anybody using Sierra MK bullets for game

ewallace · #8 08-06-2002, 08:48 AM

If I were trying to save the hide of a coyote look at the 50g vmax I have shot a lot of coyotes with the vmax in a 220 swift from 50 to 450 yards most of them had no exit hole.

Crow Mag

Darryl Cassel · #9 08-06-2002, 09:22 AM

Crow Mag

You said;
"Most of them had no exit holes"?

What did the holes look like of the ones that did exit with the Vmax?

I think it's impossible to eleminate all exit holes in most small game with ANY bullet especially if they are hit in the rib cage. Head or neck shots are the order of the day if you can make them.
I think I would rather sew up two small holes better then I would one "big" one especially if the bullet blew on contact?

Later
DC

PrimeTime · #10 08-06-2002, 09:32 AM

I have actually had a problem with losing woodchucks this summer due to match bullets just punching a tiny hole through them. I have used the 6.5, 120 Sierra MK and the 142 MK out of a 6.5-06 and in every case, it just made a pin hole through them. At first I thought I was missing alot because I'd shoot and they'd get back to their hole. Finaly I held one and upon examining him didn't see a hole. Finally, I pulled some hair back and saw the tiny entrance and exit hole. This same thing happenned 3 times after that with both bullets. The Berger 140 does the same thing even though they have the thinner jacket. Maybe the velocities I am shooting are too little or too much to expand but it just isn't happenning. The only bullet that blows them up is the A-Max.
Having said that, I was out with my uncle and we both shot woodchucks from the same hole at 504 yards. We walked out and examined them and found that mine had a pinhole (barely visible) going in and coming out while his had a very nasty hole coming out. I was shooting the 142MK and he was shooting the 30 cal. 200 MK. Why the difference in affect?? I have no idea.

ewallace · #11 08-06-2002, 10:00 AM

One of the coyotes had small rips in the pelt and 2 had holes the size of a softball out of over 100 Coyotes I can deal with the lose of a couple pelts. The guy I hunt with likes the 55g FMJ but he looses some also.

Crow Mag

Darryl Cassel · #12 08-06-2002, 10:27 AM

Hello Prime

The 30 Cal he was using--- what caliber?

Heavier mass bullet (200 Gr MK) hitting the animal is one of the reasons and if the velocity was from a magnum, more velocity
then the 6.5 Possibly?

I used a 30 Gibbs and 30/378 to kill woodchucks for years and the 200 gr did the job time and time again. The 6.5 140 Gr MK in my 6.5 Gibbs and the 6.5/300 Weatherby did wonders at any range to the chucks too.

Got chucks out to 1450 Yards with the 30/378 and the 6.5/300 Weatherby and they were VERY dead. With our younger shooters, the 200 gr and 140 gr bullets pulverized them at 300 yards and on out.
Only on occasion and if we had a young shooter with us, would let them shoot at anything under 600 yards. That was our starting point.

Later
DC

Kevin · #13 08-06-2002, 05:38 PM

I would agree with Crow Mag. Go with the Vmax. Or if you hunt where loosing them is hard to do there is always the safe bet of FMJ, I have found the seirra 55gr FMJ to be one of the most accurate bullets out of my swift AI.

Varmint Hunter · #14 08-06-2002, 05:53 PM

I only used the Sierra 52gr MK in my 22-250 for many years while hunting chucks. Kills were typically from 200-450yds. It was rare for this bullet to exhibit dramatic terminal performance even thpough it killed instantly.
However, to play it safe with your hides; why not use a 40gr VMAX @ 4,000 ft/sec. I doubt that this bullet could pass through a coyote.
VH