Hunting bullets for target use

[urban]

I shoot mainly at the range and go stalking a couple of times a year. Obviously I can't use target bullets for stalking, but is there any good reason not to use (lead) hunting bullets for target shooting? The bullet I'm thinking about is the Berger Classic Hunter. From what I can make out, it has a thinner jacket than a target bullet, but other than that it's pretty much the same. It's the same price too. So my thought was that it would be convenient to reload using these and then I don't need to keep separate ammo for hunting and target.

The target shooting is mainly short range stuff (running deer etc at British Sporting Rifle Club at Bisley).

Good idea? Bad idea? Why?

 

[samdk]

In my experience the Hornady ELD-X hunting bullets are as good as any match bullets!
However, the ELD-M match bullets do perform well on game.

Sam

 

[GGG]

Using Hornady 103g ELD-X for target and hunting, giving an excellent account of themselves in both roles.

 

[webley701]

I shoot mainly at the range and go stalking a couple of times a year. Obviously I can't use target bullets for stalking, but is there any good reason not to use (lead) hunting bullets for target shooting? The bullet I'm thinking about is the Berger Classic Hunter. From what I can make out, it has a thinner jacket than a target bullet, but other than that it's pretty much the same. It's the same price too. So my thought was that it would be convenient to reload using these and then I don't need to keep separate ammo for hunting and target.

The target shooting is mainly short range stuff (running deer etc at British Sporting Rifle Club at Bisley).

Good idea? Bad idea? Why?

It makes a lot of sense to practice or shoot sporting related comps with the bullet you’d shoot live game with.

 

[samdk]

Using Hornady 103g ELD-X for target and hunting, giving an excellent account of themselves in both roles.

Great bullet, vaporises long range vermin and drops Fallow well!

 

[Steff]

I shoot mainly at the range and go stalking a couple of times a year. Obviously I can't use target bullets for stalking, but is there any good reason not to use (lead) hunting bullets for target shooting? The bullet I'm thinking about is the Berger Classic Hunter. From what I can make out, it has a thinner jacket than a target bullet, but other than that it's pretty much the same. It's the same price too. So my thought was that it would be convenient to reload using these and then I don't need to keep separate ammo for hunting and target.

The target shooting is mainly short range stuff (running deer etc at British Sporting Rifle Club at Bisley).

Good idea? Bad idea? Why?

You are describing the ideal case. The only reason for most people not to use their hunting bullets at the range is the price.

 

[Robs]

No reason not to use one suitable bullet, just check the range standing orders.

 

[Dave_45]

Using Hornady 103g ELD-X for target and hunting, giving an excellent account of themselves in both roles.

Are these available in 6.5mm?

 

[Jagare]

I reload S&B FMJ 147 grn for shooting down the range. For hunting 150 grn fox classic hunter or Norma 165grn Oryx.

 

[malmick]

Are these available in 6.5mm?

I use 143gr ELD-X and 147gr ELD-M in 6.5 hand loads. They have the same zero and stay within 1 moa of each other out to 600m.

 

[Rutland lad]

I seem to recall reading somewhere that expanding hunting ammo wasn’t allowed on certain ranges ?

 

[plumber01]

You have not said what caliber/quarry, however Hornady A max are good for range / hunting but there are quite a few bullets that do both I think the ELD have overtaken A max now.
For foxes, ive used a 69gn target lapua scenar in 223, ( going quite quickly) at 200 it was devastating, and very accurate .
Bisley do allow hunting bullets for zero purposes ,
good luck

 

[Heym SR20]

As others have said - depends on the range orders. Not really sure why there is such a fuss about different types of bullets on ranges but probably stems from days when ranges were under control of military and target ammo was military ball and soft point ammo was dastardly stuff in breach of Geneva conventions what.

But for target shooting FMJ target type bullets are substantially cheaper to run than good quality bullets. There are bullets designed to mimic the trajectory of a hunting bullet but without the costly structure of a hunting bullet. In the non - toxic world the likes of Peregrine make VLR4 as an expanding hunting bullet and the VLR5 as a target and training bullet that shoots to same point of impact and trajectory.

If you are shooting targets then chances are that you using a scope with turrets. Easy enough to zero for hunting and then record changes required for target bullets or vice versa.

 

[Rory]

I shoot mainly at the range and go stalking a couple of times a year. Obviously I can't use target bullets for stalking, but is there any good reason not to use (lead) hunting bullets for target shooting? The bullet I'm thinking about is the Berger Classic Hunter. From what I can make out, it has a thinner jacket than a target bullet, but other than that it's pretty much the same. It's the same price too. So my thought was that it would be convenient to reload using these and then I don't need to keep separate ammo for hunting and target.

The target shooting is mainly short range stuff (running deer etc at British Sporting Rifle Club at Bisley).

Good idea? Bad idea? Why?

Depends. My understanding is that, purely from a ballistics point, target bullets will be optimised for BC, having weight distribution and shape to wring the most out of the velocity and minimise effects of wind.
Hunting bullets will focus design to have optimum effect on the target. This means a potential compromise of BC, weight distribution and thus predictability will drop off at longer ranges, particularly when the hunting bullet goes transonic (earlier than target bullet, all things being equal(weight, starting velocity)) and slower.

 

[6.5_shooter]

In my experience the Hornady ELD-X hunting bullets are as good as any match bullets!
However, the ELD-M match bullets do perform well on game.

Sam

I would also vote for the ELD-X which do a very nice job on both duties!

 

[GGG]

Are these available in 6.5mm?

Just in 143g as far as I know.

https://www.hornady.com/bullets/eld-x#!/

 

[Steff]

I seem to recall reading somewhere that expanding hunting ammo wasn’t allowed on certain ranges ?

Where are you supposed to do your testing and sighting in then?

 

[timbrayford]

I shoot mainly at the range and go stalking a couple of times a year. Obviously I can't use target bullets for stalking, but is there any good reason not to use (lead) hunting bullets for target shooting? The bullet I'm thinking about is the Berger Classic Hunter. From what I can make out, it has a thinner jacket than a target bullet, but other than that it's pretty much the same. It's the same price too. So my thought was that it would be convenient to reload using these and then I don't need to keep separate ammo for hunting and target.

The target shooting is mainly short range stuff (running deer etc at British Sporting Rifle Club at Bisley).

Good idea? Bad idea? Why?

PPU are good enough for range practice

 

[Rutland lad]

Where are you supposed to do your testing and sighting in then?

Standby caller - I think this is what I read

 

[FoxAndDeer]

If you mainly shoot at BSRC, with a max range of 100m, then from a performance perspective, you will see absolutely no difference. Good BC bullets only come into their own when aerodynamics are critical - i.e. long ranges.

I'd keep it simple - just use one type of bullet. Only reason to not would be if the bullet you like is expensive, and you want a cheaper bullet for training at the range.

Only thing to be mindful of are range rules regarding HME and copper bullets - no restrictions on the use of expanding ammo.

Hope that helps