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No, but only because its illegal in most all states. Teddy Roosevelt killed lots of game with FMJs and so did a lot of others before cup and core bullets became popular. Again, check out ballisticstudies.com and the field research that the author has done on wound channels, bullet effectiveness and optimal calibers for one shot kills on large feral hogs and other critters, including and up to water buffalo.
Mainly small children suffering from malnutrition and pregnant women perhaps.
Pretty much correct. I use Gamekings, HotCors, Prohunters and Speer or Nosler boat tails. Each is designed for the job of killing game reliably, but as to 'anecdotes', these personal experiences are eye witness accounts, and are more accurate than not. I really don't like the bonded type of bullet, both due to cost, and also, I've found that the traditional bullets work just fine, as long as you're staying in their velocity ranges, which I try to keep between a MV of 2550 fps and 3200 fps. I've shot antelope with a 200 grain Sierra Gameking at 200 yards from a 30-06 (mv of 2600+) and had an exit wound the size of a tennis ball every time I used that load. I've used it in a 300 WinMag at a nominal velocity of 2900fps and pretty much killed everything I shot DRT. The Speer, Nosler and Sierra hunting bullets are just as accurate as most match bullets in comparable weights, and they are designed to take game. But the guy in New Zealand who has tested extensively both match and game bullets in calibers ranging from .224 up to .458 has some good things to say about match bullets for hunting with caviats according to diameter and brand. His site is at www.ballisticstudies.com, and he's done years of wound studies as a guide and hunter there.
I had that problem with the Nosler Ballistic Tip 180 grain .308 when it first came out. I shot it in a 300 winmag and it was just too soft for shots inside 75 yards or so. It worked great beyond that, though. They've since corrected this, and it will exit on deer if shot at 20 yards or less, now.
That's correct. They're not. FMJ bullets are designed specifically to wound, not to kill outright like a game bullet. Closed point match bullets are designed to do the same thing as FMJ bullets, but at longer ranges and with greater accuracy. Open tip and tipped match bullets will mushroom, which is why they were restricted from use in combat until recently. I was in the 25th, 2nd, 1st, 4th, 24th, and 101st Inf. Divs. 20 years in the Infantry, and I'd do it again.
While I agree with your recommendation on a better bullet I do not harvest game, I know it's the PC version of shooting game, but I hate the PC version.
Very good points. There are several states which don't allow match bullets for hunting big game. One needs to know the law and the restrictions in the state where one hunts. That's why I don't use match bullets to hunt. But the Sierra, Nosler and Speer hunting bullets I use are 1 1/4" 5 shot groups or smaller at 100 yards, and I have grouped them out to 600 and 800 yards depending on caliber, showing they are suffeciently accurate at those distances for hunting. I try to stay within 500 yards for my shots on game, though.Well just another example of placing a bullet, doesn't matter what size in into the boiler room of an animal does what it is supposed to do, wreak havoc with the organs that sustain life. A .22 long rifle could have done the same thing given a reasonable range and shot. Bullets kill by disrupting the function of major organs, doesn't matter if that happened with a .22 long rifle (which many poachers can attest to) or .458 Winchester magnum. The only difference is how much of the target animal is desecrated by the impact of the bullet. Here in Wisconsin it is verbotten to shoot at any game with either FMJ or Match hollow points. If a warden had checked and found that you had shot the deer with an illegal bullet you could have lost the deer, your rifle and anything else connected with your illegal hunt to include your car or truck that transported you to your field destination. Your ability to hunt for many years could have been taken away with the same speed your bullet traveled to the target . While I congratulate you for your harvest, I also chastise you for shooting illegally . Good hunting ammo costs somewhere between $30 an $70 these days. Cheap compared to what it could have cost you. Also keep in mind that your words here stating that you most likely broke the law where you were hunting can come back and bite you in your behind when a warden or police officer reads it. All for the want of a good hunting bullet.
I can assure you I wasn't trying to be PC. It was just a word that came into my mind. Aren't you harvesting the venison to eat?
