Hunting / target ammo question

[Z_Infidel]

With the rifles I currently own (.223, .357Mag, and .303 British) I normally try to use the same bullet weight for target practice as field use so that I can buy cheap practice ammo and use better, more costly ammo for hunting, etc...

I am thinking of purchasing either a .30-30 or a .308 rifle this year. If I decide on the .30-30 this won't really be an issue, but if I go with the .308 I will probably end up not being able to get target ammo with the same bullet weight I would want for field use. For instance, a lot of the surplus .308 has a 144 grain bullet while hunting ammo tends to be 165 grains on up. My question is, will the difference in bullet weights necessitate re-sighting the rifle between target and field use? How much should I expect POI to change? One reason I have been leaning toward the .308 (in addition to extra power) is the availability of affordable practice ammo, but now I'm wondering if it will be much of an advantage if the rifle might be used for hunting as well as other things.

Any replies appreciated.

 

[Chipperman]

Pretty much all of the .30-30 ammo out there is hunting.

.308 is a lot more varied, as you mentioned. POI changes are going to increase with distance. If you are within 100 yards, it prolly won't be more than an inch. There are a lot of variables here though. Bullet grain, charge, barrel length and twist, etc.

 

[The Tourist]

Any change in components can cause accuracy problems, or cures. And changing the bullet is one of those major issues.

Having said that, the .308 is one of those really forgiving cartridges. If the firearm is in good shape (good bore, bedding, quality action, good care)and the type of rifle that really wants to shoot, I doubt that practical acurracy will change much over the normal distances.

For example, if you're getting 2" high with your normal load, you might get 2" high and 2" to the left with the newer load. I tried a whole bunch of bullet weights with my Ruger 22-250; however, some days on the range I never touched a turret knob.

Practice. Keep records. Talk to your buddies. Read reliable loading manuals.

If you can hit a grapefruit over normal distances, I think you have practical hunting accuracy. From there on, it's your skill at reloading which improves you MOA accuracy. But then, that's the fun part!

 

[Swamprabbit]

IMHO, about the only way you can ever really resolve the issue of costs of practice ammo is to get into reloading. One thing to keep in mind is that "practice" doesn't necessarily mean that you are going to be blasting away hundreds of rounds at a time. With my hunting guns, I doubt if I shoot a hundred rounds a year on practice. With a good rifle, you need only to take careful time with each round and "call" your shots. Just like The Tourist said above, keep records. Reloading can cut your per-round costs down considerably and, besides, you can taylor the loads that maximize your rifle's capabilities.

With reloading, you can get about 125-150 rounds per pound of powder and good bullets are anywhere between $15 - $20/box of hundred.

 

[Z_Infidel]

Hmmm... I see some real wisdom in those answers. I'm starting to realize that for a "general purpose" rifle the cost of ammo shouldn't be a primary consideration.