Thread: 64gr Sierra Gamechanger in 223 on Goats

Hi Team,

Today I went for a quick goat hunt, with the intention of testing the 64gr Sierra Gamechanger that is relatively new to the market.
From reading on the internet, the common theory appears to be that it is a harder bullet than the likes of Prohunter, Interlock and Hot-cor. Its ability to open up was often questioned.

The first and only load I developed was using 23.5gr of AR2206H. Range work for this load resulted in consistently 0.5~0.7 inch groups with my Tikka T3X 1:8 223. It was more than enough accuracy for hunting so I didn't bother trying different powder charges.

5 minutes from the car and there was a mob of 5 goats grazing 200m away. The wind was behind me, I thought goats were dumb, so took a chance and carried on stalking them anyway. They must have picked up my scent and bolted before I could get within 100m.

Few minutes later there was the cry of a goat nearby, I sat down with rifle across my lap, loaded and ready to fire. A young goat soon emerged from the bush. It must have been left behind by the main group that I spooked earlier, and was desperately screaming and searching for them. It clearly saw me, but for some reason decided to sprint towards me.

Once it got within 20m I gently squeezed the trigger, the 64gr Sierra Gamechanger dropped it on the spot. There was zero movement of the goat after it was hit.

So here are some photos. From my experience, the Gamechanger opened up noticeably more compared my regular pill of the cheap 55gr Hornady SP.
Sure, one young tender goat at 20m is not a representative sample, but based on what I saw today, I wouldn't hesitate to try it on large billies at longer ranges.

Curious to know other people's experience using the Gamechanger on game, especially in 223. If further experimenting on goats yields positive results, then I plan on using it for Sika this summer.

I'll be out for a stalk this morning with 90gr Gamechangers in my 6x45. Will report back when I get anything. They're very accurate for me with no elaborate load development.

Never assume goats are stupid... they're anything but!

I've been outsmarted by goats more often than I care to admit.

As for running toward you.... yeah... that happens a lot. We've had them run into us a number of times - I'm talking literally bouncing off our hips (or shoulders when you're kneeling to shoot) and putting you off balance as they run past you. Gets the blood flowing!

I take it you weren't able to recover any of those pills afterwards? Would be interested to see how they look.

Originally Posted by planenutz

I take it you weren't able to recover any of those pills afterwards? Would be interested to see how they look.

Unfortunately could not recover the pill. Everything was a bloody mess it was hard to see.

Originally Posted by takbok

I'll be out for a stalk this morning with 90gr Gamechangers in my 6x45. Will report back when I get anything. They're very accurate for me with no elaborate load development.

Sweet, I'd be keen to try the same pill for my 243.

Originally Posted by Synthetic

Sweet, I'd be keen to try the same pill for my 243.

Theyre a pretty long bullet arnt they, need a faster twist than most factory 243's?

I think you will find they work best with a high impact velocity, at 20m this is definitely the case. But a longer shot will mean a lower impact velocity and will likely result in them penciling through the animal.

This was my experience with the heavier pills in 264 / 284

I shot a small roe doe this morning at 70m with the 90gr TGK (1:8" twist Sako 6x45, 23gr Viht N133). Live weight would be around 15kg. My muzzle velocity is around 2550fps so impact velocity would have been about 2400fps. It dropped on the spot.

It was a quartering shot. It broke 2 ribs on entry, passed below the spine doing decent damage to both lungs and exited the opposite shoulder. Unfortunately part of the stomach burst so not the tidiest but I will take some pictures of carcass when I butcher it. I did notice a fragment of copper between some ribs which indicates that there must have been some expansion.

Out of a faster 6mm cartridge I'm sure that the bullet will work well for up to 300m or so at a guess.

I'm just trying this bullet for fun as they are cheap here. I usually use the excellent 62gr GS Custom copper bullets at 3350fps.

15kg animal with a 90gr projectile at close range?
I am surprised the whole thing did not disintegrate into red mist...

I never had any complaints about the gameking in either 55 or 64 grain but have switched to belmont 62 exclusively now.

Originally Posted by mimms2

Wondering why you didn't take the 200yd shot(s)?

Not very confident in my shooting skills

Gets confusing Sierra -- (65g SP GameKing), (64g transparent green tip GameChangers), (69g tipped MatchKings green tip).

Not sure if Sierra can improve on the 65gr. Think the tip is like what excited my mate on Barnes 55gr TSX then gave him some 55gr TTSX. Make a navy man blush with his language.Not much 55gr around so loading up some 62gr for him.You want a goat killer? Try 53gr Sierra with 26gr BM2. Head shoot all day.

Pics as promised if anyone is interested. 2 fragments seem to have broken ribs and exited close to the entry wound. The entry hole was between ribs. I threw out the damaged shoulder but could have maybe got half of the meat off it with a fair bit of trimming. Carcass was 11.5kg in the skin so live weight might have been closer to 17kg.