Home Forums Hunting & Shooting General Big Game sierra game king experiences and performance

would like to hear any experiences with these bullets, especially in .308 (165 grn) and/or 7x57 (160 grn)

my intention is to load these two for use on deer and antelope with the occasional (very occasional) elk.

I shot two deer with the .308 165 grain BTSPs. At a chronographed 3150 fps from my 26" barreled 300 Win Sendero, I took two deer--one at 280 yds and one at 318. The 280 yd shot was through the ribs and the bullet worked very well, dropping the little doe on the spot. Had the typical entry and exit holes you expect from frangible bullets of this type.

The buck was at 318 yds and I hit him in the center of the chest vertically, but a tad to the right horizontally. He too fell dead on the spot. The bullet broke bones in the shoulder area destryoing the meat on that shoulder, vaporized the right lung, shed the core from the jacket, and the core exited out the belly. Because the bullet came apart at 318 yds after hitting bone, I changed bullets. I was afraid the bullet would blow up on the shoulder of a large deer at close range.

As a deer bullet, this one is probably fine but impact velocites should be under about 2800 fps and broadside/head shots are desired. On elk,I can't recommend it, based on the performace I got on these two deer.

I have shot a few deer and a hog with Gamekings, and they seem to operate under a very narroe performance envelope. I had a 190 grain GK from my 30-06 at a MV of 2900 fps fail to reach the vitals on one small deer (TX heart shot at 60 yds) and then fail to expand on aonther (through the ribs at 100 yds). However, I had excellent results on a small hos with a 180 grainer form my 300 Win at an MV of 2950 and another 100 yd shot. The bullet broke ribs on entry and exit, making a 2" hole on the way through. A neck shot at 60 yds with a 175 GK at 2975 fps from a 7 Mag dumped a little buck, but the bullet didn't expand at all though it clipped the spine. If it had not clipped the spine the naimal would have been lost.

I love how GKs shoot, but I can't seem to get consistent performance form them. At this point, I just wouldn't trust tem on elk. I think a better elk bullet for a 30 cal would be a 165 or 180 grain Nosler Partition, a 165 grain Barnes X, or something along those lines.

Blaine

I quit using them when I had two of them come apart on 90 pounds coues deer out of a 30-06 ( 150 grain game king) They didn' t exit and tore up the cape pretty bad. Maybe my experience wasn't typical but we shot some 8 bucks on that trip and 6 were shot with this bullet. We didn't kill any big enough to keep capes on but had we killed a monster, There's always a risk of lots of cape damage and of course lots of meat damage. I would guess the 165 is a step in the right direction and would use it too exclusion of 150's

I shoot 165 gr game kings in my model 99 Savage .308. I don't have any emperical data on how these perform, but it's shoots better than anything else I've tried. Works fine for elk up to 250-300 yards.

I killed a big Roosevelt bull a few years ago with 180 grain GameKings at a little over 3100 fps out of my 300 Win. The shot was slightly quarting away. I had nice expantion and the bullet exited in one piece out the off side shoulder. I was very pleased. The bull was about 150 yards away when he was hit. I also nailed a blacktail buck with a 165 hpbt gameking at a very long distance, out of my 300 win. I had nice expansion and an exit. If you want to use gamekings and 165 grain bullet try the hpbt's. Sierra says they are their hardest bullet. I don't think you'll have any problem with expansion and you shouldn't have a ballistic tip style blow up. I think the gamekings are about perfect for 308 win and 3006, probibly not the magnums. Although I have never had a problem with them, it seems like everyone else has. <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/frown.gif" alt="" />

Another cautious nod to the GK HPBT. I have used them in limited numbers on deer in .25 (90gr.) and .30 (165). I have also witnessed the shot on one Elk with a .30/165. In all cases peformance was quite good. I'm not sure I'd choose it as a primary Elk bullet, but I can't relate a problem personally.



JimF

I saw my friend shoot an antelope on the point of the shoulder with a 100 gr Sierra from a .25-06 at a bit under 100 yards. The bullet made a nasty wound but did not even break the shoulder. He had loaded one of his "practice" rounds, rather than one of his "hunting rounds with a Nosler Partition, in the rifle. After a long stalk, he finished the buck off with a Partition. (Not that I think Partitions are needed for antelope, but at "high for caliber" speeds and in a lighter weight at fairly close range, I'm not Sierras are tough enough. Used in a .250 Savage or .257 Roberts, or at a longer range, I think the Sierra would be good. A heavier Sierra bullet might have worked better, too.)

