Anyone with actual hunting experience use this bullet for elk?

I did, but quite a few years ago. I can't recollect a lot about the kills except the bullet worked. At 7mag velocities, which I was using, expect the bullet to come apart at close ranges.

In 7x57,which I have not used, I suspect it would work very well for elk.

I've shot a bunch of animals with the 160 GK from the 7x57, both in North America and Africa. None have been elk, but some have been the size of "eating elk," and I've only recovered one bullet. The core and jacket were together, though the core was loose in the jacket, but this isn't untypical of cup-and-core bullets that don't have some other means of keeping the core inside, like the Hornady Interlocks.

Killed one cow elk with a 7mm Wea. the shot was a lung shot.. Bullet exited.. One snow, there was a huge trail of blood for about 50 yards, and there she lay.. I would not use it in timber , where angle shots would be required.. This was a late season sage brush country hunt.

A couple of years ago the owner of a small local sporting goods store was commenting on the factory loads - the Gameking 165gr from Federal.

He said that was the only cartridge that he buys by the case. Even back then he said he couldn't keep them in stock. He said they almost outsold all the other 7mag selections combined.

He got me to try them but my rifle didn't group them as well as what I'd been using.

Which 160g GK are we discussing? The 160g SBT GK or the 160g HPBT GK? Sierra recommends the 160g HPBT GameKing for elk as they say it is tougher than the standard SBT.

While I have carried the 160g SBT GK on a single elk hunt, I never did get a chance to pull the trigger...

I should probably clarify that when discussing the bullet selection with a Sierra rep. they recommended the 160g HPBT GK for elk over the 160g SBT GK when fired out of a 7mm Rem. Mag as that was what I specifically asking about.

I do not know if they would still say the same thing if the cartridge being discussed was one that flung the bullet at a slower speed (7x57, 7mm-08, .280, etc).

Azar, I use the hollow point version.. I have also used many of the .30 cal. 165 gr. HPBT's on every thing from coyotes though moose.. BUT I would not select them for hunting timber where an angle shot would have to be made.. For fairly open country, they work fine..

Pardon the lack of clarification. In the original post, I should have stated that my interest was in the soft point version. I'm aware of the notation in the Sierra manual where it is stated that the HP version is a stouter bullet than the SP.

While accuracy doesn't equate to toughness, I've found the 160 gr. GK BTSP to shoot quite accurately in a Schultz & Larsen rifle chambered in 7x61 Sharpe & Hart. Muzzle velocity is under 2900 fps.

I also have a box of the HP version but have not tried them yet.

The Sierra 160 gr HPBT is the only bullet i use in my 7x57

Rabbit trail...shot and elk with the 180 sp version in my 300 wsm. Lung shot just over 100 yards. Exit was size of a 50 cent piece, elk was on the ground before I could get the crosshairs on him again.

Your comments are appreciated. Now I'll have to load up some of the hollow point version as well...

Love the way everyone has danced around the question. Better not shoot any bone heavier than a rib with Sierra soft points because they come apart. That is my experience with them on deer and would not even consider them on elk. You asked. Magnum Man

I quit using them after I shot a deer at close range with my 7mmRemMag and got a 14 inch diameter entrance wound and only shrapnel damage to one lung. They sure shot accurately out of my rifle though.

I started out using this bullet in the 1970's in a 280 for Mule Deer and my first few elk.

Lousy bullet for my use. I never liked how it performed.
I went to 160 Partitions for the next 30 or so kills.( And yes, I think the 160 is better than the 150 Partition. fwiw.)

The HPBT version is good though for the 708/7x57.

At the Sierra website you can research every bullet they make.
Here's their description of the 7mm 160 grain hpbt-

Sierra Bullets

7 MM/.284 CALIBER (.284) 160 GR. HPBT
The 160 grain #1925 Hollow Point Boat Tail is a true magnum bullet, being somewhat "tougher" than the #1920 for deeper penetration. Contrary to a usual assumption, this hollow point bullet is not particularly fragile. The nose opening is closed slightly to help retard initial upset, but even expansion is assured by four skives cut into the jacket. Of course, there is no exposed lead to be deformed in the magazine. The result is an excellent bullet for many big game applications.
https://www.sierrabullets.com/products/bullets/rifle.cfm

Right out of the chute, I will clearly state that I have no experience with the 7mm versions discussed.

