Sighting in for different bullets

[stevelsd]

Might be a silly question so please excuse my ignorance on this.
I am reloading for a friend that has a 7mm 08. This fall we will be hunting for both Elk and Mule Buck.
The reasoning for below is because of budget constraints and bullets I have on hand without purchasing more bullets.

I want to use for Elk (Nosler 150 gr Partition). I want to use for Deer (either 139 gr Hornady Interlock or 145 gr Speer Grand Slam)
My question is once I have the deer load sighted in exactly where I want, is it as easy as sighting in the elk load and just remembering the click adjustments that was modified for the elk load so to be able to return back to the deer load?

The scope is a Vortex Diamondback 4-12, so nothing fancy to do zero stops, etc.

I have always hunted with one bullet for everything for myself in my past.

 

[NYDAN]

In my previous trips out west for combo elk/deer hunts, I have taken both an elk rifle (with corresponding ammo) and a deer rifle (with corresponding ammo). So far, I have never used the deer combinations. It seems that like with all of my other hunting, that you always see the "other species" when you are hunting another species. The advice I received from my outfitters and guides have been to always take the rifle and ammo for the largest species you can reasonably expect to encounter. That ensures you have "enough gun" for whatever you see. Even after I had taken an elk, the guides preferred me to take my elk rifle instead of my deer rifle when pursuing deer. After all, an elk load will kill a deer just fine.

The 150 gr. Partition is an excellent deer bullet and well as an excellent elk bullet. If you are hunting both animals during the same hunt then, as much as you may want to use the other bullets for deer, I suggest you make life easy and just take the elk rounds.

If you have two different hunts planned, then just re-zero your rifle for the ammo you plan to use. Returning your scope adjustments back to where they were is a good start. But you can't' count on the scope being re-zeroed. You should verify the zero by shooting and, if necessary, adjust the scope.

 

[Guy Miner]

In support of NYDAN's advice, "trust but verify." Yes, you can have different zeros for two different bullets/loads and it's probably just a few clicks difference between 139, 145 and 150 grain bullets. Remember that the adjustment could require windage as well as elevation adjustments. Often it doesn't, but I have seen rifles toss different bullet weights a bit left or right. Well worth checking that zero before relying on it in the field.

It's far simpler, but perhaps not as interesting or fun, to just have one good load for a particular rifle. I used to adhere to that with my own rifles and life was simpler. One load, one scope, one zero. Rifle always ready to go. Yup!

These days I end up shooting a lot of different rifles with many different loads and scopes. It's interesting as all get out, but I make sure a couple of my favorite rifles stay zeroed with just one favorite load.

Regards, Guy

 

[salmonchaser]

I have two rifles, my 06 and my 375HH, that will allow me to add or subtract a couple of clicks vertical so that I might switch from one load to another. I havent been able to accomplish that with any of the others and haven’t really tried.
I’ve had the 06 combination for 30 years probably, a 150gr Ballistic tip and a 180 Partition. I’ve had the rifle since the mid 60s. The 375 only recently and it’s never been field tested 260/300 accubonds.
In my home state of Oregon deer and elk season are separated by about a month* so I was never in camp with two boxes of ammo so to speak. I could simply add a couple of clicks if I was short on time and go elk hunting with confidence. However, hunting in Montana years ago, I was carrying both loads for the 06. Settled on just hunting with the 180s.
If you’re hunting deer and elk at the same time I would suggest just hunting with your elk load. Otherwise, having two go to loads is a worth while endeavor. Getting two loads that will allow you to simply add a little elevation to compensate for a heavier bullet, that may take some work.
Have fun.

 

[JD338]

If it were me, I would just use the 150 gr PT for both deer and elk. The 150 gr PT is perfect for both animals and more. This will also eliminate the risk of using the wrong load on the hunt.
Nothing wrong with working up a load with the 139 gr Hornady IL for the future. It could also be used for a target/practice load prior to the elk hunt. Then do an absolute zero with the 150 gr PT and go hunt deer and elk.

7mm 150 gr PT

7mm 150 gr PT shot from my 280 AI at a MV of 3015 fps (61.0 grs RL 22) and recovered in the 6th jug at 100 yds. Recovered weight 101.7 grs, expanded to .678". JD338

forum.nosler.com

JD338

 

[stevelsd]

Thanks all.. Yeah I better stick with a one load one rifle. I was trying to get "fancy".
Unfortunately I am here in Colorado and hunting is always a crap shoot.
9 Days at best depending which season
Deer and Elk are same season
You choose your unit to hunt in 6 months before the hunt season. (you have little idea how many hunters will be in your area)
there is a draw for elk and deer for specific units and some units you need accumulated preference points which is a ponsi scheme in its own right

 

[DrMike]

You've had excellent advice, and it appears that you are taking it seriously. One load with one rifle saves a lot of headaches and worries when you're in the field.

