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I have just begun reloading for a nef hani rifle chambered for 30 30 winchester and the only bullets I have got to shoot good groupings (1.5 moa 5 shot groupings) with so far are 168gr sierra matchking moly coated, would these be adaquate for deer at 30 30 velocities (2100fps)? I have heard they come apart easily at higher velocities but I wont be sending them too fast out of the 30 30. | ||
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PM me your address.....I'll send you some real bullets ....then we can end the nasty thread to follow! /////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////// "Socialism is a philosophy of failure, the creed of ignorance, and the gospel of envy, its inherent virtue is the equal sharing of misery." Winston Churchill | |||
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I'll simply say that is not a bullet I would choose to use on a deer even from a 30-30. Sometimes they come apart other times they go through like a pencil. As usual just my $.02 Paul K | |||
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This has some good information on the inconsistent terminal performance of the Sierra Matchking bullets. The Hornady 155 or 168 AMAX would appear to be a much better choice. LWD | |||
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I have a fair amount of experience with 168 gr Sierra MK on Game... Many Police Snipers use 168gr Federal Match as their duty round, so there is a lot of info on how it performs. I have used it on wild pigs, coyotes, turkeys, and bad guys. Baised on my personal use, I switched my agency to WW 168gr Ballistic Silvertips. Performance of the 168gr BST on "game" has been much better... Even Sierra will tell you that the MatchKings are designed for accuracy on paper, NOT performance on "Meat"... Also for a 30/30 I would use only bullets designed for 30/30 velocities... Have you tried any 160gr Hornady Lever Evolution bullets??? I have killed a few deer and wild pigs, and a turkey with factory Hornady 160 LE 30/30 ammo with great results... I will say again, baised on my Personal use of 168gr Matchkings, on "meat", I would not use them for hunting again, as long as I could get ANY other "hunting" bullet. DOUBLE RIFLE SHOOTERS SOCIETY | |||
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Or not expand at all & pencil through. Really, at 30-30 ranges, I woudl rather have a good hunting bullet that shot 3MOA than a SMK that shot 1/2 that. LIFE IS NOT A SPECTATOR'S SPORT! | |||
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You know, for $75.00 you can send in that handy rifle and have NEF fit a .270 Win or 30.06 barrel to it. | |||
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Some where here there is 140 plus pages on matchkings and deer search for it and you get all the info you ever needed and then some. | |||
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back in the 70's before we all knew better,and everybody shot either a 30-06,or a 308,we used sierra match bullets on deer.We would buy a couple boxes of 100,and load for everybody in our hunting group.Never knew we had a problem. ****************************************************************** SI VIS PACEM PARA BELLUM *********** | |||
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Substitute the SMK with a 165 Gameking, Ballistic tip or accubonds and save the MK for what Sierra says they were designed. To kill paper. | |||
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Thanks for all the info, | |||
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Worked up some loads yesterday with 170gr hornady flatpoints that printed 3moa consistently so I will try to tighten up the groups a bit more with different powder and seating depth and use them instead. I am not sure if I can send the rifle in to have a barrel of a different caliber fitted since I live in Canada and I assume there is a lot of red tape involved with sending it accross the boarder. | |||
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Yea, those libs sure have things messed up for you north of the boarder. Since you can shoot pointy bullets, and like something that's match grade, don't forget about the Nosler Ballistic Tip. | |||
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I havent tried ballistic tips yet but plan to when I can buy some. I tried some 150gr hornady sst bullets but havent been able to get them to group that well yet. | |||
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Surely there is another bullet that will shoot well. Have you tried using a different powder? I used to think my .243 wouldn't shoot anything above 80 grains accurately, but then I tried a slower powder with some 90 grain Nosler ballistic tips and it shoots them great. Red C. Everything I say is fully substantiated by my own opinion. | |||
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Only killed 1 deer but too many pigs to count with the 155 and 168 SMK's. The work very well for me from 100 to about 500 yards so far. Used other SMK's in 7mm and 338 as well with no failures. | |||
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I am on a bit of a budget so I dont have too many different powders to work with yet, most of my loads with that rifle have been with imr 3031 but I plan on trying some varget and 4064, I have had excellent results with those other powders in my old marlin 336 but when I bought my nef 3031 was what was in my powder measure and it is recomended as a 30-30 powder so that is what I have used so far. I am confident that I will find some good loads for this rifle I just need to spend some more time testing different loads. | |||
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I will probably restrict my smk loads to targets and varmints, I think the 168 / .308 dia bullets would work okay on deer but I would rather just have the peace of mind of using a bullet designed for hunting after reading some other peoples experiences with them. Weather they blow apart or shoot clean through without expanding on deer sized game I would think they would still kill decent being the diameter and weight they are. | |||
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I have had some not so great luck in another 30 30 with Lever evolution bullets as far as accruacy and also meat damage and blowing apart but that was probably more to due with shot placement related to the accruacy of those bullets in the rifle but that is not to say they wont shoot well in my nef. They are very pricey to buy where I live also about $40 per box. Did you switch to bst's based on use on pigs or bad guys? | |||
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I don't have a problem with SMKs on deer or hogs, but if you do, why not just buy some Sierra Gameking or Prohunter (designed for .30-30) bullets. They are some of the cheapest quality bullets around, usually shoot well, and are designed to perform on game. xxxxxxxxxx When considering US based operations of guides/outfitters, check and see if they are NRA members. If not, why support someone who doesn't support us? Consider spending your money elsewhere. NEVER, EVER book a hunt with BLAIR WORLDWIDE HUNTING or JEFF BLAIR. I have come to understand that in hunting, the goal is not the goal but the process. | |||
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