Buffalobob
Well-Known Member
As I said, it seems the collective wisdom on this forum that every bullet manufactured has failed for some one at some time.
Me personally, I have not used the SMKs on any game but I have used the Hornady mnatch bullets and had very disasterous experiences with them and would never use them again for hunting. A 7mm Hornady 162 HPBT is a thing of great joy while in the air, but a disaster when it lands. I am aware of people who have different views and I do not argue with their expereinces.
What I have personally used sucessfully is the old faithful Nosler partition (there are people who say it has failed too). For ranges under 500 yds it has acceptable levels of accuracy and BC is of little concern at those ranges.
Beyond 500 yds You start to need all of the BC you can get. There are a number of elk hunting stories by people who shoot 300Win Mags. Review those and make your own judgement. I would remind you that Sierra makes a really fine 240 gr SMK with a BC of about 0.711 and that the extra weight and BC at ranges of 1000 yds or more will really help.
I will add this thought. I am currently in a holding pattern on building a long range elk gun and the choice is between a 7mm and a 30-378. If I have built the 30-378 it will be to shoot the 240SMK. There is enouogh collective experience on the forum to convince me that it will work once you get it down range a ways. For the under 500 yds shots I would use the 200 gr Accubond.
As far as shot placement goes what you personally believe does not always translate into what happens. Stuff happens and as the range increases more stuff happens.
Me personally, I have not used the SMKs on any game but I have used the Hornady mnatch bullets and had very disasterous experiences with them and would never use them again for hunting. A 7mm Hornady 162 HPBT is a thing of great joy while in the air, but a disaster when it lands. I am aware of people who have different views and I do not argue with their expereinces.
What I have personally used sucessfully is the old faithful Nosler partition (there are people who say it has failed too). For ranges under 500 yds it has acceptable levels of accuracy and BC is of little concern at those ranges.
Beyond 500 yds You start to need all of the BC you can get. There are a number of elk hunting stories by people who shoot 300Win Mags. Review those and make your own judgement. I would remind you that Sierra makes a really fine 240 gr SMK with a BC of about 0.711 and that the extra weight and BC at ranges of 1000 yds or more will really help.
I will add this thought. I am currently in a holding pattern on building a long range elk gun and the choice is between a 7mm and a 30-378. If I have built the 30-378 it will be to shoot the 240SMK. There is enouogh collective experience on the forum to convince me that it will work once you get it down range a ways. For the under 500 yds shots I would use the 200 gr Accubond.
As far as shot placement goes what you personally believe does not always translate into what happens. Stuff happens and as the range increases more stuff happens.
