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.300WSM for Pronghorn and Elk
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posted
I plan to hunt pronghorn, elk, and possibly mule deer in New Mexico in 2005.

What do you all think about using the same rifle and load, .300 WSM with 190 gr Sierra moly Match Kings @ 2950 fps mv, for all?
 
Posts: 285 | Location: Alabama | Registered: 01 June 2003Reply With Quote
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Please don't start the MatchKing argument again, it is a target bullet and may work but was not designed to. SO many other good bullets to chose from.
 
Posts: 1542 | Location: NC | Registered: 10 June 2002Reply With Quote
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You mean you have two years to plan and work up loads, and the 190 MK is the best you can come up with?

How about putting a Chinese Tasco on top? By then I'm sure you can also find a nice Outers injection moulded stock. You'll be all ready to go with "the right tool for the job". FWIW, Dutch.
 
Posts: 4564 | Location: Idaho Falls, ID, USA | Registered: 21 September 2000Reply With Quote
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The 300Mag anything is a great all round cartridge
for North America. The people who make Matchkings[Sierra] recommend that they NOT BE USED FOR HUNTING. This comes from the people who MAKE them, and I think they know their product best. There are several good bullets for your use, one of the very best would be a 165 or a 180gr Nosler Partition. I favor the 180 for elk [I have used it for a few in the 300Wby [Big Grin] ]. Either will expand on antelope and not come apart on elk.
 
Posts: 16134 | Location: Texas | Registered: 06 April 2002Reply With Quote
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I like your choice in carts. and you might even get away w/ the SMK on an antelope, but stick to a hunting bullet for elk. You could sub. the Hornady 190grIL & do well on elk. My favorite is the NP but any of the better hunting bullets in the 180-200gr range will do you well.
 
Posts: 7752 | Location: kalif.,usa | Registered: 08 March 2001Reply With Quote
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quote:
Originally posted by RuffHewn:
I plan to hunt pronghorn, elk, and possibly mule deer in New Mexico in 2005.

What do you all think about using the same rifle and load, .300 WSM with 190 gr Sierra moly Match Kings @ 2950 fps mv, for all?

Replace the 190 grain Match King with an 180 grain Nosler Partition, CT Fail Safe, or Barnes X and happy hunting.

I say again, forget any match bullet for hunting. They are NOT designed to be expanding bullets. The hollow point on them is purely a by product of the manufacturing process.
 
Posts: 2206 | Location: USA | Registered: 31 August 2002Reply With Quote
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While the 190 would get the job done with proper shot selection, personally, after using and testing the 240, I'd prefer a tougher bullet for elk. But mainly because I'm not going to turn down a quartering shot if I'm lucky enough to get an elk in my sights anytime in the near future.

Have you tried the 200 Accubond? I'd guess you could get in the 2850-2900 range with it. The high BC will buck the wind well all the way to your goat and you'll have the penetration of a fairly stout 200 grain bullet on the elk (if you need it).
 
Posts: 920 | Location: Mukilteo, WA | Registered: 29 November 2001Reply With Quote
<allen day>
posted
I don't advise Matchkings for big game hunting purposes, and neither does Sierra. I've used 168 gr. Matchkings in the .300 Win. Mag. for about a dozen big game animals, and I don't like them. Target performance was terrific - terminal performance on game was erratic to say the least. Terminal performance is what counts - not paper performance. Use Hornady Inter-Locts, Nosler Partitions, etc. for hunting, not match bullets.

AD
 
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Get a real bullet. With such the vast amounts of premium bullets that manufactors spoil us with each year, you'd have to be a real idiot not to take advantage of them by using a target bullet for hunting purposes. [Roll Eyes]
 
Posts: 1005 | Location: Alaska | Registered: 23 August 2002Reply With Quote
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My mind is made up and I am at ease with my bullet and caliber choices. I thought Seafire would be on this like a pack of dogs on a 3 legged cat.

I have tested the 190 SMK in wet newsprint alongside 180 Game King and 180 Ballistic Silver Tip. For a real hunter, the individual willing to wait for the correct shot opportunity, also a skilled marksman knowledgeable in game anatomy, either bullet is more than adequate. However the Match King had the advantage of deeper penetration and a larger bullet path. The jacket of the SMK was the same thickness as the GK. The NBST jacket was thinner near the nose but more than 3 times the thickness at the base.