Pretty much my experience also!!

I think Sierra is the only one "Sleeping" while every other bullet company is creating "Premiums" or at least bettering their products!

I think their Matchkings and Varmint slugs are keeping them alive! <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/confused.gif" alt="" />

I have shot everything from antelope at 525 yds to muledeer at 350 yds and elk under 100 yds and whitetail at various distances with the 165 bt all one shot one kill in my 7rem mag . I think they do just fine ,been using them for 7 years. <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/grin.gif" alt="" />

I've been using Sierra GameKings for over thirty years.
Pretty much been the same old story, Bang-Wop-Flop!
Taking everything from little blacktails on the west coast, big mulies, Elk, and Moose in the Rockies.
I have yet to experience or witness a failure with GameKings.

Tasunkawitko; use the 165gr Gameking SBT for the Deer and Antelope, and use the tougher 165gr GameKing HPBT for the Elk and you'll do just fine.
Good luck,
Sandman

Extremely limited experience with them - in 250 gr. .338 Mag. only. I've not heard a lot of good things about them for very big game from knowledgable aquaintences, who do concede their accuracy. Mostly about how they come apart, or "blow up" on impact - but I take that with a grain of salt until/unless I have more experience with them personally. I don't know the circumstances under which they were used.

The 250 gr. SPBT Gameking is the most accurate round I have ever loaded for my .338- about 1 inch groups at 200 yards, which I don't really need, since my average shot on moose is about 60 yards - and only 2 bulls over 100yds of 20-some. My standard expectation of 1.5 inces or less at 100 yards with other rounds is perfectly adequate.

Two falls ago I jumped up on a rotting, crumbling birch log and went to pegging shots at a spike bull at about 120 yards, ending at about 140 (paced it off after the water got stiff). The first 3 rounds were Trophy Bonded 125 gr Federal factory loads. Excellent penetration, not much expansion. #1 went thru both shoulder blades, turning the animal, shattering neither blade. When he turned broadside again, I shot his knee off with #2 - no joy there. As he was quartering away, going into the brush, #3 just clipped his right ham, penetrated completely thru his paunch, and exited the far shoulder blade 1 inch from the first round (I have the shoulder blade mounted). The fourth round was a 250 Sierra BTSP, broadside again, but a bit higher, just missing the shoulder blades above and backbone below, exiting the far side less than a palmspan above the two previous bullet exits (exclusive of the knee-capping) This one knocked him flat, tho I'm sure he was about to go down anyway, and showed a considerably larger exit wound than the two TB combined exits. I think it would make an excellent elk round from 100 yards or so out. Don't know about close in.

This year I am using standard Hornady 225s as my first use moose round, with my remaining 4 TBs as reserve rounds 8-12, I'll probably try the New Hornady 225 grain premiums next. The hype looks good, tho I really do favor 250s for the .338. For the 30-06, I think the 180s are the only way to go, for the .308 the 165s seem pretty darned good as a rule of thumb. Initially, I'd go with the advise of those who have extensively used these bullet brands/ weights/types, then make my own judgements based on personal experience/performance. Good luck.

Most any bullet of good construction from most any manufacturer, used under the conditions for which it was designed, will do just fine at "book" velocities. Accuracy is more important than velocity.

Take my above experience for whatever value it's worth - heck, I'm still mulling it over! This year, I'm using 225 gr standard Hornadys for my main bullet in the 338, with my remaining 4 TBs as rounds 8-12 reserve - just to get rid of some odds and ends. I don't expect to burn more than 2 of the Hornadys however. One to knock'em down, one insurance round on walk-up. It ain't so much what you hit 'em with (within reason) - it's where.

Now I gotta quit and go stuff a couple EZ loaders for my .45 ML. I'm treating it to a "stand" moose hunt this weekend, With the .338 as backup for anything over 100 yards.

(This sounds like I am gadget oriented. I'm not. I'm meat oriented when hunting. But I've never killed anything with a muzzleloader, some of which I have owned for 30 years. 'Bout time I tried, I think - without being ridiculous about it).

I visit here often, but rarely post.



Remington 700 BDL SS, 30.06 Federal Premium 165gr Gameking, Leupold Vari-XIII 3.5-10X40mm.



