160 Grain Sierra GameKings

LeadPoison · Mar 18, 2005

Would this be sufficient out of my 7 Mag?

I keep being told that I have to have a Partition or one of those bonded bullets, but Sierra claims that this bullet acts as if it were a bonded bullet. I figure it would be great out to about 350-400 range. Past that the elk get the right away to move on through.

I have used the 130 and 150 grain on whitetail and I have always dropped those suckers in their tracks. I am at 12 and counting.

Should I stick with the tried and true?

Phantom Hunter · Mar 18, 2005

Stick with Partitions for elk. A gameking can "blow-up" on shoulder is shot a close range. Gamekings are great bullets but the jacket on a 160 gr. 7mm is a little thin for elk IMHO.

Phantom Hunter

DallanC · Mar 20, 2005

>Stick with Partitions for elk.
>A gameking can "blow-up" on
> shoulder is shot a
>close range. Gamekings are
>great bullets but the jacket
>on a 160 gr. 7mm
>is a little thin for
>elk IMHO.
>
>Phantom Hunter

I cannot underscore the above post more. Out of my 7STW they group like none other at 100 yards... like accuracy to rival a .243 yet I tried them *once* on elk. It was a 250 yard shot, I hit good and the elk dropped and died. When I reached it however, I was VERY unimpressed with the actual preformance. It was like a bomb went off on the shoulder. Very few fragments entered the chest cavity and it appeared the elk died more from shock than anything.

I tried XLC's and took an elk with one (left a hole on the far side big enough to stick your hand in and it sucked about 5" of lung material out with it) but accuracy was just not good enough to inspire great confidence, even across 5-6 different powders.

I've since moved to Swift A-Frames and am sufficiently happy to call it a done deal. Under 1" groups at 100 yards and sturdy enough to hold together under the worst of conditions. I shot my elk this year at 380 yards with a single shot (/hug bi-pod).

For *deer* I'd say the gamekings are great, otherwise I'd highly suggest something else for elk. A cheap and highly under-rated bullet is the Speer GrandSlam bullet. Hard to beat a Nosler Partition as the peoples favorite premium bullet.

-DallanC

Anaconda · Mar 20, 2005

I've never been impressed with "Gamekings" on big game.
Sierra bullets are great paper punchers and small game bullets but too many tails of "blow ups" on animals bigger that a song dog.
I saw it happen once, the deer died, but penatration was poor on a real small deer.
There are too many great bullets out there, I don't trust "Gamekings"

muzz · Mar 21, 2005

To tell yopu the truth I wouldnt shoot a sierra bullet for big game, I have had a bad experience with them at a range that was an easy filled tag. Iwas not impressed. Stay with a good bullet. Nosler, Swift, Barnes.

Bambistew · Mar 21, 2005

The only thing I have experienced with thoes POS's is the bang flop... I think I've killed close to 15 elk and a pile of other game with them... never had a "blow up" and only had to hit a couple animals twice... no fault of the bullet just tougher animals. I will say that they are probaly not the best for magnum velocities inside 100 yards, but they still kill just the same... I've broken shoulders with those pos bullets as well on a few occasions... same result, dead elk...

LeadPoison · Mar 22, 2005

Bambistew,

I couldn't figure out why people have been bashing them so much. My shots are going to be at the closest 100 yards, more like 200-300. I have killed a pile of deer with them and have had excellent results. In fact 95% of all deer I killed have gone down as if lightning hit them. So to say they blow up and are to soft just doesn't compute for me either. I am glad you had great results.

Do you think the soft tips or hollow points would be better?

BSHunter · Mar 22, 2005

LeadPoison,
I personally have had great success with the GameKing, I took a bull with my .300Win Mag and a 165gr. GameKing at about 80 yards, the bullet went through the shoulder blade on one side and stopped just under the hide after going through the second shoulder, that bull was dead on impact. I have also used the GameKing in 100gr from mu 25-06 to take several deer, and my Desert Bighorn here in Az. all were one shot kills. By the way I still have the bullet from the bull, it mushroomed perfectly.
Good Luck to All

LeadPoison · Mar 22, 2005

Yeah this sounds more like my experiences as well. I have had great mushrooming and penetration as well. I think I am going to use the 160 GameKing BTSP and "test" my luck. I think it will be adequate medicine for muleys and cow elk. Just need to do some load devlopment now.

Bambistew · Mar 22, 2005

LeadPoison, I've had great success with the 160 gamekings. I never tried the HP's but from what I understand they are actually a little tougher constructed... Of all the bulls I shot with that load, I can only think of maybe one that was inside 100 yards, most all were in the the 200-350 yard range. Most every one I shot pretty much dropped right there. As far a loads, I use a CCI 250 primer and 62gr of IMR 4831... Shooting right around 300fps. Of couse start lower and work up. I believe most maximums are listed at around 62-63 grains of 4831.

Good luck!

LeadPoison · Mar 22, 2005

Sounds good to me. I usually don't load to max anyway. I find I am more accurate because of the lessened kick. I don't think the deer know the differnce between 3000 fps and 2800 fps. I am looking forward to getting some good practice in as well. I have never had the chance to take a deer at more than 150 yards. So 300-350 is going to take some practice. I just can't afford popping off Noslers if I need to do lots of practice.

Phantom Hunter · Mar 23, 2005

Work up your load with Gamekings, sight-in, practice, hunt mulies and antelope, tweak the load to use noslers, go elk hunting. Gamekings are good bullets and will kill elk. Like I said above if you are shooting at magnum velocities and get a close range shot they can blow up on a shoulder shot. If your shot is out at 250+/- yards they will probably do fine.

Phantom Hunter