Sierra Matchking bullets

Shane64

Shane64

New member
Two of my rifles really like these bullets. But Sierra does not "recommend" these for hunting applications. Any ideas why, I always thought that hollow points were a good hunting round. Has any one used them? How are they working for you? Going after coyotes with them. They are running better than the V-max that I have tested.

Shane
 
Originally Posted By: Shane64Two of my rifles really like these bullets. But Sierra does not "recommend" these for hunting applications. Any ideas why, I always thought that hollow points were a good hunting round. Has any one used them? How are they working for you? Going after coyotes with them. They are running better than the V-max that I have tested.

Shane

Their performance is erratic.

The jackets are thick and the hole in the hollow point is very small. If they hit a bone, they come apart, but if they don't they can zip through a critter and do little harm.

You are much better off with one of the "Game king" designs - very predictable performance.
 
Different bullets are designed/constructed to do different things. Some for big or small game expansion and some just for target use.

Some hunters have been very happy hunting with match bullets, BTW, though not normally recommended for hunting..
 
They are not recommended because they were not tested for that use. Use them and feel assured they kill just fine.

Tom
 
I like em. make sure you make a good shot, every dog I've shot with the 69 and 53 died and the pelt wasn't vmaxed.
 
i have been using my 308 for shooting at night because it has the brightest scope out of all my rifles. that rifle really likes 168gr sierra matchkings. i have shot a couple of coyotes with it now. last friday at noon the alarm on the bait went off and there was a coyote on the bait the shot went in right side just below the spine about mid-body and exited just behind the far side shoulder near the bottom of the chest. i saw him spin around and knew i had hit him. BUT he went about 100 yds and if there had not been snow i would never have found him.
 
Used them some on prairie dogs; there are better bullets for that purpose. Very accurate, marginal on expansion, lots of 'whiners'.
 
That "hollow point" on those bullets is more for displacing weight up front for a very well balanced, bullet with a high bc. Not for expansion.
 
Catshooter has it right, they're erratic, at least that's been my experience with the 223 on prarie dogs. Sometimes they would blow up like a vmax, but far more commonly, they would just pencil hole them.
 
Shane,
IMHO, Sierra is very knowledgeble about the bullets they manufacture. I used to buy bullets back in the 70's when they were still here in So California and have used their bullets for hunting back then. There's a reason why they label their bullets "Gamekings" and "Matchkings" The Gamekings were designed and tested for shooting animals and have been tested extensively for that purpose. Since I'm up there now in my years, I no longer hunt but do go target shooting weekly becauses it's just in my DNA. That means I use the "Matchkings" for grteat accuracy, especially in my .223 bolt gun. And those bullet shoot as well, if not better than many of the newer Berger bullets, although their VLD bullets are fantastic on other calibers. SO if you are asking for hunting purposes, I recommend you stick with Sierra Gamekings because those will very likely stop your prey. The rest is up to you to hit the spot. Good Luck and have fun!
 
Some swear by the use of these bullets, I think their erratic as others have said. I also think they are better then the game king bullets Sierra sells. For over 30 years the best bullet I've found for varmint hunting is a Spitzer style and hollow points have been a disappointment.

I will say that I tried the 55 gr GK bullets on varmints for awhile and was disappointed. In every instance they went through the animal which didn't impress me.
 
Thanks you have convinced me. Next on the list is some spitzer bullets that a friend gave me to try. Guess its back to the range for more testing. Man I hate that. oh well guess someone has to.

Thanks again fellas
Shane
 
Originally Posted By: CatShooterOriginally Posted By: Shane64Two of my rifles really like these bullets. But Sierra does not "recommend" these for hunting applications. Any ideas why, I always thought that hollow points were a good hunting round. Has any one used them? How are they working for you? Going after coyotes with them. They are running better than the V-max that I have tested.

Shane

Their performance is erratic.

The jackets are thick and the hole in the hollow point is very small. If they hit a bone, they come apart, but if they don't they can zip through a critter and do little harm.

You are much better off with one of the "Game king" designs - very predictable performance.

Good advise!

I have shot the Sierra's game kings long before they were called game kings. 45g Spt, 50g Spt, and all the 55's with the exception of the blitz kings on coyotes, they all perform fantastic. When your throats get long, use the 55g Semi point and you will get unreal accuracy.

I killed a bunch of coyotes in Mexico with the 53g Sierra Match, noticed that they zipped through when shot low in the bowels instead of gutting them on the spot. Then I shot the same bullets on P. dogs and they zipped right through p. dogs at 3550 fps shot out of a 22 PPC, I ended up shooting the 1000 rounds that I had loaded for that rifle aiming at heads and shoulders.

Why settle for second best? Use the game kings for reliable expansion and penetration.

55g Hornady Sp is a great bullet also.
 
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