In this case there is no range trip so I don't get to season the barrel first.

Say I like the CCI standard velocity for low noise and where I don't need as much impact, but when I want more impact, I want to switch to Velocitors.. I know where to dial my scope for each load - but in terms of seasoning - how would that affect bullet trajectory? Would it be minimal enough not to matter, or would there be a huge difference where I should stick to either wax or plated ammo?

Thanks

Start with a clean bore, shoot some coated rounds, then some plated and note the point of impact shift (if any). Clean the bore and repeat, starting with the plated ammo. Note any changes and I'd say you're done. May not be a big enough change at .22 ranges to get excited about, depends on your gun really.

 

[.22LRGUY]

I might be way off on this...but unless you're carrying a match-grade rifle into the woods, do you think barrel seasoning will make a difference when you're only talking about a few shots here/there? (thinking hunting application, not range work) I could be wrong, but I think I'd be more concerned about the changing POI those 2 different rounds will have, and the req. adjustments to the scope. I'd also be curious about what you're hunting that would need 2 such different ammo options. (Grouse and rabbit?) Doesn't answer your question, but if I needed Velocitors for hunting and that was paramount, I'd just use them for whatever lighter-use the SVs were going to be used for.

 

[hoytcanon]

There is no "barrel seasoning" issue... It is irrelevant. We switch ammo all the time while hunting... We hunt grouse and hares with SV's, but carry a box of Velocitor's with us for fox, coon and a possible coyote. What we have done is zeroed with SV's at 25 yards using a "low mounted" mil-dot scope... Then we tested the velocitor's at the range and count the dot's up and down for proper point of impact... For example the 25 yard zero for SV's is identical to the 50 yard zero for Velocitor's... But at 25 yards we hold one dot low with the Velocitor's, and one dot high at 75 yards. From 5-10 yards we have to hold three dots high because the bullet has not risen to the line of sight yet... Once you learn your trajectory you can confidently place your shots.

 

[Slaymoar]

Thanks that makes sense!

 

[Slaymoar]

Basically my ammo goes like this:

CCI Standard Velocity or Segmented HP 1050fps ( if i can ever find someone who carries it ):
Quiet hunting round

CCI Minimag HP/RN or Winchester Powerpoint HP:
Plinker and all around hunting round

Velocitor:
Larger small game/varmint

Kind of want to try out the Remington Viper, but heard they dirty up a gun pretty quick compared to a cleaner CCI for example.

 

[Polar_Hunter]

I have found that POI can change a great deal comparing one ammo to another. I try different ones ontill I find the one that the gun likes best and then use it for everything with that gun. Shooting paper or game I want my shot to be consistantly accurate every time. If the shot is right on the mark a few FPS one way or the other isn't going to make much difference with .22 LR.

 

[mudgunner49]

I have found that POI can change a great deal comparing one ammo to another. I try different ones ontill I find the one that the gun likes best and then use it for everything with that gun. Shooting paper or game I want my shot to be consistantly accurate every time. If the shot is right on the mark a few FPS one way or the other isn't going to make much difference with .22 LR.

^^^^^^^ this ^^^^^^

If I need difference to effects I flat-nose the bullet with an SGB tool or modify it to a HP design with the DRock tool. The full wadcutter on a 40gr SV does massive damage. The SGB does the best job while not messing with POI...

 

[hoytcanon]

^^^^^^^ this ^^^^^^

If I need difference to effects I flat-nose the bullet with an SGB tool or modify it to a HP design with the DRock tool. The full wadcutter on a 40gr SV does massive damage. The SGB does the best job while not messing with POI...

Any of the changes you note DO change the POI, the best overall method is to adjust the sighting system.

 

[mudgunner49]

Any of the changes you note DO change the POI, the best overall method is to adjust the sighting system.

The SGB does not, at least at the ranges that I've shot it (25/50m). The mods with the DRock tool do, however at small game ranges it is not significant - I imagine if I were to be shooting out to 100m or so I'd want to go with your system but that is not the case for me...