What's everyones thought of using the 7mm 168gr or 175gr sierra matchking on deer?

[archer786]

so im thinkin of makin up a load for my 7mag. the sierras are easier to get and i can get them at many of the local shops. i've been thinkin about using the matchking because they have the superior ballistics to the gameking. i haven't personally seen a deer that was shot with a matchking so if anyone out there has used them on deer sized game or elk, let me know how you thought they performed and if you were pleased with the results and how effective it was.

a buddy of mine uses them on deer out of his 308 and he claims that they do just fine but thats at closer ranges (inside 100 yards).

 

[Jackal11]

Re: What's everyones thought of using the 7mm 168gr or 175gr sierra matchking on deer

I shoot the match king for targets but I dont know how it would work on game. I dont know if it would get the bullet expansion that you would need for hunting. I have a 7mm that I use the 180 Berger VLD that is great and have had no issues with on deer or elk. Let us know if you use the match king and how it does. You can try shooting a milk jug with gellitin in it and see what type of expansion you get from it????

Good Luck and good shooting

 

[moombaskier]

Re: What's everyones thought of using the 7mm 168gr or 175gr sierra matchking on deer

Have you considered the Berger 168VLD or the 175Hybrid? The 168VLD is a proven killler for me and many others.

 

[archer786]

Re: What's everyones thought of using the 7mm 168gr or 175gr sierra matchking on deer

I have but that still goes back to the availability and price issue. i can go down the road and buy the sierras for half of what it would cost me to order and ship the bergers... my motivation for this load is convenience.

 

[silvertip-co]

Re: What's everyones thought of using the 7mm 168gr or 175gr sierra matchking on deer

I'd use them if I wasnt using the 7mm 168 Berger VLD for elk and deer

 

[texan79]

Re: What's everyones thought of using the 7mm 168gr or 175gr sierra matchking on deer

I shoot the match king for targets but I dont know how it would work on game. I dont know if it would get the bullet expansion that you would need for hunting. I have a 7mm that I use the 180 Berger VLD that is great and have had no issues with on deer or elk. Let us know if you use the match king and how it does. You can try shooting a milk jug with gellitin in it and see what type of expansion you get from it????

Good Luck and good shooting

+1 on the Berger 180 VLD. If your gun will shoot them, its nasty on game.

 

[archer786]

Re: What's everyones thought of using the 7mm 168gr or 175gr sierra matchking on deer

Thanks for the input everyone. I've decided to call a place across town and compare the price and availability of the bergers and if they are generally in stock and not much of a price difference I'll go with them.

But if not them I'm gonna get some match kings, make a fairly decent load and go test them on some hogs.. I figure if it can do the job on a big hog then a deer or elk should be no problem. If it'll pass thru and not completely explode I'll be satisfied.

 

[mattbowen]

Re: What's everyones thought of using the 7mm 168gr or 175gr sierra matchking on deer

archer;

My son used one of my 168gr Match King in 308 instead of my 165gr spritzer and couldn't understand why the deer ran off, when the deer was found two days later it was found that the bullet went through without ant expansion. The Match King is designed to have low drag for long range matches as where the Game King is designed for maximum expansion at short and long range. In my humble opinion I would use a 175gr Game King or the another bullet that is designed for hunting.
Good luck.

Matt

 

[liltank]

Re: What's everyones thought of using the 7mm 168gr or 175gr sierra matchking on deer

Do you have access to Hornady 162grn SST's? They are relatively the same price as the Sierra's.

Tank

 

[archer786]

Re: What's everyones thought of using the 7mm 168gr or 175gr sierra matchking on deer

yes i do, in fact i looked at them today. But i used to have a friend that was a scout sniper(R.I.P) and we would go out and shoot them out of his 7mag and they did great most of the time. But they had the tendency to start tumbling after 500 yards. He claimed that if it was a calm day they worked all the way out to 1500yds but if there was any wind you might as well limit yourself to 400-500 yards cause they will start tumbling.

From what i found out today goin around and lookin for bullet availability. No one has anything that im lookin for. Just The sierra varmints and the barnes that are $60 for a box of 50. So i've decided that since im going to have to order bullets anyway im gonna go with the 168gr VLD.

 

[Jumpalot]

Re: What's everyones thought of using the 7mm 168gr or 175gr sierra matchking on deer

Tumbling???? That doesn't sound right. If they are stabilized, I don't think they'll tumble until after they go sub-sonic.

 

[liltank]

Re: What's everyones thought of using the 7mm 168gr or 175gr sierra matchking on deer

I was thinking stability too. If he could take them to 1500 on a calm day, there is no reason they shouldn't make a 1500 on a windy day. Unless the twist was just enough to run it that far in calm air. Otherwise a tighter twist would be necessary. I would do some research as to what twist he had. IF, it was less than yours, then you will be able to shoot them just fine.

Tank

 

[archer786]

Re: What's everyones thought of using the 7mm 168gr or 175gr sierra matchking on deer

im just repeating what he said, and since he was a scout sniper and was trained for shootin long ranges i have no reason not to believe him. my longest shot so far is 750yds and i dont consider myself a expert by any means i've only been into long range huntin and shootin for a short time so i'm always lookin to learn something new. But i've settled on the VLD and from what i read its a bullet that will do the job and the distance

I'd go ask him again to verify what he was talkin about but he was killed last july.

 

[liltank]

Re: What's everyones thought of using the 7mm 168gr or 175gr sierra matchking on deer

I'd go ask him again to verify what he was talkin about but he was killed last july.

I mean no offense my friend. I served for 3 years pre-9/11. I never saw any fighting but up hold the greatest respect for those who have and will.

I watched an Army Sargent get put in the ground 6mo. after his baby girl was born to his wife. I cried like a baby. My grandfather was a submariner in WWII, and 1 of my cousins has already spent time in the sandbox and the another is scheduled to ship. The second is going to be up in the air if he makes it home or not. He is a engineer (explosives expert). I have many friends who have served and many that were or are snipers.

Anywho, back to the topic at hand. I realized the passing of your buddy. I was just stating if you can research the gun in question, ask the parent, or find one online, you could figure out the twist. If it is an older rifle, chances are that it won't stabilize the 162's like the newer rifles with a tighter twist.

Tank