Loads for Scopes or Open Sights. Stupid question . . . or was it?

boomer271

boomer271

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OK, here it is. I was talking about the advantages of handloading ammunition with a couple of friends at work, one a veteran hunter, shooter and loader, one a newbie, and myself, somewhere in between; I have loaded a lot of handgun ammunition and a little bit of rifle ammo over the years, got out of it and sold all my stuff when I first got married because my wife didn't like "all that gun stuff" in the house. [Should have known; guns last.] Anyway, the conversation started with me getting back into reloading and continued with some interesting questions from the new guy. Most of which we answered easily.

One thing he asked was, "Do you need to use different loads for hunting with a scope and hunting with open sights?" To which we both answered, "Of course not! The rifle will shoot the same!" However, after coffee the veteran and I were talking and he said, "I can't think of any reason to use different loads for different sights, except that they might be using different rifles . . . but why is it bugging me?" And now it is bugging me just a little. So now I am bugging all of you.

Can you think of any reasons to use different loads for open sights or scopes, assuming the loads are for the same rifle?

Thanks in advance!
 
Well, you might hunt Elk (scope) with one load and ontario deer 9open sights) with another load - but that is because of the different targets - not because of the scope-irons.

I can't see why sights would change the load.
 
The only possible thing I could think of myself was sighting for different ranges, close in with iron sights . . . or a scope being less useful in medium to thick brush and maybe a different bullet being better to bust bush . . . maybe . . . but again, that is the target/use not the sights . . . but admit it, it's bugging some of you, too, now . . . right?

Or am I just off my meds?
 
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Only thing I can think of is loading to suit irons on milsurps that shoot high (usually) and trying to bring the load down into the sights. IE I have a short sweed that shoots 6" high on the irons but a minimum charge of H-414 with a 120 gr. bullet shoots right on the sights. Other than that shooting is more precise with optics and hence better cleaner harvest.
 
Why would you change loads? You could still sight in your scope and your iron sights for different ranges, but using the same load. Avoid complicating life with multiple loads for the same rifle.
 
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