NBT's Or SMK's???

[Asscott4]

Well at the end of the month i'm going to go up North and shoot some prairie dogs. Question is should I use some 125gr NBT's or should I use my favorite load, 210 SMK's? Im sure the NBT will provide a nice explosion especially at about 3900FPS but the shots will be any where from 100 to 500 yards. Im leaning on the 210's because of the distance and high BC. Any advice will be greatly appreciated! Thanks again! Oh in case you guys are wondering im shooting a .300RUM. Yeah I understand this is way over kill but this is my long range target/varmint rifle. I will also be bringing either my .308 like I did last year or my 6.5-284.
-Cody

 

[pdog06]

Dont use the SMK's... They will not expand on impact like the NBT's will, and will ricochet like crazy! You could always use the Sierra game king,which has more expansion and is basically a SMK with a tip), or Hornady Amax.

 

[RJinTexas]

Two of my shooting buddies wanted to use their 308's for their long range PD gun and asked me to develop a load for them. I've found that NBT's pushed by 50.0 to 51.0 grains of WW 748 has shot excellent in every 308 I've tried it in. This bullet expands well even on PD's. One of these men still shoots between 350 to 500 rounds through his 308 every trip and has taken dogs with this load out beyond 1200yds. I once seen him string eight in a row at 500 yds. Yes I know all about how dirty WW 748 leaves the barrel but don't try and tell me that there's anything that will shoot much better. I've witnessed this load being used with great results for the past six years.

Regards
RJ

 

[Preacher]

NBT's hands down..... SMK's are to risky on critters to be dependable.....

 

[Ackman]

A full grown prairie dog weighs maybe 2lbs or so, and you're talking about shooting them out to about 500yds? A 210gr match bullet would be flatout ridiculous. Even shooting them with 125's is silly, and I believe the 125BT is a hunting bullet not constructed for varmints. But most of all..... a .300RUM is right up there with the very worst of the worst choices for shooting pds.

 

[Asscott4]

I know its not the best choice for shooting PD but hell why not? Just wanna try it out and see what it does. If it doesn't work then I will just shoot them with my .223 or my 6.5x284. I was just wondering if any one had used any of these bullets on PDs, but thanks for every ones inputs.

 

[TRECustom]

The impact area would worry me. Flat ground and a big fast bullet on a varmint that isn't even going to slow it down is just too risky. Ricochets are unpredictable and truly dangerous.

I don't think it matters which bullet as far as a kill goes, but I would opt for a light bullet in a smaller caliber for peace of mind. No question the Rum will do the job, but how far might it go, and what else might it hit? A smaller, lighter bullet can also ricochet, but it might fragment in the critter, and if not, it will still shed velocity and energy a lot quicker than a big, high B/C bullet.

Just my opinion. Good hunting, Tom

 

[Ackman]

It's not so much a matter of 'not the best choice,' more that it's one of the very worst possible choices. Shooting offhand isn't the same as from a rest. Burning 90gr powder those guns just kick the crap out of you from a rest, which is how you'll be shooting pd's. Barrels get real hot after just a few rounds. And you won't see any hits. But have fun.... it's your rifle and your shoulder and you'll learn real quick.

 

[killahog]

Why is there always someone who wants to be a teacher in every thread?. I was limited to shooting PD's for about 3 years using the smk's because they shot so much more accurate than any other bullet. They do skip across the ground but who is out there in the prairie anyway if your not sure whats behind the target you shouldn't shoot any bullet. I actually liked watching them skipping and curving to the right The problem with shooting them is the fact that you will pencil thru the PD's and they will run in there hole. I smacked one at 1100 yards with my 25-06AI and rolled it but it got in the hole so I could not confirm the kill. With the price of bullets today I would shoot whats in my inventory first.

 

[Asscott4]

It's not so much a matter of 'not the best choice,' more that it's one of the very worst possible choices. Shooting offhand isn't the same as from a rest. Burning 90gr powder those guns just kick the crap out of you from a rest, which is how you'll be shooting pd's. Barrels get real hot after just a few rounds. And you won't see any hits. But have fun.... it's your rifle and your shoulder and you'll learn real quick.

Well alright I see what you are saying but on a normal day when I go out and 'shoot' I put any where from 20-35 rounds of .300Rum down range. I never shoot from a standing position either. To me the gun doesnt 'kick the crap out of me' from a bench or from shooting prone. No matter what I shoot it will be fun. And like I said before if I dont like how it shoots PD's then I will just go back to my .308, .223, .22-250, or my .243. I have plenty of options.... but hey thanks for the 'help'

 

[patchhound]

Save the SMK`s for punch`in paper, they are not much fun in the pdog patch. If you want some real fun use the lite varmint bullets. I use a Hor. 100hp in my 7saum and @ 3600fps they SMOKE pdogs. Shoots sub .5 past 300yrds. I dont know how a varmint bullet would shoot in a factoy 300RUM or if they`de even make it down the tube but if all fails you got the Nos bt.

 

[Asscott4]

Right on thank you! I appreciate the info! Oh and thank you for not making it such a big deal about me shooting a .300rum.

 

[cold_hunter]

Im no expert by any measure but here is my expierience. I shoot 100gr. SMK's out of my 2506 and up to 500yds. they are a blast on PD's. I have even pulled off a tripple or two. I guess match your bullet to the range and the game. Coyotes hate it when i drag that old gun to the field cause there is no place to hide and I love to see the red mist.

 

[people]

I met a guy from PA and he was using a 300WSM with I think 190gr SMK bullets. Any way he wanted to get into the Varmint hunters 1,000 yd club. He did make it that trip. Something like 1,025 or close to it.

I have seen PD shot with some 165gr SP bullets from very close range to just over 300yds. They did not blow near as nicely as my 22-250 was doing but dead is dead.

With all that being said I have even shot one with my 50BMG at 200yds. Yea I will not do that again. In the words of Bart Simpson 'That was craptacular!'. It was the opposite of cool.

I say if you have it shoot it. What good does it do you if it is in the closet?

 

[Asscott4]

I met a guy from PA and he was using a 300WSM with I think 190gr SMK bullets. Any way he wanted to get into the Varmint hunters 1,000 yd club. He did make it that trip. Something like 1,025 or close to it.

I have seen PD shot with some 165gr SP bullets from very close range to just over 300yds. They did not blow near as nicely as my 22-250 was doing but dead is dead.

With all that being said I have even shot one with my 50BMG at 200yds. Yea I will not do that again. In the words of Bart Simpson 'That was craptacular!'. It was the opposite of cool.

I say if you have it shoot it. What good does it do you if it is in the closet?

HAh that is just awesome. Yeah i'm with you if you have it use it and see what it can do. Thats some pretty crazy stuff shooting a .50 cal at a PD lol.