You want examples on flesh? How about 3 feral hogs this year, all thicker and tougher than any elk. The closest was 65 yds head straight on center chest with the bullet ending somewhere in the intestnine cavity. Penetration was well in excess of 12 inches, the thickness of a very large elk. 2 hogs were taken at 675 yds, one through both shoulder blades and the other only exitted through a shoulder. Exits were the size of my palm. I do not shoot animals I intend to eat in the shoulder so there is no need comparing the elk scapula with that of a hog.

What did you all do when there was only cup and core bullets to hunt with? Do you believe no animal was ever killed prior to premium monometal bullets or A-frames and Partitions?

I took elk with .270 Win 130 GKs and .338 WinMag 250 GKs. Never missed my desired POI by more than an inch or two. Never shot one twice. None stayed mobile long enough to allow a second shot.
 
Posts: 285 | Location: Alabama | Registered: 01 June 2003Reply With Quote
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180 s or triplexcirocco, 180 partition, 180 barnes x
 
Posts: 13 | Location: ct. usa | Registered: 13 November 2002Reply With Quote
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RBUNT227, an article in Oct 2002 Shooting Times on 180 gr .30 bullets tested by Rick Jamison shows the Ballistic Tip and the Scirocco as basically equal in penetration and wound channel. The Swift A-frame had no significant advantage over these two, either. The Nosler partition was notably better, while the Xs and FailSafes were much better in penetration. The Game King was only slightly worse than the Ballistic Tip.

To compare relative performance with the bullets I tested in wet newsprint with the same ones he tested in ballistic gelatin, the 190 gr Sierra Match King should be basically equal to the 180 gr Swift A-frame.

[ 07-09-2003, 10:51: Message edited by: RuffHewn ]
 
Posts: 285 | Location: Alabama | Registered: 01 June 2003Reply With Quote
<allen day>
posted
It sounds like you punched some paper and then made your mind up that paper exerience was just as good as hunting experience. If that's so, why'd you bother to ask about this bullet on game, anyway?

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quote:
Originally posted by allen day:
It sounds like you punched some paper and then made your mind up that paper exerience was just as good as hunting experience. If that's so, why'd you bother to ask about this bullet on game, anyway?

AD

Allen, actually I punched 2 feral hogs at 675 yds, paper at 50 ft, 300 yds, and 600 yds, and a feral hog at 65 yds. Feral hogs are not game animals in Alabama, only a nuisance like ground hogs, but they are flesh and blood and a good substitute for hunting experience.

BTW, Dodge does not rate my Cummins powered 3500 4wd pickup to tow much over 10500 lbs. My 40 ft 5th wheel camper all up is over 14000. Like Sierra, Dodge only knows the considerations on the table during the design process.

I primarily posted to get a certain close-minded member's humerous response. It turns out that either Seafire has multiple login IDs or he is not alone in his "It is either my way or it is WRONG!" attitude.
 
Posts: 285 | Location: Alabama | Registered: 01 June 2003Reply With Quote
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I'd have to agree with allen day and Orion1. There is nothing wrong with your calibre choice but hunting with a Match King doesn't cut it. When every other poster and the manufacturer tell you that it is not suitable for that purpose and you insist it is , I begin to smell a rat. To even compare a Match King to a Fail Safe, A-Frame or Partition for hunting purposes tells me that you either don't know what you are talking about or you are just trying to stir up shit. I don't know of any responsible hunter that would attempt a shot on an animal at 675 yards. What happened to your .308? As I recall in a previous post a .308 was entirely adequate for anything including grizzly bear. You lose more credibility every time you open your mouth.
 
Posts: 2092 | Location: Canada | Registered: 25 April 2003Reply With Quote
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quote:
Originally posted by savage49494:
I'd have to agree with allen day and Orion1. There is nothing wrong with your calibre choice but hunting with a Match King doesn't cut it. When every other poster and the manufacturer tell you that it is not suitable for that purpose and you insist it is , I begin to smell a rat. To even compare a Match King to a Fail Safe, A-Frame or Partition for hunting purposes tells me that you either don't know what you are talking about or you are just trying to stir up shit. I don't know of any responsible hunter that would attempt a shot on an animal at 675 yards. What happened to your .308? As I recall in a previous post a .308 was entirely adequate for anything including grizzly bear. You lose more credibility every time you open your mouth.

