Question about commercial ammo + original sights for 03A3

Sorry if this has already been covered (I called myself searching, but wasn't able to find the info I'm looking for).

I would like to hunt with my 03A3 next year and have not yet made the leap into reloading. With that in mind...

What commercially available ammo is there that is appropriate for hunting (whitetail deer) AND comes really close to the ballistics intended for use with the original sights? (I hope that made sense)

In other words, could I run down to wally world, grab a box of 180gr Joe Manufacturer's 30-06 ammo, set the rear sight to the 200yd mark and have a good chance that it will actually be on at that mark (then out to 300, etc)?

John

The 03A3 I believe was designed to fire M2 ball ammunition. M2 consists of a 150 grain, flat-based, pointed bullet with a muzzle velocity of roughly 2800 fps. Of course you wouldn't want to hunt with a pointed FMJ bullet, but if you can find a hunting round with a 150 grain, pointed soft point with a muzzle velocity around 2800 fps then your sights should be pretty close. If you go to the ammunition manufacturer's websites you should be able to find this information.

daveboy

Thanks! That's what I was looking for.

Remington Core loc, 150 grn, work very nicely for deer, 180 GRN is over kill and hard on the shooter and stock.

I'll second Chuck's suggestion. Rem core locs have killed a LOT of deer.

I can add my "thirds" to the use of Remington bullets. My rancher dad used a 1903 for 25 years after WWII as his one and only centerfire rifle. He didn't reload and bought 100 rounds of surplus M2 annually for use on coyotes. When hunting season arrived, he usually bought a box of factory Remington, Core-Lock or Bronze Points, for mule deer and antelope hunting. His thinking was that both loads, being 150 gr should shoot to the same elevation on his iron sighted rifle. He wasn't above shooting at a coyote past 300 yards.

My son and I later proved this to be true when shooting the old rifle again.