Does one really need to shoot the hottest load that can be stuffed into a cartridge case to cleanly harvest a game animal?

[Beekeeper]

Does one really need to shoot the hottest load that can be stuffed into a cartridge case to cleanly harvest a game animal?

[teufelhunden]

The simple answer is no. It is a lot like cars in that I do not need a 4-wheel drive to run to the store for milk but if we have a flood it sure will come in handy. I think it is human nature to seek bigger, faster, and stronger. Many people such as myself experiment with different loads to maximize the performance of a weapon. I do it to challenge myself to find a load that my rifle shoots better than any that I had tried before. Many times I discover that I need to shoot a lesser load to maximize the accuracy and performance of my rifle.

[bonnier-admin_2]

Beekeeper are you saying, I’m suppose to load the equivalent of a 30-30 load in my 30-06?

Depends what you’re going to do with it.

The rifles I have shoot best on the max end of the scale.

Of course if you’re not shooting past 50 yards is your bag, then why have a rifle to begin with!

[bonnier-admin_2]

I wonder if Beekeeper like cold dates with no teeth?!

Or beer thats hot and bland?!

[BuckTheSystem]

No you don't. People just get carried away.

[Beekeeper]

Cooper,

Your remark disgusts me. You must be one pathetic human being...

[007]

No, an accurate, well placed shot is much more important than a screaming fast miss or worse yet, gut shot.

[Happy Myles]

Your target will show the tightness of your group, and your chronograph will show the efficiency of your velocity extreme spread. These will dictate how "fast" the load for a particular rifle should be.
When I first started handloading I had a habit of loading a little too hot. Not anymore.

[WA Mtnhunter]

No, but it depends on what you are looking for. I handload my .257 Roberts up hotter than standard loads because it is factory underloaded and can achieve (almost) .25-06 performance with handloads. Accuracy and consistency is far more important to me than just speed. A friend of mine has a wall full of antlers taken with his .257R with 100 grain SP starting loads! But he doesn't shoot at 250-300 yards either!

I never load my .30-06 hotter than max load data. My .358 Winchester is loaded well below max to get a nice tight group at about 2,400 fps mv.

[idduckhntr]

I have to load my 7mmWBY at the top of the book to get any accuracy out of it but my 308 will shoot 3 rounds in a dime with a middle load, I like to find the most accurate load my rifles like and stick with wether its at the top, bottom or in the middle. A accurate rifle is a happy rifle.

[rezavoirdog]

Consistent groups and a stable, expanding bullet. Then again, it could also be the gun you shoot it out of, is the barrel well-made? What about the stock? Is it well-bedded? I've shot $17.99/Box bullets out of my .270 and could have nickel-sized groups, vs. a spendy $30.00/Box and shoot groups bigger than 1 1/2 inch circle. The right bullet for the gun is just as important. The hottest, coolest bullet/load (also more expensive) does not equal the best for you and your gun.

[WA Mtnhunter]

Hey, fellas. Let's not insult each other here.

I don't think Clay was trying to be disgusting. A little sharp maybe.

WMH

[Del in KS]

The obvious answer is NO. In a dangerous game situation the worst thing would be for a hot load to stick in your chamber or go to pieces. Happy myles could undoubtably expound on that one.

[shane]

No. But you can never have too much horsepower. But loading each and every round to the edge where one more tenth of a grain would blow your rifle is foolish and unnecessary.

[buck hunter 17]

i dont think so but i guss that some people think that they have to to harvest a game animal.