Sheep Factory Load

[Atom Smasher]

Hey all! I'm lucky enough to go on a sheep hunt this December and while I usually shoot plain old winchester power point or remington core-lokt, I was told by a few more experienced hunters to try a better round with a flatter trajectory. I was told that Barnes TTSX 150 or 168 gr would be an excellent round for my 30-06. Is there a better round for what I assume would be longer shots on sheep? 150gr probably has better velocity, but does it still make an effective kill? I'll be hunting Dall sheep (I think). I'm just hesitant to buy $80 worth of this stuff so I can get acquainted with it only to have it not do the job.

 

[rcmodel]

165 - 168 grain bullets will give about the optimum downrange trajectory & energy.

As for accuracy?
No way to tell without buying some and testing it in your rifle.

IMO: You would be better served shooting the lowest cost common hunting ammo you can afford if it shoots well in your rifle.
Then you can afford to buy enough more of it to practice at long range with.

Any of it will kill a sheep.
But only if you are good enough to hit it in the kill zone.

Myself?
I'd take 100 rounds of Winchester power-point or Remington core-lokt over 20 or 40 rounds of Barnes TSX for any hunt.

You would have 80 rounds to sight in and practice long range with.
And still have 20 rounds left to go hunt with.

And after all that practice?
You should come home with a sheep and 19 rounds left over!!

rc

 

[Bull Nutria]

RC is spot on as usual. I once read that If rifleman could only buy 20 rds he would be better off practicing with 15rds and hunting with 5!! I think it was mr 270 jack o connor who said that but im not sure . IT IS SOUND ADVICE!!!
Bull

 

[Patocazador]

You're worried about $80 and you can afford a sheep hunt??? Where are your priorities?

Find the load/bullet combo that is most accurate in your gun and with the highest ballistic coefficient. Practice with it on very windy days and get in fantastic physical shape.
Dall sheep are smaller in body size than RM bighorns so penetration with a good load should not be a problem.

Show us a photo when/if you score.

**** Just noticed that this is an old post. You are probably already in transit.

 

[Atom Smasher]

**** Just noticed that this is an old post. You are probably already in transit.

Nah, it isn't that old! I'm leaving a little bit before Xmas. And you make an excellent point- although to tell the truth I'm getting this hunt for basically free I think I'm going to pick up 40-60 rounds of Barnes TTSX 168 gr and get practiced with that.

 

[Patocazador]

I looked at your join date instead of the posting date. Sorry.

Getting old means that you have to accept mediocrity but I'm having a tough time with that.

 

[Arkansas Paul]

Seriously, 165 grain Remington Core Locks, Winchester PP or Federal soft points will do the job just fine. Sheep aren't like moose or grizzly. A standard cup and core soft point will kill them just fine, and at just as long range as the Barnes will.

 

[hardluk1]

Long shots on sheep Get the best Long range bullet out there loaded by only HSM with the VLD Hunting bullet. Get the 168gr
http://www.cabelas.com/product/HSM-Trophy-Gold-Rifle-Ammunition/706592.uts

 

[Davek1977]

I'm going with the majority here....buy the cheaper ammo you are used to and PRACTICE. There is no magic bullet that can take the place of range time, and sheep aren't known to be especially tough, requiring the premium bullets.

 

[witchhunter]

I would shoot a few hundred rounds if I had a chance to go sheep hunting, then I would be confident at any range that I practiced. Shoot at all known ranges and measure drop, write it down and pack it with you. If you know the range you will know the drop. Good luck!

 

[rcmodel]

The top four world record sheep in history.
http://www.boone-crockett.org/bgrecords/WorldRecordsDetail.asp?area=bgRecords&type=SHEEP

Killed in:
2000
1961
1940
1936

How many of those hunters do you suppose were using Barnes X-bullets, or VLD's back then??

MMmmmm HHmmmm!!!!
None of them were.

At least three of them were using conventional cup & core bullets SP or HP or BP bullets from Winchester or Remington most very likely.

The Big Horn in 2000 could have been anything, but most likely not a Barnes or VLD either, as they hadn't been invented yet.

rc

 

[jim in Anchorage]

You THINK you're hunting Dalls? Thats got to be a 10 G hunt for a NR and you don't know what you're hunting? Does your plane ticket say Alaska? Then it's Dalls. Talk to your guide not us. I might add sheep country is also Grizz country. Don't go to far with this light bullet stuff.