The Sierra Matchking is NOT a hunting bullet

John Y Cannuck

John Y Cannuck

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Well folks, some of us have been around the internet long enough to see this debated to death. Suffice it to say that for some, it IS a hunting bullet.

But, to revive the discussion, Sierra itself has come forward with this:
http://www.sierrabullets.com/index.cfm?section=techservice&page=xring&volume=2012&issue=Fall#3

Great for Targets - Not for Hunting
By Philip Mahin​

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Fired Sierra 168 gr. HPBT MatchKing (#2200)
sent in by Joey M. of South Carolina​
Although Sierra's MatchKing bullets are recognized around the world for record-setting accuracy, they are not recommended for hunting because of their definition as a nonexpanding bullet. Despite this, hunters from all walks have used our MatchKings on a wide variety of game animals.

Sierra customer Joey wrote, "The bullet was fired from a custom-built Lawton 7000 SA rife with a 22" barrel and 1-10 barrel twist, 308 caliber. The target was a 30-gallon plastic drum filled with water and plugged. It was set up at 850 yards. The bullet was on target (bottom 3rd of the drum), went through the front side of the drum, through the water, and lodged in the back side of the drum. The bullet did not deform and did not penetrate the back side of the drum."

We get a lot of calls from varmint hunters that are using MatchKings with satisfactory results. A fast bullet on a small target can make a big show, but water is a hard media, much harder than most game animals that we hunt for food or control, and proves why Sierra does not recommend MatchKing bullets for hunting.
 
For some, FMJ would be a hunting bullet, but they are not ethical men by most of out standards.

When a manufacturer tells you not to use it on game...listen to them.

Note...potential exception for varmint hunters.
 
This seems pretty obvious. I find FMJ are almost always better for target shooting but it's about using the right tool for the job.
 
I wonder how many hunting bullets would expand at a measly 1400 fps? Hell with their typically lower BCs they wouldn't even be doing that. Couldn't this "test" just as easily be interpeted to show that the .308 isn't a 850 yard hunting rifle?
 
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I wonder if I would get the same results from say a nosler partition at 1300 yards from my .300win mag.... Sorry guys the evidence has spoken the partition is for paper only...
 
Back when I thought accuracy mattered over all else, I hunted with .30 caliber match bullets including MKs for a while. The results were worse then dismal. Some testing showed the problem, you never knew if the bullet would grenade or pencil through when fired aver normal hunting ranges. Now if you want to shoot game at ranges on the long side of a half mile, the performance is more reliable according to those who participate, particularly with larger than .30 bullets.


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As for FMJ bullets, we should not confuse military bullets with big game solids which perform admirably on game of all sizes.
 
With so many superior available "hunting" bullets, specifically designed to expand and work well on game animals,
it is beyond my comprehension why anyone would use a bullet designed for paper punching on a game animal?????

This includes all the match bullets, Yes, Bergers too.

In the search for one-hole accuracy and high BC's, some people are ignoring the importance of reliable bullet performance, time after time.

If we take the responsibility upon ourselves to hunt, then we also shoulder the necessity of making swift humane kills.
Match bullets do NOT provide that security,

In Short....use a HUNTING bullet for hunting, not bullets designed for targets made of paper.

Rant off.....Eagleye.
 
Eagleye said:
With so many superior available "hunting" bullets, specifically designed to expand and work well on game animals,
it is beyond my comprehension why anyone would use a bullet designed for paper punching on a game animal?????

This includes all the match bullets, Yes, Bergers too.

In the search for one-hole accuracy and high BC's, some people are ignoring the importance of reliable bullet performance, time after time.

If we take the responsibility upon ourselves to hunt, then we also shoulder the necessity of making swift humane kills.
Match bullets do NOT provide that security,

In Short....use a HUNTING bullet for hunting, not bullets designed for targets made of paper.

Rant off.....Eagleye.
Click to expand...

Bang on Eagleye!
 
Use the right tool for the job...these are paper punchers....Sierra Gameking would be a far better choice if you really want to shoot a Sierra bullet at least get the right type for your intended use.

Thus ends my sermon to the choir...
 
Although Sierra's MatchKing bullets are recognized around the world for record-setting accuracy, they are not recommended for hunting because of their definition as a nonexpanding bullet. .
Click to expand...

Non-expanding by definition??? It's a thin jacketed, lead core, boat-tail HOLLOW POINT. That would make it expanding in my books, and violently at high velocities. What kind of moron wrote this?
And the fact it's called " Match King" could be a clue that its intended design is not for hunting.
 
Its hollowpoint it only a by product of the way the jacket is drawn on.It is not a hollowpoint by design and thus not designed to expand.Your Mk is more likely to either pencil through or snap in two in a meat target.
 
Longshot said:
Its hollowpoint it only a by product of the way the jacket is drawn on.It is not a hollowpoint by design and thus not designed to expand.Your Mk is more likely to either pencil through or snap in two in a meat target.
Click to expand...

A cross section distinctly shows a hollow cavity(no lead) at the tip. Not sure why they'd have this and a hollow point if the intent was a solid......but if you say so.
 
The purpose of the tiny hollow point in a match bullet is to help stabilize it in flight, and thus enhance accuracy. It is too small a cavity with too thin a jacket to have any terminal performance benefit. Rather it traps air thus putting consistent positive air pressure on the tip of the bullet.
 
Boomer said:
The purpose of the tiny hollow point in a match bullet is to help stabilize it in flight, and thus enhance accuracy. It is too small a cavity with too thin a jacket to have any terminal performance benefit. Rather it traps air thus putting consistent positive air pressure on the tip of the bullet.
Click to expand...

I realize that its design intent is to be a target bullet, but I have yet to shoot a hollow point bullet of any design that fails to expand, unless perhaps at extreme range and low velocity, but that can be said about almost any bullet under those circumstances. Some use Berger's for hunting as well (with Berger advertising them as a hunting bullet), their construction is no different than a MK and I've seen them utterly fail at shorter ranges.
I suppose the bottom line is that nowadays there seems to be far more emphasis on ballistics than bullet performance and its consequence on live animals. Too bad.
 
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