Let me take your comments in order.

I have tested the 190 SMK, 180 SGK, and 180 NBT in expansion medium at 50 ft, 300 yds and 600 yds. Rick Jamison tested numerous 180 gr .30 bullets at 2000 and 3000 fps. Correlating the bullets we both tested, it is a simple matter to see that the Swift A-frame was only slightly better penetrator than the Ballistic Tip in Seyfried's test. The 190 Match King had better penetration than the Ballistic Tip by about the same margin in my tests at 50 ft and 600 yds.

I did not attempt a shot at 675 yds, I was successful at that range twice within about 5 seconds.

A .308 is adequate for grizzly, although I have never taken one with that caliber. I sold my .308 match rifle a few weeks before I retired from the USMC.

I did take a griz with a .270 Win firing 130 gr Game Kings from aprox 180 yds. All it takes is a highly proficient marksman knowledgable in game anatomy and unwilling to squeeze the trigger if any doubt exists where that bullet will impact.

If you can not do it you do not believe it can be done? Your small mind must be filled with thoughts of impossibilities. [Smile]

Everytime you open your mouth, semen spills onto your dress. [Big Grin]

[ 07-09-2003, 10:53: Message edited by: RuffHewn ]
 
Posts: 285 | Location: Alabama | Registered: 01 June 2003Reply With Quote
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RuffHewn, well, you're a pretty good statistician all right. By your own admission you haven't hunted in 20 years, and shooting bullets into newsprint just isn't the same thing. Get some hunting experience and then come back and tell us about bullet performance on game. And regarding your '675 yard' kills, if you can shoot like that you are in a very select few and my hat is off to your skills. To attempt to shoot a game animal at that range is irresponsible, just too many things to go wrong.
 
Posts: 2092 | Location: Canada | Registered: 25 April 2003Reply With Quote
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Here we go again [Roll Eyes]

If you already decided on using the Sierra, why would you ask if it is a good load, after already field testing it? [Confused] Haven't you already proved this to yourself?

Place them paper punchers with the utmost precision. [Roll Eyes]
 
Posts: 857 | Location: BC, Canada | Registered: 03 November 2001Reply With Quote
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Savage49494, actually I have hunted very little since joining the Marine Corps, and practically none since 1984 till last deer season in Alabama. However, animals have not mutated into something tougher or smarter. Though there are better bullets available now the standard cup and core construction was viable then and is now.

Looking in my Webster's, I see hunting is chasing game for food or sport. In Alabama the feral hog is not a game animal so you are correct in that killing them does not qualify as hunting. A feral hog does provide a medium for bullet tests that is as valid as if the bullet were used on an actual game animal. In actuality the calloused hide on the front third of a feral hog is tougher than the hide on North American game animal that I am aware of.

Ethics are a very personal matter. Some hunters I know will not take a game animal more distant than 200 yds. Others will shoot if they are 100% certain of a satisfactory outcome regardless of range. Most shooters will try to take nuisance animals to the max distance the bullet will travel.

In Alabama feral hogs are a nuisance with no limits and no closed season. They damage habitat to the extent it is unusable by other species. They are more of a hazard to wild turkey nesting activity that coyotes and raccoons combined. If they become too numerous they present a danger to domestic pets and livestock.

Also, I apologize for the last 2 statements in my prior post. Disagreement is worthy of debate but a challenge to my credibility is something entirely different. Like any man with any honor and integrity, if my credibility is disparaged some retaliation is warranted and must be taken.
 
Posts: 285 | Location: Alabama | Registered: 01 June 2003Reply With Quote
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quote:
Originally posted by todbartell:
Here we go again [Roll Eyes]

If you already decided on using the Sierra, why would you ask if it is a good load, after already field testing it? [Confused] Haven't you already proved this to yourself?

