69SMK's use for hunting

[chriswillis87]

Just wanting to know does anyone use 69gr Sierra Match kings for hunting use aswell. I use them in my savage 223 and it shoots great, at 100m they shoot under half moa they really suit the rifle, but are they any good for hunting?

 

[BradY]

I have used 69gr Nosler Custom competitions out of a 10 twist 22BRX. At 3364fps they do expand well, but on smaller targets like foxes, they will punch through without doing much damage. Ive rolled a fox before at around 200m, watched it lay dead still for a couple of seconds through the scope, then twitch and get on its front legs and drag itself away. For larger animals that have tougher skins, such as wild pigs, they have performed brilliantly.

But you would have to at least do some penetration and expansion trials to see about the SMK's they arent rated for hunting- you may be better off with a 60gr partition or 55gr gameking if your hunting lighter skinned animals, ballistic tips or varmint hollow points for varmints and if you want to tackle bigger animals, then look at going up in calibre.

 

[Johnboy]

if it was a bigger cal and weight I would say go for it.but with a 223 I would go with a hunt'n bullet or even a vld.and if your barrel will shoot a 75 grainer I would try an A-max.but this is just an opinion.but I do know that smks work in a 308 for hunt'n.

 

[2506]

It all depends on what you want to hunt with them. I have shot some groundhogs with the 69 Sierra MK from my AR in the 100 to 150 yards range and it really does a good job. Exits are about the size of a golf ball from body hits and head shots are really explosive. I shoot 25.3 grs Varget for about 2750 fps. This is my target load that is very accurate.