Friend in Alberta, Cananda is going to host me (cross fingers for 2012 draw) for a dream mulie hunt. I was thinking of the 165gr GameKing out of my 06AI.

He warned me shots are often 200yard and can be out to 400 yard every now and then. What are your thoughts on this choice of bullet?

Well ordinarily I would say it is a fine bullet and perfect for what you plan. That is until you mention "dream hunt". A trophy hunter will often need a bit more penetration than is offered by conventional bullets meaning I woud take Accubonds or Partitions simply because i might be forced to take a rear raking shot or one with a hard angling animal. However the 165 gr. Gameking is a favorite of mine and I might choose to take this bullet anyway.

welllll...I've been hearing about the need for penetration and that game bullets may be found wanting...I went to a culling safari last year and took with me my 7x57, loaded with 140gn GameKings doing 2550fps.
Everything I shot, died. With the first shot...Didn't have exit wounds on 28 animals of the 31 I shot. I got a pig around 80kg dressed which I killed at 270yds. The shot found it at the top of its left ham and it only went 50yards before it expired.
In short, and apologies for the OT response, Gamekings are great and I don't know what benefit, over and above the performance I've witnessed I would have achieved if I used a Partition/Acubond/Interbond etc...

best wishes,

Finman

If the shot's expected are at a fair old range and the cartridge in question is a 30.06 those gamekings will do just fine.

Trophy or not or not I don't think your first shot will be a Texas heart shot somehow......

It's a fine choice as long as your rifle and you can hit with it out to 400 yards.

The choice of bullet wouldn't be as critical to me as long as you find something reasonable that shoots well. I'm not in the camp of guys who believe a bonded core or monometal bullet is required. At the velocities of your AI'06 out at 200 or more yards there will be many fine choices, and I think it would be hard to make a bad choice. Nate

I used them on Black Bear in BC. Had one go through 4 vertebrae lengthwise. The Gamekings and Prohunters are under-appreciated bullets.

I have no problems with Sierra bullets and have killed lots of game with them, but if I was going on a "Dream Hunt", I would invest a few bucks more and shoot 150 or 180 gr. Nosler partitions in my 06...

It's one of those deals where it doesn't cost any more to go first class.

I too moght go to a 165gr Partition, or another Premium bullet, I have killed a lot of deer, wild pigs, and afew antelope with the 30 cal Sierra 165gr HPBT GameKing,shot from farious 308 riflesover the years. It is one of my favorite 308 hunting bullets.
Sierra stated to me that the HP GameKing was a little tougher than the Spitzer.

I have never recovered one, all shots have been pass throughs.

You guys just don't understand, Today's Mule Deer require at least a .300 R.U.M. with 220 gr. Nosler Partitions at the very least. They ain't your Grand dads Mule deer.
Now if you believe that crap, I have this pretty orange colored bridge in San Francisco I'll sell you cheap.
The shortes sot I ever had on mule Deer was roughly 6 feet. The longest shot was at 427 paces. Both deer were shot with a 20" barreled .308 shooting 150 gr. bullets at an estimated 2550 FPS. Bullet was the Sierra 150 gr. spitzer flat base. They weren't calling them Pro-hunters way back then.
Which Game King are you looking at. The Hollow point boattail or the spttzer boattail?
Can't say how the spitzer version will work, probably just fine. I have mixed feelings about the hollowpoint version though. I only shot one animal with the HP bullet, a coyote at roughly 200 or so yards. The bullet hit in the spine just behind the shoulder and when I went over, I found I had a two piece coyote. Dunno for sure if the bullet just let go on impact of if the spine blew up from the strike. That was sometime back in the mid 1970's and I haven't used them since although I recently got a deal on several hundred so may give them a try on some future hunt. I will say they were dead nuts accurate though. My rifle was just a plain old J.C. Higgins M50 Mauser in 30-06 oaded somewhat warm.
I'm thinking though that either of the two game Kings should be just fine for Mule Deer. The only Mule Deer I came close to losing was also the largest deer in body weight I've ever killed. It weight 296 pounds in the quarters on a certified butcher's scale. I was shooting 180 gr. Nosler Partitions that day.
My basic 30-06 load for deer is the 180 gr. Sierra Pro-Hunter and a stif load of H4931. Never had to shoot a deer twice with that one.
Paul B.