Place them paper punchers with the utmost precision. [Roll Eyes]

I never asked for advice. I asked what everyone thought about the idea, with thoughts of illiciting a humorous zinger of a responce from a particualr narrow minded member. As it turns out that individual is neither alone nor the worst in this respect.

Precision is the reason I am using Match Kings. My best load has not given me a single group of 1" or larger vertical at 600 yds. Horizontal spread depends on the wind and has been up to 6.2". Best with Barnes 168 XLCBT hover just on either side of 1" at 300 yds. If I could be satisfied with 1" @ 300 yds, or could not take advantage of better accuracy than that, I would have bought a Savage 10FP in .308 for much less money than it cost to have my rifle built. I chose to not compromise on precision in either rifle or ammo.

[ 07-04-2003, 10:18: Message edited by: RuffHewn ]
 
Posts: 285 | Location: Alabama | Registered: 01 June 2003Reply With Quote
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RuffHewn, I can't comment on feral hogs or the nuisance they can be so I won't criticize that. I do hope you take a more responsible range for a game animal though. Bullet choice is of course a personal choice and a lot of game is taken with standard bullets. I believe myself that premium bullets are just eliminating one of the variables when hunting. I have no problem with anyone who chooses standard bullets but match bullets belong on the range in my opinion. Your apology on the statements is accepted.
 
Posts: 2092 | Location: Canada | Registered: 25 April 2003Reply With Quote
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Ruff, your estimate of the thickness, depth, etc. of a bull elk as 12" is a bit off. MOst big bulls will better that by quite a bit. You also can't make any real comparison between the penetration @ 65 yds & 600yds. The SMK is probably ok @ that distance, but for me, I want a bit more than 12" if I'm trying to reach vitals on an elk from any 1/4ing shot. It's your hunt, use what you want, but if you ask for opinions, expect them to not all agree w/ yours. [Roll Eyes]
 
Posts: 7752 | Location: kalif.,usa | Registered: 08 March 2001Reply With Quote
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Savage49494,

Thank your for accepting my apology. Please do not say anything derogatory about a southern man's character again if he might hold it in high esteem lest you ellicit another such response.

I wish Sierra would have given them a different name, but the Match King is a standard cup and core bullet with a jacket of the same thickness, only more uniform among bullets and about each individual bullet, as the Game King of similar weight. Since terminal performance was not a design consideration, it must be a total accident they perform like they do. Honestly, what else would you expect of a hollow point cup and core bullet with such a thick jacket? Do you expect them not to expand? Everyone knows the hollow point Barnes X expands. I concede the Match King is not an extremely tough bullet, but will argue that it is equal in toughness the the Game King.

If you want to shoot at sharp quartering angles, then the Match King is not the bullet to use. For me, I feel variables are reduced by my refusal to shoot a bad shot and I accept the compromised, in relation to FS, X, Partition, penetration in order to gain grater precision.

Thus far my ethics have not allowed for a 400 yd shot on game. If I could not get closer, or could not get the game any closer, then I have always considered that animal has won. I also examine conditions and look for any reason not to fire and as a result I have only taken 2 game animals, both whitetails, in excess of 300 yds. Most whitetails I take are from less than 150 yds. Roughly 2/3 are brainshots, with 200 yds my limit for that particular tgt zone. I have managed to get closer than 250 yds on all 3 pronghorn I have taken.

I have recently accepted that longer range hunting is just as ethical as short range if the same consideration is given the odds of success before getting on the trigger. For me that means NO doubts in my performance and a sincere belief nothing has gone wrong with the rifle or ammo since the last shot. Still, my average personal engagement range for game will largly go unchanged.
 
Posts: 285 | Location: Alabama | Registered: 01 June 2003Reply With Quote
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quote:
Originally posted by fredj338:
Ruff, your estimate of the thickness, depth, etc. of a bull elk as 12" is a bit off. MOst big bulls will better that by quite a bit. It's your hunt, use what you want, but if you ask for opinions, expect them to not all agree w/ yours. [Roll Eyes]

Big bulls I have seen weighed from aprox 475 to less than 700 lbs. Rib to rib was less than 12" and depth varied form 25 to 36". I have heard of enough 900+ lbs bulls to believe the possibility there was at least one once. It was probably in a club, organization, or union with those 400 lb caribou I have also heard about.

