I want to work up an elk load using a limited number of 180 grain Swift A-frame bullets I have on hand. Then I would like to practice out to 400 yards. I don’t have enough A-frames to do all of that.

I have read that once in awhile two different bullets turn out to shoot to the same place, and when one is a cheap (and available!) bullet it allows for pretty close sighting in and a lot of practice without using up the hunting bullets. Anybody know if the 180 Swift has a ballistic twin for practice, that is available to buy?

I have some Hornadies, Noslers and Barnes if I need to go to plan B, but the 180 A-frame is my first choice based on decades of experience with them.

Well, not exactly a cheap practice bullet these days, but in my .30-06 I load the 180 gr. A-Frame with 56.5 gr. H4350 and the 180 gr. Partition with 57.0 gr. H4350.

YMMV

SAF supposedly has G1 of .4. The Speer GS (G1 .374) would be pretty close. If you can find Rem PSPCLs they'd be good, too (G1 approx .37).

You might have to adjust zero, but flight paths should be pretty close.

Load a bullet with a similar BC to the same velocity, and you're good. The trick is to match the trajectory, zero for your practice load and train all summer, then re-zero for your A-Frame load and go hunting.

If you're talking about .308" bullets, then the 180-grain .308" A-Frame has a BC of 0.40. The Hornady .308” 150-grain FMJ (#3037) has a BC of .398—more than close enough—plus it's cheap and available. Match velocities, tweak for accuracy, and you’re done.

You don't need to train with the same rifle or cartridge if the trajectories match. For instance, my 30-06 shoots well with a 180-grain Hornady flat-base spitzer (#3070). I was short on #3070s going into a bear hunt last year, so I did most of my train-up with 168-grain Hornady Boat Tail Hollow Point Match bullets (#30501) in a 308 with a load that matched the 30-06 trajectory with #3070. I left the 308 at home and killed a bear with one shot from my 30-06 at 353 yards.

And telling that story just reminded me to go get another batch of bear-meat sausage out of the freezer.


Okie John

For what it's worth I've found that 180 grain Nosler Partitions and 180 grain Sierra Gamekings definitely shoot to the same point of impact.

In my experience getting two different bullets of the same weight to shoot to the same place depends more on the rifle than anything else.

But as a cheaper practice substitute for the 180 A-Frame would suggest the Speer Hot-Cor, with the soft-nose filed down to the jacket.

In my 30-06 and 300 Win Mags, the Hornady 180 Spire Point, Nosler Partitions, and Aframes all shot to the same point of aim with the same load up to 200 yards. Never really tried them further than that.

Yep, speer grand slam 180 would be a close match. Similar shape and bc.

Thanks for the good info with specifics to try.

I've been away for a couple of days, camping and scouting a myriad of new logging roads in an area my son and I plan to hunt this Fall.