300gr matchking close range

[partisan1911]

I see the 300gr matchking works well at extended distances. How does it do at close ranges on elk? I expect you would have to hit bone in order for it to be effective?

[timeless61]

not sure how well wet newspaper translates into game, but, at 50 yards I shot a 300 smk that left the muzzle at 2950 fps. the first inch was roughly 338 diameter, next 2" or so was a 1.5-2" hole, from say 4"-17", it was a 5-6" hole and paper was destroyed and displaced. then from 17-22" it was scaling down to 2" hole, then at the end I just found the bullet, shed most of its core, and the copper jacket was opened up in around 24" of wet newspaper tightly packed. did it twice actually, same results..

same day, shot a 168 a-max .308 out of a 300 wsm, went in 2-3" and went vertically out of the box, and pretty much repeated what happened after I tried it agian, that kind of worried me..

[groper]

shot a hog @ 50yds with a 300SMK travelling 2900fps... pig was DRT but no exit, just a tiny little entry hole and then it exploded inside him. The bullet is too fragile for best efficacy at short ranges...

[partisan1911]

So what do all these elk hunters do if they see an elk close range? Carry a different bullet for those shots or aim for front shoulder to break it?

[Derek M.]

Originally Posted by partisan1911

So what do all these elk hunters do if they see an elk close range? Carry a different bullet for those shots or aim for front shoulder to break it?

The above questions are the pitfalls of the concept of LRH when taking into account using projectiles designed for paper but loaded for game. There is always the "what if" in hunting.

I've been fortunate to kill a few whitetails up close with Bergers in a couple of calibers and there was no evidence to suggest they performed any differently than any other hunting bullet I've used in the last 25 years. But none of those Berger shot placements were on bone either, and all of them were 50 yards and less.

The SMK debate has been discussed time and time again, and you'll find equal numbers of guys with experience who are pro and con for up close shots. My personal opinion is that the closer the game, the bigger the gamble.

If I had an elk inside of 50 yards and I was using a 338 Edge with a 300 SMK (which is highly unlikely because I'd really have a bow), ...I'd be confident with aiming at the base of the skull if I knew I had no intentions of getting it mounted. Otherwise, I'd probably just lung shoot it & hope for the best.

[ewallace]

I recovered a 300g SMK from a elk I shot in 06 the elk was shot at 10 yards with a 20 pound 338 Nawakwa 30" 10 Twist Broughton barrel muzzle velocity of 3045 fps. The 300g SMK retained 69.55g of bullet found it a small exit wound and the lead was parsley threw the skin. This was a quartering away shot, bullet entering just in front of the right back leg and was recovered in front of the left shoulder penetrating 36". The elk went down and did not move. I have used this same rifle to harvest elk and deer from 10 yards to 2045 yards the 300g SMK has been working for me.

[jwp475]

Originally Posted by ewallace

I recovered a 300g SMK from a elk I shot in 06 the elk was shot at 10 yards with a 20 pound 338 Nawakwa 30" 10 Twist Broughton barrel muzzle velocity of 3045 fps. The 300g SMK retained 69.55g of bullet found it a small exit wound and the lead was parsley threw the skin. This was a quartering away shot, bullet entering just in front of the right back leg and was recovered in front of the left shoulder penetrating 36". The elk went down and did not move. I have used this same rifle to harvest elk and deer from 10 yards to 2045 yards the 300g SMK has been working for me.

The 300 SMK has also worke for me on Deer and Elk