Home Forums Hunting & Shooting General Big Game Sierra Gameking HPBT bullets on deer

I can tell you, the 90gr .257 HPBTs are varmint bullets. I loaded some up in a .25-06 and shot a whitetail once. Most explosive bullet I've ever killed a critter with, and I've shot them with quite a few of the "notorious ones" (Nosler BT, etc.).

I use this exact bullet in my 308. Excellent deer bullet. I've used the 6.5, 130 version in 260 as well. Also excellent results on deer.

Never shot anything bigger than deer with these. I've since gone to 125 NPs in the 260, but the 308 still spits these out every fall with boringly positive results on deer.

Nothing to be confused about they come apart hard when you hit big bones just like most Sierras. As long as you go along in life whacking your deer or goats with dbl lung shots busting only a rib or two you will happy with Sierras ,as they generally are very accurate. When the odd time comes you have a frontal shot that requires the bullet to bust the spine and or shoulder bones still making it thru to the vitals you are going to be unhappy, especially so if you enjoy eating your venison. Other bullets do it better it's that simple with less meat loss period. Sierras are very accurate bullets ,some of the best out there,hold together? some of the worst. Using them taught me the doctrine of aiming for the far shoulder when needing to break a animal down on the spot(because they don't allways make it thru the near one). I don't care for blow up bullets in any brand. I learned about bullet behavior by shooting animals with them, not reading about it on the internet. You should do that too. No offense intended. Magnum Man

That's the exit. While the hole is small and very hard to see, the inside is hashed enough to put him down on the spot.
There are actually 2 exit holes there. The other is on top of the spine from my kill shot. It was straight on just under the chin as he was holding his head up. Good luck finding them.

as i said b4 the165 HPGK in 308destroyed too much meat for me. I've had nothing but good results with the 180 pro hunter in 30-06. YMMV and probably has time to time.

I'd suspect they should be fine, because the matchkings work just fine. And they are not "designed" for hunting.

Cup and core bullets generally leave too much destruction period for my tastes generally... so with the availability of better bullets I simply choose to use those.

No offense taken. I agree. And have done that. And my experience is that Sierra HPBTs are good performers on deer (not counting the 85gr HPBT AND 90 gr HPBT), even on quartering shots ....as long as you don't push them too hard.

Haven't tried to 85 or 90 on big game because their manufacturer calls them varmint bullets, hence the need to gather data via the interweb for them.

I always liked the game kings, never had a problem I have only had 2 bullets that I was not impressed with that way they acted, both did the job! A fellow needed a freezer deer and I grabbed my trusty Carlos, a pre 64 target in a sporter stock 30-06, ammo that day was hornady superformance in 165 gr sst's that were very accurate! A 2 1/2 yr old basket buck ran to me from 300 yards out, about 90 yards out I stood up in a 15 ft tree stand and whistled, the deer turned broad side and slowed to a walk, I hit the deer high in right shoulder, I never had a deer go over so fast in my life, it was like you hit him with a cannon ball, all 4 hooves were straight up, back leg kicked once. I loaded deer and called the fellow who needed him, met him at another friend that was set up to butcher. The darn bullet went off like a hand grenade, it never penetrated rib cage! jacket and lead were every where under hide all the way to cod sack! The only thing I could figure was it was too fast for that kind of jacket. The deer was dead as a hammer so I guess the shock was just too much? The other one I did not like was and old grey box of hornady lt. mags loaded with interbonds, dead very nice buck but he carried the round off 30 yards and was hard to find. The hot load had penciled thru him in and out, Im saying the bullet was to tough and load and or the load was to fast. I got in my truck 3 times, then would tell my self, you know you hit him hard! he had run in a rock pile from and old field that had grown up in 25 yr old scrub oaks. 30 yards max from hit! I am not fussing as both deer were hammer dead, I was just used to the 30 cal bang flop, go down in tracks like a bag of cow feed dead. very best

Winchesterpoor, your dead description is what I am used to with old 100 count 165 bts in the 308. Almost everything else, including same bullet in 300win, leaves me wanting. As before YMMV

165 grain Sierra hollow point game kings have been my standard .308 for both deer and elk for a while. They work great on elk, no problem. I've dumped plenty with it.

Just killed a young buck using the hpbt a couple weeks ago. Works like a charm.

Very accurate too.

Same here. Also use in 30-06. The 160's are an excellent choice in 7 Rem Mag also.

I have used a number of them in 140 gr. .277 on deer over the years with zero problems.

Just took a nice doe this afternoon at 5:40 pm with same bullet in my 30-06. 60 yrd broadside shot. Typical performance...excellent. I'm running less then max. listed load. Shoots sub MOA @ 2860 fps average.

I've used the 90 grain HPBT Gameking from a 257 Roberts on Deer, Mrs. Tide has used the 130 grain HPBT Gameking and I've loaded but not had a chance to pull the trigger on a 140 grain HPBT Gameking from a 270 WSM and a 140 grain HPBT Gameking out of a 7mm/08 on deer.

They work. I don't guess I'd hesitate to use them again.

Let me know how the 140s work in your .270WSM. I have some ready to turn into reloads myself. I wish I had them ready for deer season.

I am shooting up the last few rounds I have loaded for that rifle with 110 grain TTSX's and then more than likely I will give the Sierras a go.

I'm thinking the performance may be a tad different, though.