Sierra 150g Gameking VS 180g Remington Core-loct

Dultimatpredator

Dultimatpredator

Well-known member
Through out the years I have tried quite a few bullets on Whitetails out of my 30-06 and have always had DRT performance with 180g Coreloct with factory loadings on over 70 plus deer. In the past couple of years I have tried 125g and 180g Nosler BTs and 180g Accubonds...none of which I am impressed with. The first being too soft. It puts them down where they stand but the animal seems to kick around a bit before expiring. The latter being too hard, the animal runs like it wasn't even hit unless you contact shoulder. Then I get the same outcome as the BTs. The last 2 years I have mixed emotions on the Sierra Gameking 150s. I have shot 6 deer with them of which four were DRT, one was never recovered and one that that ran about 40 yards with no blood trail what so ever. It was hit right behind the shoulder and splashed into the far shoulder never exiting. I pretty much answered my own question...I just bought a bag of 180g Core-locts to load up. This bullet just slams them to the ground. What about the 180g Seirras? Are they better constucted than the core-loct? Accuracy wise? I am getting .5" groups from the 150g Sierras out of my Rem 7600 right now but if groups open up a little for a deer gun I will be fine.
 
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Well, since all deer are different, and all shots will strike them in different places, it's hard to generalize about how well a bullet does or doesn't do. I've found that Matchkings kill deer DRT too, but many people are afraid to use them. Many folks have great results from Nosler BT's. I've never used them on game...

Too, it seems that experiences can run specific to individuals for some strange reason. I have TERRIBLE luck with the .243 win on deer, while others swear by it.

I use 180 grain ProHunter (Sierras) in my beater 30-06. 56 grains of IMR 4350 does the trick. Haven't had one walk away from a good hit yet.

I've never used Remington CoreLokts from the aught six, but from my little 1894 20" 30-30, the 170 CL's drop 'em on the spot.

I don't believe you'll get the accuracy from the Remington bullet that you would the Winchester, but the price is cheaper and accuracy adequate, and as you've noted performance is unquestionable... so you made a good purchase. /ubbthreads/images/graemlins/wink.gif

Dan
 
If you want to try a good deer load for your 30-06, try 57-58.5gr (work up) IMR 4350 and a 165gr SGK......

Works like a charm every time, DRT, and great accuracy.....

Rates high on the velocity chart too...
 
My understanding was that the 06 prefers 150 grain bullets ? That's what I've always used and always had good accuracy and good killing power.
 
Ask yourself what bullet weight match shooters use, and what bullet weight the match bullets come in, and then you will have a better understanding..........

I never said good accuracy cannot be obtained with 150 or 180gr boolits. I also never said that EVERY rifle shoots 165's better.......

My point was, that it is a great load in most rifles.......
 
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Through out the years I have tried quite a few bullets on Whitetails out of my 30-06 and have always had DRT performance with 180g Coreloct with factory loadings on over 70 plus deer.



It would seem to be a no-brainer... /ubbthreads/images/graemlins/confused1.gif
 
That was my first impression also.......

I would think the 150gr Sierras that group into .5" would be a great deer load, actually.........

I've used 100gr Sierra GK's for a bunch of DRT kills in the 243. A 150 out of an '06 should get 'er done easily......
 
In my opinion, the Sierras should be more accurate, as that is what the company prides itself on, with good reason. On the other hand, the Core-Lokt was one of the first controlled expansion bullets, and is still going strong. If your rifle gives good accuracy with the Remington bullets, you are set, as they will certainly perform when they get where they are going. On deer, both should give good performance, but the Remington should give better terminal performance, at least on paper. With the number of deer you have taken, you are probably the best judge of what is called for. Also, with the number of deer you have taken, you know better that I that one deer will simply drop from a boilermaker shot, while another will run even if hit from the same rifle with the same bullet and hit in the same spot. I would go with the 180, as that is my 30 caliber preference, except for the 200 grain Partitions I run in my 300 H&H. I am a believer in bullet weight. Would you rather have a tennis ball or a baseball thrown at you?
 
I haven't used the Sierra 150 gr. much but have killed quite a few deer with the 180 gr. BTS in the .30-06. It's usually bang-flop-dead. That said, for a 180 grainer it doesn't seem to be exceptionally tough - which is probably why it's pretty deadly on average-sized deer. Like multistage, I tend to prefer medium to heavy-for-caliber bullets. I know 150s are fairly classic in .30-06 and .308, and certainly have been used to kill a lot of game, but to me, a 150 is a relative lightweight in .30 cal.
 
I've used the Remmy Core-Lokts successfully on moose for many years now, they're accurate and they just plain work. IIRC, they have a very respectable ballistic co-efficient.
 
The Sierras I have noticed come apart, lead separate from the jacket, and are softer. I have recoved them on the other side of the hyde. I have never had a 180g core loct stay inside the animal out to 500 plus yards. They always seem to knock em right down like Thor's hammer. I can shoot deer through both shoulders and get a complete pass through every time.
 
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If you want to try a good deer load for your 30-06, try 57-58.5gr (work up) IMR 4350 and a 165gr SGK......

Works like a charm every time, DRT, and great accuracy.....

Rates high on the velocity chart too... [/quote

+1 on the 165gr SGK.cant tell you how many deer and hogs i took with these bullets out of my 7mm stw.
 
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I have never had a 180g core loct stay inside the animal out to 500 plus yards. They always seem to knock em right down like Thor's hammer. I can shoot deer through both shoulders and get a complete pass through every time.



I believe it. I get pass throughs on moose ! /ubbthreads/images/graemlins/grin.gif
 
For the record, I thought we were talking deer bullet here. The 165 SGK has simply bang-flopped every deer I've shot with it.........

For elk or mooose, it would not be my choice........
 
I 2nd 2MUCHgun!

All of the deer (8 I think) shot with 165gr Gamekings DROPPED in their tracks out of a .308 bolt gun. Range 30-200 yds.

For my 760 brush buster in 30-06, good old Remmy 180 Core Loks get the nod.
 
Stick with the Remington it has proven itself for you with the results you talked about I would not look further. I have found that sierras while greattarget bullets tend to be softIMHO.
 
I can't believe no-one here mentioned my favorite - the Rem Core-Lokt 165 gr soft point! I get good accuracy ( tho not exceptional) and great results on everything from coyotes to elk !!!
Mark
 
I love the accuracy of the Sierras, .5" out of my Remingtion 7600, but only after 6 deer I have already had one runner and one that I didnt recover. From the runner I didnt have any blood trail what so ever as stated above and I couldnt have had a better shot placement. Heart shot and the bullet splashed on the shoulder bone on the other side not comming out. It was about a 75-100 shot tops. The core-loct would have dropped it where it stood being the shoulder would a been blown apart. I did recover the bullet. I havent weighed it yet but 99 percent of the lead is gone looking like it separated from the jacket. Never recoved a core-loct yet to compair to see what happens since there has always been complete pass throughs on every shot.
 
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