What about 6.5 140-142 Matchkings for hunting Deer-Elk

[squirrelduster]

I have had great performance from the accubonds. Several whitetail from a 50 yard shot 300 win mag to a 425 yard shot on a coastal blacktail. Very good accuracy and not a lot of meat damage.
Several hogs with my 7-08 encore using the 140 accubond.
Most hogs have been head shot so can't really report on the performance. Couple through the front shoulder dropped them pretty quick.

 

[HillbillySniper]

I know a couple of guys that use the matchking for hunting they use them almost every year for their muley hunts and every year they bring a couple back. My buddy hunted antelope last year and the one guy was using matchkings he said it went in about 2-3 inch and came out like a softball. As far as the VLDs being unethical i shoot them in two of my long range rifles and im very pleased with what ive seen so far not to mention you look high and low for any VLDs to shoot. But everyone has there own opinion

 

[BBTC48]

Bullets are generalized a either target or hunting pills. So someone always has the urge to buck the traditional lines and cross over them. Would they also show up at the 1000yd line with round nose Remmys? Probably not. There are a bunch of good hunting bullets that will do the job. For your 6.5mm, for superior performance and no lead fragmentation in your game meat, the 130gr Barnes Triple Shock would be my choice. It shoots fabulous in our 6.5 swedes and 6.5/284's. Nice little clover leafs and a wicked killing machine. IMO.

 

[Glocksig]

Berger has replied to the accusations made by Barnes and quite convincingly at that. Barnes claims about their bullets being superior were based on inflated BC's that no one could seem to reproduce and muzzle velocities calculated at 7,000 feet.

The fact of the matter is they are two different kinds of bullets, the VLD hunting bullet is designed as an expanding bullet and it does that very well:

http://www.accurateshooter.com/forum/index.php/topic,3752064.0.html

The Barnes is designed for weight retention which is fine, but over penetration doesn't do anything for you either. I have put a hole in a small tree with a TSX after going completely through a whitetail, did the deer die? Yes it did but it ran 75 yards first. It made me want to have some of that wasted energy dumped into the animal instead of the tree. My experience with the VLD hunting bullet is that animals tend to drop in place. Dead is dead but I'd rather not have to track them.

Too many 6.5mm big game bullets to choose from..the SMK is designed for punching paper...just look at the Nosler 140 AB or Partition..you'll be surprised of the BC specs...Berger also builds some fine VLD hunting 6.5mm bullets..if you can locate some....

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".
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.

 

[Pmer]

I tried the 140 Game Kings in my 6.5 -284 and they worked great on Whitetail. I had some Reloader 19 I wanted to use up, my first try was a mid charge wieght and it shot so good I stoped there and went hunting.
My guess is that there are more 260s and 6.5x55s out there hunting than 6.5-.284s and I wonder if 2900 FPS is too fast for some of the hunting class bullets. My notion is that I wouldn't push a NBT or Game King as fast as a more heavily constructed bullet. This way you might not have to pay the premium price for the special bullets.

 

[boogershooter]

The experience I have with SMK's is they sometimes over-frag on the surface , you almost have to have a total soft tissue shot. If you strike bone,or even hard cartilage they tend to explode early. Dont use them.

 

[bozo699]

The experience I have with SMK's is they sometimes over-frag on the surface , you almost have to have a total soft tissue shot. If you strike bone,or even hard cartilage they tend to explode early. Dont use them.

I agree 100%
Wayne.

 

[zcrackshot]

I love reading the reports on bullet wars! Everybody has a story to tell and to each his own. I can't say yes or no to your question about SMK's but I personally use Berger Hunting VLD's and Hornady A-max's out of a 6.5 swede and a 6.5X284 on mule deer and elk. I live in Utah and try to support local business' and therefore have used Barnes' bullets. I won't say much about them because I don't have anything nice to say other than they shoot accurately. I am a firm believer that you've got to be able to place the shot above all and only then does the bullet have to perform accordingly. I don't shoot at running animals with a bullet that will shoot through a freight train and retain all of it's weight and call myself a humane hunter. People talk about quartering shots that pass completely through the animal from neck to anus and brag about bullet performance? I'm no expert but I test bullets for myself in many different ways. The most important test I perform, IMHO, is a broadside shot through a standing animal. With depredation tags given out often here in Utah I have shot many deer and my fair share of cow elk. I know a cow is no bull in size but I've shot bulls too and bullet performance is still obvious and results speak for themself. I like to agree that most hunters should use 'hunting' bullets as most hunters IMO don't take ethical shots due to lack of patience and ethics both. I however have had great experience with my use of 'target' bullets in my hunting experiences at ranges from 75 to 900 yards. Take this for what it's worth and best of luck to you in whatever you choose to do.

 

[bozo699]

zcrackshot,
I have heard the bergers are good hunting bullets I dissagree on the a-max bullets,just my opinion but I have not had good luck with them for hunting aplications but your post is spot on to the authers question and you gave your first hand experience and opinions, That great
Wayne.

 

[mauritz45]

what about the 140gr northfork? --cam

 

[bozo699]

mauritz45,
I hadn't herd of northfork bullets or had forgotton I did a little resurch and the look like great hunting bullets, Expensive but if your only using them for hunting who cares. anyway thanks I am going to order a box of the 140 gr .284s.
Wayne.

 

[findlay13]

I use a Lapua 139gr scenar for paper and a 140 sierra spbt for hunting.Just as accurate as each other but The scenar[and sierra match kings] are for paper.Id use the sierra game king for hunting.

 

[bozo699]

I use a Lapua 139gr scenar for paper and a 140 sierra spbt for hunting.Just as accurate as each other but The scenar[and sierra match kings] are for paper.Id use the sierra game king for hunting.

Good call findlay13.

 

[wildchild]

I love reading the reports on bullet wars! Everybody has a story to tell and to each his own. I can't say yes or no to your question about SMK's but I personally use Berger Hunting VLD's and Hornady A-max's out of a 6.5 swede and a 6.5X284 on mule deer and elk. I live in Utah and try to support local business' and therefore have used Barnes' bullets. I won't say much about them because I don't have anything nice to say other than they shoot accurately. I am a firm believer that you've got to be able to place the shot above all and only then does the bullet have to perform accordingly. I don't shoot at running animals with a bullet that will shoot through a freight train and retain all of it's weight and call myself a humane hunter. People talk about quartering shots that pass completely through the animal from neck to anus and brag about bullet performance? I'm no expert but I test bullets for myself in many different ways. The most important test I perform, IMHO, is a broadside shot through a standing animal. With depredation tags given out often here in Utah I have shot many deer and my fair share of cow elk. I know a cow is no bull in size but I've shot bulls too and bullet performance is still obvious and results speak for themself. I like to agree that most hunters should use 'hunting' bullets as most hunters IMO don't take ethical shots due to lack of patience and ethics both. I however have had great experience with my use of 'target' bullets in my hunting experiences at ranges from 75 to 900 yards. Take this for what it's worth and best of luck to you in whatever you choose to do.

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