I accept and welcome differing opinions and any debate that may arise.
 
Posts: 285 | Location: Alabama | Registered: 01 June 2003Reply With Quote
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RuffHewn, I side with you. For a competent rifleman 675 yards is not out of the question. I am fortunate to be able to shoot to 1K+ yards from my house, and do so weekly in addition to shooting F class matches to 1000 yrads. I know the zero for my loads at all ranges to 1K and I know beyond a shadow of doubt at 675 yards I could put a MatchKing in the boiler room of a game animal with the first shot. I am not being arrogant, I shoot well in excess of 1200 rounds per year between 500 and 1000 yards. This confidence born of parctice. I would be willing to bet you have a laser range finder. All you have to range it, click it and hit it. I know you won't be shooting from the off hand position at distant game. I am betting it will be a carefully thought out shot. I am betting that you have a scope that repeats its adjustment very reliably, and you mentioned very little vertical string of your shots at long range. That can only be the result of a very carefully worked up load. The best rifleman in the world can not make for a load that won't perform.

You said earlier in this thread you retired from the USMC and sold your 308 match rifle. That tells me you were a competitive shooter with many years experience. I have seen what HighPower shooters do with iron sights, and a sling at long range and it is impressive.

I shot a total of one deer with a MatchKing and it was only 361 lasered yards from my position. One shot one kill, the deer stumbled forward two steps and fell on its nose. I will be first to admit that one head of game DOES NOT tell the whole story BUT the bullet performed very well. It was a 175 MatchKing out of a 308 Win. Before I started shooting long range, I felt that 300 yards was a very long shot, it isn't. With a good rifle and good load it is a gimme shot. Hell I would use 190 MatchKing, and when you go hunting I am betting they work just fine. By the way, what kind of action is your WSM built on? I had mine built on a 700 Rem. If I had it to do over it would have been built on a M 70 action. Have a great 4th of July, all Americans are indebted to veterans such as yourself!

Shoot Safe, Shoot Straight.....RiverRat

[ 07-05-2003, 10:16: Message edited by: RiverRat ]
 
Posts: 413 | Location: Owensville, Indiana USA | Registered: 04 July 2001Reply With Quote
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[Roll Eyes]
 
Posts: 1346 | Location: NE | Registered: 03 March 2002Reply With Quote
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RuffHewn
I wish you would try eating some of those wild pigs, they taste better than deer or wild turkey.
I know some folks here in Texas that would be willing to come to AL and help ya'll out with your pig problem. [Big Grin]

Have you tried the Nosler Ballistic Tips for accuracy in your rifle?
 
Posts: 16134 | Location: Texas | Registered: 06 April 2002Reply With Quote
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Roughhewn -

The big advantage of your 190 SMK load is that it obviously is capable of fine accuracy, and you have the skills to make it work in the field. Notwithstanding the advice from Sierra regarding its use for hunting, it will work on Elk and pronghorn with the accuracy you describe. Another advantage is that because it has no exposed lead, the tips don't get dinged up in the magazine under recoil, so follow up shots are more accurate.

I have worked extensively with the 300 WSM, and found that the most FORGIVING load out there is the 200 gr Nosler Partition at 2950 fps using R22. BC is an honest .481 and sectional density is .301. It is a reliable performer in close and way out yonder. If you get a bad going away shot, and whack a bull elk in the ham, it will wind up in the boiler room, or exit the chest...here we are talking over 30 inches of penetration. Also, you will still find the ham quite edible...

[ 07-05-2003, 03:33: Message edited by: Sabot ]
 
Posts: 1111 | Location: Afton, VA | Registered: 31 May 2003Reply With Quote
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Ruff,

I stayed off of this, as I figured it was a baited question. If your are a retired Marine, then you know how to shoot. Just wish you would learn to read an entire post. I am much more in support of guys like you, as you come across in knowing what you are doing. However a lot of guys out there, do not have either your experience or your expertise.

For others out there, I do know Sierra does not recommend Match Kings for hunting.... and I DO NOT use them for hunting myself.

However for some of the others out there, I will give some testing experience I have with them, and WILL LET YOU DRAW YOUR OWN CONCLUSIONS.

