accuaracy or velocity for hunting

[vossman]

Working up my .27o load out of a Winchster Model 70 ultralight with about 100 round through it. It's not very accurate with this Hornady Superformance ammo factory recipe off benches. 130 grs SST Hornady factory ammo . I will reload some of my own casing with H4831SC, Horandy 140grn SST's Remington Primers and the once fired hornady cases cleaned of course
For elk and deer should I look more for accuracy or MV to get a impact and cavity, I would guess it would be the best of both.

[mcantar18c]

Work out something that gets the best of both... as long as your accurate to within 5" or so of the target areas it will be effective as far as shot placement is concerned.

[SA Friday]

Accuracy. If you are getting more than about an inch group, shoot something else. There are plenty of types of bullets and factory ammo out there to get any worse accuracy.

.270 can be tough though, I'll give you that. My sendero has always been uber-picky about velocity and bullet selection. Even so, I can get less than 1MOA with a quality hunting bullet in my reloads.

[mcantar18c]

Lemme clear up my last post...
SA Friday is right. Accuracy is definitely more important than velocity in a hunting load, as a clean & quick kill is your goal... not tearing the largest hole through the animal as you can.
What I was saying is that your "kill zones" are going to be ~5" or so IIRC.

[sniper7]

accuracy. the animal deserves it.

[Mtn.man]

Accuracy.

[jmg8550]

I also say accuracy. A clean, ethical kill should be priority #1

[DSB OUTDOORS]

You can get both. But don't cheap out on Scopes! That is one of the best tools you have. A bad scope can give you different results every time! Even with factory loads. If you have good optics you can dial it to the reload no matter what velocity, In MOST cases. Also let you're barrel cool between shots / tests. Heats up warps 1" off one way or the other or more!! Most of all have fun and be safe!! [Tooth]

[trout_champ]

Another vote for accuracy. Proper shot placement will drop an animal. You can have the fastest bullet in the world, but i you can’t hit the broadside of a barn, what good is it?

Randy

[spyder]

Just get a barrett 416 and have them both. [Beer]

[hobowh]

accuracy all the way, and dsb nailed it you get what you pay for on scopes, a little extra cash can make the difference between a good trip and a bad one.

[mopar]

Another vote for accuracy. Proper shot placement will drop an animal. You can have the fastest bullet in the world, but i you can’t hit the broadside of a barn, what good is it?

Randy

Is there a season on barns?[ROFL1]

[sniper7]

Is there a season on barns?[ROFL1]

I don't think there is a season on rosier odonnel or Michele obamas ass.

[mopar]

I don't think there is a season on rosier odonnel or Michele obamas ass.

Maybe we should contact CDOW about that.........just thinkin.[ROFL1]

[ridgewalker]

If you are shooting at deer what ever accuracy you use will work for elk. A deer has about a 12" kill zone, that is including its lungs, heart and liver. What distance will you be shooting? If 300 yards is your max, then your load should group 4" or less at 100 yards. 4x3. Pretty easy to do.

Personally if I can hit the highest safe velocity and manage less than a 2" group at 100 yards from a field rest (backpack, bipod, tree limb, etc.), then I am good.

To quantify, I have been hunting big game since the mid 1960s. The only game I have ever lost was a bull elk and it was with a bow and arrow shot at 17 yds. I was devistated.

I have shot antelope at over 450 yards, elk at over 350 and deer at over 200 yards.

Do the calculations, then test the load to what ever you determine your max range is. Just don't go beyond your skills. Shooting from a benchrest is way different than shooting from a field rest.

Best of luck!