Thread: MatchKings for hunting?

Originally Posted by Beavis

There is a thread on snipers hide with animals of all sizes opened up pretty good.

Awesome. Got a link handy?

Seems those who have used them are happy with the performance. That was the same general theme from the yanks too, except those that hadn't used them were screaming bloody murder at the travesty of using "match bullets" on game.

They either work or they don't ... I guess some people have experience of using them

The sierra reloading manuals for the calibres I have (223, 243) have

"Sierra does not recommend MatchKing bullets for hunting applications."

printed at the bottom of the load tables on each page .... but that may just be them doing some classic ass covering ...

Originally Posted by kiwi39

They either work or they don't ... I guess some people have experience of using them

The sierra reloading manuals for the calibres I have (223, 243) have

"Sierra does not recommend MatchKing bullets for hunting applications."

printed at the bottom of the load tables on each page .... but that may just be them doing some classic ass covering ...

Read this link Sniper Use of Open-Tip Ammunition this is why Sierra say "not for hunting" it means they can keep their military contracts.

Originally Posted by stug

Read this link Sniper Use of Open-Tip Ammunition this is why Sierra say "not for hunting" it means they can keep their military contracts.

nice !! You learn something new every day !!!

Post your SMK/Match bullet kills

A few dead deers

I wouldn't recommend them, I've only used the .22 cal ones for hunting (69gn MK) goats and smaller game and would steer well away.
Pencilled through goats and even through a hare, it got up and ran off. Not good.

Originally Posted by Beavis

The 155gr Scenar also seems to be popular over there.

I would be extremely reluctant to recommend any of the Scenars for hunting.

The terminal performance I got with the 155s was abysmal, in the Rum & 308.

Generally the jackets are very tough.

They are awesomely accurate projectiles with reasonable BCs

I've heard that about the Scenars too, just putting it out there. I prefer to run A max's where possible.

2-3 years back I bought 100x 168g SMK from Sportsway for $120 (should have bought more ) On paper they were the best performing factory load in my Sako 75 308.
I pulled the SMK's out and put in 165g SGK's which were also good on paper. Both were very effective in the bush. I have since done handloads for them and they are my go-to round everytime

Originally Posted by stug

Read this link Sniper Use of Open-Tip Ammunition this is why Sierra say "not for hunting" it means they can keep their military contracts.

There is some typical dodgy lawyer logic in that.

Originally Posted by Barefoot

typical dodgy lawyer

3 words where one would do ... They're all dodgy !!!

Stug, I honestly don't think that a 23 year old legal opinion written by a military lawyer about the legalities of using projectiles in war has any bearing on their hunting performance.

Most deer (at least the ones I come across) don't wear flack jackets or body armour... At a certain point just about any projectile will fragment...

Can you kill an animal with FMJ / match ammo / add whatever you want here ? Yup
Can you find pics on the internet about animals supposedly shot with that ammo ? Yup
Does that mean it is the best choice when it comes to clean, effective kills ? Your choice...

Originally Posted by ebf

Stug, I honestly don't think that a 23 year old legal opinion written by a military lawyer about the legalities of using projectiles in war has any bearing on their hunting performance.

Most deer (at least the ones I come across) don't wear flack jackets or body armour... At a certain point just about any projectile will fragment...

Can you kill an animal with FMJ / match ammo / add whatever you want here ? Yup
Can you find pics on the internet about animals supposedly shot with that ammo ? Yup
Does that mean it is the best choice when it comes to clean, effective kills ? Your choice...

I've got a mate who claims "Id rather use a bullet that can hit a deer, even if it doesn't stop it, than use a bullet that's designed to kill it, with 'impeccable' hunting performance, and miss!"

Hehe, that's one way of looking at it depending on the type of projectiles your mate uses, guess he gets lots of practise following blood trails.

Soft points or barnes solid for me tx, I like the bang flop approach

Going from the experince of people who have used them here (in the larger cals) it's worth a shot.