Changing between ammo loads mid-day etc.

[GloatingKitten]

I have a Tikka T3x Lite Stainless in .270 that I purchased for hunting. Up till now I've mostly used this with a 120 gr load for deer. I'd like to sight in with 150 gr. for getting into larger game mostly Elk.

However, I have a bunch of left over 120 gr. ammo with me. I was wondering if there's any issue switching between the two, even over the course of a day, if this has any impact on the rifle as long as I am aware of the difference in bullet trajectories etc. I don't really want to use a 150 gr on Deer, and don't want to use 120 gr on Elk, but don't want to let all my 120 gr go to waste.

Any and all help is greatly appreciated.

Thanks,

[fps plus]

Ammo / bullets is the cheapest part of hunting . Don’t lose animals due to ammo .

[JohnB]

I would just stick with the 150 for everything. Use up the 120 at the range or sell it.

[sns2]

Originally Posted by JohnB

I would just stick with the 150 for everything. Use up the 120 at the range or sell it.

This ^^^^

[timsesink]

Originally Posted by JohnB

I would just stick with the 150 for everything. Use up the 120 at the range or sell it.

Yup. 2 types of ammo is a strsight up no go.

[warriorboy10]

Originally Posted by JohnB

I would just stick with the 150 for everything. Use up the 120 at the range or sell it.

Absolutely!!

[marky_mark]

The point of impact between the 2 different kinds of ammo will be different. I’ve seen some change almost a foot

[Dick284]

Just move to 130 grain monolithic (TSX TTSX, GMX) and be done with it.

And 120’s? me thinks you got that’s wrong. Likely you mean 130’s

[Dubious]

Having 2 types of ammo can be very handy. If you have a deer or an elk load you should just use one or the other depending on the game your hunting. If your in an elk area and think you may run into deer just use the elk ammo if your in the deer area and know there’s no elk use the deer stuff. It usually takes about 10 rounds for my rifles to settle down between load shifts but it usually changed from ~.5 groups to 1~ groups. I have a super light grouse load I made for shooting chicken with my 25-06 and I don’t go into the back country with out a handful for some camp meat. At standard grouse range of 3 paces the poi shift isn’t enough to make a difference for head shots.

In a 270 I would just go with a 130 for everything.

[elkhunter11]

I load one load for each rifle, one sight in, one trajectory. If I shot a 270, I would pick a good 130gr bullet for everything.

[6.5 shooter]

150gr. go big or go home. I am sure the others will work but better to have more gun then not enough.

[aardvaark]

I always use the same round all hunting season. Regardless of which species I’m targeting. But I decide which round to use based on the toughest species I’m going to be hunting.

Not sure why you would not use 150 on deer. If they’re adequate for elk they definitely will be for deer. If you’re concerned with damage, the 120 will likely do more damage than a 150 bc they’re going faster, the shock wave will be larger and more pronounced.

[blackburbot]

Stick to one bullet type/load for the rifle. You end up just wasting time and money trying to figure out how both shoot accurately. A properly placed shot won't ruin meat, yes you will lose some ribs and trimmings, but a shot taken when you are trying to remember if you need to aim higher or lower will most likely ruin way more meat.

[270person]

270 120 grains?


Buy 150 Nosler Partitions. Sight in 150 NP. Shoot 150 NP at everything.

Better bc. Better sd.

[elkhunter11]

Originally Posted by 270person

270 120 grains?

They are available, but 130gr is much more likely.

https://www.hornady.com/ammunition/r...custom-lite#!/

[270person]

Originally Posted by elkhunter11

They are available, but 130gr is much more likely.

https://www.hornady.com/ammunition/r...custom-lite#!/

Custom lites. Probably why I have never seen them or would ignore if I did.

[JBE]

Originally Posted by elkhunter11

I load one load for each rifle, one sight in, one trajectory. If I shot a 270, I would pick a good 130gr bullet for everything.

yep

[270person]

Originally Posted by elkhunter11

I load one load for each rifle, one sight in, one trajectory. If I shot a 270, I would pick a good 130gr bullet for everything.

Just for curiositys sake, why, and why not 140AB or 150 NP? I think if you shot a 270 you'd change your mind. Of the 3 the 130 has the fewest advantages.