Testing bullets is something I do along with testing velocity on loads and its performance. Test media I use is wooden branches about 6 to 8 inches in diameter on the millions of square miles of Forest Service land.

ONe thing I have found is that on Nosler Ballistic Tips; they perform better and do more damage at velocities under 2700 fps vs over that velocity. This is tested with the same bullet at different parts of a live branch, and comparing the damage. This had held true in calibers from 22 to 338.

The second is Match Kings. At equal velocities the Match Kings have done more damage on the same media than have similar Hunting bullets from Sierra or Hornady. It even did moreso than even the Partitions. Caibers range from 243 to 30 caliber also.

I submit this as what I have seen. Draw your own conclusions. I don't use them myself for hunting game, because of how much Sierra goes out of their way to discourage their use in that application.

We all have certain ethical standards that we use in the hunting fields. If it does not conflict with yours use it until it fails.

As far as you diesel pulling 14,000 pounds when it is rated at 10,000, of course it will do it. However some day, you may find that the manufacturer came up with that 10,000 pound figure for a reason. It may have nothing to do with the engine, it may have something to do with the transmission. The day something does go, I hope you remember the statement. Or that you had traded it at that point.

heck, I have also gotten 40 grain ballistic tips out of a 22/250 at 4650 to 4700 fps. However brass life is non existant, and throat erosion is also going to make a short barrel life if used on a regular basis. Just weigh out your options and if you can live with the costs, who are we to make up your mind? Or you to make up ours?

I do have a little habit in my life; I don't criticize Marines, past or present. The people owe Marines a debt of gratitude to their service to our country. It is shear respect. Even if they are dead wrong, I salute a Marine and thank him for all he has done. End of story!
 
Posts: 2889 | Location: Southern OREGON | Registered: 27 May 2003Reply With Quote
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Nebraska:

While I agree with some of the other guys on other posts, and not on this one, I think that your post is probably the BEST one for many of the threads on here, when the fur starts flying.
 
Posts: 2889 | Location: Southern OREGON | Registered: 27 May 2003Reply With Quote
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Ruff H:

"If any man with honor and integrity, if my credibility is disparaged, some retaliation is warranted and must be taken"

"Please do not say something derogatory about a southern mans character again.....

Ruff< as our little disagreements on the 300 Mags there bud, I am a Virginian. I might live in Oregon, but I am born a Virginian, I am 18th generation Virginian, all of my ancestors wore gray period. So please take the statements you made in defense of YOUR position and apply those same statements that I made in defense of my opinions. I compliment that you put into words yourself better than I could.

I live in Oregon because of the hunting opportunities and also because the Virginia I grew up in is long gone. It is not a Southern State anymore. When I was in High School the Friday night footballs games were started with the National Anthem and then never missing a beat, the band went into Dixie. Everyone took their hands off of their hearts from the national anthem and then started cheering when they played Dixie. And now they act like the Confederate Flag is some sort of Racist Symbol! Not at this boy's house!
 
Posts: 2889 | Location: Southern OREGON | Registered: 27 May 2003Reply With Quote
<bigcountry>
posted
Ruff, why is it all ex marines insist on using matchkings on game. I guess not all, just i have met two that do. One here in MD on the eastern shore and I saw him shoot a 200lb+ whitetail with a 300WM at 300 yards. Well, we couldn't find it. Blood was very faint and then started raining. Well, everyone in the club was giving him a hard time. He swore its not the matchking and got ticked off. You don't need this pinpoint precision on game especially Elk but more benefitial would be penetration and bullet performance. I know you have convinced yourself with your tests. And have to give you credit for trying yourself. And confidence is half the battle. But you will be kicking yourself if you get a nice shot at an elk and can't find it. Then in your mind, like most of us hunters, all kinds of things will be going thru it. Should I used a tried and trued game bullet? Should I have waited for an animal at 100 yards? Or was it just the animal itself. I would try to get a bullet, like failsafes, partitions, barnes to shoot to your liking first.

Guys, I say let him do it without any disagreements. Its his game, and his disappointments (or maybe success). Post your pictures. Prove us all wrong.
 
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I hope everyone had a great 4th!

