One Gun Hunters

[msilbernagel]

I started hunting at 14, using a 6mm Remington Dad provided. Used one bullet, 85gr Sierra Spitzer boat-tail and IMR-4831. Perfect for deer.

When I hit college I figured I could afford one gun, and worked at Bi-Mart, so I picked up a 700BDL in 300WM because there were more 30-cal bullets available than anything else I could see - so it seemed pretty universal. I settled on 168gr Sierra Spitzer boat-tail and IMR-4831. Zeroed at 300Yds, worked great. Never felt compelled to work up another load.

This all happened in the late 60's and 70's. Used the same load for hunting through the 90's.

Now I have sons-in-law and grand kids, and wanting to feed the sportsman in them (boys & girls), I've picked up an '06 and started reloading with them. We're putting together a load for the 178gr Hornady ELD-X; that's the one he wanted to try. Still, it seems like we'll settle in on a single load.

I suspect I'll work up a 200+gr load for the 300WM eventually. Modern bullets have really opened up choices for the high-BC / heavier bullets for elk & bear.

I inherited a Remington 621 in 270 that I plan to find a good load for. What fun for varmints and deer.

Between the three I don't think I'll need much more.

I did work up a load for some 110gr hollow points for the '06 to fire-form the brass and play around. The re-zero thing may be a nuisance but we'll figure something out.

So looking at all that.. the one load one gun thing seems like it's worked pretty well for us.

 

[TheLongRanger83702]

For those of you that hunt all your western game with one firearm. Do you use the same bullet for all big game you hunt or do you change the bullet grain depending on the animal your hunting (150 gr. for deer, 180-220 for elk)? I have a few hunting rifles, but I'm contemplating selling and using the 300 Winchester for everything.To me?... leading multiple bullets with one cartridge is nothing but unneccessary clutter. I load a 208gn Hornady in my 300WM and a 178gn in my 308Win. I have only 2 ballistic solution in my SIG 2400 to concern myself with. These 2 bullets expand successfully over the velocity range of each target to my satisfaction. Enough said

For those of you that hunt all your western game with one firearm. Do you use the same bullet for all big game you hunt or do you change the bullet grain depending on the animal your hunting (150 gr. for deer, 180-220 for elk)? I have a few hunting rifles, but I'm contemplating selling and using the 300 Winchester for everything.

To me?... loading multiple bullets with one cartridge is nothing but unneccessary clutter. I load in my Bolt gun a 208gn Hornady in my 300WM and a 178gn in my 308Win Wilson Comcat AR-10 Super Sniper. I have only 2 ballistic solutions in my SIG 2400 to concern myself with. These 2 bullets expand successfully over the velocity range of each target to my satisfaction. Enough said

 

[cabelasken]

I use a 168 Barnes TTSX in a 300 WSM at 3130 FPS and so far every it has been 100% on both deer and elk. My 284 win likes a 140 TSX best. After switching powders, velocity is now 3125 FPS. I have settled on thee two bullets for these rifles because they have been the most accurate hunting bullet I have tried in these guns. Ballistics for both is quite similar so I have the holds memorized out to 450 YDS.

 

[dbevins49]

I keep the same load for everything. 168 grain TTSX at 2785fps in my 308 goes with me for deer, elk, coyote, and even the occasional woodchuck.
Although I do have a load worked for 168 grain AMAX bullets that shoots basically identically out to 300ish. Drops only slightly more then the ttsx at 400 and up.

so true

 

[340Wby-4-everything]

I have hunted and taken antelope, muley and elk in the same year with a 264winmag with 140gr Hornady interbond (didn't have other rifles good for the job) and with a 340 Wby with 200gr Hornady interlock (my go to for everything from Mule deer to elk to bighorn and up) - the one yr I used it for antelope, I had issues with a 25-06 and could not get them resolved in time. Certainly overkill for antelope, but worked just fine. I have a couple friends that hunt all 3 of those animals yearly very successfully with the following 25-06 120gr; 280 150gr; 7mmRem 175gr; 300win 165 and 180gr; 2 w/300 wby 180gr; 270 130gr and 30-06 180gr. Each of these listed is a separate person with a separate rifle and none of them change loads/resight.

