Sierra MatchKings

[Hunt]

Anyone ever shoot a deer with a MatchKing? I was looking at their construction I don't see why they wouldn't work at non magnum hyper speeds.

[mnguyen84]

i have some Sierra GameKing, and the hole is bigger. On their website (i think), Sierra doesn't recommend the Matchking because of over penetration.

[FLIGHT762]

Sometimes they breakup and will work well, sometimes they don't. Matchkings are not designed as an expanding bullet.

Tactical teams discovered some years ago, the terminal ballistics were poor and started using other bullets that are more reliable for soft target use.

Under Fish & Game regulations:

[Snip]rifles using centerfire cartridges with softnose or expanding projectiles; [Snip]

I suppose a Warden could argue Sierra Matchkings are not soft nose or expanding, since in Sierra's loading manuals the manufacturer notes " Sierra does not recommend Matchking bullets for hunting applications" Sierra should know, they make them. I'll take their word for it.

You will find on the hunting web sites where a number of Hunters have used them successfully and recommend them.

I don't use them for big game and I never will. As responsible hunters, we should use a bullet to take the animal as humanely as we can.

[Divernhunter]

I mean this in a polite way. Show your game animal more respect and use a bullet designed for what you are hunting and the cartridge you are using.
There is a very, very good reason they call it a match/target/comp bullet and they call other bullets HUNTING bullets.
I have seen it done and the results were not good and the animals suffered and several were lost before the fool(my words) started using the approprite hunting type bullets. Yes one went down as it should be when shot but only one out of several.

While you are at it stay away from the "see thru scope mounts" They also show one does not know much(anything) about scopes and head position. I do not mean you personally. The you is general for anyone.

[Hunt]

I figured as much, thought for a moment there was the Berger VLD phenomenon where their match bullet turned out to have the capability to be used as a hunting bullet as well.

[stphnman20]

SMK are mostly for target shooting. However, our military uses SMK to hunt the bad guys. lol. Anyways, try the Sierra's GameKing.

[Divernhunter]

Some did use the Berger bullets and that caused Berger to develop a hunting bullet with the basic shape but different construction than the match bullet people started to use.
Hope this clears things up for you.