To use or not to use 300gr SMK on ELK

[Coyboy]

300 smk, just keep the range reasonable, ultra long shots will result in little to no expansion.

[Boss Hoss]

Originally Posted by J E Custom

The 300 SMK is one of the finest bullets made for shooting a long way with great accuracy
but they are not as dependable for hunting as some other bullets that are designed for hunting.

I have killed lots of game with different SMK and the accuracy made up for the unpredictable
performance but I had to consider shot placement each time so i found that bullets designed for
hunting were more dependable and predictable.

For the extreme long shot where shot placement is most important then It is a winner.

Using a meplat trimmer should help to control the expansion by making the opening in the
tip more consistent.


Just my opinion

J E CUSTOM

Dead is Dead in my book. Never had a SMK failure in the last 20 years from the 142 6.5, 150 7mm, 155 .30, 210 .30, 250 .338, soon to try the 350 .375 I just got yesterday --- my primary hunting bullets. Have used others but those are the ones I use now.

[Broz]

Exit hole from a 300 SMK at 820 yards..




The video from this one.

Extreme range hunthing with a .338 Lapua - YouTube

Jeff

[Coyboy]

Originally Posted by Coyboy

300 smk, just keep the range reasonable, ultra long shots will result in little to no expansion.

I better clarify this as some may misconstrude it, under 1500 fps the smk can lack expansion. Below 1300 it is a 300 grain field point.

[Capt Academy]

I have also used the 250 grn SMK in my 338 Rum and all have been one shot kills from 100 yards to 624 yards on large African thin skined game.

I plan on using the 300 SMK in my new 338 Lapua this year for Elk.

[J E Custom]

Originally Posted by Boss Hoss

Dead is Dead in my book. Never had a SMK failure in the last 20 years from the 142 6.5, 150 7mm, 155 .30, 210 .30, 250 .338, soon to try the 350 .375 I just got yesterday --- my primary hunting bullets. Have used others but those are the ones I use now.

I totally agree ,but I have seen game run 400 yards one time and drop in there tracks the next
time hit in the same place with the same rifle and load using the SMKs.

Also I have seen exit holes that were no larger than entrance holes and the next shot almost
cutting the game in half.

I personally, will only use them when nothing else will achieve the accuracy required at the distance
I will be shooting. (It is rare that I have to use them).

Any of the bonded core bullets perform more consistently and predictably than the target bullets
and accuracy is not an issue with good loads.

Use them if you want but be prepared for that one time that they fail.

J E CUSTOM

[338 bruce]

my expierance has been that IF they expand the meat is totaly wasted in that part of the animal