Want to know everyones take on this bullet and elk, especially those that have actually used this bullet on elk.

Reason being, i went to the range yesterday with these bullets on top of 53.7gr of H4831. Crony'd at 2388 but at 100 yards i got a less than dime size group of 5!

I tried 54.7 and the group opened up substantially and it was chronied at 2426. So i dont think i will use it. it was still about 1.25 group but i liked the 53.7 better

I'm not sure what calibre you are shootng, the velocities seem slow to me for just about any calibre they are appropriate for.

I have shot a couple of deer with sierra bullets and they came apart both times, I won't shoot them at anything other than paper.

I'm sorry, its a rem 700 bdl 30/06

I've got one recovered out of an elk that is about as good as it gets. One piece and good mushroom. I've used them on deer but never recovered any. Try 48 grains of IMR 4064 and kick the speed up to around 2700. It works for me.

I think that 4831 is too slow for 165gr bullets in 30-06. I'd suggest you go to 56gr of 4350 and a 180gr bullet. It will be faster than your 165, hold its velocity better, and penetrate better.

With the 165gr bullet, try 4895 or 4350. I shoot 165gr bullets in my M1 using 47gr of 4895 and it is very accurate and much faster than what you are reporting. Kudude

There's a lot of opinions about Sierra hunting bullets and they range from far left to far right.

I'd far prefer something other than a standard cup and core bullet for elk hunting. Sierra don't make the grade in that market.

Only game I've ever shot with this bullet was a poor lil Texas whitetail spike. The bullet "field dressed" the little deer, bad shot quartering away, should not have fired, I did, hit the deer behind the rib cage and blew everything out the chest. Impressive.
59.0 grains of H4831 165 grain Sierra SPBT

LLS

I have used the Gamekings sussessfully on deer and they are very accurate BUT they do seperate pretty bad. I can't knock them but I prefer the Barnes TSX for cleaner kills. It is small money to upgrade to a premium bullet compared to the expense of a hunt. I practice with the Sierras and hunt with the TSX.

the .358 gamekings leave little to be desires, the .308 haven't given me the least bit of trouble...

good enough bullet, how's that?
jeffe

I have shot and seen many friends take deer with both the SBT and HPBT versions of this bullet, and all were clean kills. One solid bone spine shot left a humongous hole, but the animal was dead before it hit the ground. Not the best choice for a magnum, this non-premium bullet is a great choice for the standard calibres, especially at longer ranges.

I've not used the 165 but have taken lots of Deer and Elk sized animals with the 180 grain Sierra SPBT. I must admit it is really accurate in my rifle and never had a bullet problem, ever. One bull I shot at 400 yards and the lowly Sierra still broke his shoulders and exited.
If you like how it shoots I'd use them for anything you want. Not every elk taken this year will fall to a "premium" bullet.

Thank you guys for the replies. I knew there would be some good and some bad ones. I do feel this bullet is too slow so far, but it is very very accurate in my rifle at that speed. Loaded up some hotter ones and gonna see how they do.
As for the barnes. 2 boxes of 38.00 a box 180 grain ammo, and i cant get a group from them to save my life. Well, i cant get under a MOA anyway.

Why didn't you try any out of your 30-06? Les

Les,
Trying to be funny..

I was going to retry some more when we were there saturday but you rushed me and caused me to leave my bolt on my reloading bench. HEHE

I will be going this saturday again if you want to go. Let me know.

Would love to go, but the youngest is getting baptised, will probably be up for Sunday. Les

I am trying to convince myself to hunt with Sierra gamekings (165) for deer and elk. It is with a 308 Win. I have loaded 165gr Speer Hot-Cor and Hornady Interbond at 2650, always accurate. Both bullets have exited with a little bigger sized exit hole (never recovered bullets, always instant kills on deer). This is at a ranged 252 and 275 yrds. I do like the price of the Speer. Its kind of hard to change from my tried and true set-up, with 250+ yrds exit wounds and lights out kills. But if anyone wants to try to convince me to change to Gamekings, feel free. I am curious about their terminal performance on elk.

well i got some more of them loaded up and ready for this wkend at the range. Gonna see what i can get them up to and still be accurate. I have some 180 accubonds as well i have worked up, I am just not sure how far to the lands to set them on this rifle. More trial and err i guess.

My brother loves these bullets and swears by them. I've never used them, but, don't talk bad about them in front of my brother. He can scrap!

Sierra once told me anything under 3000FPS is fine for their bullets. I use Gamekings exclusively on deer because they get the job done cleanly and are the most accurate bullet in all my rifles. I prefer accuracy over "premium" anyday, but that's just me.

this is how they are shooting, load development targets. None were absolutely terrible but two groups, one on each targer. Well you can see for yourself
https://forums.accuratereloading.com/eve/forums/a/tpc/f/2511043/m/623104555

Had to throw in a 2 cent worth here. I like the Sierra GKs - almost always very accurate. With the 165s try IMR or H 4350, about 56 grains. 1.5 MOA is PLENTY accurate for work on game. Most elk are killed inside 200 yards, and with the 06 you probably should not go past about 300-350 unless you practice a lot. THe only elk I've killed with the GK were shot with 250 grains 375 at about 2750. 80 percent weight rtention, good expansion, and no separation, so I favor more weight. IMHO 180 would be getter and you can get that to around 2700. Good luck.

IMR 4350 @ 56.0
Fed 210 Match
180 Sierra GK BT
FC or WW cases

57.5 with 165 GK BTHP Tougher Bullet the GK BT.

The 180 Sierra GK would be my heavy game bullet in the 30-06.

Hey Alaska Bush pilot that is the identical 180 grain load that I shoot except I use CCI primers and the WW cases almost exclusively. This load is very accurate and deadly in my lightweight 30/06. That load in my gun has taken many deer and elk, a handful of antelope a Bighorn Sheep and a Mtn. Goat. From 21 yards (goat) to 425 yards (elk). Very effective. What kind of velocity do you get and what barrel length are you at.?

I personally will not use ANY non-premium on elk, certainly not a Sierra and especially not a Gameking! Unless of course you're into admiring the jacket core separation phenomenon that Sierra has patented!

On a side note if you're using H4831 in a 30-06 with that weight bullet your load should be in the 60+ grain range.

They do shoot good and straight but I quit using them when I found the TSX's. I never had a gameking stay together well in a deer much less an elk.

Snell

I use it in a Rem 760 Deluxe....I get the standard 2700 FPS.....if I need more I go to my 300 WSM. I like the Nosler Solid Base 180gr also with the same load!

Prem bullets have there place, plan on trying the 180 Accubond with the same load. Never had a problem with Sierra 180 GK in 30-06 on moose.....biggest deer on the planet.

Even on Mule Deer/elk in Norwood, CO.

I've shot quite a few deer and 2 elk with 165 gr gamekings out of a 30-06 never had one seperate, shot through both elk. I decided that 165's didn't make sense compared to 180's so that's what I shoot now. I did have one 150 gr gameking seperate on a deer, but I've had speer and nosler BT's seperate too so...never had a "premium" bullet come apart.

Have you tried the 165 GK HPBT much touger bullet than the 165 SBT.......but if elk r on your menu the 180 SBT is a good along with the 200 SBT.