Sierra Pro Hunter vs Gamekings

[wildfowler.250]

What’s the general preference on here? I’ve heard good things about the gamekings but put offf by the fact that they’re hollow point. My .270 shot factory Norma 110g vmax very well so was tempted to try 110 + 130 grain pro hunters or am I better with the gamekings?

Many thanks!


Ps: where do most folk on here buy off online?

 

[Yorric]

Prohunters tend to hold together better being a flat base design. Plus at stalking ranges they usually allow you to produce tighter groups.

Ian

 

[takbok]

What’s the general preference on here? I’ve heard good things about the gamekings but put offf by the fact that they’re hollow point. My .270 shot factory Norma 110g vmax very well so was tempted to try 110 + 130 grain pro hunters or am I better with the gamekings?

Many thanks!


Ps: where do most folk on here buy off online?

Most of the Gamekings are plain soft points, either will work well. The advantage of the hollow points is that the lead tip isn't exposed to get deformed in the magazine, as happens in some rifles.

CDSG are great to order from online.

 

[Stevie/P]

I’ve moved over to pro hunters from nosler Bt in my 6.5 went hill stalking reds I can say they poleaxe hinds at 200+ yards very accurate bullet

 

[tusker]

I use Gamekings in my 243, 308 and 30 - 06. I won't use anything else. Great accuracy and knock down.
Tusker

 

[wildfowler.250]

I use Gamekings in my 243, 308 and 30 - 06. I won't use anything else. Great accuracy and knock down.
Tusker

HPs or soft points?

 

[wildfowler.250]

Thanks for the feedback! Appreciate it!

I can google the info but is there any real life difference in performance between the PH and the gamekings? I’ll definiteky give either or a go..

 

[nun_hunter]

Depends what you want as for example the 30cal165grain Hpbt Game King is tougher than the 165 grain spbt Game King. The pro hunters are supposed to be a tougher bullet. Look on the Sierra bullet website and it will clearly say what each bullet is intended for and how tough it is.

 

[Southern]

Depends what you want as for example the 30cal165grain Hpbt Game King is tougher than the 165 grain spbt Game King. The pro hunters are supposed to be a tougher bullet. Look on the Sierra bullet website and it will clearly say what each bullet is intended for and how tough it is.

yes, the GK HPBT .308 165gr and 180 gr, and the .284 GK HPBT 160 gr are the tougher bullets.

 

[wildfowler.250]

Thanks for the feedback guys.

According to chuckhawks website “Sierra's two bullet lines are differentiated only by base configuration, not internal design, specification, quality of materials, assembly or quality control. In those important areas, all Sierra hunting bullets are the same.”

 

[Southern]

I don't know where Hawks got that, because Sierea tech's have said the GK HPBT is the harder bullet. I have personally had conversations with engineers at Sierra about rifles we have in common about what bullets they use on game.

 

[AN DU RU FOX]

pro hunters.

 

[wildfowler.250]

pro hunters.

Thanks!

 

[wildfowler.250]

I don't know where Hawks got that, because Sierea tech's have said the GK HPBT is the harder bullet. I have personally had conversations with engineers at Sierra about rifles we have in common about what bullets they use on game.

Yes, further reading suggests he totally contradicted himself!

 

[Edinburgh Rifles]

Big difference in design HP to SP in Gamekings
I understood that the HP design was to allow the harder jacket the same degree of expansion

ProHunters are allegedly the flatbase GameKing
while one (PH) details tapering jackets, in real terms they both do!

Boat tails are easier to seat when reloading but redundant ballistically inside 300m
Flat Base has a longer shank and can promote better concentricity

shoot them and see
your rifle might like one more than the other

 

[tusker]

HPs or soft points?

Hollow points
Tusker

 

[wildfowler.250]

Cheers guys. I’ll probably try the 110 prohunters and the 130 gamekings.

Carcass damage isn’t excessive with the hollow points? I’ve always associated them as a vermin type bullet

 

[User00033]

There is a lot of misinformation out there.

Last year, I emailed Sierra and asked them if there were any differences in construction between GameKing and ProHunter.

The answer was:

(a) you must compare apples with apples. e.g. compare two equal weight, equal calibre soft points, not a HPBT GameKing vs a soft point ProHunter;
(b) the soft point GameKing and ProHunters are manufactured exactly the same, on the same machines, with the same materials. So for a given weight, the construction differences are negligable to nil. The ProHunter is not designed to be a tougher bullet.

I've always said I wish Sierra had given their HPBTs a different name.

Phil Mahin at Sierra did say "Every now and again, I’ll get reports that our GameKings are more fragile than our Pro-Hunters (with all other things theoretically equal) and my theory for a reason is because there is less bearing surface on a GameKing. This gives the lead core less friction to lock into the jacket with, giving the impression it expanded quicker in relatively similar hunting situations."

If anyone wants to read the whole email response, pm me.

 

[Yorric]

Comparing same weight & construction Prohunters to SP Gamekings. Assuming same or very similar jacket thickness & manufacturing processes.
The Gamekings will be longer due to the boat tail reducing volume at the bullet base, so the lead is going to break up easier than in the shorter Prohunters.
The boat tail on the Gamekings creates a draw angle on the lead plug meaning it will be more prone to bullet jacket /core separation.
In my experience I've had less break up with Prohunters & they group better.
I also prefer the longer bearing surface as I believe it encourages better bullet to bore alignment.
Thinking about the Phil Mahin theory the rifling engraving causing better core to jacket "bonding" makes sense too.

Ian

 

[wildfowler.250]

Cheers guys. Looks like I’m not the only one slightly confused by this then. I’ll definitely try the 110 pro hunters and maybe a batch of 130 prohunters as well. Everyone seems to rate them for accuracy