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hunting with target bullets?

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pyro6999 View Drop Down
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Post Options Post Options   Thanks (0) Thanks(0)   Quote pyro6999 Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Topic: hunting with target bullets?
    Posted: December/17/2007 at 12:20
so i have been hearing some talk from people i know that have been using smks and other target bullets for hunting, anybody tried this?
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Post Options Post Options   Thanks (0) Thanks(0)   Quote tahqua Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: December/17/2007 at 12:31

Sierra warns about this. From their FAQ page

Can I use a MatchKing bullet for deer hunting? They shoot just great in my rifle, so they should be just super for hunting use, right? No, it's not recommended. The MatchKing bullets are designed for pinpoint accuracy; with no consideration given to what might happen after impact. If the bullet has arrived on target accurately, its job is done at that point. Hunting bullets must perform in a certain manner after impact. Penetrating ability, expansion characteristics, and even profile must be considered when designing a hunting bullet. Use MatchKings for matches, and game bullets for hunting.
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Post Options Post Options   Thanks (0) Thanks(0)   Quote Bigdaddy0381 Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: December/17/2007 at 12:50

On another site I visit they all use Berger or smk's. Both are target bullets from what I have read but from some of the animals shot with them massive holes. In and out.

 

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Post Options Post Options   Thanks (0) Thanks(0)   Quote Focus Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: December/17/2007 at 13:18
Sure targets bullets can kill game animals, but they are very inconsistant and with no effort made in manufacture to control expansion or make the jacket and core stay together....why? One shot goes through with no large bone contact made and the next shot angle requires breaking or penetrating bone. I have enough to worry about with all the other variables in hunting to make shot angle and bullet performance another. I see a post on here not long ago where the barnes x bullets are being questioned on game performance......does anyone expect an a max or match king to be better? I can see using them on smaller varmints but not on big game. Where I hunt buck success runs 14-17% and thats for any size buck, now concentrate on mature animals and the number drops to about 8%. Point being I hunt way to hard and long to see the caliber of animal I want, to have to pass a shot due to him being at the wrong angle to use a thin jacketed match bullet. There are enough hunting bullets these days that give excellent accuracy to not have to use a bullet designed for paper punching.

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Edited by Focus - December/17/2007 at 13:22
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Post Options Post Options   Thanks (0) Thanks(0)   Quote pyro6999 Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: December/17/2007 at 13:30
i will tell you all about the study berger did in new zealand, they took a handle full of people down there with guns ranging from .257 to .308 diameters in all kinds of chamberings and shot 200 animals down there from varmint to red stag and they all used the vld, and they shot animals all over the body, head shoulders ribs spine etc and the end results were death in all 200 animals, they found that the vlds would penetrate exactly 1.5" and then fragment violently, and not exit the animal no matter where they placed the shot, my thoughts we the same i dont know how much i would trust a soft target bullet on flesh but they had complete success down there with them. i also heard about a guy who kinda did the same thing on a much smaller scale in montana he shot mulie's and whitetails with them over a couple of years before he wrote anything about it just in case there was a fluke or two and his findings matched the one from new zealand, another thing they said was the further away the animal was the better, which for me wouldnt help any shot i take up here is inside 300yds and most are inside 100yds.
They call me "Boots"
375H&H Mag: Yeah, it kills stuff "extra dead"

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God Bless Chris Ledoux
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Post Options Post Options   Thanks (0) Thanks(0)   Quote slamdunk Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: December/17/2007 at 13:41
Would you fish 30 miles offshore in a bass boat? then why take a chance with a non-penetrating, no blood trail bullet when there are proven alternatives? I await these match bullet shooters to try them on a cape buffalo or brown bear.    http://www.opticstalk.com/smileys/Loco.gif
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Post Options Post Options   Thanks (0) Thanks(0)   Quote pyro6999 Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: December/17/2007 at 13:42
like i said its really only been tested with deer sized animals, dont get me wrong i wouldnt ever try it either i was just wondering if anybody in here has though.
They call me "Boots"
375H&H Mag: Yeah, it kills stuff "extra dead"

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Post Options Post Options   Thanks (0) Thanks(0)   Quote Focus Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: December/17/2007 at 14:16
When I shoot a big northern buck in the high shoulder scapula, the last thing I want is the bullet to penetrate 1-2" and explode. Nice big crater wound on the shoulder bone and a buck heading for the next county.....wounded. I want parition performance.....fast expansion, bone breaking penetration, and a shank to poke on thru and leave me with two holes to leak for a blood trail to follow if need be. No vitals 1-2" in much and I don't want to hope a fragment of a grenading bullet happens to catch the heart or lungs, and worse yet have to try and thread it between the ribs for that. Sounds like those bergers work just like when one of them early nosler ballistic tips used to explode after just getting under the hide. Nosler was quick to thicken up the jackets for deeper penetration as the bad reports started rolling in and onto hunting forums nationwide. I see berger pushing their bullets as hunting bullets in their new adds, no thanks, I'll take a bullet with lots of thump and integrity.

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Post Options Post Options   Thanks (0) Thanks(0)   Quote pyro6999 Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: December/17/2007 at 14:23
i like the accubonds myself everything good about the ballistic tip but a little thicker jacket.
They call me "Boots"
375H&H Mag: Yeah, it kills stuff "extra dead"

343 we will never forget

God Bless Chris Ledoux
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Post Options Post Options   Thanks (0) Thanks(0)   Quote Bigdaddy0381 Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: December/17/2007 at 14:25
10-4 Pyro. i agree i shot a coyote a week ago and it gutted it.My 9 yr old was with me. when we was walking down to it he told me when i shot it blew it's liver out. It made a mess.

