Bullets (Sierra Gamekings) not performing as expected

[geoffw]

For those commenting on prohunters...they use an identical jacket construction so shouldn't behave all that much differently on impact except for slightly greater velocity drop off with range and have less slightly less sectional density than their boat tailed siblings.

But the surface area/form that makes up some of the surface contact between the lead/copper is different at the rear, and at the ranges mentioned I don't believe the velocity has changed enough (discuss).
My experience was similar to the OPs.

 

[ChesterP]

Fair comments Geoff. I have had info from Sierra who say that "of the two bullets, both use the same jacket, same thickness, but the Prohunter lacks the boat tail". Your point about velocity is absolutely true. There would be little to no difference at most stalking ranges. I've only ever had one which fragmented unexpectedly too readily and that was at 70 yds, boiler room. Made a mess and ruptured the rumen. Only time I've had it happen though.

 

[hendrix's rifle]

Fair comments Geoff. I have had info from Sierra who say that "of the two bullets, both use the same jacket, same thickness, but the Prohunter lacks the boat tail". Your point about velocity is absolutely true. There would be little to no difference at most stalking ranges. I've only ever had one which fragmented unexpectedly too readily and that was at 70 yds, boiler room. Made a mess and ruptured the rumen. Only time I've had it happen though.

Excuse the gory photo but a pro hunter wouldn't have done this... love the pro hunters, won't use game Kings again!

 

[ChesterP]

That's quite a mess but again, depending on where entry was I've seen similar results with other bullets. I must try prohunters for myself though.

 

[Tim.243]

That's quite a mess but again, depending on where entry was I've seen similar results with other bullets. I must try prohunters for myself though.

That's quite a mess but again, depending on where entry was I've seen similar results with other bullets. I must try prohunters for myself though.

Even if it was a small C/Fire for MJ my guess would be around the 100/120 mark or less, so that energy will have to go some where and the skull is just a hollow vessel. What goes in must come out........

I use in the .243 a 95gn Hornady sst for foxes and deer, @ 200 yards it drills a neat hole through 10mm m/s plate


This fallow had a 40mm exit hole as I posted @ 240 yds, you can see the entry which went through the ribs, lungs, and out the other ribs leaving a 40mm hole...
I use them for foxes also...


My .270 does very much the same, you can repeat the test on a plate/paper but not a deer/fox.

Tim.243

 

[hendrix's rifle]

That's quite a mess but again, depending on where entry was I've seen similar results with other bullets. I must try prohunters for myself though.

That is the entry... the bullet went no further, 100+ yards headshot, leaving the barrel at 3020fps average

 

[hendrix's rifle]

Even if it was a small C/Fire for MJ my guess would be around the 100/120 mark or less, so that energy will have to go some where and the skull is just a hollow vessel. What goes in must come out........

I use in the .243 a 95gn Hornady sst for foxes and deer, @ 200 yards it drills a neat hole through 10mm m/s plate
View attachment 178631

This fallow had a 40mm exit hole as I posted @ 240 yds, you can see the entry which went through the ribs, lungs, and out the other ribs leaving a 40mm hole...
I use them for foxes also...
View attachment 178632

My .270 does very much the same, you can repeat the test on a plate/paper but not a deer/fox.

Tim.243

It blew up on impact, had a number like that, fox included. Unzipped the entire front end of a fox, acted more like a highly frangible bullet than a game bullet! 85g sierra gameking

 

[hendrix's rifle]

That's quite a mess but again, depending on where entry was I've seen similar results with other bullets. I must try prohunters for myself though.

100g pro hunter, thats the exit this time though lol. At a mere 50-70 yards

 

[geoffw]

View attachment 178632



Tim.243

That may be the worst application of cam tape I've ever seen @Tim.243

 

[25 Sharps]

It blew up on impact, had a number like that, fox included. Unzipped the entire front end of a fox, acted more like a highly frangible bullet than a game bullet! 85g sierra gameking

“ It is one of the best all-around bullets for rifles chambered in 6mm Remington or 243 Winchester. It is one of the most recommended bullets for varmints such as prairie dogs, groundhogs, coyotes, to medium game such as deer and antelope.”

Its a bullet recommended by the manufacturer as suitable for Varmints, are you really surprised?

