30 cal 165 Gameking SBT at 3100 fps

[welshwarrior]

Does anyone use these bullets running them fast they work well at 2,650 fps in my 308 win, thinking about using them in a 308 norm mag for stalking but recall hearing the blow up on impact if run at 3,000 fps or above but can't remember where I hear/read it.

 

[Selous]

Have a look here

.300 Winchester Magnum

 

[bewsher500]

Have used the 180gr Gameking in 300wm but my velocities are nowhere near book level
180s should be 3000-3200 at book leevl

can imagine pushing a lighter bullet even faster would be very messy

game Kings are not the hardest construction so the concern would be massive bruising and potential blow up

i use 185 grains at circa 3100
but I used lapua mega before and corelokt now which seem to hold together better

two shot yesterday with minimal fuss including one hind at about 35-40 yds!

 

[welshwarrior]

That's my concern they have worked very well at moderate speeds we know they go off like grenades when pushed to fast but how fast is to fast

 

[Milligan]

That is a bit toasty for a cup and core bullet I'd think.
Perhaps the Mego, corelokt mentioned above or another bonded framed bullet?

Like you say, they are great at modest velocities.

 

[Yorric]

The Barnes TTSX will do the job better than most at high velocity - They won't explode. they are designed not to break up, go straight through the beast & cut a clean blood channel through without bruising. The 180 grain bullet is 1.475" long, Needs a 1:11 or faster twist & has a BC of 0.484.
What's not to like about them? Except price & avalability.

Ian

 

[welshwarrior]

Ian

They where my next choice but a 165grain I've used them abroad in the 308 to good effect yet are just hard to get than the ganekings.

 

[Yorric]

Simply Ammo sell 308 Barnes VorTX complete ammo with 165 grain TTSX for not much more than the cost of the projectiles. You could pull them & put them in your super whiz bang stick calibre. Then use the cases for conventional 308 loads.

Ian

p.s. I've been thinking about doing the bullet swap thing to get 30-06 with the 165 grain Barnes option going, as that likes heavier bullets than the 308 ---- I realy like the 130 grain Barnes in the 308 & can buy those at Winkie's at Tain.

 

[Deeredriver]

Does anyone use these bullets running them fast they work well at 2,650 fps in my 308 win, thinking about using them in a 308 norm mag for stalking but recall hearing the blow up on impact if run at 3,000 fps or above but can't remember where I hear/read it.

I use these in my .300WSM, running them at 3050fps. They work just fine, they're very accurate plus they match the ballistics of my 168grTSX loads. At the end of the day, within reason it's shot placement that kills.

 

[Yorkie]

Hi.
These may be worth a try if you want to stick with a Sierra 165 Game King. Sorry it does not answer your original question but I thought it worth a mention. https://www.sierrabullets.com/store/product.cfm/sn/2140/308-dia-165-gr-HPBT

They were very accurate in my 30-06.

Yorkie.

 

[Southern]

+1 on the 165-gr Gameking.

What do you need to be shooting any bullet at 3,000 fps at game closer than 200 yards?
These bullets are designed to expand at an impact velocity of 1,800 to 2,400 fps. They are great in a .308 at 200 to 300 yards, or a .30-06 at 300 to 500 yards.

I have a dozen .30-06s, that shoot all these well: the Sierra GK, the various Hornadys, Speer, Nosler... Some will drive them at 3,000 FPS. The fellow who bought my Tikka T3 Lite SS in .30-06 has used it to kill a half dozen elk and a dozen big mule deer, at ranges of 200 to 300 yards, with Sierra and Hornady 165 GK and the Hornady 180-gr SST. They aren't intended for shooting 100-lb deer at 100 yards.

 

[welshwarrior]

I want to use them as they work well in my 308 win my old 30-06 so simplifies thing have one bullet to do most thing in my 30 cal rifles. I've not worked up a 308 N Mag load yet but they seem to be mostly 3000 + with 165 grain bullets if it slower fine by me as long as it's accurate and predictable. This is a hopefully going to be a mountain rifle for a Cham and goat hunt next year.

 

[bewsher500]

I want to use them as they work well in my 308 win my old 30-06 so simplifies thing have one bullet to do most thing in my 30 cal rifles. I've not worked up a 308 N Mag load yet but they seem to be mostly 3000 + with 165 grain bullets if it slower fine by me as long as it's accurate and predictable. This is a hopefully going to be a mountain rifle for a Cham and goat hunt next year.

Not not the same cartridge I know but...
my 300wm loads are nothing like as fast as book speeds but are very accurate
208gr is only doing 2775fps
180gr is just under 3000fps

my favourite 130gr .270 load is only doing 28-2900fps

you don't have to push them fast just put them in the right place
i do not follow the opinion that it is a waste to shoot a larger cartridge at slower speed
it uses less powder, less case wear, less barrel wear, less recoil, less noise!

if it's accurate who cares?!

load your 165s at the lower accuracy node, there are usually two, one me range speed which will give you moderate impact velocities and one higher

 

[Southern]

A 165-gr bullet at 2,800 to 3,000 fps is perfect for hunting sheep and goats, where the shots may be long and the wind currents impossible to guess.

 

[welshwarrior]

Southern thanks that's what I expected hoping to hit a nice accuracy node in that range but if it's over so be it.

As soon as dies and brass arrive from Canada load development can begin.

 

[Southern]

IMR-4350 is still the powder to beat for 165-gr bullets in the .30-06.
Start at 53.0 and work up to 57.0. Some people claim 59.0 grains, but with Remington brass and Remington 9 1/2 primers, I get well above 2,900 fps in a 22-inch barrel and well over 3,000 fps in my 26-inch barrel single shot.

I like 180-gr Sierra GK with 56.0 gr IMR-4350, 57.0 gr H-4350 or 58.0 H-4831 - 2,800 fps and pressures under 58,000 psi. Start at 53.0 gr with 4350, at 54.0 with 4831. Be safe.

 

[Muir]

There is a clatch of 30-06 shooters in the North Valley that I hunt. We/they all shoot the same load: a 165 grain Sierra GK over 56 grains of IMR 4350. These loads are made in small base-sized cases, trimmed, loaded to listed OAL and crimped. The rounds are virtually interchangeable between their rifles. None shoot it into larger than MOA group. Because of this interchangeability, we call it the "North Valley" load. It is truly a 'universal' load.~Muir

 

[welshwarrior]

Thanks but I'm not loading 30-06 but 308 Norma mag here's the nosler data. Looks more like 66-70 grain of IMR 4350!

http://www.nosler.com/nosler-load-data/308-norma-magnum/

 

[Southern]

Thanks but I'm not loading 30-06 but 308 Norma mag here's the nosler data. Looks more like 66-70 grain of IMR 4350!

If you have a 24-inch barrel with that bit Norma case, the slower powders like 4831, RL-19, Norma 204 and N-160 might get you more velocity than 4350, but for the combination of accuracy and velocity, if you have 4350, try it. And if your barrel is 22 inches or shorter, I would try it first.

But with a magnum case, why not use a 180-gr bullet with 4831, RL-19 / Norma 204 for long shots in the mountains; probably get about the same velocity as the 165-gr, with high BC, more retained energy, and more wind resistance? Sierra GK, Hornady SST, Nosler BT....

 

[welshwarrior]

4350 was going to be my starting point.

Id thought about a 180 TSX for up in the hills the lads (locals) I'm shooting with said they use 165grain.

I thought a 180 hpbt would have been a better option but am happy to be lead, I'm not taking ammo just my rifle and dies so will use components we can get here and there. May see if they can pick me up 180s if needed.