Anyone Hunted with 300gr .338 Matchkings?

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Northman999

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Have any of you hunted with 300gr .338 Matchkings?

The reason I'm asking is I was chatting with my father who is reloading his 375 H&H and he was telling me he was loading something like 68 gr of 4064 (not exaclty sure so don't fixate on that in your response) to push his 300 gr Gamekings at 2550 fps. Got me thinking that I load more powder than that in my 338 win mag for my 250's and that I also have a box of Winchester factory 300 grainers for my 338 win mag in my basement, so I know the 338 win mag can push 300 grainers. Using the soft gray ballistic calculator in my skull I stated thinking that I might likely be able to push 300 grains out of my 338 win mag at right about the same velocity as he does with his 375 H&H and that would be cool to do. Sierra doesn't seem to make a 300 grain .338 Gameking, but they've got the Matchking. I've heard good things about the Matching, but I'm interested in putting holes in moose, not paper. Anyone hunt with the Matching?
 
I'm probably wrong but I think the Matchking was designed for looonggg range shooting out of the big 33's
But I also think if you didn't drive them too fast that it would punch through a moose quite easily.

I'm sure someone will be along shortly to say that nothing short of a super duper premium bullet will work..........
 
Have a look at the 'performance' of Matchkings in the thread on .264 bullets. The SMK is not a good choice on game. Excellent accuracy, but the jacket is way to thin.

Find a bullet like the Nosler Accubond or Barnes TSX. Both are noted for their accuracy, and are tough enough for moose.
 
Pickles said:
I'm probably wrong but I think the Matchking was designed for looonggg range shooting out of the big 33's
But I also think if you didn't drive them too fast that it would punch through a moose quite easily.

I'm sure someone will be along shortly to say that nothing short of a super duper premium bullet will work..........
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Or blow up on the surface of the moose.

They are match bullets designed to fly through the air and provide top-notch accuracy. Once they get to the target, their job is done. There is no consideration given to impact performance.
 
280 odd gr's of lead wont just go splat on the hide of a moose.



a 300 gr matchking might not be the best option, but its not going explode on the surface regardless of impact velocity. 1000-3000fps doesnt cause lead to turn to liquid. I wouldnt be shooting both shoulders as a first choice, but would if the 300 gr Matchking was all I had. 50% weight retention is still more than most 7mm premium's

I definately wouldnt go out and buy some to hunt with, but they wont bounce off.
Im using a 225 gr X in my 338, and have absolute confidence in it. I dont think that an extra 75 gr's of weight is going to change much how quickly the animal goes down, or dies.
 
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If you want to hunt with 300 grain 338 bullets why not buy some bullets designed for hunting from Wildcat Bullets in Alberta, they make 300 grain bonded .338 bullets.

wildcatbullets.homestead.com
 
The Match King has a very thin jacket and a core of fairly soft lead. It is VERY possible that a 300 gr MK fired at a moose will leave a surface wound the size of a small washtub. Such an animal will likely run off and die a slow death from infection.

Sierra Bullets said:
(Question) 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?

(Answer) 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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A friend shot a caribou with a 300 SMK fired from a .338LM. He reported the bullet is a poor choice for hunting; although it killed the caribou effectively it acted like a varmint bullet, blew up, ruined a lot of meat. This was at a measured range exceeding 900y. Would likely be a very poor choice for a much larger, heavier animal like a moose. Another friend shot caribou with 80 SMK from a .22-.250AI. Reported that the caribou dropped as if struck by a bolt of lightning. The thin jacket used on the SMK just about guarantees that the bullet isn't going to hold together.
 
300 grains of soft lead applied to the mud-caked shoulder of a moose is going to change that streamlined bullet into a lead disc the size of a small frisbee on contact. The energy dump will be instantaneous and penetration of the lead fragments will be negligible.

BTW, This lack of penetration is why Hornady has discontinued production of it's large bore Interbonds. Even with the heavy jackets and core bonding keeping retained weight fairly high the lack of penetration of these lead discs resulted in many lost animals during actual use in the field.
 
QUOTE: "280 odd gr's of lead wont just go splat on the hide of a moose. "

Actually it can, and has. This question keeps coming up on these forums and people keep trying target bullets for game. It is entirely likely, as Sierra will tell you if you ask, that the bullet in question will not penetrate suffficiently if anything but a sideways rib shot is taken. Another possible but less likely outcome is to poke a small hole through witout expansion as some target bullets do. Use a real hunting bullet please!
 
K98 said:
Why would anyone in their right mind shoot at the shoulder of a moose??? :rolleyes:
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It wouldn't be my first choice, that's for sure. It is quite common in some circles though where the hunters want that animal to drop "now". Even here in the far West were it is less common I still see a few moose taken every year with a "High hump shot".
 
'Boo said:
BTW, This lack of penetration is why Hornady has discontinued production of it's large bore Interbonds. Even with the heavy jackets and core bonding keeping retained weight fairly high the lack of penetration of these lead discs resulted in many lost animals during actual use in the field.
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I don't know if you mean 338 caliber Interbond bullets but the one I shot my moose with out of my 338 Ultra Mag performed perfectly, mushroomed to just over .800" amd retained approximately 76% of its initial weight. The moose was 243 yards away when I shot him and the only reason I recovered the bullet was because it ended up in his spine.
 
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