30 Cal Sierra Game King report

Robmill70

Robmill70

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I was shooting the SGK's 200gr at 2700 FPS in my 300 H&H and I wanted to report back on their performance. I don't know what other's experience has been, but I have mixed opinions about them. On one hand, they killed the game I was shooting at. On the other, the weight retention and core separation left much to be desired compared to other bullets.

One that retained the core was taken from my Gemsbok. It slammed through the shoulder and stopped under the skin on the far side with almost 50% weight loss.

2 pulled from an Impala and a Warhog had full separation and nothing but the jacket was recovered.

I don't think I will use them again, I'll stick with the Barnes TSX most likely.

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Robmill70 said:
I was shooting the SGK's 200gr at 2700 FPS in my 300 H&H and I wanted to report back on their performance. I don't know what other's experience has been, but I have mixed opinions about them. On one hand, they killed the game I was shooting at. On the other, the weight retention and core separation left much to be desired compared to other bullets.

One that retained the core was taken from my Gemsbok. It slammed through the shoulder and stopped under the skin on the far side with almost 50% weight loss.

2 pulled from an Impala and a Warhog had full separation and nothing but the jacket was recovered.

I don't think I will use them again, I'll stick with the Barnes TSX most likely.
Click to expand...
That pretty much lines up with my experience using 150 grain SGKs out of my .30-06 on deer. I've been using Nosler AccuBonds for years now and have never recovered a bullet in mule deer, a blacktail, moose, black bear and several African PG. The larger animals were all taken with a .300 Win Mag using 180 grains in NA and 200's in Africa. They all.passed through leaving good exit wounds. No.blood trailing has been required.
 
My disdain for the SGK goes back 20+ years when I started loading my own ammo with 130gr SGK in .270Win.

I shot my first and second deer SGKs’ and I haven’t loaded another single Sierra ever since.

FYI - the second deer I shot at 150yds and it ran off and died because it fell in a creek and DROWNED……

yes the deer died so the
“it’s dead so the bullet worked Yuck Yuck!” Crowd can now chime in……..
 
Nice! Thanks for sharing.

Did you autopsy the lungs? How far did most of the game run before expiring?

I love Barnes. I’ve used Barnes on several animals in Africa, and it’s what I recommend and will continue to use.

But I’m not so biased that I won’t admit what I’ve seen in the field. In my experience, Barnes do tend to kill a little slower than some softer bullets. You’re trading some tissue destruction for that awesome weight retention and penetration.

I shot a kudu with a 150gr Hornady SP out of a .300 Win Mag! Not ideal, most will say, and I’d probably agree...

But that kudu literally backflipped, and its lungs and heart were blown to pieces.

I also shot a zebra with a 180gr Hornady SP out of a .30-06. Quartering toward me, shoulder shot, and it dropped on the spot.

So while I’ll still pick Barnes for Africa because of their consistency, penetration, and accuracy in my rifles, I’ll also acknowledge that sometimes I’m giving up some tissue damage compared to a softer bullet.

It’s all a balance. We’re simply spoiled with the bullet choices we have today. Lucky us!

And you should definitely post this in the Bullet Database thread! It’s probably my favorite thread on this website, but unfortunately it doesn’t get posted in nearly as much these days.

Do your part in keeping it alive! Lol
https://www.africahunting.com/threads/bullet-performance-database.37971/page-29
 
Here is the problem with bullet reports. Some guy says the bullet sucks. Another guy says it’s the only bullet he will ever shoot. Ten more dudes will chime in with their favorite bullet selection even though it never was part of the discussion. Some guy will chime in about using the wrong caliber and another will tell you all the stuff he killed with a bow and arrow just because he needs a chance to show off. And none of them bother to read all the reports written before theirs. . .
There. That is my opinion:D Beers:
 
Firebird said:
Here is the problem with bullet reports. Some guy says the bullet sucks. Another guy says it’s the only bullet he will ever shoot. Ten more dudes will chime in with their favorite bullet selection even though it never was part of the discussion. Some guy will chime in about using the wrong caliber and another will tell you all the stuff he killed with a bow and arrow just because he needs a chance to show off. And none of them bother to read all the reports written before theirs. . .
There. That is my opinion:D Beers:
Click to expand...
Problem?

Thats sounds like fun! :cool:
 
easiest way to solve bullet issues is to shoot CEB Raptors enough said
 
easiest way to solve bullet issues is to shoot CEB Raptors enough said
 
The Sierra Game Kings are cheap and by most accounts accurate, so if you’re just wanting to shoot and put holes in paper they are probably ok. I wouldn’t hunt with them.
 
Interesting. A few years ago, I took 26 head of game with the .30 sgk 165 in .308. Out to 500 yds on kudu and 600 yds on springbok. Performed perfectly and a very accurate round.

Based on that sample, I would have few concerns about terminal performance on soft skinned stuff.

I love the tsx, but I don't find it as accurate beyond 300 yds. The vor-tx produced much more accuracy and the same performance as the tsx on impact.

Just my experience.
 
dchum said:
Nice! Thanks for sharing.

Did you autopsy the lungs? How far did most of the game run before expiring?

I love Barnes. I’ve used Barnes on several animals in Africa, and it’s what I recommend and will continue to use.

But I’m not so biased that I won’t admit what I’ve seen in the field. In my experience, Barnes do tend to kill a little slower than some softer bullets. You’re trading some tissue destruction for that awesome weight retention and penetration.

I shot a kudu with a 150gr Hornady SP out of a .300 Win Mag! Not ideal, most will say, and I’d probably agree...

But that kudu literally backflipped, and its lungs and heart were blown to pieces.

I also shot a zebra with a 180gr Hornady SP out of a .30-06. Quartering toward me, shoulder shot, and it dropped on the spot.

So while I’ll still pick Barnes for Africa because of their consistency, penetration, and accuracy in my rifles, I’ll also acknowledge that sometimes I’m giving up some tissue damage compared to a softer bullet.

It’s all a balance. We’re simply spoiled with the bullet choices we have today. Lucky us!

And you should definitely post this in the Bullet Database thread! It’s probably my favorite thread on this website, but unfortunately it doesn’t get posted in nearly as much these days.

Do your part in keeping it alive! Lol
https://www.africahunting.com/threads/bullet-performance-database.37971/page-29
Click to expand...
Agreed, I just finished load development for .300win with 200gr LRX-BT for my travel load, went with the LRX for the faster opening.

I also loaded 150rnds of .300win Hornady BTSP Interlocks as they are my deer culling, pig hunting and practice round( I also use the 140gr Interlock in .270win.

In my opinion the Interlock is a much better choice and I’ve never had one fail and even in the .270win recovered bullet with perfect performance at 325yds to near point blank; having said that, if I’m hunting big bucks with the .270 then I use Accubonds and the .300 180gr interlock will kill any deer on earth.
 
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Got a question, somewhat peripherally related. I hear and understand what folks are saying about Game Kings. Has anyone had a different experience with Game Changers? On a whim I loaded some for a Husqvarna 640 .30-06, and there are shooting really well. I think I read they have a thicker jacket than the GKs? Thanks in advance.
 
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