RiverRat, thank you for your words of support. You are very perceptive. Competitive shooting actually began for me began in high school J ROTC firing small bore. My .300WinMag and one .308 match rifles were on Rem actions. My service match rifle was of course an M14. My .300 WSM is built on a Win M70 CRF action, Mike Rock 26" (measured from the face of the action) 1:11.27 twist barrel, and I use two scopes interchangagly on it's Picatinny rail, an IOR 2.5-10x 42mm illlum MP8 reticle and an IOR 16x with MP8 reticle.

NE450 No2 I generally donate the meat from those hogs to Farmers and Hunters Feeding the Hungry. I field dress them then drop them off at the processor that supports the program. I let the scavengers have the last hog becuase I would have tossed my cookies if I finished field dressing him. It appeared someone had put all his internal organs in a big blender along with some skunk spray and let it run for a couple of seconds. And yes, I have tried Ballistic Tips. I tested 180 NBTs in wet newspaper as well as 190 SMKs and 180 SGKs. Also 4 of the 5 deer I took last year were with NBTs. One was with FailSafes, just to see if all the complaints I read on that bullets performance are groundless. That deer went about 50 yds after being double lunged. My conclusions are the complainers were not putting that bullet where it should be placed.

Seafire, your response to those that attacked your character was correct IMHO. As for the name calling, my responce would have either been more harsh that yours or to have ignored them. And I talked to Dodge dealer, svc dept, factory rep, Cummins about the engine, and NV about the transmission concerning the tow rating in 1997 when I bought the truck, deciding between it and a Ford. General consensus is that the truck brakes were not designed to adequately stop more that the truck + 10000 lbs should the trailer brakes fail.
 
Posts: 285 | Location: Alabama | Registered: 01 June 2003Reply With Quote
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quote:
Originally posted by bigcountry:
Ruff, why is it all ex marines insist on using matchkings on game. I guess not all, just i have met two that do. One here in MD on the eastern shore and I saw him shoot a 200lb+ whitetail with a 300WM at 300 yards. Well, we couldn't find it. Blood was very faint and then started raining. Well, everyone in the club was giving him a hard time. He swore its not the matchking and got ticked off. You don't need this pinpoint precision on game especially Elk but more benefitial would be penetration and bullet performance. I know you have convinced yourself with your tests. And have to give you credit for trying yourself. And confidence is half the battle. But you will be kicking yourself if you get a nice shot at an elk and can't find it. Then in your mind, like most of us hunters, all kinds of things will be going thru it. Should I used a tried and trued game bullet? Should I have waited for an animal at 100 yards? Or was it just the animal itself. I would try to get a bullet, like failsafes, partitions, barnes to shoot to your liking first.

Guys, I say let him do it without any disagreements. Its his game, and his disappointments (or maybe success). Post your pictures. Prove us all wrong.

I know of very few former military men that use the SMK for hunting. Many combat veterans never quite find the same enjoyment in the activity and as a result rarely participate.

In some of my posts you will read I have tried several "hunting" bullets. In my limited testing the 190 SMK compared very well with such bullets on a test medium and on living wild animals. The accuracy of these other bullets does not compare. While the channels made by the FailSafes I fired into wet paper sometime ago were much deeper, the diameter of channels made by the SMK were larger diameter. For those inclined to attempt a "Texas Heart Shot" the extra penetration would be a factor. For those with more patience due to more experience or just more desire to place the bullet correctly by because of greater respect for the animal this should not be a factor.

On the subject of the "Texas Heart Shot", Does the name infuriate all you Texans with more intelligence and ethics than to shoot an animal in the ass?

To the subject at hand, any bullet can fail and probably all have at times. All bullets give inconsistant performance because animal bodies are not uniform, neither throunghout one body or from one to the next. Plenty of hunting experience will prove that to you all. If a bullet fails me I will post it on every relavent forum. It is strange that the more skilled or more careful marksman seem to almost never have bullet failures.
 
