I'm using a bolt action as my main firearm. More accurate than a semi, and cheaper.
Question:
How many pay the extra money for better ,more accurate ammo vs standard hunting ammo or FMJ?
I prefer the approach of keeping a threat at a distance with accurate, aimed fire and picking up the spray and pray firepower from persons that no longer have a use for it.
Is the premium ammo worth the price vs standard hunting ammo at ranges of 100 yds - 500 yds?
In my book Premium ammo IS hunting ammo, anything less risks the success of the hunt. FMJ is worthless for hunting, it punches pencil holes and doesnt expand, therefore it doesnt supply a clean kill. In a military situation one person shot with FMJ means two are taken out of the battle because someone needs to get the wounded soldier off the battlefield, although when dealing with fanatics, they dont care about that, they enjoy killing Americans too much. Cheap ammo is for plinking in my book, for the reasons noted.
Now with the above said, YOU really need to identify what you intend to do with the ammo. Are you looking to fill up your supplies quickly? less expensive ammo may be necessary due to time/availability/cost constraints.
Premium ammo's higher cost isn't always the result of long range accuracy. More often than not it is based on two things alone. The first is the bullet being used, and the second being consistency in the powder loading ensuring consitent velocity and pressure. What is an accurate loading in one gun at 250 yds won't necessarily be as accurate in another identical gun, so only working up an accuracy load/bullet combination for each and every gun can guarantee accuracy at any given distance. What premium ammo does for you is guarantees equal performance round to round, and better bullet performance over standard grade ammo which has more variations in loads between rounds. What this all means is more effective bullets to take down the game, and since the loading is more consistent the bullets will shoot to the same point of impact more consistently. Short range shooting with say a .30-06 this isnt likely to be as much of an issue but when you are taking those longer shots the performance of premium ammo is a major plus as you are assured that the bullet will do it's job and you know how the load will perform. Like I initally said, I wont risk a HUNT on cheaper ammo. After all you never know how far out you have to reach to take that once in a lifetime shot. AND to reiterate, if it's not simply hunting that the ammo is needed for, an excellent case can be made for less expensive ammo due to the higher amount per dollar spent aspect...
One other thing... The myth of bolt actions being more accurate is exactly that, a myth. I shoot an H&K 93 that measures out to sub 1/8th MOA. It is easy to increase the accuracy of a bolt action rifle, much easier than any other type of action, but the myth that they are inherently more accurate than a semi auto is the result of old designsand shoddy workmanship. The next point is a rifle has to be in pretty bad shape regardless of action type for it to not be able to outshoot 99 out of 100 shooters. After all minute of dead is still minute of dead. Be it squirrel deer or insurgent.
I hope this helps you rather than confuses, I'm in a situation where I have defensive firearms and hunting firearms, so it's really a non issue for myself in that the defensive ammo is much less expensive, allowing me to stock up on both...
Oh wait I forgot I sold all my guns to put gas in the car, yeah thats right, Did you hear that secret polizi?
