match bullets vs varmint

[BobW]

I've never shot match bullets at varmints. What does match do or doesn't do compared to varmint bullets. Example the 68 gr match type at around 3200 fps.

 

[kkeene]

In my experience with 223 is not to use them. No expansion, no reaction from the hit unless you are lucky, more cripples, richots are typical.

Another problem is that you see the bullet impact after it passes through the dog,behind the dog) and think you missed. You then adjust and get further off of target.

I have seen some success with 68 gr 6mm match HP's at short,less then 200 yards).

Keith

 

[dmickey]

To start with, Sierra does not recommend using their Matchking bullets for live targets,prairie dogs, rockchucks, groundhogs, etc.) They however do make the Blitzking bullet for that purpose! After trying them in my Remington 40XB Rangemaster I find that the accuracy is the same as far as I can tell!

 

[taxman]

I shoot the 40 grain Blitzking in the .223 and the 55 grain BK in my 243. Both show great accuracy, you can drive them fast with very reasonable trajectory. Results are devastating on vermin. I hit a coyote with a 40 grainer, she looked like a train hit her, dropped in her tracks. We shoot wood chucks up here in Central New York State, the Blitkings put them down hard. I have not had a lot of shooting time with match bullets on critters.

 

[CatShooter]

A fair number of guys use match bullets on varmints,and large game).

But many moons ago, a friend and I were shooting woodchucks. I was shooting Hornady 55gr SX,very thin, 9 mil, jacked soft points) from a 222 Mag.
He was shooting a 223, and using the Sierra 52gr Matchkings for the first time.

His first shot was a center hit on a chuck at ~80yds, and the chuck just looked at us very annoyed. About 10 seconds later, he just lay down and twitched his tail.

When we got to him, after a minute or two, we found a little red dot,and assumed that it was the entrance hole and that the bullet did not exit.

But a post mortum showed that the tiny dot was the exit hole - the bullet went through like an icepick at ~3300fps :, :,

Not a good thing.

He stopped using them that day, and I never considered using MatchKings in the field after that.

There are some match bullets that are very effect on varmints - the small to medium caliber A-Max bullets do well... but at the same time, the small to medium caliber "V-Maxs" are just as accurate - and I "think" that they tend to have thinner jackets in the medium bore sizes.

I do know that the 50 V-Max and the 52 A-Max have the same jackets and are just as accurate.

I "think" in the larger sizes, the A-Maxs have thicker jackets and a harder alloy for the core.

I have spoken to Hornady, and they say the jackets are all the same,20 mils), but my results in the field don't go along with that.

From Sierra, the match bullets,even the 60 gr hollow points) have very thick jackets.


.

 

[BobW]

Thanks guys, I appreciate the input. I figured that the match where too thick and wouldn't expand enough but wanted to check.

Bob

 

[PoachersPet]

Sierra 52gr Matchkings

I happen to like the bullet for varmints. That particular bullet has given me some devastating results on thousands of P dogs.

 

[tuck2]

I use the Hornady .224 52 GR BTHP Match bullet # 2249 for some years as a prairie dog shooting bullet. They open up the p dogs ok for me.

 

[KRP]

120 SMKs from the 260 will pencil right through a rockchuck, no good to me.

300 SMKs from the 338/300 will make them do some very impressive acrobatics.

My experience so far with match bullets and varmints.

I'm going to try some 120 A-maxes in the 260 and see what they'll do.

 

[CatShooter]

120 SMKs from the 260 will pencil right through a rockchuck, no good to me.

Try some of the 95 V-Maxs - not as heavy, but made out of glass - they go nuclear on arrival.

 

[2506]

I have shot a few groundhogs with my AR-15 223 9 twist with Sierra 69 gr. MK's and they blow pool ball size holes coming out. Kills every groundhog I have shot dead in it's tracks. I use to shoot the 52 gr Speer match bullet in a 220 swift for crows and when you hit one it looked like a bomb went off. Like others have said though the Sierra blitz bullets mean just that. They are accurate and they blitz anything they hit.

 

[KRP]

Try some of the 95 V-Maxs - not as heavy, but made out of glass - they go nuclear on arrival.

Yep, got some of those on the way also. I know the V-max will work. I like the idea of the heavier A-max still though if they work.

 

[olympian]

I do not think they are available anymore, but the Berger,6mm) 68gr. MEF was a great performing bullet for me. They did not group quite as well as the match 68gr., but the difference was not significant when it came to hitting fur or feathers.

For .224 caliber varmints, I love the Hornady 50gr. SX in anything with .222 Remington parentage.

 

[AckleymanII]

The 65g V max is a much better choice, and you will be very happy with the accuracy.