Match Grade for hunting??

B

Barnard308

Regular
EE Expired
Rating - 100%
1   0   0
Location
Nova Scotia
Who uses match grade ammo for hunting purposes. I have read on a few different forms that some do and some dont, so I thought I'd ask you guys your opinions.

Main reason I am asking is because I have developed a load for my 308 using 167 Scenars and I am getting sub MOA results at 200 meters, at the same time I am trying to find a load using 165 SST's and they shot like crap from my rifle. I am mainly shooting paper out to 400 meters and hunting deer/black bear with this rifle.

I am considering trying out the 180 SST to see if the difference in weight will help my groupings with the SST but I havent had the time yet..
 
Hunting is not the same as shooting small groups on paper. My hunting ammunition is designed for hunting, so it uses a bullet I believe is the best for the planned hunt, and reliability (does it feed perfectly, for example) is more important than accuracy. I try for "enough" accuracy so I can confidently shoot to the maximum range I will attempt, but I do not require the absolute best accuracy the gun can produce if that accuracy comes from an inappropriate bullet. I also do not need the maximum velocity unless that also includes the best accuracy for that hunting bullet.

So, no, match grade ammo is not necessarily the best hunting ammo at all.
 
For deer and bear - no match bullets. Their performance on game is not predictable or reliable. Try Accubonds and Interbonds as I have found them to be nearly match accurate in every caliber I have tried. Their performance on game is outstanding.
 
How far are you planning on shooting? Some target bullets are useful at extreme ranges where conventional bullets won't even expand. The Scenar never seems to make that list. I've found the SST to be a picky bullet, so it isn't super surprising that it doesn't shoot in yours. Stick a Ballistic Tip in there and things will probably change.

Accuracy is seriously over-rated for big game hunting, though that will sound like heresy to some.
 
I will generally sacrifice a little bit of accuracy for speed in my big game loads. If I can get less than 6 inch groups at 300yds at the top end or near it then all is good. 300yds is the max I will shoot at big game and it is where I do all my load development for as well.
I then move back to 100yds to sight in and see where they print.
 
I sent Lapua a message about their Scenar L bullets, 220 gr 30 cal bullets and he stated they are and have been using them for hunting for they redesigned the bullet.
 
For an accurate hunting bullet I would try Nosler or Sierra, I usually use Hornady SST to save a little money though since I rarely shoot past 100 yards when hunting so sub 2 moa is more than good enough. I have been fortunate though, most of the rifles I've owned over the last few years have been capable of putting the SST's into close to 1 moa with a little experimentation with powder choice and seating depth. I just got a Rem 700 in 7-08 as my new hunting rifle since I seem to have gotten caught up in the tactical bolt action precision type rifles and realized I didn't have an appropriate hunting rifle any more, the 7-08 is showing real promise with 139SST's loaded as long as will fit in the mag with Varget behind them. A little more testing and I hope to have my hunting load ready to go for October.
 
I have been using Hornady 140grn, SST INTERLOCK bullets for many years now. I use them in the 6.5x55 Tikka T3 loaded over 51.0 grains of IMR7828sc. Velocities are right around 2900fps. Accuracy is excellent. DO NOT USE THIS LOAD IN ANYTHING OTHER THAN A STRONG MODERN ACTION. The Swede actions stand a very good chance of KABOOMING with this load. It generates around 60,000psi.

I also use the 165grn SST in a Model 70 308 Winchester and a CZ 30-06. They are both loaded hot and both, like the Tikka, shoot those bullets like lasers if I do my part. I have taken Moose, Deer and Bears with all three cartridges and even Elk with the 6.5 and 06. All but two Bears have been shot through the boiler room, all have hit ribs going in and coming out and some have been put through on a quartering angle. I have never had one blow up, never been able to recover a bullet other than one of the 6.5 bullets that was caught in the snow on the bank behind the White Tail it passed through. It retained about 60% of its original weight. That animal was around 60 yards away so velocities were close to maximum generated.

The SST bullets have a bad reputation that came about from the early offerings that were constructed differently from the later INTERLOCK design. These bullets will do the job they were intended for if you do your part and put them into the right place. Two of the Bears taken with SST 140grn 6.5 bullets were shot through the shoulders at around 200yds. Again, both bullets passed all the way through both shoulders, smashing both of them and ruining them for eating. The exit hole was the size of my fist. This type of damage is not unlike the performance of may other hunting bullets being offered.

