I was talking to my friend the other day and he is a rather experienced shooter. We are planning some deer trips and he was telling me he loaded up some Sierra 168 gr. HPBT Match bullets and they are shooting under 1 MOA at 100 yards. Then he proceeded to tell me that he was going to use them for deer hunting. I immediately advised him I didn't think it was a good idea. I have shot coyotes with the 168's before and watched them run off forever. From my understanding, they are just not good hunting bullets at all. He is sort of planning on making his shot placement count and still using them. Wouldn't it be smarter to use some Sierra 165 Spitzer Boat Tails or even Nosler Balistic tip. I have looked at the intersesting Hornady SST's even. Someone just confirm for me that I think I know what I am talking about. When it comes down to it, he is going to do what he wants and I have to just accept it. Still, why do things harder when they can be easier, especially when we are talking about shooting deer?
Sierra 168 gr. HPBT Match for deer hunting?
- Thread starter El Rojo
- Start date
Sierra DOES NOT recommend the Match Kings for hunting. They aren't meant for it. Even though it says hollowpoint it doesn't mean it will expand. You selections would be a great replacement for him. There are some very accurate hunting bullets out there like the Ballistic tip. Don't let him hunt with the Match Kings for the animals sake.
Al Thompson
Staff Alumnus
Had a friend that went down that cowpath with the same logic. The 168's are/were very inconsistent with effects. We have 125 lb. (average) deer here and the 168 failed to expand about half the time. Noslet BTs are now his bullet of choice.
If he is he11 bent on doing this, shoulder shots, neck shots or head shots are his only chance for a quick kill. Gotta hit some bone to disrupt the bullet.
Frankly, any Sierra or Nosler soft-point should give comaparable accuracy and way better effects.
Giz
If he is he11 bent on doing this, shoulder shots, neck shots or head shots are his only chance for a quick kill. Gotta hit some bone to disrupt the bullet.
Frankly, any Sierra or Nosler soft-point should give comaparable accuracy and way better effects.
Giz
Nothing to add to all the already correct replies above - other than Sierra has a 165 gr boattail hollow point that IS designed to expand/hunting bullet & their 165 boattail soft point - both good choices in this weight range & about an accurate bullet (arguably) as they come.
Hollow point does not necessarily mean an expanding bullet - only a method of jacket forming which (usually) makes for a more accuracte bullet. The jacket thickness, internal taper & lead core hardness determines the bullets' expansion characteristics - not the type of bullet tip.
If you'd like to make your point to yer bud, you could refer him to an Army "study" (a Hague Convention thing) re using this same bullet as a sniper round. Was "found" that this is not an expanding bullet by the powers that be. Too, most states specify an "expanding bullet" for hunting big game.
Hollow point does not necessarily mean an expanding bullet - only a method of jacket forming which (usually) makes for a more accuracte bullet. The jacket thickness, internal taper & lead core hardness determines the bullets' expansion characteristics - not the type of bullet tip.
If you'd like to make your point to yer bud, you could refer him to an Army "study" (a Hague Convention thing) re using this same bullet as a sniper round. Was "found" that this is not an expanding bullet by the powers that be. Too, most states specify an "expanding bullet" for hunting big game.
We lost three....THREE.... deer last year all shot at less than 100 yards with 168 grain Matchkings from a 30.06, and all solid kill zone shots. Same guy shot all three using your friends polluted logic. Matchking bullets are COMPLETELY UNSUITABLE for game use.
Take whatever load you plan using with the SMKs, and substitute the Nosler Ballistic Silvertip 168 grain. That bullet will group better, and is ideally suited for deer sized game.
Also, if your partner insists on using SMKs for deer this year, make him stay out tracking all freakin night when he loses his deer.
Take whatever load you plan using with the SMKs, and substitute the Nosler Ballistic Silvertip 168 grain. That bullet will group better, and is ideally suited for deer sized game.
Also, if your partner insists on using SMKs for deer this year, make him stay out tracking all freakin night when he loses his deer.
Art Eatman
Staff in Memoriam
The 165-grain Sierra HPBT hunting bullets gave me four-shot, four-inch groups at 500 yards. I've always gotten sub-MOA at 100 yards--always.
How much accuracy does your buddy need, fer Chrissake? Tell 'im to avoid a career of picking flyspecks (to be polite) outta pepper!!!
I do believe Bowser got it right!
Art
How much accuracy does your buddy need, fer Chrissake? Tell 'im to avoid a career of picking flyspecks (to be polite) outta pepper!!!
I do believe Bowser got it right!
Art
Thanks, I thought I knew what I was talking about.
I have a feeling we are all going to be able to say I told you so on this one. I might just load up some hot 150's or 165's for my own .30-06 and see if I can convince him to try my loads for hunting instead of his 168's. The problem with this guy is he is a large department rangemaster, vietnam vet (LRRP), and has his head screwed on straight for killing BG's and me being the 24 year old best friend of his son, I have a hard time telling him what to do. Especially since he turned me into a gun fighter. Oh well, it will pan out one way or another. Thank you all for you help. We really have a good group of individuals on this board.
I have a feeling we are all going to be able to say I told you so on this one. I might just load up some hot 150's or 165's for my own .30-06 and see if I can convince him to try my loads for hunting instead of his 168's. The problem with this guy is he is a large department rangemaster, vietnam vet (LRRP), and has his head screwed on straight for killing BG's and me being the 24 year old best friend of his son, I have a hard time telling him what to do. Especially since he turned me into a gun fighter. Oh well, it will pan out one way or another. Thank you all for you help. We really have a good group of individuals on this board.
" ... has his head screwed on straight for killing BG's ... "
Do mention to yer bud that he has no obligation or legal reason to any longer use "approved" bullets on BDs. Soft points'll do BDs just fine ... in fact, better. Nice, extra perk of being a civilian (again).
Do mention to yer bud that he has no obligation or legal reason to any longer use "approved" bullets on BDs. Soft points'll do BDs just fine ... in fact, better. Nice, extra perk of being a civilian (again).