Hunting with SMK's
- Thread starter Rohann
- Start date
- Location
- Virden, MB
What cal?
I've never shot a deer myself but from what I've been told they're pretty tough. It might run a fair distance before hitting the floor with a tiny .30 cal hole in it rather then a gaping wound that a .30 cal hunting bullet would leave behind. Then again, thats just speculation, I've never seen any ballistics gel test results with SMKs.
I shot a coyote and a wolf with 107 gr SMK in 6.5mm, they didnt expand and I lost the coyote after a 500 meter tracking job in the snow, and the wolf took three hits and finally a head shot to finish it off. In my experiences I would not reccomend using a SMK on game
- Location
- Virden, MB
THAT
I have killed over a dozen coyotes with a 70 grain SMK out of my 6mm. I found it to be a great bullet for dogs. I would think that with a bigger bullet not killing your coyote the shot placement was less than desireable? Coyotes are ultra tough pound for pound, any bullet ouside of the vitals and you have problems.
shot placement was frontal at 80 yards, rock solid rest and the gun would print half moa groups with that load. Dropped him with the first shot and he got up and began to spin, I tried to shoot the 2nd coyote than came into the call when I noticed the 1st one getting up, I hit him again and he took off like a rocket.
The wolf I shot was hit quartering towards at about 150 yards, right in front of the near side shoulder angling through the chest and exiting out the ribs on the far side. She ran about 500 yards, I hit her a bit far back at 350 yards before she got into the bush. I tracked her down and she had bedded down under a tree just inside the timber. One shot in the head killed her
While skinning the wolf it was evident the bullet did not expand, tiny entrance hole and tiny exit. In a 243 they may be fine with the 3500 fps speeds, but in my experience they do not expand well at moderate velocity (107 gr @ 2900 fps) and I would not be confident going after deer with a 175 gr SMK in a 308
The wolf I shot was hit quartering towards at about 150 yards, right in front of the near side shoulder angling through the chest and exiting out the ribs on the far side. She ran about 500 yards, I hit her a bit far back at 350 yards before she got into the bush. I tracked her down and she had bedded down under a tree just inside the timber. One shot in the head killed her
While skinning the wolf it was evident the bullet did not expand, tiny entrance hole and tiny exit. In a 243 they may be fine with the 3500 fps speeds, but in my experience they do not expand well at moderate velocity (107 gr @ 2900 fps) and I would not be confident going after deer with a 175 gr SMK in a 308
Not really. Seen animals die with SMK's. My reasoning for not using them would have that they are too 'expansive'. I'd say from the mixed reports that they are inconsistent.
I agree!
I shot a coyote with my 308 Police the other day with a 165 SMK it was about 220 yards away. I thought I shot it in the guts because it was jumpin, and spinning and nipping at itself. I tried to get another off but it went behind a hill. So I went for a walk behind the hill and found the coyote dead. I shot it right in the lungs, and it lived for a long time after I shot it. I dont think I would feel confident shooting a deer with these.
The SMK might be at it's best marginally better than a FMJ, but only because it does have that pin sized hollow point. Shooting 4L bladder containers full of water, there was no discernable difference between SMK's and FMJ's. They both punched bullet sized holes on entrance and exit. Compare that to soft point bullets that blew the containers into a cloud of mist. SMK's just aren't designed for bullet expansion to cause damage. Use the proper bullet for the job. I'm not saying it can't be done, it can be with proper shot placement, but the ETHICAL and LEGAL way to do it, is to use soft point/polymer tip/etc bullets.
- Location
- Ft. Mac. Alberta
Most guys that shoot the SMK for deer push them faster than a 308 can, 300 mags or better.....
You may be better off with the 165 HPBT Game King, it is accurate, light enough that the 308 can push it fast enough , and kills VERY well.
Cat
You may be better off with the 165 HPBT Game King, it is accurate, light enough that the 308 can push it fast enough , and kills VERY well.
Cat
- Location
- Somewhere on the Hudson Bay Coast
We learn from our mistakes. Shooting big game with a match bullet is a mistake. I learned. If accuracy is an over riding concern, find an accurate game bullet like the Nosler AB and load it using the same techniques you would for loading match ammo.
I think that the concept of super accurate hunting loads is flawed except for those few who are accomplished very long range shots, as the hunter hasn't lived who can shoot inside of 2 MOA from field positions under all conditions. That's not to say that we should not be concerned with accuracy or with a bullet's ability to buck the wind efficiently, but the bullet's performance on game trumps any other consideration.
I think that the concept of super accurate hunting loads is flawed except for those few who are accomplished very long range shots, as the hunter hasn't lived who can shoot inside of 2 MOA from field positions under all conditions. That's not to say that we should not be concerned with accuracy or with a bullet's ability to buck the wind efficiently, but the bullet's performance on game trumps any other consideration.
If you feel the need to shoot a match quality bullet go with the Berger VLD these bullets are a hunting bullet.
From what I hear from others that have used it, it does what it claims and works on deer to moose sized animals and very effective on boiler room shots.
I have tried the VLDs only at paper and found they shoot as well and better than the SMKs or Amax bullets in my 6mms, 6.5s, and 7mms. I have ordered a few boxes of 30 cals to give it a try.
I have also found Nosler Accubonds to give me the accuracy close to match bullets in my 7mms and 30s. Even though I perfer a TSX in my heavy magnums the accubond does in fact shoot more accurate, MOA wise.
From what I hear from others that have used it, it does what it claims and works on deer to moose sized animals and very effective on boiler room shots.
I have tried the VLDs only at paper and found they shoot as well and better than the SMKs or Amax bullets in my 6mms, 6.5s, and 7mms. I have ordered a few boxes of 30 cals to give it a try.
I have also found Nosler Accubonds to give me the accuracy close to match bullets in my 7mms and 30s. Even though I perfer a TSX in my heavy magnums the accubond does in fact shoot more accurate, MOA wise.
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I put five rds through the vitals of a bear with a 168 gr smk. If i didn't see the slash hit a sandy river bank on the exiting side i wouldn't of though a was scoring hits. It took a head shot to drop him. After i gutted him i found a small hole in the heart and very little damage on the rest. Those bullets sailed through like a laser beam. I won't use them for hunting for they act like ball ammo....jeese, that bear wailed for what seemed like forever. Use proper hunting bullets that expand.
