What about 6.5 140-142 Matchkings for hunting Deer-Elk
- Thread starter brianc74
- Start date
I suppose one could, but why hunt with an ice pick designed for punching paper when so many very capable hunting bullets are available? Some will advocate the use of a certain brand of hunting VLD that is nothing more than a thin jacketed target bullet. Being an ethical hunter will get you invited into a lot of hunting camps.
Good luck on your choice.
Good luck on your choice.
Try the GameKing bullets from Sierra, Accubond or Partition from Nosler, Scirocco, etc.
There is no shortage of excellent, aerodynamic bullets out there meant for hunting. I hunt every year in the west and have never felt the need for a 1000 yd. bullet. It sounds as if you might be trying to kill at extended ranges. For the sake of the animal please be sure you can make solid, centered hits at the ranges you are thinking of EVERY time, on demand, regardless of the conditions (which often times are not even close to ideal). If the shot does not present itself, do what it takes to make it better (otherwise known as stalking) or pass on the shot.
Hope all goes well for you!
There is no shortage of excellent, aerodynamic bullets out there meant for hunting. I hunt every year in the west and have never felt the need for a 1000 yd. bullet. It sounds as if you might be trying to kill at extended ranges. For the sake of the animal please be sure you can make solid, centered hits at the ranges you are thinking of EVERY time, on demand, regardless of the conditions (which often times are not even close to ideal). If the shot does not present itself, do what it takes to make it better (otherwise known as stalking) or pass on the shot.
Hope all goes well for you!
The SMK's are not designed for hunting and say so right on the box. They don't open reliably and are not anything I would take hunting when there are so many other good choices available that are designed specifically for use on game.
Look into the Accu-Bond. They have a decent BC and are designed to use on game.
Even Remington Core-Lokt's would be on my list far above a SMK.
But whatever you do, use a hunting bullet when hunting. There is no benefit to using a match bullet. It will only increase your chances of losing game and ruining your whole hunt.
Remember, you are hunting live animals, not paper. They suffer if you make a wrong choice.
Look into the Accu-Bond. They have a decent BC and are designed to use on game.
Even Remington Core-Lokt's would be on my list far above a SMK.
But whatever you do, use a hunting bullet when hunting. There is no benefit to using a match bullet. It will only increase your chances of losing game and ruining your whole hunt.
Remember, you are hunting live animals, not paper. They suffer if you make a wrong choice.
I personally have stopped using SMK for hunting. I agree with Kenny474, you don't want an animal to suffer because you picked a bad bullet for hunting. I used to use them on varmints, but after shooting a g-hog with a 6br with 70smk 3 times, and having to walk over to it and finish it off with a pistol, I stopped using them right then and there. I have killed two deer with SMK, and if you don't hit them solid in a big bone, and up close range wise, they will not open up. luckily both of mine were broken down right there on the spot. the farther you shoot and velocity drops off, the more likely they don't expand. So if you decide to use them, I hope you have a good tracking dog, and plenty of time. there are plenty of other bullets out there.
As mentioned before I would try the Sierra Gameking. I shoot the 85 gr. in my .243 when switching to deer and it's about as accurate as a Matchking and opens up reliably (at least all of mine have).
That VLD is nothing more than a thin jacketed target bullet. What was it Barnes said about the so called VLD Hunting bullet made by Berger? I believe it was something like "unethical and careless".DogBuster said:
Any of the properly constructed hunting bullets will serve you and your quarry well. Swift A frame, Nosler partition, Nosler AB, Barnes TSX and TTSX, etc. etc.
From what I saw on the 4 deer that I killed last season with my 264 Win mag the 130 Nosler Accubond is one fine game bullet that I would not hesitate to use on deer and elk out of a 6.5 . It flies like a ballistic tip and starts to open up like on but holds together like the partition and keeps on trucking.
Accubonds are accurate but they are junk as hunting bullet. Shoot partitions or try the barnes ttsx or tsx.
Nope no beef at all. I use Nosler bullets all the time, mainly partitions. The problem I have with Accubonds is that I used them a few years ago on an elk hunt. The load was a 7mm 160gr Ac loaded for my .280 rem. I shot a bull elk at a lazered 150 yrds and to my dismay the bullet came apart on his shoulder ...3 times. I recovered the shrapnell from the bullet that i finished him with . The "bonded" bullet had come apart in a bunch of pieces.Little to no penetration and not very humane in my eyes.The Accubond is very accurate, i don't dispute that one bit but the experience i had with them was my last. Just my opinion but when you talk Elk bullets I'm a firm believer than penatration is a must. Just my opinion , but I'm entiled to it. Post # 2 complete.
Wby did extensive research on the bullets they use in their hunting ammunition and the results are a little surprising. They found the Nosler Ballistic tip retained 50% of the original weight, which for deer is okay, but not for elk. (I always used NBT in the past and this year am trying the Sierra Game Kings, hoping for better penetration.) The Nosler Accubonds retained 60-70% of original weight. The Nosler Partition retained 65-70% of original weight, not much better than the Accubond. Not sure how anyone can conclude the Partition is the golden bullet and the Accubond is junk. I wouldn't hesitiate to use either one of them on elk, but probably neither on deer at the less than 100-150 yard distances that most people kill deer at.
The real surprise in the Wby results is the Hornady Interlock. This very inexpensive bullet retained 70-80% of the original weight. Not surprisingly the Barnes TSX retained 100% of original weight. Does that make it the ideal hunting bullet? Many would argue no, because some fragmentation is a good thing unless you are hunting dangerous game and taking head shots.
The real surprise in the Wby results is the Hornady Interlock. This very inexpensive bullet retained 70-80% of the original weight. Not surprisingly the Barnes TSX retained 100% of original weight. Does that make it the ideal hunting bullet? Many would argue no, because some fragmentation is a good thing unless you are hunting dangerous game and taking head shots.
Otter said:
Without going into names. In our professional job we choose a hunting bullet that does both. Retains some of the mass to ensure penetration but also some fragmentation. At long range you want one that performs at all usable velocities. Retaining slightly more weight as the velocity drops so penetration is still there. Interestingly the two companies that fight this out are on either end of the spectrum.
Anyway enough said by me on bullets......
I prefer the 140gr A-Frame to the Partition, but the Accubond 140gr and the Scirocco 130gr are great all-round bullets for the 6.5mm
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