That said,
The 7mm hpbt version sounds a lot like the .30 cal 165 grain Sierra HPBT game king. I've used this bullet extensively in .308s on deer and elk. It's a superbly accurate and deadly effective projectile. In fact the last state sniper championship I shot in (long time ago now) we took top LEO team with me shooting this game king bullet.

My only issue is that past medium ranges, like beyond 600, it really gets blown around in the wind. Aerodynamically speaking it sucks. However for under 500 yard shots I've been quite impressed and its put a serious amount of meat on the ground for me.

The heavy jackets on these (including the 85 grain 6mm version) have proven uber effective, in spite of not being a "premium" bullet.

Happy hunting!

The HP's have a lower BC than spitzers do. I wouldn't expect them to excel at very long ranges.

Are you suggesting that accuracy isn't everything? Who would have thought we would ever see that suggested here on the 'fire?

I have not used this particular bullet, but I have used the 165 .30 cal on deer ONCE. I also saw my fil shoot a cow elk with a 180 Sierra. None of the bullets stayed together. They are very accurate, but seem to lack durability.

Go with 160 Partitions @ 3000 fps and don't look back. It is not worth using a bullet that may or may not perform, after you have put in the time and money for an elk hunt.

I have also used the 165 gr 30 cal one time out of a 300 WSM. Last fall I shot a deer with it at about 100 yds. It passed through nicely leaving a good wound channel and no explosion.

I wo'nt use the soft point version in my 7x300 again. Its come apart enough to stop in a less than 100 pound pigs neck.

Its gone through deer heads while opening them wide up, and the very next one pencils through...

But tehn again I got tired of erractic performance of cup and core quite some time back generally speaking.

Ditto. Couldn't agree more.

Never saw the point in seeking the lowest common denominator in a hunting bullet to save a few cents..

BobinNH- As the OP, I may also be in agreement.

However, I've been shooting this bullet in a couple of 7x61s with muzzle velocities about the same as or slightly less than 7mm Remington Magnum speeds. So far, this bullet has been very accurate with just about any load concoction, but I've never hunted with it.

I've been using either a TSX BT or Partition for all elk hunting for a while now in several rifles and chamberings with no complaints. Probably will continue to do so.

Nevertheless, the urge to experiment continues. I have some of the 160 Game King (hollow point version) loaded up right now - just waiting for a calm day to chronograph & shoot groups.

lotech I have shot a pile of them.(the soft points).An old acquaintance used them exclusively in his Ruger 7RM on deer, antelope and elk on western hunts.

He got a bit confused one time and rolled 3-4 cow elk at about 400 yards with them(yeah I know not too bright! and a genuine King Kong mule deer. He liked them fine.

Pretty sure (IIRC) this is the bullet that Les Bowman used to develop the 7 RM from wildcat form when he necked down 338 brass. He found them soft up close but good at distance on everything back then and used them on elk, moose, deer,black bear and grizzly....Eventually he ended up with the 160 Partition.

The SP gamekings are relatively soft, and they work like a Ballistic tip. The HP versions of Sierras (and Hornadys) seem to be quite a bit tougher.
That being said I've punched deer with the 140gr Sierra GK spbt and gotten exits at 150 yards maybe a little less, from a 7mmRM. Never shot an elk with one but I don't think the 160 would work worse.
Anymore I use Lots of Hornady if I can find them, Noslers PT or whatever if not. I have 180 grain Etips, Partitions, Accubonds in the cupboard. No big game Ballistic tips at all. I rarely buy big game bullets in yellow or green boxes.

I've killed around 15 bull elk with said bullet out of 7mag. My hunting partner and his dad have a combined total of around 30 with the same bullet and 7mags.

They tend to blow up at close range, and tend to blow through at the 150-350yrd mark, after that they're usually found under the skin on the off side.

I still shoot them time to time, but don't hunt with them much anymore, mostly because I don't shoot the 7mag as much.

Are there better bullets? I don't know. Never saw an elk walk off after getting shot with one.