I generally only shoot at targets with my "hunting" rounds for scope zeroing, load development, chronography, and when checking windage and elevation calculations based on provided velocity and BC estimates.
Favourite rounds are: 1. .204ruger with 39 grain Sierra Blitzking used for wild dogs, foxes, feral cat, and macropod work. Push along at 3850fps. Accurate and very capable varmint round out to 400 metres as we aim to only head shoot, but mostly out to about 200 metres because of our Codes of practice in Australia. Flat shooting, can see hit down the scope, great for any predators, which may need a follow-up or are shot on the run. Macropods are only shot stationary. Devastating terminal performance. Disintegrate on impact so very safe for background animals. I have head-shot wild dogs successfully to 450 metres with a standard sporter weight Tikka T3.
2. .22-250 rem. with Sierra Game King 55 grain #1365 marketed here in bulk as "Superoo" at A$0.18 a pill, which are economically purchased in boxes of 1000. Sent at 3800 fps at macropods, feral goats, feral pigs, wild dogs etc. harder bullet which still penetrates and expands at distance. Also used in .223rem but will perform better at higher .22-250rem velocities. Match accuracy and cheap.
3. .243win. with Speer Hot Cor spitzer base 90 grain, again an economical pill at A$0.52 each and great for feral pigs, Fallow deer and predators. Pushed along at 3000 fps, good out to 400 metres. Swift Scirocco 2 preferred for larger game, but at A$2.00 a pill too expensive and hard to source. Nosler partition 85 grain are also good, but also too expensive here.
4. .308win with Sierra Game Changer 165grain at A$1.00 a pill, accurate and great terminal performance on feral pig, feral cattle, camel, donkey, red deer out to 350-400 metres. Penetrates and then expands, higher BC. Also, use the 140 grain in the .270win. as well for a bit more distance and flatter shooting.
5. .300win mag. with Woodleigh, Australian-made 165 grain protected soft point PPSN preferred, but running low as the factory burnt down a few years back, so use the Sierra Gamechanger 165 above as a second choice. Swift Scirocco 2 as a third choice, but A$2.70 a pill here and hard to get a good supply. Larger bovines, equines and cervids at further distances.
Go to all- rounder winner is the .243win., Speer Hot Cor 90 grain, one with a standard scope with an Olight Javelot Pro torch scope mounted and another one identical with a thermal scope. Cheers.
