Match King- There are better

[valvesinmyhead]

Shot three deer 1) doe 100yds 2) doe 120yds 3) buck 220 yds with my LR 308. Every shot was fatal but all bullets did not expand just penciled through. When examing the buck I found the muscle above the lungs attached to the bottom of the spine had a nice clean hole through it. The buck acted like he wasn't hit at first but then stumbled down the hill and fell. I'm sure if the bullet would have expanded the hydrostatic shock would have at least made him move when hit. Should have listened to you guys but they shoot moa at 300yds. Time to look for a new bullet.

 

[elkaholic]

Shot three deer 1) doe 100yds 2) doe 120yds 3) buck 220 yds with my LR 308. Every shot was fatal but all bullets did not expand just penciled through. When examing the buck I found the muscle above the lungs attached to the bottom of the spine had a nice clean hole through it. The buck acted like he wasn't hit at first but then stumbled down the hill and fell. I'm sure if the bullet would have expanded the hydrostatic shock would have at least made him move when hit. Should have listened to you guys but they shoot moa at 300yds. Time to look for a new bullet.

I've tested a lot of bullets including the Matchking and that is what they do! The Matchkings have a tangent ogive which will not open as easily as a secant ogive because of the angle of entry on the tip. (it pushes inward more rather than outward with equal pressure). Case in point; a Berger will open easier because it is a secant. That's why they are called MATCHking.......Rich

 

[peashooter]

Are you shooting the heavy for caliber SMK? I have found the lighter SMK pencil often while the heavies are consistent on opening.

 

[elkaholic]

Are you shooting the heavy for caliber SMK? I have found the lighter SMK pencil often while the heavies are consistent on opening.

It is true, with any bullet, that smaller diameters open with more difficulty but my testing has been mostly with .308's and some 6.5's. The 190-220 smk's need 2400'-2500' to open in my tests, and don't always even at that velocity. When they don't open, they almost always cause a banana bullet which tumbles nearly every time and can cause damage that may look like a mushroomed bullet exit wound...........Rich

 

[valvesinmyhead]

Using the Federal Gold Match 175gr clocked at 2600 fps from an 18 inch barrel. That was an average over 5 shots.

 

[valvesinmyhead]

It is true, with any bullet, that smaller diameters open with more difficulty but my testing has been mostly with .308's and some 6.5's. The 190-220 smk's need 2400'-2500' to open in my tests, and don't always even at that velocity. When they don't open, they almost always cause a banana bullet which tumbles nearly every time and can cause damage that may look like a mushroomed bullet exit wound...........Rich

Maybe thats why one of the exist wounds looked like a 3 inch knife cut.

 

[elkaholic]

Maybe thats why one of the exist wounds looked like a 3 inch knife cut.

Right on!

 

[scsims]

I've not had any issues using them as of yet.

Post your SMK/Match bullet kills

Hope I don't get dinged for posting a link to another forum.....

 

[elkaholic]

I've not had any issues using them as of yet.

Post your SMK/Match bullet kills

Hope I don't get dinged for posting a link to another forum.....

I don't doubt that LOTS of animals have been killed with SMK's. I did notice that the thread starter on snipers said to "post your kills" and "post your good wound pics". Not trying to question your success but what if everyone posted "the ones that weren't killed" and the "pin hole wounds"? I just know after testing literally hundreds of bullets that the SMK's that I have tested alongside many other bullets, need a lot more velocity to open.....Rich
I don't want to start another bullet war; just posting my experience. Your experience seems to be they have worked for you......

 

[Varberger757]

Sorry, I'm just wondering. How can anyone expect that a specified match - bullet will perform as perfect hunting bullet? For my part I'm absolutely against the use of non - hunting bullets due to ethics. To wound game is one thing, and it will unfortunately happen again and again, but provoking this by using not suitable match - ammo is untolerable IMHO. You'll find VLDs and ABs for the purpose of LRH, don't you? I'm really glad about that the use of matchbullets for hunting larger game is strictly forbidden where I am coming from. BtW, we shouldn't forget about that we all are under the searchlight of our ennemies, all the time.

 

[westcliffe01]

Possibly slightly off topic (since my experience is with a Hornady bullet), but I switched from 55gr Vmax bullets in my 223 to 75gr Hornady HPBT (match) bullets and found that they killed coyotes a lot more effectively at 250+ yards than the little Vmax. I don't know if it is a different phenomenon with the 223, but the 75gr .224 bullets tumble after impact and create devastating wound cavities. On a coyote one usually has a pinhole entry wound and then about a 2" exit wound on the opposite side.

 

[valvesinmyhead]

Possibly slightly off topic (since my experience is with a Hornady bullet), but I switched from 55gr Vmax bullets in my 223 to 75gr Hornady HPBT (match) bullets and found that they killed coyotes a lot more effectively at 250+ yards than the little Vmax. I don't know if it is a different phenomenon with the 223, but the 75gr .224 bullets tumble after impact and create devastating wound cavities. On a coyote one usually has a pinhole entry wound and then about a 2" exit wound on the opposite side.

I've had excellent results as well on coyotes. Several doe have been put in my freezer using the 75gr BTHPs and an old buck all under 80yds. They have all exited with great blood trails. That's why I thought the MKs would work. Definitely built different.

 

[300rum]

For my hunting rifle I used just match king 300 gr. killed lots of games, and all of them have huge exit holes from 1 inch to 3 inch hole.
I push them at 2860 fops and I shot them from 80 yards to 1320 yards.
I never have a game walking more then 20 yards.
Also I'm using the 168 vld match on my 7 rm at 3000 fps and also - no lost games, big damage inside but no exit hole. Bullet tend to disintegrate inside getting massive blood lose.

Shot from deer, elk, moose, coyote, - all dead.
I take shots on double lung area or neck shot.
Smk on bones are bone grinders . And never ever I found one inside the game.

All I think is you are using a smaller caliber and they don,t perform as we'll as in big magnum rifles.

 

[SidecarFlip]

Interesting. Sierra themselves caution against using Matchkin gs on game. Use a Game King hp or a BT Game king.... Just say'in.