Newby Question. Hunting rifle upgrade

DUKESTER1

Member
Joined
Feb 7, 2009
Messages
19
Location
QUINCY FL.
OK I have searched the site , and not much about my gun on here. I have a browning a-bolt 270 win. a Nikon buckmaster scope. 3x9. I have shot deer out to 250 yds. , but now have the opportunity to go 500yds and more. Don't see myself going any further than 400 or 500 if really confident my set up will work. I am considering adding a Nikon IRT Laser Rangefinder Rifle Scope, 4-12x42, BDC , and would like to know what round ammo to use, also should I update my stock or possible barrel. If so should I get a new gun, this gun seems to hold about 1" at 100yards. Thanks
 
OK I have searched the site , and not much about my gun on here. I have a browning a-bolt 270 win. a Nikon buckmaster scope. 3x9. I have shot deer out to 250 yds. , but now have the opportunity to go 500yds and more. Don't see myself going any further than 400 or 500 if really confident my set up will work. I am considering adding a Nikon IRT Laser Rangefinder Rifle Scope, 4-12x42, BDC , and would like to know what round ammo to use, also should I update my stock or possible barrel. If so should I get a new gun, this gun seems to hold about 1" at 100yards. Thanks

There is nothing wrong with the setup you have.

More scope should improve group size a little at those distances but you should
limit the distance to about 550yards (Thats about where energy drops below 1000ft/lbs.)

The 130 gr bullets work well at 500yrds. ( The 150gr bullets have heaver jackets for thick
skinned game and don't expand as well on deer) but work best on ELK at up to 300 yrds.

J E CUSTOM
 
Thanks, any preference on brand and type of 130 grain bullet. Seen all different types and tips, any better for accuracy and take down. I wont be reloading myself, so best off the shelf. thanks again
 
Dukester, First, on ammo and bullets. I would recommend trying a few different loads and bulets in a good hunting bullet that has good ballistic characteristics like a ballistic tip or hollowpoint. I would stay away fron soft points because they eaily deform. It's no big deal at shorter ranges but it may affect accuracy which becomes more critical at longer ranges. The Winchester XP3 150 looks very good as does the 140 gr Accubond and some of the 140 gr Hornady's. I would recommende trying the heavier bullets first as they will give you better down range performance. The 2 things I look for in a bullet for effecive range is opening velocity and momentum. Momentun alone drives penetration. I usually look for a minimum of 40 lbft/sec on elk, for a boiler room shot. For deer, if you have opening velocity, you have boiler room penetration momentum with almost any bullet . You should research your bullets and find out what their mimimum opening vel is. Many will be around 1800 fps. Some of the Hornadys open at lesser velocities.

My first priority on choosing a bullet other than terminal performance is accuracy in my rifle. You should be able to hit a 12 inch disk 100% of the time, first shot. Next come velocity and BC. With the 140 to 150 gr bullets a 270 Win can take deer 600-700 yds or more depending on ballistics and take elk to 500 yds with a good boiler room shot.

On scopes, I would avoid BDC's because they are based on one trajectory period. If you plan to limit your shots to 500 yds you can get a plain Jane duplex and use your post to determine your hold over, but I would recommend etting a mil dot and/or target turrets, especially if you go to 600-700 yds. Once you get past 500 yds, your scope becomes very important and you should invset in good quality. For range finding... beyond 300 yds I recommend a laser range finder. With a little practice you can learn to use a mil dot to range but the LRF is the way to go IMO.

This is my approach and my opinion. Hope it helps.

Mark
 
As far as for hunting I personally love the barnes X-bullet lines. almost 100% weight retention and incredibly accurate. I do like the idea of more powerful scope, you can look into a Nikon non tactical 4-16x50 Monarch OR even the Nikon Buckmaster 4.5-14x40 I own both and enjoy both.
 
Thanks for posting. I have purchased a Nikon 4x12 irt laser scope. Never had one or seen threw it, But got it for 400bucks, brand new..Think this is a great deal so couldn't pass it up. I hope its worth the money. Should be in anytime now.
 
Thanks for posting. I have purchased a Nikon 4x12 irt laser scope. Never had one or seen threw it, But got it for 400bucks, brand new..Think this is a great deal so couldn't pass it up. I hope its worth the money. Should be in anytime now.

I was looking at that scope and I have looked through it, SWEEEEET. Does yours have the BDC reticle? I have been pleased with all my Nikon products. I think that IRT is bad@$$ but a word of caution, learn your ranges anyway and dont rely on JUST the rangefinder because in the woods ANYTHING can happen and dead batteries are a reality.
 
Great. I was happy to get it. My shot is on a road that we cut threw the woods is about 12ft. wide and 600ft long. I only have a few seconds when deer are crossing to get the shot off. The deer I shot this year was walking about 250 yds. He ran about 100ft in the woods , wasn't hard to track once I found the blood trail, The problem is finding the blood trail right were he went in the woods. I was totally off from were I thought he came out. With the finder in the scope I should be able to range him before I shoot, then have my partner walk to the same distance and range him. Hope to get some corn feeders up down the road to slow them down, or stop them about every 100yds.
 
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