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Rifles, Reloading, Optics, Equipment
Rifles, Bullets, Barrels & Ballistics
Who uses SMKs for hunting?
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<blockquote data-quote="elkaholic" data-source="post: 498506" data-attributes="member: 13833"><p>Very interesting bullet posts as usual! Also, as usual, there are as many opinions as posts. I'm not going to try to discredit anyones pros or cons for using the Smk but mearly state what I have experienced. I have done a lot of testing with SMK's, Bergers, as well as my own bullets.I know that I will probably catch some flak, but here goes. First of all, the SMK's DO NOT perform the same as the Bergers. This is not necessarily a plug for Bergers but mearly a fact. Bergers are more explosive by far than Smk's and have more predictable expansion (at least at reasonable velocities). Berger uses J4 jackets and Sierra uses there own (they are different hardness). They have different ogive shapes which also affects expansion characteristics, as does the meplat diameter. Neither are as "consistent" in expanding as some of the hunting bullets. This is not to say they are no good for hunting but it says something about at what range do you shoot an animal and in what part of the anatomy? Not all SMK's are equal! There are differences in jacket thickness which plays in at various velocities. Many people use SMK's for the big .338's because they were the best option for hitting something at long range (you have to hit it to kill it)! ANY bullet in .338 is going to cause enough damage to kill something but that doesn't necessarily make it the best bullet. I actually use Sierra jackets in some of my tipped VLD designs because I like the way they perform (if given a chance to get the expansion started with the tip I use). At moderate velocities, Bergers are more apt to blow than Sierras and Sierras are more apt to tumble than Bergers. Both cause damage, but how do you predict it? For expansion at lower velocities, I would give the edge to the Berger and conversely, for holding together at high and moderate velocities, the edge goes to the SMK. Again, I am using .308 for most of the comparisons and this may not always hold true for other diameters? Bottom line, use what works for YOU! One thing I can tell you for sure is that a tipped bullet, all else being equal, is far more predictable. That's why I use the VLD design with a jacket similar, or the same as, a Berger or Sierra for LONG RANGE! It also raises the b.c. so the velocity will be retained longer, which of course aids in expansion. In winding this up, I'll throw another wrench into the mix. Try the A-Max at "long range" for the reasons I've stated<img src="data:image/gif;base64,R0lGODlhAQABAIAAAAAAAP///yH5BAEAAAAALAAAAAABAAEAAAIBRAA7" class="smilie smilie--sprite smilie--sprite8" alt=":D" title="Big Grin :D" loading="lazy" data-shortname=":D" />........Good shooting/Rich</p></blockquote><p></p>
[QUOTE="elkaholic, post: 498506, member: 13833"] Very interesting bullet posts as usual! Also, as usual, there are as many opinions as posts. I'm not going to try to discredit anyones pros or cons for using the Smk but mearly state what I have experienced. I have done a lot of testing with SMK's, Bergers, as well as my own bullets.I know that I will probably catch some flak, but here goes. First of all, the SMK's DO NOT perform the same as the Bergers. This is not necessarily a plug for Bergers but mearly a fact. Bergers are more explosive by far than Smk's and have more predictable expansion (at least at reasonable velocities). Berger uses J4 jackets and Sierra uses there own (they are different hardness). They have different ogive shapes which also affects expansion characteristics, as does the meplat diameter. Neither are as "consistent" in expanding as some of the hunting bullets. This is not to say they are no good for hunting but it says something about at what range do you shoot an animal and in what part of the anatomy? Not all SMK's are equal! There are differences in jacket thickness which plays in at various velocities. Many people use SMK's for the big .338's because they were the best option for hitting something at long range (you have to hit it to kill it)! ANY bullet in .338 is going to cause enough damage to kill something but that doesn't necessarily make it the best bullet. I actually use Sierra jackets in some of my tipped VLD designs because I like the way they perform (if given a chance to get the expansion started with the tip I use). At moderate velocities, Bergers are more apt to blow than Sierras and Sierras are more apt to tumble than Bergers. Both cause damage, but how do you predict it? For expansion at lower velocities, I would give the edge to the Berger and conversely, for holding together at high and moderate velocities, the edge goes to the SMK. Again, I am using .308 for most of the comparisons and this may not always hold true for other diameters? Bottom line, use what works for YOU! One thing I can tell you for sure is that a tipped bullet, all else being equal, is far more predictable. That's why I use the VLD design with a jacket similar, or the same as, a Berger or Sierra for LONG RANGE! It also raises the b.c. so the velocity will be retained longer, which of course aids in expansion. In winding this up, I'll throw another wrench into the mix. Try the A-Max at "long range" for the reasons I've stated:D........Good shooting/Rich [/QUOTE]
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