do matchking bullets expand

BigUglyMan said:
Did you give me your load data for that yet? Or did I forget to ask?
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I thought I had Ben sory... I use 70.5 grn's of H4831sc and launched by Federal 215 match magnum primers, set into the beautifull Nosler Custom match brass. It is a recipee for sweet success. This load has gotten me very accurately to over 1 mile on targets and over 1000 meters on game of various sizes. You might have to fluctuate a bit on your powder to custom tailor to your rifle, but in that ballpark should work quite well for you. Also play with your seating depth. I run mine a little on the short side....It's just where everything came together in my rifle. I get some funny looks when they see how short I seat, but the results speak for themselfs. It's been a while since I ran them down a chrony but they were in the 2985fps range.

M39a2 The Amax does expand and it does it beautifully and cleanly. If you run a 300WM or large .30cal I would be happy to send you a couple of my 208grn bullets to try out for yourself if you havent got access to Amaxs in your area. I think you would be pleasantly supprised at thier performance. PM me with your address if you want to try a couple.

Ben if you want me to send you micrometer measurements on seating depths and such I can. I think you will have to tailer fit to your rifle though.
 
m39a2 said:
Ya think? Do not the hunting regulations say that you must use an expanding bullet. As a match bullet is not designed or intended to expand.....
Scott
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While each province says it a little differently, the general idea is that military style FMJ bullets are not legal. In other words, monometal bullets made of copper, bronze, or lead are legal in most jurisdictions, as are match bullets few of which are FMJ.
 
Wow, as always my knowledge level just increased. Thanks for the offer Long Range Canuck, I'll pass this time. Right now I onlt have the time to kill paper!

Scott
 
Long Range Canuck said:
Ben if you want me to send you micrometer measurements on seating depths and such I can. I think you will have to tailer fit to your rifle though.
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How far off the lands are you? That's probably more relevant that individual measurements (becauseI got to Rick's 300 WM reamer well after you so the throat is apt to bit different).
 
The hunting reg's say that it needs to be an expanding type bullet and even though most match bullets are HPBT type that would make them legal for hunting in my eyes.

Now are they the best choice, no. There are better choices but for long range I think LRC has hit it on the head, you need something that will preform at the distance and match is the best choice for accuracy.
 
I have dumped a few deer with them myself, one with an 178 A-max 308 and the other with a 175, 300 wm SMK.

Even though that was not the intent of the bullet design they worked just fine, and not too different from any other soft bullet. My old man shot a nice buck this year with a 300 wsm and a 175 smk, that ripped it apart, but a poor shot placement as well.

Just to add to this they were all very controled shots deer were un awear, and standing perfect
 
Going to shoot a black bear off of a favorite spot when BC's season opens. I will be driving 300gr SMK's at 2850fps

From what others tell me I can expect some ugly devastation. :eek:

I will post picture if anyone is interested.
 
I too think you have to be darn careful with these bullets, and either a head shot or double lung is the only option for me.

I seen what happened to the old mans deer (long story ) he mixed his bullets up that I loaded and did not know any better, should have used the interbonds I loaded him up lol!!! got to love them, however he hit it in the ribs coming at him the bullet disinigrated and ripped out the whole rib cage.

No room for error with them, and thats the issue I have with them, and would never use them in chase or running situation.
 
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Long Range Canuck said:
I've tried the Nosler Ballistic Tips and they didnt work for me. They seemed to stay fairly reliable inside of 400 meters but once I crossed that line they didn't perform to the point I would feel comfortable shooting at game at the distances i prefer, and as distances grew performance dropped.

I would have to disagree with you on not using match bullets for hunting as the performance and accuracy in the Amax bullets I've been using outperform by miles alot of the "hunting" type bullets I have used in the past at close and extended ranges. I have never needed a second round to put down game using the Amax bullets on anything I've shot. The added reliablility in the accuracy of the bullets at extended range go along way in ensureing a clean humane kill.

I have never heard of the GSC bullets, but I will take a look as im always open to new and better.
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They are a bore rider style bullet, tried them, was unimpressed.
Stay the course.
 
m39a2 said:
Ya think? Do not the hunting regulations say that you must use an expanding bullet. As a match bullet is not designed or intended to expand.....
Scott
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The bullets are "hollow points" Alberta game laws state the bullet must not be FMJ so no problem.
How the old "bronze points " were allowed eludes me as they were an expanding bullet that was hard to differentiate from a FMJ
 
While I still believe I am correct concerning the use of match bullets for general hunting, upon reflection allowances must be made for those who wish to take game at extremely long range and with cartridges which exceed .30 caliber. Even if the jacket of a MK failed, the lead core of a 300 gr bullet which impacts a game animal at comparatively low velocity would be pretty conclusive.
 
Boomer said:
While I still believe I am correct concerning the use of match bullets for general hunting, upon reflection allowances must be made for those who wish to take game at extremely long range and with cartridges which exceed .30 caliber. Even if the jacket of a MK failed, the lead core of a 300 gr bullet which impacts a game animal at comparatively low velocity would be pretty conclusive.
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I agree that for close range hunting the SMKs would not be my 1st choice either, but at real distance they have worked very well.
Bullets NEED to be selected for an intended use and then used for that use and that use only. At closer more normal hunting distances a true hunting bullet makes the most sense, but for reaching way out their they tend to either fail to hit the mark or worse fail to expand at all, which is not surprising being they are designed to expand at X distance to X distance which is usually a lot closer than what some of us tend to shoot at.
 
Would it be wise to limit their use to deer or smaller in say 30 cal 165-180 gr? The jackets aren't bonded and tend to shed and fragment quite easily on bone or something heavier like an elk, no? Just a personal choice but I wouldn't use either for anything but targets and varmints.
 
Here is a pick of a mulie I took off a ridge line shooting at a downward angle at 765yrd's if memory serves me right, others here can jump in and verify, using a single 208grn Amax. It does the job well. I was hopeing for a longer shot but winds were way up there 25km or better if I remember right. No hunting bullet would have made that shot with the precision done on this deer that would give me the confidence to pull the trigger. The kill was clean and the deer didn't know what hit her, in and out with good expansion.
Those of us that hunt long range don't take chances we shoot what we know or we dont fire, and we have backup plans in place just incase something does go wrong, I have yet to see a backup shot take by the guys I hunt with. The bullet from this shot not only expanded but went clean through the other side taking out the lungs and knicking the heart. I will stand behind my choice of amunition that I tailor make for my rifle any day of the week. I have no hesitation using it on game out to 1000 meters with my .300wm when all factors fall into place. Sory to those that do not like the dead game pictures, it is for educational purposes.

hunt2008005.jpg


Bleeding from the mouth and nose indicate the lung damage.
TashaanddogsSept282007Deb030.jpg
 
My friend uses Matchkings in his .308. I saw him shoot one at 20 yards and the bullet just buzzed right through like an FMJ. His second bullet fragged, a broadside lung shot and it perforated the stomach, intestines, etc. The 14x scope kept him from making a more precise shot at that short range.
 
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