Target Practice Ammo vs. Hunting Ammo

[swanny]

So in the past I've shot the Remington Core Lokt out of my .30-06 for hunting and target practice, $20  a box. My buddy talked me into better ammo, so I decided to pick up the Nosler Trophy Grade for this upcoming season. I'm curious, since this stuff is $40 a box, what do you use for practice at the range? It's a little hard to stomach $40 for target practice. I'll for sure shoot a few rounds through, just don't want to use up the whole box for target practice.

Will I be okay shooting Core Lokt's for target practice?

[Jingles]

IMO you practice with what you use otherwise all you are doing is sending lead downrange and what is the point in "Practicing"

[300rum]

More then likely you will have a very different result using two different cartridges.  Stay with the one you are going to hunt with. 

[Fl0und3rz]

Practice with the cheaper stuff mostly to verify basics of rifle configuration, form, and execution.  Then finish with a small set of the expensive stuff to confirm zero and verify form and execution.  Reloading will be mentioned, but these days, that may not be so easy, given the availability of some components. 

[WoodlandShooter]

As mentioned...just reload...

or

here is what I do.

since you are Hunting, would it be safe to assume most of your practice shots are less than 300 yards??

If so, well, zero your rife at 200 yards with what ever factory load wou will use when hunting.


For practice, leave your zero alone, and use anything you want for practice...the change in point of impact wont be enough to worry about.

I have my rifle zero's at 200 yards for my long range load (165 grain Matrix at 2850 FPS) my practice loads are using the same bullet, but with brass that is out of spec according to weight. I also use some Winchester and Remmy 130 grain ammo I got for cheap a while back. It is 130 grain with a MV of ~3000-3050. Both work great using the same zero and dope at hunting ranges.

[thinkingman]

Practice with the cheaper stuff mostly to verify basics of rifle configuration, form, and execution.  Then finish with a small set of the expensive stuff to confirm zero and verify form and execution.  Reloading will be mentioned, but these days, that may not be so easy, given the availability of some components.

This.

Corelokt will get you on paper and hopefully, inside the 8 ring.
Then, shoot the good stuff OUT OF A COLD BORE!
This will emulate the actual shot you will take while hunting.

[swanny]

Practice with the cheaper stuff mostly to verify basics of rifle configuration, form, and execution.  Then finish with a small set of the expensive stuff to confirm zero and verify form and execution.  Reloading will be mentioned, but these days, that may not be so easy, given the availability of some components.

This.

Corelokt will get you on paper and hopefully, inside the 8 ring.
Then, shoot the good stuff OUT OF A COLD BORE!
This will emulate the actual shot you will take while hunting.

This is where I was leaning, thanks for the confirmation!

[kentrek]

this caused me to miss a very nice bear one year in idaho

live an learn i guess

[Bill W]

Core locks are good bullets for hunting.  Why switch?

[JackOfAllTrades]

I've shot many MOA groups with Rem CoreLokt's, Nosler Partitions, Win Silver Tips, as factory loads and hand loads.  I see NO REASON to 'Practice' with premium bullets.  Practice, means trigger control, sighting, ranging, different positions, rested, non-rested, calm winds, steady winds, incline, calm cardio, excited cardio. That said, if the cheaper ones only produce 2moa from your rifle, then make sure you're averaging within that 2moa for all of your practice. -And make sure you do shoot some of the premium stuff to know where, as said, cold bore and 2nd shots impact at various ranges.
 
That said, I still hunt with CoreLokts. Speer Grandslam's, Nosler Partitions and such. I would only consider premium bullets if hunting beyond say... 300yds.
 
-Steve

[WoodlandShooter]

Jack,

just noticed your ribbons...very similar to mine!!!

I ended up with 2 MUC's, 3 E's, 2 good conducts, National Def, Expeditionary, and two sea service

[birddogdad]

if your going to shoot "cheap ammo" don't adjust scope optics to it. OR before season, reset optics to preferred hunting ammo. If you are just shooting to shoot, use your holdovers in scope if you have or cross hashes on targets. or like someone said, someday somewhere, it will cost you game.

if you are going to shot a lot, I would recommend getting your feet wet with reloading. Cheaper than buying and you can develop loads that your rifle "likes" that work well for hunting, again, can be cheaper. Magnum reloads biggest expenses are brass and bullets.

[Stein]

The answer for me is to reload and shoot my hunting round.  Shooting another round means you miss all of the data on drop at different distances under different conditions and wind drift.  That is probably 80% of the reason I practice.  I can shoot a .22 or a 7.62 if I only want to work on mechanics.

I shoot Barnes TSX, $0.75 a round plus $0.15 in powder and $0.025 in primer adds up to $18.50 a box for the best ammo for my gun money can buy.

[Bill W]

If a person's concerned with practice why not buy a .22 similar to your hunting rifle and practice with that.  Doesn't come much cheaper.    Trigger control and handling techniques are the same, if not more critical.  The slower velocity requires more follow thru.

[grundy53]

The answer for me is to reload and shoot my hunting round.  Shooting another round means you miss all of the data on drop at different distances under different conditions and wind drift.  That is probably 80% of the reason I practice.  I can shoot a .22 or a 7.62 if I only want to work on mechanics.

I shoot Barnes TSX, $0.75 a round plus $0.15 in powder and $0.025 in primer adds up to $18.50 a box for the best ammo for my gun money can buy.

sent from my typewriter