If the 165 Sierra shoots well in your rifle, then use it. I can't think of a more dependable bullet for mule deer, whether it's a "hunt of a lifetime" or just a trip to the back forty for a doe for the freezer.

physics is physics. 165 grains at >than 2000+ ft second makes meat on the ground.

If shots truly range to 400 yards then you're fart more assisted in practice at that range and use of a capable rangefinder.....The Gameking is adequate if you are.....at 200 yards it's a shoo-in.

If I was in your shoes I would use the GK unless Nosler BT's shot as good or better. I prefer them for deer.

Have a look at this thread:

http://forums.accuratereloadin...21/showpollresults/Y

quote:

Results (115 votes counted so far):
For odd grain weights, eg 154gr, 175, 190 etc Please round off to the nearest choice presented
10 (9%)
150 grain conventional
6 (5%)
150 grain premium
23 (20%)
165 grain conventional
27 (23%)
165 grain premium
20 (17%)
180 grain conventional
25 (22%)
180 grain premium
0 (0%)
200+ grain conventional
2 (2%)
200+ grain premium
1 (1%)
>150 grain conventional
1 (1%)
>150 grain premium
See Poll Form

I have killed a lot of game with a 308 using several different bullets in 150, 165/168, and 180gr, "regular bullets" and Premiums.
In truth, there has not been much difference...

My favorite bullet is the Federal Factory load with the old 165gr Triphy Bonded Bearclaw.

The wife has used it on some big and tough African plains game, and you can shoot a bobcat, or a fox at under 30 yards and not blow them up[like a Ballistic Tip will].

I shoot a lot of deer and wild pigs with the WW factory 168gr Ballistic Silvertip, and it is a great killer too.

I have used Barnes X bullets including the 180gr MRX, the wife and I used it in Africa, and it was excellent, as was the 165 gr TBBC.

And I still believe, that you can NEVER go wrong with a Nosler Partition, in a suitable calibre and suitable weight for the game being hunted...

I think you will do well with the Gameking. My personal belief is that NO deer needs a premium bullet. Deer are not tough animals from any direction. The only reason I use Partitions in a couple of my rifles is because they are accurate in those rifles.

For a tougher animal, I might have a different answer, but not for any deer.

If it's not a "premium" you cant use it on a "dream hunt" they will bounce of...

I also suppose for a "dream hunt" I can't cary my old beater ADL I need a custom pre 64

Im with the premium crowd, 400yd shot? Thats pretty far, but that to me screams accubond, will hold together at very close range, yet has very good B.C. for those far shots.

If it was a culling operation or a local hunt where you could get out there again and again the Sierra would and has worked great. Hunt of a lifetime? I know what i would use....

What is it exactly that the "premium crowd" thinks a premium bullet will do better on a Deer?
Gamekings have been extremely reliable for me for many years in a 30/06 on Deer Elk Antelope Bighorn and Mtn. Goat. Shots have ranged from 35 yards to 450.
Sierra makes a very accurate bullet with a great BC. If it shoots well I would not throw that out to be in the "premium crowd".
I don't shoot Sierra's because of cost or some obscure reason simply they are the most accurate and game proven bullets in my rifles that I can get.

I shoot most of my (non driven) deers with my .30-06, loaded with Sierra 165 GK SBT (#2145) bullet. If something tougher, like wild boar, is expected, I'll switch to the hollow point version of the that bullet, the 165 GK HP (#2140). Contrary to common belief, this HP is actually a harder magnum bullet.
As an added bonus, both bullets shoot to the same POI with same charges.

Not really sure if this is a load you are already shooting, that you know is accurate in your gun? Or, is this a new load you're thinking of using specifically because of this "dream hunt"? You don't really say.

I would think that any 165+ grain bullet THAT SHOOTS WELL out of your rifle will work.

That being said, I would spend far more time worrying about getting in the practice you need to hit a deer kill zone from a hunting field position at 400 yards, than I would about what the name brand was on the box of bullets you used.

You will need to practice to the point where you can regularly hit a paper plate sized target, placed at 400 yards away, with the FIRST shot. From a position that you can readily expect to use on your hunt. That means NO benches.

That my friend, is not as easy as it sounds.

Good luck on your hunt.

All that being said, I can't help but marvel at the logic of folks that will plunk down many thousands of dollars for a hunt, and then squabble over a few dollars difference in price for a "premium" bullet.

This will never make sense to me.

Even for a "local" hunt, by the time you add up gas, food, hunting and camping gear, time off of work, etc,....

