Pointed SMK hunting question

[370bc]

Has anyone pointed a SMK ( Im shooting 135 grain in 270 win.) and used that pointed bullet on game?
I would think that after going through the process of becoming pointed with a larger hole, that target bullet would then become a hunting bullet. Sort of an immaculate conception if you will. I would like to shoot yotes on windy days with them.
If not this process, anything else out there? The SMK's shoot wonderfully and the bc is the deal maker.
Thank you in advance.
Happy Holidays!

 

[CJ6]

I'm thinking that the pelts aren't an issue (selling them)with you,in that case what ever the rifle shoots best is what you should shoot.

 

[370bc]

I just worry about the SMK not expanding and just getting pass-throughs.
The SMK shoot the best.

 

[SteveOak]

According to Sierra your fears are well founded:

"While they are recognized around the world for record-setting accuracy, MatchKing® and Tipped MatchKing® bullets are not recommended for most hunting applications. Although MatchKing® and Tipped MatchKing® bullets are commonly used for varmint hunting, their design will not provide the same reliable explosive expansion at equivalent velocities in varmints compared to their lightly jacketed Hornet, Blitz or Varminter counterparts."

 

[Dusty Stevens]

How do they have a larger hole after pointing?

 

[Rtheurer]

Bass Akwards... Pointing a bullet makes them well.... pointy.

 

[370bc]

I might have my terminology wrong.
Is there any process available to help a MK transform into more of a Expanding bullet?
I have shot a lot of yotes with a 243 win, 85 grain HPBT with a low bc and no expansion results of say a ballistic tip.
Would placing the bullet in the shoulder area be another way of getting varmint bullet type results? Lots of bone fragmentation.

 

[Mozella]

You're thinking about Meplat Trimming. That's where you trim off the very tip of the bullet in an attempt to uniform all the bullets in an attempt to make the BC more consistent. They say it makes the BC worse by about 2%, but increases the precision (accuracy). It's normally done in a fixture with a small end mill to cut off very end of the tip in a precise way. Tools to do this cost from around fifty bucks to a hundred bucks.

The other way to achieve consistant results is to "point" the bullet, by re-forming the tiny hollow point, which tends to be different from one bullet to another, into a sharp point which, it is hoped, turns out the same for all your target bullets. That process, it is claimed, not only makes the bullets more uniform, but actually increases the BC a little bit. "Pointing" is normally done with a die in a press and, unfortunately, these dies cost quite a bit; over two hundred bucks.

All these devices are caliber specific so you have to purchase additional components if you reload more than one caliber, and some of them are bullet specific, which means you need to purchase an insert or other adapter for each caliber AND bullet size/shape. In some instances, that can get quite expensive at fifty bucks a pop for the proper insert.

Having said all that, I can't give you any specific information since I don't like to kill God's little furry creatures. I don't' think it matters much what you use for ground hog head shots but I think if you're going to kill a deer, you owe it to the animal to make the kill as humane as possible. To me, that means using hunting ammo, especially when the manufacturer says their target ammo should NOT be used on animals. I doubt if meplat trimming a target bullet is going to transform it into something suitable for hunting and I'm sure bullet pointing is the wrong approach for hunting.

 

[JohnKielly]

Think he's talking about the tipped matchking: https://www.sierrabullets.com/products/new.cfm

 

[dkhunt14]

Pointing a regular Matchking would make it worse for hunting. It would make the hole smaller and harder to expand. Now if you Meplat trimmed and used Kevin Crams tool to open the hole it might make it better. He makes a tool that cleans up the hole after trimming. It also puts a small chamfer on the end of the hole. I believe it would make it better for expansion by opening the hole. I have used the 85 Grain HPBT with good results. It has opened and made one of the best deer bullets for a 6MM. The Nosler Balistic tip has always opened reliably for me. Matt

 

[boltfluter]

The tipped MK would be the way to go. Regular HPBT will be very erratic as far as expansion goes on a coyote. One will open up and the next will pencil through. Been there, done that. You owe it to the animal to make a clean kill.

Regards, Paul

www.boltfluting.com

 

[370bc]

I bought two boxes of them a long time ago and are wanting to shoot them up. Other bullets would be better. I will probably use most of them for practicing at long range, in the wind. I have read that the 300 grain SMK worked good on animals out of a 338 lapua. I haven't chronyed my load yet, but I'm guessing 2700 fps. Im shooting a Browning Safari w/BOSS. My first smith had it for 4 1/2 years! : I really didn't need it, and I finally got serious with a deadline. He didn't make it. I took it back under his protest. He is a good smith, just not a BAR smith. You can't know everything about everything. He just had a mental block of some type. Good guy, but was crazy when it came to repairing my BAR. I took it to another place, they had it fixed in 4 1/2 weeks. ;D
Anybody needs good work done, try Midwest Gun Works in Pevely, MO. www.midwestgunworks.com

 

[dkhunt14]

I have seen the 300 grain Sierra be very erratic. Lots of pass-throughs. They zipped through deer at different ranges. As high as 50 percent or more didn't open. Now the 300 Berger Elite is another story. Good expansion and DRT. With that 338 Lapua if you go to R33 you will be able to get another 100 to 150 more with a 300 grain. It also will give great accuracy. Matt