Again, this is my experience with NEW INTERLOCK SST bullets. I have seen the older bullets not perform as well. Maybe they had some teething issues, I don't know. Often I feel people use bullets that are light in weight and therefore light in construction, this can also contribute to these bullets getting a bad name. I know people that use the 95 grain Amax by Hornady and are fine with them. They are like grenades and seldom if ever come out the other side of the animal. What they do inside the animal is explosive and makes one heck of a mess.

If you really need to go the light bullet route for whichever reason, I am playing with the Barnes, monolithic offerings and the Hornady GMX offerings. I find they shoot almost as well as the SSTs and are almost as long. Being of solid copper construction they should hold together very well at the ranges I shoot comfortably. I will be able to tell you more at the end of this year's hunts.
 
I have been using .308 WINCHESTER 168GR SIERRA BOATTAIL HOLLOW POINT ULTRA MATCH for deer and hog since I bought my .308 back in the early 90's.

I have used it in Michigan, Alabama, Georgia, and Florida. It has put over 100 deer in the freezer.

I lost 1 deer because of a hurried shot and a friend pushing/not waiting for the deer to expire. We already had 3 deer to process and he wanted to get this one instead of waiting for me to get the tractor and come back, around 30min. The deer bolted to the next property where tree huggers own it and refused to allow me to retrive my deer. The warden was 4hrs out. By the time he arrived, the deer had been removed by someone. The deer went around 150yds from shot to expire.
 
POI is important to avoid resighting. For 260Rem find these two bullet have similar POI.

Target 139 Scenar
Hunting 140 Berger match hunting VLD
 
There's quite a few posts/pictures on other forums about people using 155gr scenars for hunting. Seems to make things dead as dead gets.
 
Dogleg said:
Accuracy is seriously over-rated for big game hunting, though that will sound like heresy to some.
Click to expand...

Diablo7101 said:
I will generally sacrifice a little bit of accuracy for speed in my big game loads.
Click to expand...

Exactly. You don't need ¼ moa groups to shoot at animals. The vitals are pretty big on big game. No point in having say a 308 that shoots a hunting bullet at the speed of a 30-30 because it prints 1" groups at 600 yards. Target shooting sure have at it doesn't take much ft/flb to poke a hole in paper. Load the gun to its full potential.
 
Dogleg said:
How far are you planning on shooting? Some target bullets are useful at extreme ranges where conventional bullets won't even expand. The Scenar never seems to make that list. I've found the SST to be a picky bullet, so it isn't super surprising that it doesn't shoot in yours. Stick a Ballistic Tip in there and things will probably change.

Accuracy is seriously over-rated for big game hunting, though that will sound like heresy to some.
Click to expand...


This is true, I've shot many animals with my old 35 Whelen that would give a 1.5" 3 shot group at 100 yards. The satisfying part is the first bullet usually went where it was aimed and subsequent bullets would open up the group.

So, for hunting a bullet constructed for the task and has a reliable poa/poi at the distance you expect to shoot is the key.

A rifle/load combination that prints groups of < 1 moa are nice but generally not required.
 
POI is important to avoid resighting. For 260Rem find these two bullet have similar POI.

Target 139 Scenar
Hunting 140 Berger match hunting VLD



What you need to know is if they have the same cold bore shot POI .

Lots of peoples seem to forget about cold bore shot POI for hunting, your first shot can be different on a cold barrel than when your barrel is hot at the range.
Always mark your cold bore shots on your paper target and keep record of it for hunting purpose instead of shooting a few rounds on the gong to warm up the barrel.

For the OP question , I think most of the match grade bullet are not suitable for most deer hunting situation. they are not just inferior in terminal ballistic but the long skinny shape they have make em less stable, it's because they have greater distance between the center of gravity and the center of pressure in flight. in short it makes em take longer to stabillised, the result is less accuracy at short distance.
I know some people have had good hunting result with match grade bullet at extended range. but not so much in normal hunting situation.
 
To the OP, the 155 Scenar is pretty tough and quite a few guys have had great results on deer, hogs, and black bears. The 167 isn't quite as stout apparently.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top Bottom