Posts: 285 | Location: Alabama | Registered: 01 June 2003Reply With Quote
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RuffHewn, you hit the nail on the head with the last statement about bullet failure! I know I have never had a bullet of any kind fail, and have always felt that 99% of the claims of bullet failure was just poor shooting. I supported you because I believe you are right. I gurantee if you hit a game animal with a 190 gr. bullet at 2900+ fps something bad is going to happen to what ever it hit. I don't care if the bullet is called a MatchKing, Partition, Grand Slam etc. And I know if I am shooting a MatchKing my chances of hitting the POA is much better regardless of the range. Most hunters don't know what a skilled and patient rifleman can do at longer ranges with a precision rifle and a good load. I was one of them till I gained profiecency at longer ranges by shooting out the barrel of two 308's at ranges of 500+, then stepping up to a larger chambering.I would be willing to bet the farm that most hunters don't burn enough ammo in a life time to truly shot the barrel out of a rifle. As a former high power shooter you know the importance of practice and good data keeping. I am sure you have shot several barrels out. The suport was my pleasure.

Shoot Safe, Shoot Straight.....RiverRat
 
Posts: 413 | Location: Owensville, Indiana USA | Registered: 04 July 2001Reply With Quote
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RuffHewn, I will retract my former statement to you in regards to the Match King. I do so after reading your replies, and realizing that you DO know what you are doing behind a rifle.

Semper Fi, from a former squid.
 
Posts: 2206 | Location: USA | Registered: 31 August 2002Reply With Quote
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quote:
Originally posted by RiverRat:
Most hunters don't know what a skilled and patient rifleman can do at longer ranges with a precision rifle and a good load. I would be willing to bet the farm that most hunters don't burn enough ammo in a life time to truly shot the barrel out of a rifle.

Truer words have never been spoken.
 
Posts: 2206 | Location: USA | Registered: 31 August 2002Reply With Quote
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RiverRat,

I shot out a few barrels while my .308 and .300WinMag rifles were maintained by USMC PWS techs.

The old .338 WinMag was built for just prior to my 13th birthday on a Mauser action and though I hunted with it and shot tgts with it almost exclusively for 3 years the bore was still near perfect. After having the .270 built, also on a Mauser action, the 1st barrel was replaced after 2 years.

My current rifle was completed just at the end of last Summer. I fired less than 260 round both prior to deer season beginning 27 Oct through it's end 31 Jan. Rnd count now exceeds 4000. Accuracy and velocity has not decreased and the 190 MKs still touch the lands, but I am going to replace the barrel as preventitive maintainance.

My gunsmith quoted me $175 to do the next barrel since I fired hundres of rounds helping him develop a load for LE application.

Under consideration are PacNor with polygonal rifling or another Mike Rock with 5R rifling. My gunsmith said the thing would still shoot even if he put a Shaw barrel on it.

Now I am asking for advice. Is there anyone here with experience with both Polygonal and 5R rifled barrels who would like to make a suggestion?
 
Posts: 285 | Location: Alabama | Registered: 01 June 2003Reply With Quote
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RuffH:

A gunsmith in my town use to work for PacNor and just got tired of commuting 80 Miles to work one day, down mountains roads not fit for a mountain goat.

He has talked to me about them. He has done a batch of them. If you would like me to forward his phone number to you I will be more than happy to and you can discuss it with him. He is a young guy, but he has done several rifles for me and they have performed real well. He still gets his barrels from PacNor.

He built my 223 with the 1 in 8 twist, among others. This rifle has given me one hole groups at 200 yds with 7 and 10 shots. The guy pulling the trigger could not take all the credit for that.

Let me know, I would be happy to help pass it the info on ( his phone number).
 
Posts: 2889 | Location: Southern OREGON | Registered: 27 May 2003Reply With Quote
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quote:
Originally posted by RuffHewn:
My mind is made up and I am at ease with my bullet and caliber choices.

Then why the hell did you ask the question?

Trolling for a fight?

In a later response you mention all your game has been inside four hundred yards. Why then this obsession with the Game King? Granated it's probably a fine bullet for small deer, but there are better one's for elk which are capable of fine accuracy too.

My factory M70 300 WSM will put 180 Hornady's and 180 Partition's to the same POI at 2,950 fps with the similar group sizes. On average it shoots in the .5-.6's (3-shot, 100 yards) though I've had groups as small as .250" I can shoot paper and small game with the inexpensive Hornady's and load the Partition's for elk.

That's a REAL solution...

BA
 
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