 

[chav0_12]

While I don't think this question is necessarily for me since I'll tend to grab a different rifle for different critters. I think keeping with one load for all animals is a better option than switching everything up going from deer or antelope or elk or bears. For me, I have multi-purpose calibers that if I have a couple or more tags in my pocket I'll grab that gun. At that point it doesn't make sense for me to be carrying different ammo for one rifle in the case I see an elk or a deer. I think finding the right caliber and right bullet to serve more than one purpose would be the way I'd do it.

 

[dbevins49]

I keep the same load for everything. 168 grain TTSX at 2785fps in my 308 goes with me for deer, elk, coyote, and even the occasional woodchuck.
Although I do have a load worked for 168 grain AMAX bullets that shoots basically identically out to 300ish. Drops only slightly more then the ttsx at 400 and up.

so true i use the 168's in my 308 anything 250 yards or less, then i set up my 300wsm to 500 yards. and if need be anything else above that is 30-378

 

[mulie]

Well nowadays you may need another rifle as that is the only one you can fine ammo or reloading components to go shoot or hunt. I never go hunting with just one rifle that is begging for something to happen.

 

[asd9055]

When I was a poor college student, if I saved for a long time I could only afford one rifle. I bought an old, barely used MKV in 300 WBY. Handloaded 180 grn Noslers. I figured it was good for anything in the lower 48. People made fun if me for shooting little Texas white tail with such a big gun, but I never had to look for my deer. It was DRT. It was the caliber I took to RSA for plains game as well.
After graduating, any time and I had a little disposable income, I decided I wanted dedicated firearms. Long range, dangerous game, varmint, short distance Texas deer. No point using a 375 H&H when a 243 can do the job. Yep, you are forced to keep more powders, more reloading supplies, but you get to have more fun as well.

 

[tomsd]

Only got part way down through some of these very good answers - but for simplicity sake - and with today's ammo - I would think a 165-170 grain bullet - well placed - would handle anything in North America - save an angry charging big Kodiak.

 

[KMLampson]

I'm addicted to rifles, and have many chambered in different cartridges, but that said I often gravitate towards my 300 win mags, and one in particular. It often turns into my "one gun" for the season, and I use it for antelope, deer, and elk. I use 180 TTSX bullets because they are so darn accurate in that rifle, and I have confidence in them.

 

[tomsd]

Oh, and another aspect to rifle shooting at normal ranges out to as far as you can hit them….use your MPBR and twirl knobs from that, any good ballistic app can help you do this. Not all animals show up at LR in every instance I have found, even in NZ where long shots are the norm, my last red deer was at…..25yrds.
I have all of my rifles zeroed for a MPBR of an 8" kill zone, which translates to a 250yrd zero, give or take. This way, I don't have to 'think' about hold, aim 2/3rds up and I will hit vitals to 400 or more.

Cheers.

Oldest Maxim in hunting: Hold on hair - not air.

 

[redleg1013]

For those of you that hunt all your western game with one firearm. Do you use the same bullet for all big game you hunt or do you change the bullet grain depending on the animal your hunting (150 gr. for deer, 180-220 for elk)? I have a few hunting rifles, but I'm contemplating selling and using the 300 Winchester for everything.

I run a 165 TTSX out of my inherited 30-06 for whitetail, muley, and if I ever get lucky enough to hit an elk tag, them too. I have over 1k ftlb at 600 yards which all the further I am comfortable shooting critters anymore.

 

[tomsd]

My wife and use one rifle, she her .338 WM and I my .375AI, for all of our big game hunting....deer/antelope thru elk and moose! One bullet, one load, and one zero. Simple.....simply works! With our particular loads the two cartridges have very similar ballistics ( trajectory and drift) which also may help if one of us has to use the other's rifle.

Often our seasons and game areas overlap, so having one load/bullet/ zero you're always prepared for the largest game you may be licensed for. I have never bought into the "over-gunned" concept! I yet to have an antelope have issues with being taken by the same bullet used for elk/moose! memtb

Definitely using "enough gun".