If your choices were limited just upon any of the mentioned bullets, which one would you pick ?

180 gr bullet to be used in either 30-06 or 308 win and for hunting hogs that can easily weight more than 300 lbs ....

We are not talking about shooting abilities, just plain bullet construction ...

Resulting choice .... and reasons ?

Thank you all in advance

Afrikaander,

Neither one is a "good" choice, but I have used both on a number of elk, deer and pronghorn in 270W and 30.06. My choice would be--without hesitation--the Sierra. It has a better chance of staying together. What generally happens (especially with the boattails) is a guy will find the jacket and core separated but lying next to one another.

The Nosler Ballistic Tip is just way to frangible. It comes apart upon contact (at least this has been my experience/observation).

Go to: http://www.seahook.com/bestbullet.jpg to see bullet performance.

Casey

I'd use the BT. I used to have 165 gr. GKs routinely shuck their jacket on white-tailed deer from my 308. The BTs seemed to be a bit tougher, especially in 180 grain.



I wouldn't use either if you were pushing them faster, but for 30-06 , 308 velocities with the 180 grain bullet I think the BT would do the job.



I assume you are doing population control or meat hunting and cost is a factor?



The regular Nosler partitions (NOT the Protected Point) would be my choice for cost effective sport hunting.



Don_G

Same answer here. I would not use either. I would go with a Partition, Barnes X or similar type premium bullet.

"I assume you are doing population control or meat hunting and cost is a factor? "



Not really ... Nosler Partitions would be my first choice and indeed they are rather expensive where I am living now(44USD each box of 50), but despite my intention of paying that price, they are not so available ...



Sierra GK - and in lower step, Nosler BT are much easier(and obviously cheaper) to obtain ... that is the main reason I posted my question ...





Regards



Afrikaander

The GameKing has been around for ages, and it's done well in 30-06 and 308. Velocities are well within reason from those two when using a 180gr bullet.

Other options:
- Can you find the 200gr GK there? That would knock some more fps off the top.
- Or what about a 180gr ProHunter? Then you can toss all comments about boat tails out the window.
- And don�t forget the 220gr RN. That should knock over those piggies just fine.

I don't think you need to spend almost a $1/bullet for pigs, even if they weigh 300 pounds.

The Speer GrandSlam is not that much more than the GameKing and the BallisticTip and looks like it holds together much better than the other two.

This photo is cut out of the bullet comparison article that was in Handloader back in 97 by Gary Sciuchetti.







more bang for your buck

I agree with Gonzo; The gameking is what I used for years, and have come back to them. Its what I loaded in my 30-06 and took deer and hogs with them. If I was travelling or doing an expensive hunt I might want a tougher bullet, but for local hunting it is all I need and expect from a bullet.
Thats my .02

Good luck and good shooting
Eterry

I am not a fan of Nosler BT's I would take the sierra GK over them any day.

I use 180 Sierra prohunters in both my 30-06 and 300 winmag and both shoot them well and I have not had a separation yet. The 300 is shot with velocities over 3100 fps.

CaptJack--
Your graphic is interesting but has an error in it. The GKs come packaged 100 to a box, so should the listed price should be half that number (I have never seen a box of 180 grain Sierras sell for over $30!)

I have taken a 400# Russian w/ a 150 grn. Nosler Bal. Tip, the bullet performed great. I shot the Boar w/ my Rem. 7mm mag. @ 3110 fps. The range was 70 yards and the bullet hit right behind the shoulder plate in the "Sheilds." The Boar never took another step. I have taken many Whitetails w/ the same load and It has performeed flawlessly. Many criticize the Bal. Tips but, after dozens of game animals w/ them and not one failure, They will continue to be my bullet of choice.

I have found that the SSTs perform just as well as the NBTs.

Good Luck!

Reloader

I have personally used both and in different calibers. I think either will work well with a shot placed behind the shoulder. I've seen complete devastation of the heart / lungs using both of these and although you will ALWAYS catch crap for saying it, they do perform as designed! I've gotten complete penatration on deer with my 7mm RM and 140gr. Sierra GK's through the chest. I'm not saying they will out penetrate others in every situation, what I'm getting at is the "tough" bullets seem to pass through with less trauma and exit. Many people say they want an exit to make tracking easier. I want death in short order to make tracking a non-issue.

There are times when I want to be able to shoot through at whatever angle, but if hunting something I feel I can wait for a proper angle on then devastation is more important to me than penetration. Quite honestly the only time I really want this type of penetration is when hunting elk in the timber.
I've yet to draw a moose tag, and have never hunted bear. For those situations I'd probably go for deep penetration on the moose, deer type bullets for black bears, and big, heavy, tough bullets in my .338 WM for browns / grizzlies.

I use the 165 gr. HPBT GameKing in my 308 on hogs with good results. All have dropped to the shot, and the bullets have all completely penetrated the animal. Several of the guys I hunt with use this bullet as well with good results. I wouldn't hesitate to use it. Matter of fact I am leaving tomorrow for a hog hunt in southwest Alabama. Plenty of hogs down there to hunt. I use a VV N550 for 2754 fps average velocity from a 24" barrel. Accuracy is 1/2" to 5/8" for five shots at 100 yards. I would have to believe the 180 GameKing would work just as well.

May I be half the man my grandson thinks I am...RiverRat

I note no difference in lethality between the SGK and NBT. In my experience the newer Ballistic Tip and Ballistic Silver Tip core and jacket stay together much better than boattail Game Kings but hogs and deer do not care one way or the other.

Accuracy of the 1st shot will likely be nearly the same. Long-range accuracy of rounds in the mag after that 1st shot will be affected due to damage under recoil. I would choose Ballistic Tips simply for that reason.

Afrikaaner:
In my experience the Ballistic Tip is a better bullet for lethality on game at MV under 2700 fps, than it is when shot at a higher velocity. At low velocity it is amazing how much it will penetrate. It is my choice of bullet for big game when I download cases for kids to shoot.

If I was bent on higher velocity then I would go with the game king. I like Sierra for accuracy, but on game I prefer to use other bullets, because I think they perform better.

I really think if they are available, I would agree with Beemanbeme, that a good old Remington Corelokt or a Hornady would do just as well if not better. I don't think you need a trendy bullet to do the job. The nice thing I have noticed in most South Africans I have ever met, and Aussies for that matter, is practicality.

Why pay three times as much for a bullet that costs three times as much as one that will do the same job.

And the argument that I hear about " the cost of a premium bullet, is cheap insurance considering the price of the hunt",,,,,, well it reminds me of the shampoo commercial that the woman says, "Yes it costs more, but I AM WORTH IT".
Marketing justifing a high cost by appealing to the ego, or fear factor.

A Nosler partition is a great bullet, but I guarantee you, if they were $44.00 a box in the USA Nosler would not be selling a lot of them, or anywhere near what they sell other wise.

I just ordered a box of 500 Remington 180 grain Corelokt bullets for about $50.00 US last week. Nosler partitions are about $22 to $25.00 per box of 50.

Just passing on an opinion and prospective. Not intendiing to knock anyone's choice of bullets here.