10 July 2004, 00:54
wildboarSierra Gameking HPBT - Any recent experience?
Did (or do) you use them? How do they perform on game? Thanks - Lorenzo
10 July 2004, 02:16
Bobby TomekThey perform well on game but are more heavily constructed than their spitzer counterparts. Accuracy has always been superb.
10 July 2004, 03:53
R FlowersLast spring I used the 120 grain version of the Sierra HPBT in my 25-06 to shoot a couple of wild hogs. They were both boars of about 150 pounds. Both bullets made good clean killing shots and both gave complete penetration. Only a couple of animals but good performance on those two. Accuracy was indeed excellant as well.
R F
I had poor results on elk with the 200 grain .30 cal. Penetration was so so and they fragmented badly. Out of 3 shots none exited. Shots where at moderate range 150-250 yards. I switched after that.
On the up side accuracy was incredible.
10 July 2004, 03:59
captdavidMuch tougher. I think made for Mags. Supurbly accurate. capt david
10 July 2004, 10:12
ConewagoThis was some years ago. I used the .308 165 gr bullet as a deer load in .30-06 and .308. Accuracy was great - the bullet was easy to load for. Pretty forgiving in both calibers with several powders and charge weights.
Performance was spotty. I never lost an animal, but sometimes the bullet held together in a decent mushroom and sometimes it fragmented. That was fine for average sized deer where almost anything works. I wouldn't use them for anything bigger.
I generally use the Nosler BT now where I would have used these before.
Opps... sorry I ment to include that they where the SBT... Slightly different bullet.
10 July 2004, 19:36
N E 450 No2wildboar
I have used the 165 Sierra Gameking HPBT in a 308 with 39.5gr. of IMR 3031 on several animals including deer antelope turkey fox, and bobcat. My wife also used it in a 30-06 drilling to bag a big deer. At one time this was my favorite bullet in the 308.
This bullet has performed very good for me in the past
11 July 2004, 00:33
DigitalDanI loaded some for a fellow a few years past for his .300 Roy for his annual hunt up north. I wasn't there to verify his results but he seemed to think a few of them did not expand. Blood trail indicated leaks from both sides of the deer but he found no sign of substantial wounding as is common with that cartridge at the ranges involved(150 yds +/-). Three deer lost in one hunt, the first he'd lost in over 10 years, dispite ideal tracking conditions due to snow cover. Two others dropped in the tracks from what he described as explosive wounding.
I shot a hog once with a .257 Bob using the 90 gr version. 80 yards, big WHOP, dead pig. Bullet entered square on the left shoulder and did not exit, everything between the shoulders was jello. I don't much care what happens to hogs when I shoot them, they are the southern version of prairie dogs IMO, but the GK's leave me unimpressed in regards to terminal performance. They are accurate however.
11 July 2004, 06:20
N E 450 No2Based on my experience with my "300Roy" and my 300 Win Mag and my experience with the 165 HPBT in the 308 and the 30-06 I would not use them in a Mag. For a 300 Mag I would recommend a Nosler Partition. For elk sized game and up even in the 308 I would go to a premium bullet. It is just a little bit extra for the insurance.
Would not use them. Sierra gamekings both HP and not have come apart on every occassion. Dead game for sure but huge meat loss and no jacket core integrity.
I only use Sierras for varmints. The only bullet company still in HUGE DENIAL about designing a PREMIUM bullet.
13 July 2004, 07:40
GeorgeSPOP,
Face it; what could Sierra come out with that is better, let alone as good as, what's already out there?
An expanding monometal? Barnes, Groove Bullets, and GS have already done that.
A partitioned bullet? Nosler, Swift, and RWS have done that.
Bonded core? Bitterroot, Swift, Nosler, Hornady, and others have done it already.
Perhaps they are willing to cede that market to others, and concentrate on their varmint, match, and conventional bullets.
George