[elkhunter11]

Originally Posted by 270person

Just for curiositys sake, why, and why not 140AB or 150 NP? I think if you shot a 270 you'd change your mind. Of the 3 the 130 has the fewest advantages.

I shot a 270wsm, and I used the 130gr Accubond. It shot well, and I have no reason to shoot a heavier bullet. I actually prefer the 140gr TTSX in my 7mmstw rifles, but I use the 150gr TTSX in my current 7mmstw, only because it is more accurate than the 140TTSX in this rifle. If I want a heavier bullet, I move up in caliber.

[270person]

Originally Posted by elkhunter11

I shot a 270wsm, and I used the 130gr Accubond. It shot well, and I have no reason to shoot a heavier bullet. I actually prefer the 140gr TTSX in my 7mmstw rifles, but I use the 150gr TTSX in my current 7mmstw, only because it is more accurate than the 140TTSX in this rifle. If I want a heavier bullet, I move up in caliber.

Fair enough. I'm more for versatility and your rifle budget is likely larger.

[32-40win]

Using two loads will require a bit of shooting to see if you can live with the difference, or not. Usually doesn't work well between two weights, sometimes it isn't too bad a difference at 100, but, that is normally about as far as it works at.

[JBE]

Originally Posted by 270person

Just for curiositys sake, why, and why not 140AB or 150 NP? I think if you shot a 270 you'd change your mind. Of the 3 the 130 has the fewest advantages.

I have used 130 gr in mine for the last 45 years. Hasn't let me down yet. No reason to change

[Dubious]

Going to agree with elkhunter on this one. I’ve always shot 130 gr swifts out of 270’s same with the other guys i hunt with. If I really wanted that 150 I would have went with a different cal right off the hop. Your right to 270person the 150 do the job with what they hit to personal preference I guess.

[elkhunter11]

Originally Posted by 270person

Fair enough. I'm more for versatility and your rifle budget is likely larger.

Versatility? I use one rifle for all of my big game hunting from pronghorn, to deer, to elk to moose. the 7mmstw and TTSX do it all.

[270person]

Originally Posted by Dubious

Going to agree with elkhunter on this one. I’ve always shot 130 gr swifts out of 270’s same with the other guys i hunt with. If I really wanted that 150 I would have went with a different cal right off the hop. Your right to 270person the 150 do the job with what they hit to personal preference I guess.

There's no right or wrong but generally speaking the heavier for caliber bullets are the better performing. Works in the ones I shoot anyways.

[270person]

Originally Posted by elkhunter11

Versatility? I use one rifle for all of my big game hunting from pronghorn, to deer, to elk to moose. the 7mmstw and TTSX do it all.

Cool. I like better BC's and SD and143, 150, 160/68/175, and 225s do it all for me.

[elkhunter11]

Originally Posted by 270person

Cool. I like better BC's and SD and143, 150, 160/68/175, and 225s do it all for me.

I don't shoot game past 500 yards, so a 140-150gr bullet launched at 3400-3500fps, works for me.

[270person]

Originally Posted by elkhunter11

I don't shoot game past 500 yards, so a 140-150gr bullet launched at 3400-3500fps, works for me.

Like most northern Ab hunters I rarely have to shoot beyond 200 yds but since speed plays next to zero role in killing efficiency I prefer heavier bullets. If I wanted to shoot smaller bullets I'd move down to a smaller caliber.

[elkhunter11]

Originally Posted by 270person

Like most northern Ab hunters I rarely have to shoot beyond 200 yds but since speed plays next to zero role in killing efficiency I prefer heavier bullets. If I wanted to shoot smaller bullets I'd move down to a smaller caliber.

Actually, when using monometal bullets, like the TTSX, impact velocity does play a significant role in how the bullet expands and kills. The people that complain about the performance of these bullets, are the people that use heavy for caliber bullets, at lower velocities.

And if you rarely shoot past 200 yards, why would you be at all concerned with the B.C. of the bullet?

[marky_mark]

Originally Posted by 270person

270 120 grains?


Buy 150 Nosler Partitions. Sight in 150 NP. Shoot 150 NP at everything.

Better bc. Better sd.

You shoot 200 yards and are worried about B.C.?
Really?
Your cutlines on the bush must be way windier than my cutlines in the bush