Thread: Match bullets for hunting deer

Yes you can't just make statements about "match bullets" as a whole.


Poly tipped match bullets seem to work really well as a group


HPBT match bullets seem to work inconsistently as a group, but individual bullets have different characteristics

SMK don't work well
Bergers work well sometimes, poorly other times
Targex work well
Hornady BTHP seem to work inconsistently
Barnes match burners?
Nosler CC or RDF ?
Scenars?

Originally Posted by gimp

Yes you can't just make statements about "match bullets" as a whole.


Poly tipped match bullets seem to work really well as a group


HPBT match bullets seem to work inconsistently as a group, but individual bullets have different characteristics

SMK don't work well
Bergers work well sometimes, poorly other times
Targex work well
Hornady BTHP seem to work inconsistently
Barnes match burners?
Nosler CC or RDF ?
Scenars?

If we are starting a list;

TMK by all accounts work well.

Originally Posted by inglishill

If we are starting a list;

TMK by all accounts work well.

They're part of the group of "poly tipped match bullets"

haven't had a problem with Bergers yet

Another sleeper is the Norma 130 grain VLD target bullet - it made some of the most severe damage I've ever seen. Back when they were $0.40 each I shot a heap of them, but now at $1.30 or so each they are competing with the other good killing bullets.

+1 on the Scenars, I've seen them in .30 and 6.5 doing the business.

I've used
162gr amax and eld-m along with 169tmk in my 7mm08, 7mmcreed and 7mmRM with good results.
107gr smk in my 6XC
230gr berger hybrids and 230gr Atips in my 300PRC.
All have taken game past 500meters and inside 100 without any issues

I open a little bit the hollow point of the tip of my smk with a dremel pointy milling bit. I can say if it really improves things but it helps psychologically

I have used 6.5mm 139gr Scenar bullets modified according to Nathan Foster's instructions [https://www.ballisticstudies.com/Kno...a+Scenar.html].
Goats fell over at 280m OK.

Originally Posted by wazza56

haven't had a problem with Bergers yet

Same, both near and far, or with ELD-m for that matter.

https://www.nzhuntingandshooting.co....huntinf-98161/

Originally Posted by gimp

Yes you can't just make statements about "match bullets" as a whole.


Poly tipped match bullets seem to work really well as a group


HPBT match bullets seem to work inconsistently as a group, but individual bullets have different characteristics

SMK don't work well
Bergers work well sometimes, poorly other times
Targex work well
Hornady BTHP seem to work inconsistently
Barnes match burners?
Nosler CC or RDF ?
Scenars?

Lapua Scenar had a big following on the US forums for a while, look up ScenarShooter (Pat Sinclair) on 24hr Campfire, plenty of bears shot with that bullet.

However I believe Lapua have changed the design on Scenars in recent years (and price!)

Originally Posted by Oldbloke

https://www.nzhuntingandshooting.co....huntinf-98161/

Excellent! Thank you.

During the meat era (70's/80's) my go-to projectile for my first .223 was the 52 grn Sierra Match. They worked very well. They had a very hard base that you would sometimes find with a smidge of lead attached.
I wasn't the only one using them, they were quite popular with hunters who were hand loading the 222/223. You can still get them

The term ‘AMAXed’l, I believe, was invented on this forum.

Those of us who use them can attest to their performance on game.

I’ve got an unopened box of ELDMs, I assume they’ll be as good, only the tips won’t melt. :-)

I’m using eldm in a 22/250ai, 6.5 Grendel and two 6.5/06ai rifles. Kill deer from 20m to 750m. Never had any issues with them. The 147’s usually lung shots are DRT from my 06/ai’s even at 600m no tracking needed. 22/250ai out to 250m dropped two hinds on the spot couple nights back. Now in contrast the Berger hunting bullets I used to use and my brother still uses all give a nice exit hole and make deer easy to track with the blood trail. They all move off the spot they were shot with lung shots, all are dead but I prefer not to track animals if that is an option.