Sierra matchking performance on game

[can1010]

we go through this every year. ignore the internet BS about it is a match bullet. same thing with Berger if you use the proper twist or even faster and make sure the tip is open then you cant even tell the difference on game between the two.

nice deer and write up with pics. keep it going

 

[Calvin45]

I know of quite a few on here using match bullets for hunting including TMK's. I have 500 each in 7mm and 30 cal SMK's for long range practice. I'm also interested in results on game.
Appears your deer is decidely dead or nicely cooperating for a photo. Nice buck!
Keeping an open mind....

I have no problem with the use of either but will say the tmk is a much better choice as the big plastic tip is covering a massive hollow point compared to the original match king. Will upset for sure. Myself, I wouldn't trust matchkings if I had pretty much any other bullet available

 

[Eyemakecalls2]

I've used them without failure for years :^)

 

[Petersen]

As mentioned above, any match style bullet used in hunting should have the tip worked over to make sure it is open. It is common to find one or two in each box where the cavity is not open on. these are set aside for paper, or shooting rocks.

Distance you are shooting and associated muzzle velocity at impact is extremely important. I believe the SMK has a little thicker jacket then others advertised for hunting, and we see thicker jacketed bullets fail at lower velocities where they resist to opening up. They can also be less forgiving when shot placement is off.

I have used them in the 300 gr. SMK, but not considering using them in any other application (non-tipped versions). As said above, that 300smk was the only option for a length of time in the big 338s. I have also tried the 300 gr. berger EH recently, I like the better BC and it dropped a bull in his tracks at 730 yards, but I've also done the same thing with 300 SMK on bull elk.

Just my preference, if others feel good about other applications w/SMKs, party on and do your thing. The tipped varieties may be better to ensure the bullet opens consistently and at lower velocities.

The original post is a 180 yard shot in the vitals. I'd be surprised if any bullet would fail in that case. Credit to the hunter for making a good shot at close range.

 

[DoneNOut]

Not an SMK, but a match bullet, 168 Amax 308 WIN, 2400fps impact velocity on boar. Shot through front shoulder, jellied the boiler room and caught in hide opposite shoulder.
Dang near perfect in my book!

 

[nbacguy69]

People need to read up on this topic,seems that match bullets will perform as well as some of the quality hunting bullets on the market,I dont shoot them at game,but if they were all i had,i would probably still be eating some venison backstrap,there is a lot of info on this topic...read it and be amazed.....thats all i got today

 

[DesertBoy]

My dad harvested this AZ black bear @ 1046yds, 300 gr SMK, 2850 Muzzle Velocity out of his .338 Edge. Bear was probably around 380#/ just under 20" skull. One shot right in the crease, bear ran 20 yards and it was all over. I remember I had my 15's on him when bullet impacted, and the energy wave was impressive.

 

[Lapuatom]

i use the 300gr SMK's in my 338 Lapua for elk,,,,, batting 1000! Makes huge,nasty exit holes. And full freezers,lol

 

[GREATSCOTT!]

Not a SMK this time, but my 14 year old son killed his first blacktail with a Berger 200gr Hybrid at 765 yards from a 300 Sherman Short Mag. These pics are post-entry. First shot perfectly behind the shoulder dropped him in his tracks, left a golf-ball sized exit would. His head started flopping back and forth, so he anchored him with another at the neck-shoulder junction, this time about a ping pong-sized exit wound, and that was all she wrote. No mazzive explosion, sending lead dust throughout the edible meat. We found the second bullet in two pieces, mangled but still retained 80% of its weight. Fyi in case you're tempted to object, he's been training at distance on steel and animals since he could take instruction; about 6 years old.

Our data proves as long as we ensure the hollow points are unobstructed by running a properly sized drill bit down the hollow point without changing the tip, the target bullets stay together better than the fragile-jacketed hunters, therefore, have been better relied on for game when hit even in the biggest bone. We don't worry about trying to avoid bone, we put it in the bone, and our data proves they kill more proficiently and faster than any "hunting" bullet we've used; they fly and carry better at distance on big game. The .308 and .338 cal SMKs have got it done just as well given the same above criteria. But don't take my word for it; Shawn Carlock of Defensive Edge has also proven this data on far more game than I've killed.

 

[HRM Johnny]

To: @GREATSCOTT!
Congratulations to your son! Thanks for posting this. Thanks for the excellent pictures.

 

[Hunt_4life]

Not a SMK this time, but my 14 year old son killed his first blacktail with a Berger 200gr Hybrid at 765 yards from a 300 Sherman Short Mag. These pics are post-entry. First shot perfectly behind the shoulder dropped him in his tracks, left a golf-ball sized exit would. His head started flopping back and forth, so he anchored him with another at the neck-shoulder junction, this time about a ping pong-sized exit wound, and that was all she wrote. No mazzive explosion, sending lead dust throughout the edible meat. We found the second bullet in two pieces, mangled but still retained 80% of its weight. Fyi in case you're tempted to object, he's been training at distance on steel and animals since he could take instruction; about 6 years old.
View attachment 310673
View attachment 310674

Our data proves as long as we ensure the hollow points are unobstructed by running a properly sized drill bit down the hollow point without changing the tip, the target bullets stay together better than the fragile-jacketed hunters, therefore, have been better relied on for game when hit even in the biggest bone. We don't worry about trying to avoid bone, we put it in the bone, and our data proves they kill more proficiently and faster than any "hunting" bullet we've used; they fly and carry better at distance on big game. The .308 and .338 cal SMKs have got it done just as well given the same above criteria. But don't take my word for it; Shawn Carlock of Defensive Edge has also proven this data on far more game than I've killed.

You couldn't ask for better shot placement & bullet performance. Good job

 

[canyonhunter]

View attachment 310453Hi all. Wasn't able to find much info on this subject before my general deer season started on nov 8 so I decided to test out the matchkings on deer. I'm shooting a 183 smk from a 26" 7 wsm @ 2860. I shot this big bodied whitetail at 180 yd impact velocity 2575 fps. It had a tiny entrance hole and the exit was 3-4" in diameter. This is my biggest buck so I'm glad I could test the load out on something other than a doe. I hit about 2" further back than I should've but that because i held wind when I shouldn't have. Ran 50yd with a great blood trail. I'm hoping to test it out on something past 500 yd. I will get some pictures of the entrance and exit wounds later today. Please post your experiences with smks and hunting on here. Thanks for your comments

 

[canyonhunter]

Well sounds like your bullet pounded the buck , I wonder how he ran any distance at all. As for your wind call, I am sure we all get a little beat up on windage from time to time .

 

[Chas1]

Hmmm one shot, complete pass through, big exit wound, dead deer. Sounds like it performed just like a "hunting" bullet is supposed to.

+1. Congratulations, a really nice deer.