In one of the threads discussing Matchkings performance on game, Ray Atkinson, who's opinion I have come to respect, mentioned that he had a 120gr Sierra HPBT from a 25/06 blow up inside a deer.

I believe that the 257 120gr HPBT is a Gameking as opposed to a Matchking. (Ray can you clarify?). According to Sierra, their Gameking HPBT's are a "tougher" bullet than their normal Gamekings.

Now to the point: I have a 257 AI that shoots Gamekings and Speer Hot Cores very well but acts like a shotgun with partitions, X's and Grand Slams. The Sierra HPBT is very accurate and based on Sierra's comments, I was going to try the bullet this year. Anyone else have any experience with these bullets on game. Any opinions on the relative performance of the 120 Sierra HPBT versus the Speer 120 gr Hot Core?

Thanks for your input. Jim

Olarmy;
The Sierra 120gr HPBT IS a lot tougher than the regular GameKing SBT. I've taken out both shoulders on Mule deer with a complete pass-thru, exit wound was no larger than 2". I had identical results with 140gr Sierra HPBT's using a 270 Win.
Anchored them to the spot!

My first experience was my last using 120 grain HPBT Sierra bullets in my 25-06 Rem. I was deer hunting in God's country, Potter County, PA about 30 years ago. I came up a little rise and there was a big doe feeding with her head stuck into the mountain laurel quartering away. The distance was 30 feet and that's not a typo! I placed the crosshairs on the point of her shoulder, then readjusted slightly for the one and one half inch height difference over the barrel. She had no idea I was there so I could take my time pressing the trigger. At the shot she ran off like a shot! No hair, no meat, no bone, no blood could be found. I stood there dumfounded; how could I miss at 30feet? A minute later there was a shot from down the ridge in the direction she ran. I presume another hunter collected the venison. I was so stunned I didn't even bother to find out why such a thing could have happened, but IMO the bullet blew on the surface of her leg bone and didn't penetrate. That's the last time I've used any manner of Sierra bullet on game except for 22 caliber varmint loads intended for groundhogs.

Sierra could go out of the game bullet business and it wouldn't break my heart. One bad experience is enough. Since then I've used Hornady, Speer and Nosler to my satisfaction, but finally settled on Barnes X. I molycoat them myself and they are very accurate in my Colt-Sauer.

That's my story and I'm sticking to it.

<edit> I still have that partial box of 120 grain Sierras #1650 made in Santa Fe Springs, CA.
Nowhere does it say 'Gameking.'

[ 07-22-2003, 19:25: Message edited by: onefunzr2 ]

I tried them. My results are exactly opposite Onefunzr2. They seemed to expand to slow and whitetails hit with them ran 40-85 yds. Wind drift and trajectory of the HPBT GKs is unacceptable for me but the accuracy can be outstanding.

I use them in my 308 and 30-06 in 165 grains with great success. They are tougher than the regular Gamekings. I have never had a problem with them.

I used their 85gr HPBT last year on Whitetail Deer in my 6mm Rem at 3250 fps.I shot a big doe at 30yds. The bullet broke two ribs going in and lodged in the oft shoulder and did not exit.She jumped and ran maybe 10 yds then dropped.I will use them again but not this year.They are very accurate.

I have used the .257 Sierra 120-grain HPBT on Central Texas whitetails from a .25/'06, and thought it was pretty tough! Newver had one stay inside a deer... Same with the 165-gr .308" HPBT!!

Thanks for the input, guys. Based on your comments, I think I'll try them this year...sure like the accuracy.

onefunzr2: I just looked at the box and it does say GameKing...wonder if Sierra has change the design in the last 30 years? Regards, Jim

olarmy
I have used the 165gr HPBT Gameking's in several 308 rifles on deer and antelope with excellent success. I have killed animals from 25 yards to one antelope at 550 yards with no problems. I shot quite a few antelope in the 300 to 375 yard range and several deer under 125 yards. I have never recovered a single bullet. Never any signs of a bullet failure.
They did not start out calling their hunting bullets "Gamekings". I do not know exactly when they started doing that.

I've used them quite a bit in a number of cals-they've all worked quite well be it on elk-antelope or deer--no problems whatsoever as long as I directed them to the right place.

A few posts back a fella wrote about a trip in Pa about years ago or something like that-took a shot at 30' and couldn't find the deer. Personally I'd be for figuring out what happened-I'd of went down the ridge to see what the people down there had collected. I would not of dismissed the bullet as being bad being as without finding the deer you have no idea of whether or no you had even hit the critter--just my thoughts on that I know you did not ask for them.

"GET TO THE HILL"

Dog

The 120 gr. Sierra HPBT is what I load for pronghorn in my 25.06 Rem. It's a great load. Their reaction when hit is to collapse in a pile waiting to be field dressed.

I probably wouldn't use it on deer, but it would certainly do the job on West Texas whitetail. (I actually like something lighter, in a 95-100 gr. spitzer for West Texas whitetail if I'm shooting the 25.06.)

For mule deer I prefer not to use the 25.06, not because it wouldn't do the job, I just have other options I like better.

My regular Roedeer rifle is chambered in 7x64 and I use the 160 BTSP GK with complete satisfaction. I replace that bullet by the much tougher 160 HP GK (same load, accuracy & POI) though when there's a chance of crossing a Wild Boar.

Sounds like everyone finds the HPBT to be a pretty tough bullet! Even for boars??!! Great!!

[ 07-24-2003, 18:35: Message edited by: eldeguello ]