New Sierra MatchKings!

[midnightmalloy]

Well, although Berger somehow did an amazing job of supplying the reloading community with bullets during the Obama years, about half of their advertised products are currently unavailable from the vast majority of retailers. Regardless of how good a bullet performs, it's no good if you can't buy it. I hope Sierra takes note.

One issue retailers have with berger is they cost more so the cost of holding inventory is higher....and most hunters (the averages) show they still want partitions and game kings. Especially stocking certain bullets that need special twist rates is very difficult. What do you think the ratio in sales is between a 30 cal 165 gr nosler partition and a 30 cal 230 gr hybrid? Retailers want to make money and can't have inventory sit forever. It's best to order specialty equipment online. Hell I have never walked into almost any store that stocked barrels and actions!

 

[midnightmalloy]

Also I wish Sierra had some high BC bullets for caliber that could be recommended on game! As of now all theirs state "for target/varmint use only"

 

[Buck Buster]

I will be watching closely the results as they come in related to shot group at longer ranges. I have two 30 cal. magnums, a 300 win. and a 308 Norma magnum. They like the Amax bullets now. I sort of hope they don't shoot better than them, because I just loaded up with them, because they quite making them. The Amax beat out the 190 BTHP Sierra match king by over 1" at 300 yards when I was testing them back in the late 90s for my Norma. I must say that they sure ought to be better with them kind of BCs. If they are, wallet deflating time again! Thank you very much 96. Good luck hunting and be safe.

 

[Bravo 4]

I have used .284, .308 and .338 caliber Matchkings on large game (deer/elk). Will leave the 7mm/.30's on the range, but the .338's are another animal all together. I haven't had anything but great success with them, from under 100 yards to out past 1400. They are the first thing I try in every .338 I've loaded for. A buddy of mine with several large chamber .338's uses them with great success as well.
Just like a Berger, making sure the tips are opened would probably cure a lot of the "penciling" you hear about.

 

[elkaholic]

I have used .284, .308 and .338 caliber Matchkings on large game (deer/elk). Will leave the 7mm/.30's on the range, but the .338's are another animal all together. I haven't had anything but great success with
them, from under 100 yards to out past 1400. They are the first thing I try in every .338 I've loaded for. A buddy of mine with several large chamber .338's uses them with great success as well.
Just like a Berger, making sure the tips are opened would probably cure a lot of the "penciling" you hear about.

That is interesting about the 338's being a different animal! I have heard of other people that swear by them for hunting. I tested the 30's quite a bit and they would not open. Maybe it is just enough more frontal area or a larger hollow (void)? Did you ever recover any? What kind of wound channel?....rich

 

[Pdvdh]

Same here. 338 300gr MK is a killer performer on large game. That's the word on the street...

 

[Bravo 4]

I have recovered 2 from elk:
1. 750'ish (don't remember exact), broadside-behind shoulder, found under hide on opposite side, great mushroom
2. 1006, through shoulder, found under hide on opposite side, this one took a beating and was almost flat. Probably lost 1/3 weight, going off memory.
.338 Edge @ 2850fps, 21.5 baro, 32 degrees

 

[elkaholic]

That's good (meaningful) info
Thanks for the post....rich

 

[Bravo 4]

Have been nothing but impressed with terminal performance, and external ballistics aren't bad either.
Accurate in everything I've put them through. As a matter of fact, I need to go run some through my new .338 RUM barrel.

 

[elkaholic]

Have been nothing but impressed with terminal performance, and external ballistics aren't bad either.
Accurate in everything I've put them through. As a matter of fact, I need to go run some through my new .338 RUM barrel.

The fact that you recovered a couple at those ranges tells me something (positive)

 

[CA48]

300 SMKs have performed well on game for me as well. Most of my experiences are with deer and hogs. Shot an 80lb doe once with a 300SMK at 455yds. She didn't appear hit and I didn't hear that distinct thud as I watched the shot through my scope. She ran 100 yards and dropped. As I walked up on her I saw the exit, shot her in the heart and the exit side had baseball sized hole, not sure how she ran so far but most deer that get hit with the SMK are DRT. I originally thought it had pinholed her as I would expect on on a shot like that but the .338 SMK seem to open up just fine even at 100 yds on small game and have been devestating on the dense muscle and cartlidge of big boars.

 

[FEENIX]

This does not make my 7mm vs 300 build any easier

You gotta love choices. Don't make it hard on yourself, pick one and go for it. You know it is not going to be your last build. Between the two, I'd go for the .300 WM but that is just me.

Cheers!

 

[Bravo 4]

The fact that you recovered a couple at those ranges tells me something (positive)

I just wonder how a tipped version would act? If only there was a guy on here that had the knowledge and capability to perform such an action.

 

[Creedmoor shooter]

You gotta love choices. Don't make it hard on yourself, pick one and go for it. You know it is not going to be your last build. Between the two, I'd go for the .300 WM but that is just me.

Cheers!

I think I'm just picking the 7mm and going for it. Twisted to run the 180 eld and 183 smk. I dont plan on shooting big critters at a super long distance so i think the 7mm is a better fit for me. It will be mainly for long range targets and whitetails/ black bears and for If I ever make it out west. If I was building a elk rifle or something like that then yeah it would definitely be a 300.