The Daily Press

GATEWAY OUTDOORS – RELOADING YOUR OWN AMMO PROVIDES FLEXIBILTY

Charlie Burchfield

PA’s big game seasons are fast approaching.

Black bear, deer, and even elk round out the options available to hunt.

When going afield, today’s hunter may have several or only one big game rifle to choose from. Regardless of your personal situation, hand loading your own ammunition can provide flexibility to the hunt regardless of the game being pursued.

Options vary greatly, and personal preference is a factor. This is especially true when hunting thin skinned animals such as whitetails. There is a broad selection of ammunition and bullet weights to choose from. Across the board, the common denominator linked to every hunt is the bullet. After all, what leaves the barrel instantly connects the hunter with the game being sought.

With that understanding, prior to leaving PA to hunt elk with Snake River Outfitters located near Craig, Colorado, we met with our guide Ian Lowe. A native of New Zealand, Lowe is a professional hunter who guides in the U.S. and in his homeland.

Before going afield, Lowe provided our small group of hunters with an overview of what to expect while hunting. And during the conversation each of us were asked about our firearms.

“What caliber are you shooting?” Ian asked. My reply was, “A 7mm Mag.” Immediately his next question was, “What weight bullet will you be shooting?” My response was, “Three types that include, 150 gr. copper, 160 gr. partition type, and 175 gr. topped off with a 175-gr. copper jacketed lead core bullet.”

Ian’s response was immediate and to the point, “Use the heaviest bullet of the lot. Elk are surprisingly tough; they can take a great deal of punishment and can be difficult to bring down.”

Enough said. The rounds topped off with 175 gr. bullets would be my choice on this hunt.

It was convenient to have a selection of rounds to choose from. Besides, having the best ammunition possible was another advantage. Yes, commercially manufactured cartridges are pretty darn good. However, a number of cartridge combinations available on the commercial market was, as it is today, in limited availability.

Also, the cost factor is another consideration. Let’s face it, premium ammunition can be expensive. Right now, two boxes of premium ammo will easily set you back $100 or more. Being able to handload and customize three different types of ammunition for the hunt for a fraction of the price sure did come in handy.

Also, in this case, the rounds I reloaded were developed for the rifle being used and the game hunted. My

confidence in the ammunition was that the round chambered my rifle would meet or exceed the needs of the most discriminating hunter and marksman.

And what about the two extra boxes of rounds that were not used? Believe me, that ammunition will not sit on the shelf or simply go unused. The rounds topped off with the lighter bullets can be used for whitetails. The rounds were developed with a higher muzzle velocity in mind. However, when using them when hunting whitetails, shot placement will be critical.

The rounds topped off with the 175 gr. bullets are a bit of overkill when it comes to hunting whitetails. But what about using the same for black bear? There is no doubt these rounds would be equally effective when hunting bruins as they were when hunting elk.

Developing accurate handloaded ammunition requires investing extra time on the shooting range, and that’s a good thing. Shooting is a learned skill and one that needs to be practiced and continually honed. So, range time builds confidence in one’s shooting skills and ammunition. As a round is developed to deliver pinpoint accuracy, there is a certain amount of pride that develops knowing that on any given day the rifle and round will deliver.

When I was growing up, my father enjoyed reloading. He understood the value of crafting his own ammo and shared his time with me at his reloading bench. Those were the days when factory ammunition did not deliver the accuracy when compared with the ammunition currently available. Today factory ammo will deliver. Still, there are those of us who enjoy loading and fine tuning the rounds we use. And as with reloading, they too have improved as well.

Today bullets keep getting better and continue to improve from one year to the next. Also, the powders are excellent at meeting the needs of some of the new cartridges that become introduced to the shooters.

When it comes to reloading equipment, quality is the name of the game. Right now, is a great time to begin reloading your own ammunition.

There is a certain pride associated with tying your own flies and catching a trout or making a turkey call and using it to bring a gobbler into gun range. The same holds true with loading your own ammunition.

Keep in mind that young shooters love to learn. As youngsters my brother and I cherish the time spent with Dad at the loading bench. We watched and took part all under the watchful eye of an attentive mentor. As the years went by, our participation grew, and for decades neither of us shot a deer with a factory load.

With the handloading skills Dad passed along, no doubt he was smiling down on me when my rifle cracked and a 6 x 6 bull elk fell from one of my handloaded rounds at 298 yeads away.

Outdoors

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2022-08-12T07:00:00.0000000Z

2022-08-12T07:00:00.0000000Z

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