Factory vs handloads in hunting rifles?

[07blackwater]

Unlike the others that have posted here I seem to have poor luck with factory ammo. For example I tried Fed blue box for a new 270 because I didn't have a die yet and the first box was great, but the second box, which may have been a different lot, was terrible. Shooting Fed Premium in 30-06 would give good groups but produced the odd flier which I didn't like, maybe 1 or 2 per box, but with handloads it is very consistent shot after shot. So, I don't have any confidence in just picking up another box of factory stuff because the last box was good, unless I was brush hunting where shots would be close.

With hand loaded ammo you erase the variables. There are no bad boxes unless you run into a bad lot of components but you'll find that out pretty fast and before you are out hunting.

Like you I've had the odd box of bad factory ammo but I hand load everything except shotgun shells, 22 and 9mm now.

 

[hawk-i]

I have one rifle, a Remington 700 in 270win that likes Federal Blue Box 150's as much as any load i've worked up for it yet ....most of the factory ammo I buy is to end up with cases for reloading.

 

[west250]

After picking up a reloading kit a couple of years ago I can say that I only use handloads - partially because it's cheaper to shoot but also because I enjoy tinkering with loads and bullet combinations, seating depth, odd calibers etc.
From what you've written here it appears that you shot 3 centerfire calibers in one sitting starting with 270, then 7mm Mauser, then the light 300 wm. What was the shooting sequence? Were you able to call the flier?
I can only speak for myself, in that I find my best shots at the range with a centerfire are the first 10. After that my groups open up because I have a hard time concentrating when others are shooting beside me as well as the recoil starts to get in the way a bit. That being said it sounds like you had a big day then ended up shooting the biggest kicking, lightest rifle of the group last - I suggest you take that into consideration in your analysis.
Addressing the handload over factory debate, I would just say that some rifles shoot anything down the pipe great (those are keepers thank you very much), others can be coaxed to shoot better with tailored loads, and the last group of rifles are just not accurate no matter what you put through them. These are the ones that I fear would be for sale on the EE!
It sounds like the 7x57 is one of the last 2 - either you can develop a decent load for it, or the rifle's just not accurate, or needs some smithy work to improve it's performance..

Lastly, the biggest variable in my shooting is me...

So my buddies and me went to the range yesterday.

I make handloads with a little Lee Classic loader for my 270 and 7x57 rifles using a scale instead of scoops.

My 270 loads are okay, two inches at 100M and minute of moose at 200 metres, but the 7x57 loads with 139 grain bullets are not consistent.

What was a surprise though was what I got out of a box of Winchester Silver box 300 Winchester magnum cartridges.

I only had a handful of handloaded 300 Win. Mag. cartridges left that a friend and I loaded up on his press a while back and he's quit loading so I though I'd try a box of commercial loads.


Both loads shot basically the same at 100 M, 1.5 to 2-inch groups, perfectly sighted in at two inches high too, but the surprise was at 200 metres.

The handloads were spread out in a four inch group, but I got two of the Winchester commercial loads right dead centre in the bull nearly touching. Yes, there was a flyer 3 1/2 inches from the other two , but all in all, it was a surprising and satisfying session, though I continue to be frustrated with that 7x57.

Maybe I'll have to try 175 grain bullets again. They are supposed to work well in those little HVA 4100 lightweight rifles.

 

[track]

Handloading/reloading vs factory loads is a slippery slope. Much can be discussed about the pro's and con's between the two. Individualism would place a great role as to the seriousness of ammunition, shooting and hunting. Many say that handloading is less expensive, I say that's a myth; handloading is more expensive. Ask any avid handloader/shooter how much their annual cost of components. Ask your average Joe Hunter their annual cost of factory ammunition. There are lots of and's, if's and but's regarding the two. As for accuracy, I only had two rifles that would not shoot 1/2" MOA, both happened to be the model 700 Remington......re-barreled both and that fixed the problem, and I never purchased a model 700 since. A very happy medium (max velocity/extreme accuracy) can be achieved with reloading, with factory loads, it is less likely and less expensive.

 

[jpappy]

I started hand loading to save money, I was shooting so much premium ammo that after a couple of months it was the cost of a press kit and the dies. If you want to get good with your gun your going to practice lots. Buy the premium bullet and the powder/primer combo your gun likes and you'll save money, buy the premium factory ammo and you'll save time. When you first start loading for a gun you'll spend time and money on it finding out what it likes. Once you find what it likes then you'll save money or shoot more. The money I have saved from hand loading has gone into better optics and shooting more than I ever would if I wasn't hand loading. Is it cheaper to make good food at home for a week or go out to a nice restaurant and buy a good dinner for a week?

 

[Dogleg]

On some calibers there is considerable savings to be had handloading, but that can depend heavily on how much load testing you do. In a general sort of way I expect to beat randomly selected factory loads on the first day of load development but that doesn't always happen. Its easy to use up enough components to buy a good barrel. Another thought that is bound to ruffle some feathers is that accuracy isn't everything.


The oft repeated advice of trying a box of everything available in factory loads and stock up on what shoots the best should be taken with a grain of salt. Just for the fun of it I tried that with a Cooper 30-06 awhile back. I didn't even come close to trying everything in the store but had good selection of 150 and 165s. That little experiment cost around $750 and I ended up shooting handloads anyway.