 

[Guy Miner]

You've had excellent advice, and it appears that you are taking it seriously. One load with one rifle saves a lot of headaches and worries when you're in the field.

20 or so years ago when I got serious about hunting mostly with my 25-06, I fully intended to have a "deer load" and a "coyote-varmint" load with a lighter bullet.

Figured out coyotes and rockchucks were dealt with quite decisively with my 115 grain deer loads, and I never had to re-zero the rifle or learn a different trajectory.

Worked out great! Except for some mule deer, antelope, coyotes and rockchucks!

Guy

 

[RL338]

The rifle and bullet combos I decide to use for the upcoming season is sighted in a week or two before. That way I know I’m good to go.

 

[JD338]

Guy,
The 115 gr BT "Blue Cyclone" is a do all bullet for the quarter bore. It's my go to for the 257 Roberts and has taken WT deer, Caribou and coyotes.

JD338

 

[TackDriver284]

I would do one bullet for both jobs, its less worry and headaches. I won't mind using an elk bullet on a deer. The Partition will do the job nicely. The AccuBond is a great bullet as well.

 

[Blkram]

Beware the man with one rifle...he knows how to use it!

And that man typically only had one load for that rifle!

Honestly, if that 145 gr Grand Slam shoots better in that rifle, it'll work just fine for elk too.
The 5 grain difference isn't going to be noticed by the elk, if the shot distance is such that you still have good retained velocity and energy at the animal.

 

[TackDriver284]

Steve, not to hijack your thread but I remembered a time back in the 1990's when I hunted on my grandpa's ranch, ( sadly it was acquired by Fish and Wildlife, it was sell or eminent domain ) , for hogs and some long range coyote potshots with my Sako M995 and topped with a Leupold. I was using 140 grain Ballistic Tips with IMR 4350 and as I was driving down a road, a herd of nilgai, about 30 of them, jumped out of a dried up resaca on the left fence line and hurled themselves clearly over the fence and ran down the road in front of me, I was sure they were headed to a field a quarter mile down and cut across the left side and into the thick woods. I followed them in pursuit to keep them in range of about 200 yards, as i crept closer, i was eyeing a bull nilgai on the right corner trailing, and i pushed harder to cut him off from the rest of the herd. When that happened the herd moved off to the left side and went in a side road towards the field to my northwest, I stopped my truck there and the lone bull on the right field slowed down and was far behind from the herd by about a quarter mile, and he ran towards the left side to jump the fence, with intention to cross that dried up resaca bed and up to the fence line to the west and into the field to join the herd in the woods, I quickly drove the truck in the same path the herd took on the left road and into the field and parked my truck to the northwest about a quarter mile and stopped the truck and killed the engine, I knew a 140 Ballistic Tip is no match for a nilgai, and I remembered an old 140 grain Partition in the glove compartment from an old hunt I had a few years back, lol. I fumbled in there and found it and just one bullet. I hopped out quickly with the 7 Mag, and dropped that magazine, and dropped that old 140 Partition round in the chamber and cocked it and settled the rifle on the hood. I saw that bull come closer and he spotted the truck at a range of about 300 yards and it stood in the resaca bed looking back and forth from my truck and to that herd north of me, I knew he will start moving quick towards the herd, I remembered that the POI with the Partition and the Ball Tip was the same POI @ 100, so I settled the crosshairs on its center chest while it was facing me, I breathed slower and more steady, let her fly, whomp, the bull dropped so fast with its legs up the air, and never got up. The Partition did find its way to the boiler room and was lost somewhere in the pile of guts.
If your POI is the same between two bullets, you could use that method, but I learned my lesson not to go hunting with a certain bullet and be surprised by a game animal that you are not expecting to be there and really wanted to take the shot but have the wrong bullets in your rifle, luckily I had that old lone Partition in the glovebox. It's best to get the right bullet and kill two birds with one stone.

 

[6mm Remington]

Me personally I would get an accurate load with the 150 gr. Partitions and take those loads and those loads only. Keep it simple keep it easy.