Except for hunting Snowshoe Hares with a 22 rimfire, all my animals have been killed with handloads, including Black Bear, Whitetail Deer, Woodchucks, Raccoons and other varmints. Come to think of it, I did drop a steer once with a factory cartridge in my 43 Mauser when we needed to butcher.
What % of hunters hand-load?
- Thread starter Duffy
- Start date
- Location
- The Conservative part of Ontario
In my deer camp of 12 guys, there were three handloaders, that's down to 2 now Old John up and died.
Moose camp, eight guys, two of us handload.
Moose camp, eight guys, two of us handload.
Further to the response to my post, yes, that is the general idea. You can't get 348WCF in 250 grains anymore, so I'd like to get a bunch of 250 grain bullets, find a load that works and load up a bunch. I'm not looking for incredible accuracy requiring weekly visits to the range over and over again, etc, just to work up a good load for that ol Moose. A Moose is a pretty big target. That said, my 348 is capable of pretty good accuracy with that bolt peep. It is one of the most accurate levers I have owned. Like I said though, pretty sure my early gun was sighted in for the 250 grains, I sure get that sense when I look at how high the factory 200 grain stuff shoots. Wow. 250 grain should put it right where I need it.
Johnn: Any idea where to pick up a bunch of that Barnes 250 grain bullets??
Matt
Johnn: Any idea where to pick up a bunch of that Barnes 250 grain bullets??
Matt
While I have used some factory ammo in the past, pretty much all the meat in the freezer for the last 10+yrs at least has been with handloads. I keep the empty cartridge cases and write a few particulars on the side with a felt tip, year, range, species, etc and throw them in a box as kind of a scrapbook of sorts. Sounds silly but what the heck.
I keep the empty cartridge cases and write a few particulars on the side with a felt tip, year, range, species, etc and throw them in a box as kind of a scrapbook of sorts. Sounds silly but what the heck.
Silly? Actually I think it's a pretty cool idea -especially good to look back on when a guy is old and gray in a rocking chair. Nothing wrong with being different
And yeah, I handload too, for over thirty years now, although I do use factory ammo occasionally, just because I buy it if I see it on sale cheap.
Johnn Peterson
CGN Ultra frequent flyer
- Location
- Chemainus B.C.
The 250gr is listed in my latest copy of the Barnes manual so I'd guess any sizeable shop or dealer should have them or beable to order them in for you. I 'believe' I picked mine up at P&d on one of my last 'shopping' trips there when I was in the Edmonton area. P&D Enterprises is a site sponsor, give Phil there a PM or call. Two other site sponsors out here in B.C. that are noted for getting some of the harder to find stuff that may be able to help you out are;
[*]Henry @ Budget Shooter Supply
[*]Jerry @ Mystic Precision
longbranch*
CGN frequent flyer
- Location
- Victoria,BC.
50+ big-game kills over 30 years using only my own handloads. Never, ever used factory. Just enjoyed "rolling my own".
Cheers
Geoff
Cheers
Geoff
Except for right before the hunting season you'd be hard pressed to see a factory load for a hunting rifle shot at our club range. The blackgun and SKS crowd are a different deal. Nobody in my hunting circles shoots factory fodder as a regular practice.
There may be many times more factory load shooters than handloaders, but around these parts the average shot taken is a handload. Near as I can tell the factory load guys don't shoot except to check their sights. When theres only one range for a town of over 250,000 you'd see them if they did.
There may be many times more factory load shooters than handloaders, but around these parts the average shot taken is a handload. Near as I can tell the factory load guys don't shoot except to check their sights. When theres only one range for a town of over 250,000 you'd see them if they did.
^^^^^. Hit the nail on the head.
i reload but also hunt with factory ammo and same thing, other than to sight that rifle in and hunt its not fired. My long range rifles are fun and I love to shoot but are heavy and not a joy to lug around in the woods.
99% of the time when I hunt it includes a lot of walking and less than 100y shots. It's a purposes gun that only fires 1 box of ammo a year pretty much. Cheaper to buy than reload.
i reload but also hunt with factory ammo and same thing, other than to sight that rifle in and hunt its not fired. My long range rifles are fun and I love to shoot but are heavy and not a joy to lug around in the woods.
99% of the time when I hunt it includes a lot of walking and less than 100y shots. It's a purposes gun that only fires 1 box of ammo a year pretty much. Cheaper to buy than reload.
BigUglyMan
CGN Ultra frequent flyer
- Location
- New Scotland
Moi handloads everything.
Same here, couldn't afford not to with several safes full of guns.
Buying factory loads for all would be totally unaffordable..
BigUglyMan
CGN Ultra frequent flyer
- Location
- New Scotland
Worst case of sticker shock I ever had was buying a box of Norma African PH ammo for my 470 NE. $250 + GST per box...and only 10 per box! Nothing makes you buy a set of dies faster!
BigUglyMan
CGN Ultra frequent flyer
- Location
- New Scotland
I bought brass from TradeEx. My T4 wouldn't permit 10 boxes of Norma ammo but I needed to get some ammo so I wouldn't be unarmed if the circus came to town and went horribly awry.
This year I hit my 30 year mark in front of the Rock Chucker Bullet Swag. Reloading is a very interesting hobby where it fills in the time during the hunting off season. I love shooting at the rifle range during the winter months testing new loads and keeping the shooting skills sharp. I encourage everyone to try it.
