Sound Off: The Good, the Bad, and the Ugly

Sound Off
The Good, The Bad, and The Ugly

It’s all About the Shooting

First off, I would like to tell you that you have a great magazine. Now, I would like to comment on the article, “Is There Life Beyond the .30-06?” I know that the author shoots what is best for him or what he likes best, but his remark about WSM’s was given without thought. If we were to stick with what is proven, then we would still be packing clubs and spears to the woods. Please don’t put down progress. That said, I would like to know what my bullet drop would be with a Browning 7mm WSM 160-grain Nosler partition with a zero of one-inch high at 100 yards and, if I set my Leupold 4×12x50 scope at 6x for that zero, would this affect my zero if I changed the power setting up or down? If so, how does shooting up or down a hill affect the point of aim?

Jamie – Franklinton, LA
P.S. I also own a .30-06 Rem and I love them both, although I am still getting used to the 7mm WSM.

First of all, to determine bullet drop for the 7mm WSM, you need the muzzle velocity of the load you are shooting. Once you have this muzzle velocity, you can then get the ballistic coefficient of the Nosler partition and with these two numbers get a perfect world, perfect weather, sea level drop chart. As for the question of whether zero changes when the power level of the scope is changed…Assuming nothing is defective with the scope and you are using the same center crosshair at the same range (also assuming that the scope is the B&C or the Varmint reticle), bullet impact will be the same for anything from 4X to 12X. Power level does affect impact point if you are “holding over” a target beyond your zeroed range. This is the case because your field of view shrinks as you increase the power selector therefore changing the relative size of whatever you’re shooting at and its surroundings. This is why Leupold puts the small and large triangles on the power selector of scopes with stepped reticles. For their system to work, you must have the scope set on one of the two triangles (determined by what cartridge you’re shooting). If you vary the power selection, you vary the point of impact (not drastically, but some).

Next, shooting up or down hills is a tricky game. The answer to the question is yes, it makes a BIG difference on where you need to aim. This is even more important out here in the West where shooting off hills becomes shooting off cliffs. I think in that split second before buck fever sets in, more shots are missed because the hunter shoots over the top of an animal that is below him. Line of sight distance means nothing when shooting up or down a hill. I have killed several deer shooting down steep hills. In fact, my buck from 2007 was at a line of sight range of 340 yards; yet, to hit him, I had to use my 200-yard zero and hold a bit low. Horizontal distance is mainly what determines how much your bullet drops.

As for the WSMs, I am not against them, they have simply not proven themselves to me yet. Browning/Winchester had some serious problems when they introduced these short magnums - I know this because I had to send back several of them that I had sold to people. I do believe they have worked through these problems, yet some WSM rifles still have feeding problems, something that I don’t want in a hunting situation. By the way, the 7mm WSM would be my choice of the WSM’s as it ballistically makes the most sense. Progress is what I am all about. Impulsive, not so much. The 300 Win Mag came about in the 1960s - just one or two years before clubs and spears.

Carl Hermansen
Shooting Editor

Carl, I enjoyed your article on “The .308 Winchester, The Cartridge of the Century” in the Feb/Mar 2008 issue of Hunting Illustrated. Due to a revitalized interest, use and multiple exposure of the .308, it is only going to gain popularity and limelight exposure. Its accuracy, mild thump and, as you said, “ease of reloading” will continue to spur more active users in all facets of shooting sports and hunting applications. One large disappointment in your user results was in the provided reloading table. If you had really delved deeper into the offerings of projectiles available for this marvelous caliber, you would have wanted to experience the Barnes Triple Shock 168-grain match load. In my experience, this is undoubtedly one, if not the most, accurate flying rounds available today for this incredible rifle combo. If you doubt me, I would challenge you to put some together. It would even be nice to publish the 100-yard, three-shot group findings. Just a thought. I look forward to your next column, keep up the good work.

Roger Glazier – via email

Carl Hermansen, my name is Wade and I am sixteen and live in Lehi, UT. I have also had a ton of good luck with the .308. Mine is not as fancy as yours, but it still gets the job done. I have been using it strictly for hunting deer, elk and antelope. I have been using the Barnes Triple-Shock X 150-grain from Federal. I have had excellent success with this bullet and have harvested two deer, two antelope and an elk. What I would like to ask you though, is what load you would recommend for the Ruger M77. I would also like to use this rifle for predator hunting. Do you think that this would be a good caliber for that and what load would do the least damage to pelts? I am starting to get into the reloading scene and could use some helpful tips with this caliber. Thanks.

Wade McAllister – via email

Wade, fancy is certainly not what it takes to have a great shooting setup. In fact, my most expensive and fancy .308 that set me back $1800 shot worse than my $750 Remington 700. Handloading is THE ticket to getting a rifle to shoot. The .308 is absolutely the perfect caliber for you to start into the handloading arena with. The Barnes Triple Shock is a very accurate slug. In fact, in terms of accuracy, it is in the top two of all the hunting slugs I have tried with the other slug being the Nosler Accubond. The only drawback to the Triple Shock (that I know of) is with bullet expansion on impact. I have spoken to several hunters that have had Triple Shocks just punch holes through game with poor bullet expansion. However, if you have had good results, stick with it. If you want to try something new, give the Nosler Accubond a try. I’m not sure of the choices in commercial ammo, because I never buy boxed ammunition. For elk, I would use a 165-grain and for the deer and antelope a 150. Start with Reloder 15 powder. As for predators, pelt bullet selection is a bit weak in .30 caliber - most predator guns are chambered in .22 or 6mm. FMJ (Full Metal Jacket) slugs do the least damage, but the chances of wounding game is greater with them. I am a huge V-Max fan for predators and have had great luck on pelts using them in my 220 Swift. Give the 110-grain V-max a go and let me know what you think. Another one to try is the slug I mentioned in the article - the 125-grain Berger. Good luck!

Carl Hermansen
Shooting Editor

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