 

[Tim.243]

It blew up on impact, had a number like that, fox included. Unzipped the entire front end of a fox, acted more like a highly frangible bullet than a game bullet! 85g sierra gameking

.243 I would say with a 85gn...as 69 is the biggest in .223 i think

 

[Milligan]

Imo, if you use a bullet enough then eventually you'll have them do some funky things as there are so many parameters and externalities involved.
The angle at which it strikes skin or bones has a massive influence, the velocity is key as well.

I had a prohunter hit a shoulder and split, part travelled up and shattered spine while part went through the ribs.
Shot was close, very close and hit higher than I'd prefer. Reaction to shot was not something I had seen before, nor would I wish to repeat.
All factors taken into account I don't think I'd consider it a bullet failure, I also doubt that could be repeated in another 1000 shots on deer.

Fundamental question is, I suppose, whether you have confidence in it.
If not, make a change.

 

[Tim.243]

That may be the worst application of cam tape I've ever seen @Tim.243

@240 yds it never complained..lol

 

[Tim.243]

Imo, if you use a bullet enough then eventually you'll have them do some funky things as there are so many parameters and externalities involved.
The angle at which it strikes skin or bones has a massive influence, the velocity is key as well.

I had a prohunter hit a shoulder and split, part travelled up and shattered spine while part went through the ribs.
Shot was close, very close and hit higher than I'd prefer. Reaction to shot was not something I had seen before, nor would I wish to repeat.
All factors taken into account I don't think I'd consider it a bullet failure, I also doubt that could be repeated in another 1000 shots on deer.

Fundamental question is, I suppose, whether you have confidence in it.
If not, make a change.

I neck/chin shot a muntjac, it went in and out , in the front of the n/s rear, turned 90 and blew the o/s rear leg to bits...

got 2 backstraps and o/s front leg.

 

[hendrix's rifle]

“ It is one of the best all-around bullets for rifles chambered in 6mm Remington or 243 Winchester. It is one of the most recommended bullets for varmints such as prairie dogs, groundhogs, coyotes, to medium game such as deer and antelope.”

Its a bullet recommended by the manufacturer as suitable for Varmints, are you really surprised?

Yes, I am. As it also lists it suitable for deer! I wasn't expecting them to blow up on impact and again, suitable for deer, it would appear the manufacturer wasn't either!

 

[25 Sharps]

Yes, I am. As it also lists it suitable for deer! I wasn't expecting them to blow up on impact and again, suitable for deer, it would appear the manufacturer wasn't either!

I am on an American forum for 25-45 Sharps. They view damage on deer quite differently to us.

the 257 90 gr is also a game king and has the exact same reputation

 

[hendrix's rifle]

I am on an American forum for 25-45 Sharps. They view damage on deer quite differently to us.

the 257 90 gr is also a game king and has the exact same reputation

Do they view a mess as its dead? To reiterate, the headshot munty was 100 yards+, no exit, barely made it through the skull. It didn't actually put a hole in the skull, just cracked it (i did a bit of digging to check damage) wouldn't use them on a red, quite happy I chose not to shoot the red i saw earlier that morning lol

 

[25 Sharps]

Do they view a mess as its dead? To reiterate, the headshot munty was 100 yards+, no exit, barely made it through the skull. It didn't actually put a hole in the skull, just cracked it (i did a bit of digging to check damage) wouldn't use them on a red, quite happy I chose not to shoot the red i saw earlier that morning lol

Yes, that is the exact reputation of the 90 gr .257, a lot won’t use them as they blow up on entry. Which is a sh*t as they are 1/2 moa in my rifle and I’ve just loaded 150. Though the last fox I shot at about 120 it drilled through. Haven’t shot a deer with them yet

 

[Tim.243]

Yes, that is the exact reputation of the 90 gr .257, a lot won’t use them as they blow up on entry. Which is a sh*t as they are 1/2 moa in my rifle and I’ve just loaded 150. Though the last fox I shot at about 120 it drilled through. Haven’t shot a deer with them yet

When did you last shoot a deer...?

 

[25 Sharps]

When did you last shoot a deer...?

Shot 3 fallow bucks first day of fallow season. Haven’t shot a lot since as I’ve been mentoring a buddy and it took a few attempts to get him his first buck of the year (there’s a write up of the successful stalk on here by him) plus I’d shot most of my bucks for the year as soon as we could get out after lockdown.

I’ve only shot a couple of deer with the 25, both with 87 gr soft points, it’s not my first out of the cabinet for deer, generally stalking is with the 6.5x55 or 6.5 creedmoor.

Why do you ask?