Hunting with .223 69gr SMK HPBT? Legal? Terminally sufficient?

greg11

greg11

CGN frequent flyer
Rating - 97.3%
36   1   0
Location
Drayton Valley AB
Just wondering if it can be done. I know some projectiles are a no-no in the field (FMJ), but am wondering if a HPBT occupies a grey area WRT the law. Also, would the rounds perform decently on a Coyote, or would they simple fail to expand and pass through the dog without much deformation at all?

I do have some 50gr VMAXs I can load up, but I'm just curious. Thanks.


I
 
They would be legal, they are hollow point just like many other hunting bullets (Berger, TSX, etc...). The problem is that the SMK (Sierra Match King) was designed with accuracy in mind with no thought on how they would react when striking anything thicker that a piece of paper. Their is so many other accurate bullets that were designed for hunting that I would rather use instead, the V-Max you already have is a prime example. That's what I would use.
 
I did some testing of the 52 grain SMK HPBTs years ago in a baffle box (1 inch boards spaced 1 inch apart) and found that the bullets were very inconsistent as to weather or not they would expand. Some did lots didn't.
 
I did a test awhile back with the 55Gr PMC FMJ-BT in wet phone books. The bullet upsets and thumbles creating a good sized wound channel. If I remember, it went through two phone books. It is good unoff for me to use on gophers, marmottes and well placed cayote, if one should show up.
Regards,
Henry;)
 
Target bullets like SMK HPBT, Berger VLD...... are legal for hunting in Ontario. However they're not designed for expansion and more often than not they'll wound an animal rather than kill it cleanly. The same is true for military FMJ bullets. I have no problem using them for small pests but for game animals there are numerous better choices.
 
bearkilr said:
As is the Berger. ;)
Click to expand...

I agree with you, I was not impressed with the result in my 6.5mm bullet test but Berger sell both target and hunting bullets. I'm not convinced they are not the exact same but the box does say hunting.:p;)
 
I believe that todbartell had some 22 call SMKs fail to expand properly on a coyote some years ago.

I agree with the poster that said that there are several comparably accurate bullets out there that are designed to expand as well as be accurate. You'd likely be better served by one of those bullets.
 
I've killed a pile of coyotes with match bullets, mostly to experiment with hide saveing. Depending on the bullet, they tend to be a little sturdier than the varmint bullets.

I've used SMKs, Bergers, Hornady and Speer Match bullets to good effect.
 
try some loads for accuracy at the range you're expecting to use them, depending on the rate of twist of your barrel, you may get your answer right there i.e. won't group or incredible group. Then go from there.

TB
 
Last edited:
I have shot a fair share of them since the 60s everything from .22 rifles to pistols (.22, 357 Super Mag, 45ACP, 7-08 and even .380) and rifles from .223 to 100gr in 7-08 sniper. But I do own a 375HH for slightly larger game!:rockOn: I got a SCI trophy waterbuck with it this year.

FMJ .223 on them works very well at closer distances. Over 300 yards and they might drill through if no bone is hit.

Regards,
Henry;)
 
69 Grain SMK will do the trick

I took a very nice 10 point buck at about 250m last season with a .223 shooting a 69 smk over 25 grains of varget and I dropped my deer less than 10 feet from where he was hit. I'll admit that I was very nervous using such a small caliber on a deer, but the bullet went through the shoulder and blew through the heart. Deer was just as dead as the ones I have shot with my 7mm rem mag and 30/06.

Having done that I will most likely never shoot a deer with my .223 again as I didn't feel that it was enough to bring down or mortally wound a deer without perfect bullet placement. If you have an alternative I would highly recommend that you go with something .243 or larger.
 
greg11 said:
Just wondering if it can be done. I know some projectiles are a no-no in the field (FMJ), but am wondering if a HPBT occupies a grey area WRT the law. Also, would the rounds perform decently on a Coyote, or would they simple fail to expand and pass through the dog without much deformation at all? I do have some 50gr VMAXs I can load up, but I'm just curious. Thanks.
Click to expand...

I'd skip the 69 gr SMK HPBT for yotes. If you hit em badly, which is easily done, they'll run away and die elsewhere. Followed one this past March that was hit with a 62 gr Fusion behind the rib cage. He went 2 and a half miles with his guts hanging out. (Pardon the gore).
 
I've shot a number of coyotes with 69gr. SMK (75gr Berger & A-max also) they all performed very well. I prefer any of the 3 over highly frangible bullets such as V-max.
 
I did some wet phone book testing a few years back with 68 and 69 grain bullet weights. The SMK doesn't upset nearly as well as the Nosler and Hornady. The Nosler and Hornadys till typically mushroom like hunting bullets. PRVI 69 grain BTHP's seem to fragment very well, but not for 2-3" in. I think that these 69 grainers and the 75 grainers for that matter don't mushroom or fragment until they penetrate a couple inches. Probably why they don't give dynamic results on gophers. I have had excellent results on coyotes though.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top Bottom