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Sierra Match King for hunting - did this someone?

Jayjay1

Gunny Sergeant
Full Member
Minuteman
Oct 30, 2018
842
443
Hey guys,
my hunting rifle loves the SMKs (308 Win, 168gr. SMK).

But because it isn´t a hunting bullet, I wonder how they perform on deer and hogs.

Has anyone tried them out?
:)
 
Lots of threads on this if you search. Bottom line, they are devastating on medium sized game like white tail. But they don’t hold together like a bonded bullet so deeper penetration into larger game is an issue. That said, I’ve taken several white tail with them and that’s what’s in my rifle now.

Leaves a hole about the size of a baseball on the exit side. Usually one shoulder is basically not salvageable.
 
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165 SGK will most likely shoot very similarly (accuracy wise, powder charge wise, BC, etc.) to the 168 SMK but you'll have a hunting bullet.
SMK is going to be roll of dice on performance but for deer and hog, probably going to kill animal just fine provided you put bullet where it needs to go.
 
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They’re the pill for deer size game!!! I’ve never had one take a step after being whacked with the 168 SMK
 
I shoot a lot of the 168’s in my .308.
Very accurate round, almost as good as 185 juggernauts.
If you hit deer, hog or similar sized game with it, it’s going down.
 
250smk at 3000fps 350yds. Hard quartering shot .338 cal in, and out? … well… it exited… didn’t take a step.
Deer at 725 same year 338cal hole in 338 out 338 through the lungs. Ran 100 yds and tipped over. Not apples to apples, but it’ll kill
 

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Oh and also,,

FN SPR 22.5" Shilen
ZP5 3-15
FGMM 168

@82ish yards
 

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I wouldn't, but thats just me.
Many moons ago I was embroiled in this debate right here.
I shot a coyote at 212yds with Center X match ammo, and put a 190smk in a doe at ~170yds.
Both animals ran less than 40 yds and bled like a stuck hog. Ray Charles could have tracked both.
Doe had pencil entry, knife exit, heart looked like it was sliced cleanly with a knife. I didn't cut the coyote open.
Its all been posted here on the Hide.

If you can shoot, you are sure of your shot and range, then who am I to advise you?
Hydrostatic shock is overblown.
Shot placement is king.
 
I filled all three white tail tags for years with 175 SMK’s out of a 20” 308 and never had to chase a wounded animal or look for a blood trail. The few bullets that I recovered expanded nicely and the rest left fist sized exit holes.
 
175gr .30 cal leaves a baseball size exit in TX whitetails.
 
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South Arkansas whitetails sure don’t like em. I’ve filled my freezer every year for the past 15 or 16 years shooting mostly smk’s