Edited by Bigdaddy0381 - December/17/2007 at 14:25
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Post Options Post Options   Thanks (0) Thanks(0)   Quote Focus Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: December/17/2007 at 14:35
I've just started using accubonds in place of paritions due to that match bullet like accuracy. Have had two very favorable experiences with the 308 but would like an exit wound and neither managed to exit. Will continue however as I'm switching to a 6.5 caliber and hope to see a little better penetration with the 130 6.5's over the 30 150's. Accubonds were right with SMK's for accuracy!

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Edited by Focus - December/17/2007 at 14:36
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Post Options Post Options   Thanks (0) Thanks(0)   Quote pyro6999 Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: December/17/2007 at 14:36
i am really impressed with the 130gr 6.5 mm accubonds i shot a deer through and through dropped it right there, its a long bullet i can tell to that, but thats part of the reason why the 6.5mm's are such powerhouses
They call me "Boots"
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343 we will never forget

God Bless Chris Ledoux
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Post Options Post Options   Thanks (0) Thanks(0)   Quote Focus Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: December/17/2007 at 14:45
Yes I expect to start seeing exit wounds with the 6.5 for sure. The BC and SD of the 6.5's is truly impressive.

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Post Options Post Options   Thanks (0) Thanks(0)   Quote ceylonc Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: December/17/2007 at 14:45
Originally posted by pyro6999 pyro6999 wrote:

i am really impressed with the 130gr 6.5 mm accubonds i shot a deer through and through dropped it right there, its a long bullet i can tell to that, but thats part of the reason why the 6.5mm's are such powerhouses
 
I completely agree, the 6.5mm bullets are lethal on deer sized game.  I've had phenominal success with both 129gr. and 140gr. Hornady SST's.  Haven't taken any game with 130gr AccuBonds yet (the SST's are more accurate out of my rifle) but hope to use the 130s in a small field where shots are 100yds max. sometime in January during the rut. 
 
Heck, even 120gr. Ballistic Tips in 6.5mm are mighty bad poison on deer & hogs!  Bottom line is that the caliber really performs and you have some great bullet options that are both accurate and extremely good for killing game.
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Post Options Post Options   Thanks (0) Thanks(0)   Quote pyro6999 Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: December/17/2007 at 14:50
i just wish the rest of the shooting community in the usa would be able to experience that, i dont know why people wouldnt want to shoot a 6.5 after seeing those impressive results, good speed lots of knock down and very little recoil. just a shame it hasnt caught on more
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Post Options Post Options   Thanks (0) Thanks(0)   Quote cheaptrick Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: December/17/2007 at 15:29
[QUOTE=slamdunk]Would you fish 30 miles offshore in a bass boat? then why take a chance with a non-penetrating, no blood trail bullet when there are proven alternatives? I await these match bullet shooters to try them on a cape buffalo or brown bear.    http://www.opticstalk.com/smileys/Loco.gif[/QUOTE]
 
Welcome to The OT!!
 
What bullet do you prefer, Sir?


Edited by cheaptrick - December/17/2007 at 16:07
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Post Options Post Options   Thanks (0) Thanks(0)   Quote tahqua Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: December/17/2007 at 15:42
 Hmmmm, curiouser  Light%20It%20Up
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me tooSmoking
They call me "Boots"
375H&H Mag: Yeah, it kills stuff "extra dead"

343 we will never forget

God Bless Chris Ledoux
"good ride cowboy"
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Post Options Post Options   Thanks (0) Thanks(0)   Quote Wally Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: December/17/2007 at 16:20
Originally posted by ceylonc ceylonc wrote:

Originally posted by pyro6999 pyro6999 wrote:

i am really impressed with the 130gr 6.5 mm accubonds i shot a deer through and through dropped it right there, its a long bullet i can tell to that, but thats part of the reason why the 6.5mm's are such powerhouses
 
I completely agree, the 6.5mm bullets are lethal on deer sized game.  I've had phenominal success with both 129gr. and 140gr. Hornady SST's.  Haven't taken any game with 130gr AccuBonds yet (the SST's are more accurate out of my rifle) but hope to use the 130s in a small field where shots are 100yds max. sometime in January during the rut. 
 
Heck, even 120gr. Ballistic Tips in 6.5mm are mighty bad poison on deer & hogs!  Bottom line is that the caliber really performs and you have some great bullet options that are both accurate and extremely good for killing game.
 
A 130 TSX in a 6.5x55 will sure ruin an elks day.  BTDT.  I've had extremely good luck with my 6.5 using 129 and 140 Hornady Spire Pts, 125 and 140 Partitions, as well as the 120 Ballistic Tip.  I often wonder why I use anything else.  It pains me when I think I might have to sell this rifle in the next couple of weeks.
 
As far as using match bullets on game.............WHY?  Whatever
 
Steve


Edited by Wally - December/17/2007 at 16:21
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Post Options Post Options   Thanks (0) Thanks(0)   Quote tahqua Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: December/17/2007 at 16:50
I remember the Berger tests. Two things came to mind:
1. They wanted to expand sales to different customers
2. The R&D budget wasn't there to create a hunting bullet

I may be wrong but I thought it stunk



Edited by tahqua - December/17/2007 at 16:50
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