First doe shot at 44 paces: quarter-coin size entry hole on left shoulder, no exit. The doe went down, stood up and did the funky-chicken dance to the right and went down for good (4 seconds).



Second doe went down at 140 yards: entry behind the right shoulder quartering-away, went down, kicked 5 times and expired. Bullet went behind right shoulder through the heart and knocked a bone chip out of the left shoulder. I'm happy with the bullet peformance.

LOL!

As for Game Kings, they are bullets for snipers shooting thin skinned game at long range. I was going to use the Federal Premiums 308/165 on Wild Hogs. I checked the Sierra website and did not find a "recommended use" for the bullet.

I emailed the company, a nice women replied that I should shoot the pig at 200 yards broadside through the lungs. She specifically stated that the bullet was not intended for high velocity impact and that the bullet needed to "slow down" before it hit a tough hide. She then suggested I use the 180 grain partition for Wild Hogs.

Honesty is the best policy. She sent me to a competitor's bullet, so I take her advice seriously. Use the game kings for Antelope or Mulies in the wide open West. For Eastern whitetails under 100 yards, use reduced velocity loads. And stay away from Ultra Whiz Bang Magnum velocities altogether with this bullet.

Just my 2 cents . . . . .

BMT

Of all the firearms products ever made I have the greatest feeling and thanks for a job well done to the Sierra Bullet Co. I have used them for competative target shooting, load development, varmint hunting and some game hunting.

For deer sized game they are fine in the cartridges under consideration but in tiny rounds a premium bullet has to be better. For bigger game just switch to Partitions when an elk hunt is planned. I always say I shoot Sierra's in the summer and Partitions in the fall. In reality I use some pretty big bullets and almost any construction will work when the bullet is big enough.

i carried a .243 all over creation, and used primarily one load for everything for years. i shot the 85 bthp GK at coyotes, fox, deer( at ranges from 5yds- 200), crows, a couple of fair sized hogs, and 1 black bear. accuracy was astounding, terminal performance was always good..... i have never had a good shot fail with any bullet.... i have had a few shooting disappointments where shooting ability was concerned.....

i used a .308 with a GK bullet back in the 70s for deer in alabama, and had no complaints, that i recall...this was the load that inspired me towards the GK bullet in the .243

off the cuff, i would not intentionally load the GK bullet for elk, unless i were using a heavier calibre rifle, ... (.338), or a non magnum cartridge... i say this and i'm not even sure what is available in 7mm, .308. & .32..... i've shot exactly one elk and it was shot with a borrowed .300 savage, and i don't know what load.... so i'm no expert...

i've become a believer in the partition bullet, for game.... i can't just ignore my past and pretend that it didn't happen... but i believe that i'm better informed these days..... i don't shoot as much these days and cost is not a factor... there was a time when i shot enough of the game king bullets at game for the cost to be significant..... i make a lot more money now, and shoot a lot less......

the partition is my game bullet of choice.... john w

BMT, Not trying to be a smart arse, but you've got the GameKings and the MatchKings mixed up.

Rogue:

I just ckecked the Federal ammo website, its the gameking that is loaded as a 165gr/ 308 ammo. As I said, I switched to a different bullet based upon Sierra's reccomendation. I assume Sierra would have corrected me if I was off course.

Again, I never hunted with it (based upon Sierra's reccommendation).

Your mileage may vary . . . . .

BMT

BMT

I've used the Sierra GK in my .308 for years, in fact the 165 gr is my bet load. I've used in on deer (whitetail and mulie), antelope and hog. I've never had a problem.

The 165 Game King was the most accurate hunting bullet I ever loaded in my ex-06. It was and is superb on deer sized game and I nailed a passel of mule deer, black bears, a mountain goat as big as they come, and three bull elk with that bullet, one of which I lost. I do not recommend it for elk at all. Separated jackets and shallow penetration on recovered bullets should have stopped me from using it on elk before I angled one through a shoulder to break the spine on a good bull. The Game King wasn't/isn't up to the penetration my shot choice demanded of it. My fault, not the bullet's. Broadside through the ribs it is as deadly an elk bullet as is made, but do you have the discipline to only take such shots, and do you want to limit yourself to good angle broadside shots? Enjoy the fun of working up a tougher bullet elk load that shoots to the same place as the sweet 165 Game King, and take that elk hunting. Use the Game King for everything else you mention.

I like the heck out of Sierra gamekings. Very accurate bullets in most rifles and they work great on deer. I have no idea about their performance on elk.