Home Forums Hunting & Shooting Deer Hunting Sierra GK's & 7-08

Last year I "found" a load that worked really well in my 7-08. Consisted of 42.5 grs of Varget and a 140 gr Sierra Game-King, sparked by a WLRP, which seems to work in a lot of 7-08...LOL

The only caveat I had ever heard about the Game-Kings was bullet didn't hold together a good portion of the time. I also believe that the vast majority of those "reviews" are from folks that try and use the bullet out its design parameters as well With that said, I decided to at least give it a shot, pun intended.

The pics are the bullet I recovered from the buck I shot. The shot was 60 yds. DRT!!! The bullet was just under the skin on the opposite side..

While I do prefer two holes in my deer, I guess the old saying, don't knock it until you try it for yourself rings true.

I use that same load with that same Sierra bullet with great results

I've been shooting SGKs in my .270 Win. for almost 50 years now and I don't see why they won't work as well in a .7-08 of 7x57 or .280 Rem. or what have you. For deer size game and even wild hogs they work fantastic. I can truthfully say I've never lost a deer to a SGK. And about 90% were DRT, They just work. They don't always go all the way through but they give up a lot of energy inside the animal and wreck its plumbing so it doesn't feel much like running away.

I worry more about a bullet passing completely through because it may not be expanding proper, and it may not be wrecking the animal's plumbing well enough. I don't use bullets like Speer Grand Slams or Nosler Partitions on deer because of that. I've had some bullets that passed through and the animal ran for quite a ways. Give me a SGK or a Nosler Ballistic tip for deer. Save the super bullets for elk and bigger stuff.

LMAO.. I shot a 220lb buck with a 180 gr Grand Slam out of a 300Win Mag (2950fps) at about 100 yards... found the mushroom on the opposite shoulder under the skin. I know they expand and perform perfectly.

Ive shot many, many deer with the 140 gr Partition in my 280 over the years and only recovered one. That was one that I shot from stem to stern. Found it just under the skin in the brisket area. The have always left good holes and plenty of blood on the ground provided I get a "lower" exit hole, which I do by being in a tree or ladder stand!! The deer Ive killed for the most part were DRT, stumbled a few yards or Ive seen them fall after being shot. There's only been a handful that I had to track..

Ive also killed many with the Nosler 150 gr BT out of my 280 as well. Really good bullet IMO.

Don't worry, a Partition will expand. Probably as fast or faster opening than a Sierra GK. That front end is soft.

No flies on a GameKing for deer though. Most deer I have seen shot with a GK in everything from 223 to 300 Win Mag were DRT. A few made it 20 yards or so.

Perfect mushroom! I’ve always had good luck with GK’s. Used them for years in my 22-250 for deer.

I do also, kills deer and pigs dead!!

They're a little more fragile in my 25-06 but I still like them. I think they would be better at 7-08 speeds

I have never killed a deer with a SGK, a bud of mine killed to 8 pointers in one day in NC with a 150 grain SGK out of a 30-06. The first one was 122 yards away, hit about 6 inches behind the shoulder, bullet exited and the exit hole was about 1". Lungs were a mess, left a decent blood trail and went about 80 yards. The second one was shot at 67 yards, again, bullet went in about 6" behind the shoulder, exited and the hole again was about 1" or a little less. The deer traveled 60 yards. I'm going to start using SGK's this year!

Higoctane What velocity do get with that load?? Thanks for your time. Cheers NC

I don't have a chrony so I really don't know! Ive got to get myself one tho!!! I know it shoots REALLY well!!!

Ive got another Varget load that is AWESOME but it leaves the primers a little FLAT!!! I don't think it's dangerously flat but it kinda concerning to me!!