...it's the $ for a box of whatever, Nosler/Barnes/TBBC/Swift bullets that makes some of you guys pause?

Just amazing, really.

quote:

Originally posted by Slowpoke Slim:
All that being said, I can't help but marvel at the logic of folks that will plunk down many thousands of dollars for a hunt, and then squabble over a few dollars difference in price for a "premium" bullet.

You're right about smart spending. But where is it written that a premium bullet will do a BETTER JOB than the bullet in question out of a 30-06 or .308? A .300 UM would be another story in which the primos play an important roll. That Sierra does not give marginal performance in this situation.
Marginal performance would come from lack of experience shooting game over 250 yds. with less than a steady rest. That bullet is more capable at that range than most hunters I have known. roger

quote:

Originally posted by Slowpoke Slim:
All that being said, I can't help but marvel at the logic of folks that will plunk down many thousands of dollars for a hunt, and then squabble over a few dollars difference in price for a "premium" bullet.

This will never make sense to me.

Even for a "local" hunt, by the time you add up gas, food, hunting and camping gear, time off of work, etc,....

...it's the $ for a box of whatever, Nosler/Barnes/TBBC/Swift bullets that makes some of you guys pause?

Just amazing, really.

At 30/06 velocities, any 165gr bullet will work fine for deer. As to your argument, do you buy premium gas for your truck when you are driving to go hunting. After all, compared to the other expenses, the extra cost for premium gas would not amount to much.

Oh, perhaps you don't buy premium gas because it offers no improvement in performance.

[
At 30/06 velocities, any 165gr bullet will work fine for deer. As to your argument, do you buy premium gas for your truck when you are driving to go hunting. After all, compared to the other expenses, the extra cost for premium gas would not amount to much.

Oh, perhaps you don't buy premium gas because it offers no improvement in performance. [/QUOTE]

This is my point exactly for deer sized game I see no improvement in performance and sometimes less than stellar performance from a premium.
If you can shoot an elk in the shoulder at 425 yards with a 30/06 and Sierra Game king bullet and he goes right down and the bullet leaves an exit bigger than a golf ball after penetrating both shoulders I can't see any reason to try and better the performance.
Shoot what your rifle likes, if you shoot it well then you will bring home a Deer simple as that.

HAHAHAHAHA,

I knew that would tweak a few noses!

Roger,

I guess you skipped right over this part in my first post, so that you could jump ahead to something to fester over?

..."I would think that any 165+ grain bullet THAT SHOOTS WELL out of your rifle will work."...

Or this one...

..."That being said, I would spend far more time worrying about getting in the practice you need to hit a deer kill zone from a hunting field position at 400 yards, than I would about what the name brand was on the box of bullets you used."...

I guess we agree more than we disagree, huh?


Hey olarmy,

You know that gas thing is pretty funny, really. Yes I DO put premium gas in my truck. I have to. It really DOES make a difference in MY truck. I'm running a '73 Dodge with a built (by me) 440 big block with 11:1 pistons. If I don't run premium, it will ping like mad.

I guess you could say for your example, that MY truck IS the 300 RUM?

HAHAHAHAHA, I love a good nose tweak every now and then!

I still say the BULLET you fire down your barrel is the absolute CHEAPEST part of the hunt. Yet, it's also probably one of the most important parts too.

See ya guys around.

quote:

Originally posted by Slowpoke Slim:
HAHAHAHAHA,

I knew that would tweak a few noses!

Roger,

I guess you skipped right over this part in my first post, so that you could jump ahead to something to fester over?

Actually not. In fact for the most part I think we were singing from the same Hymnal. roger

quote:

..... I was thinking of the 165gr GameKing out of my 06AI.

He warned me shots are often 200yard and can be out to 400 yard every now and then. What are your thoughts on this choice of bullet?

My thoughts ..... ? Perfect, if they shot well outa your Boomer.

I have shot a whole bunch of game with the Sierra 165. gr. HPBT and a .30/06 Sprg. and they work superbly on game the size of Red Deer for sure.

I shot a Red Deer Calf at 359 pinged meters 2 years ago and Brother; that's a fair poke in anyone's book; even with time to get it right from a solid shooting stand.

I'd be hanging some bread basket sized gongs at 300 meters and practice from field positions at that range; if that was what could be expected.

Plenty of time prior to the hunt to get all sorts of shooting in.

Wishing you Waidmannsheil in 2012.