Ever shoot a deer with a HPBT Match Bullet?

[gushulak]

Deer are very tiny. You must use match bullets or you will certainly miss. And don't pay any attention to the manufacturer's directions, match bullets are just fine for all kinds of hunting situations. And I'm sure I read on the internet once, that plenty of deer have been killed with .22 rimfires so why use a big game bullet anyway?

BTHP's are match bullets, designed to rapidly come apart after target impact, however, this isn't their design feature.

A BTHP is not a true hollowpoint, at least not the SMK's. The bullets are designed as match bullets with no R&D into terminal ballistics. They are built from the ground up as match bullets, not hunting bullets. Just because it has an open tip doesn't mean its a hollowpoint. In SMK, the opening is there because a punch slips into that hole to knock the bullet off when it is being formed in the factory, it has nothing to do with expansion.

Sure a SMK or similiar bullet will work on most game, please however use a bullet that is designed for your application. A bullet designed primarily to slip through air easily is not a hunting bullet.

Match bullets for competition. Use the proper bullet for hunting.

 

[BigUglyMan]

must be a shortage of tsx, interbonds, partions etc. why usea bullet that may work when you can find lots that will work for hunting. not may bench shooters load up partions just cause they have them. hunters should use bullets approriate for the job at hand.

Bergers work just fine on game. Read some articles.

 

[303carbine]

I have some 105 gr 243's and am wondering if any of you have used a match bullet hunting, and how they worked if you did.
Thanks

Match bullets may give different results every time on the same size game, I would only use them if I had nothing else. The BTHP Game King is designed for hunting, the HPBT Match bullet is for putting holes in paper.

 

[John Y Cannuck]

Some years back, over at accurate reloading, there was an epic thread entitled
'The Sierra Match King is not a hunting Bullet'
The thread went on forever, with arguments on both sides.

It included an email from a Sierra rep, who predictably said that the bullet was designed for target use, and that results on game would be unpredictable.

It seems that the Match King is being used by long range hunters in the USA, and I'm talking 500 yards and beyond here, with the big magnums, like the 338 RUM. The guys posted picks of the ranges and the kills, including wound shots.
The wounds were devastating to say the least.

After reading that thread end to end, I came to the conclusion that with the heavier bullets, and at the velocities they still had at long range, the Match King was pretty effective on thin skinned game.

Me, I'll stick with the GAME king not the Match king. If I choose a Sierra product to hunt with.
I don't hunt at those ranges, I have access to better constructed bullets for hunting, and I don't shoot well enough to require a Match King for accuracy anyways.

 

[crout]

Some years back, over at accurate reloading, there was an epic thread entitled
'The Sierra Match King is not a hunting Bullet'
The thread went on forever, with arguments on both sides.

It included an email from a Sierra rep, who predictably said that the bullet was designed for target use, and that results on game would be unpredictable.

It seems that the Match King is being used by long range hunters in the USA, and I'm talking 500 yards and beyond here, with the big magnums, like the 338 RUM. The guys posted picks of the ranges and the kills, including wound shots.
The wounds were devastating to say the least.

After reading that thread end to end, I came to the conclusion that with the heavier bullets, and at the velocities they still had at long range, the Match King was pretty effective on thin skinned game.

Me, I'll stick with the GAME king not the Match king. If I choose a Sierra product to hunt with.
I don't hunt at those ranges, I have access to better constructed bullets for hunting, and I don't shoot well enough to require a Match King for accuracy anyways.

well said. i've heard from many people that gamekings can be just as accurate as matchkings so why not use the hunting bullet?

the only experience i have is shooting 139gr scenars from my 6.5x55 at 3 small coyotes. small hole in and small hole out. all shot through the spine at 430yards.

 

[JasonYuke]

I have dumped a few, with SMKs and Amax bullets. However very controled conditions, and close shots 100 yards and in, with percision rigs.

My Oldman last season, used one by mistake, I loaded some practice rounds up for a 300 wsm, that shot the same POI as a 180 TSX. Did some major damage to the deer, and took its total rib cage off one side tore down half way and exited the far side, making a mess no it made one HELL of a mess. From what I have seen with his and my 2 is 100% unpridictable bullet expansion, as I took the head off one, and the second deer pin holed. through its head.

I can not claim they failed, as all 3 dropped in there tracks.

Deer are not fire eating dragons, and if hit well will go down, Bullet penetration is really not a huge concern on these 12-14 inch thick 150- 220 lb beasts, and bullet ANY will reach the lungs that lay a whopping 3 inches in there heavy armored body! I do not worry about bullet construction when hunting deer, vs placing a shot, however i do like the Hdy soft bullets.

 

[Duncan Idaho]

I always use a soft point but one day I had a reload HPBT 85 grain for my 6MM that was in my pocket prior to a hunting trip. As soon as I parked the truck I saw a nice fat doe standing head on in the brush so I took the neck shot, right under the chin. Blew out the back of the neck and half the skull. The ears were handing down like a lop eared bunny. When I saw the damage, I checked my casing and realized I used the varmint load.

I would not intentionally use a light hollow point on big game, but it sure did the trick.