Home Forums Hunting & Shooting Hunting Rifles Sierra 165 grain HPBT Gameking in 30-06

Anybody have some experience pairing an 06' with the Sierra Gameking 165 grain HPBT?

Tried some at the range, and they are deadly accurate. But, how to they perform on deer/elk?

Thanks!

They work well on caribou. Produce exits, not too much bloodshot messiness, and dead bulls in short order. As you've found they also tend to shoot well. I've used them this spring and fall on bear hunts but have yet to launch one unfortunately, I'm sure they'd be up to thw task though.

I used them back in the '70's, but stopped when I had five exit holes in one deer. They do kill quickly, but are a bit soft for my liking.

58.8grs of IMR-4350, 210M or WLR primer and go kill things. I have used them for years in 30/06, 300WSM and 300WinMag with complete satisfaction. Rick.

I've used them extensively in 308 Win, but also in 30-06. No issues other than having to butcher and haul meat.

I cannot speak of elk or big west big game BUT on Whitetails up to 225# out to 400, these bullets worked great! I went with BT's the year they came out, I found em very accurate and never looked back, I am drifting to accubonds for sub 30 cal deer bullets! very best WinPoor

Cannot speak to elk, but that is my go to bullet at present for deer in 06. Have also used the HPBT Gameking in 243 and 284. Excellent performance on white tails and hogs.

They are supposed to be a bit tougher than the boattail soft point boattail of the same weight. Can't say. Killed a couple deer with them in an '06 at .308 velocity. Never caught one. Don't shoot the meat unless you like your burger pre-ground.

I've got a box or two on the bench, but since I can shoot Partition over-runs and blems for the same price they may end up killing target dots.

I use them in the same cartridges and I have the same damn problem.

They'll make your back hurt.... Dragging critters and such. In my .308's IMR 4895 & 165's do nice thangs.

I've used them on deer and they work well. I'm also with pappy on the SPS seconds and overruns. When you can get partitions for such a discount, why use anything else? I get good enough accuracy with them and they have been killing animals very dead since they debuted in 1948.. However, with this being said, if I were shooting past 600 yards I'd probably grab the 165 HPBT sierra over the partition if it shot better in my rifle. Which, for the most part, the sierras generally do. Just how I roll..

I have killed a bunch of game with them from coyotes though moose.. Some with my old 06, and a bunch more with my old .300.. Some careful placement is required with the .300, but it has shot though both sides of elk a number of times with lung hits..

This often means the bullet shattered major bone and bone fragments become projectiles.

Thanks to all for the replies and recounting your experience. Sounds like a winner and no real issues.

Take care.

Oldcrab, those will work but if you ever get the hankering to try an excellent bullet in your 06. Give these a try:

good bullets

That is a pretty warm load is it not? If that is for the 06.

Shot a mule deer with one and it went down like a fallen tree thumping to the ground. Not sure I would use it on elk, but never tried either

for me it is one of the best bullets made in 30 cal. i have been using it in 30-06 and 308 and 300 sav. for over 20 years. i have killed a lot of deer with them. and they are super accurate.

Hodgdon manual says 60grs is max so no it is not a hot load. Have used it in at least 20 different 06s with no problems. Rick.

I've used them on few deer from the '06. As the others have said no problems and they are accurate.


Dave.