The fact remains, they don't expand.
Soft round balls do tend to expand into a flat disc... thereby creating a larger wound channel, which is the whole point of mandating a minimum bullet diameter. What portion of muzzle loader hunting projectiles do you think are totally non-expanding? I think very very few, the vast majority of muzzle loader projectiles sold for hunting are built for expansion. Why do you think this is? Are all these bullet manufacturers, like Sierra, in the dark about what kind of projectile leads to the most predictable and reliable kills?
That's what you see on TV. A just as sure thing; maybe even better is a heart lung shot. Also consider that solids used to be used exclusively for Cape Buffalo and Rhino. It wasn't until the advent of better bullets that the first shot on the latter two was with a soft and, guess what, if needed follow-up shots are taken with solids. In addition, there is no rule that you can't take a head shot on a deer.
Yeah, that's what I read and see on tv, that when hunters are hunting Elephant and Rhino and Cape Buffalo with solids, they are aiming to break bone, often in the case of elephant they are aiming for the head. What is your experience Elephant hunting? Where do you usually shoot Elephant and Rhino? You mention that folks used to use solids exclusively to hunt Buffalo and Rhino, were they using .277" solids, or where they using the largest bores they could feasibly handle? Why do you think they used larger bores ( back to making bigger holes)...
That's true bue they're still effective and there are some hunters that put a lot of value in a very accurate bullet to be used at long range.
They can be effective, but they can also be erratic and unreliable, which is exactly why Sierra doesn't recommend them for hunting. In hunting, both placement and reliable bullet performance are key... to pursue one at the full expense of the other is folly. Those hunters should use the 145 gr ELDx, or the 140 gr Accubond, or one of the SST's as previously stated, instead of using a 135 SMK with unreliable wounding characteristics, they can use purpose built hunting bullets with comparable or higher BC's. If you can't find a decent load with one of the excellent, slick bullets manufactured today, there is probably something amiss with your rifle... This has held true with all my hunting rigs, if they won't shoot one of the main hunting bullets (SGK, SST, Accubond, BT, Hornady spbt, etc.) well, they need some kind of work, and a match bullet isn't going to change that. There is a lot of talk about long range hunting, but the truth is that there are very, very, very few situations where it is necessary to take a shot over 350 yds on a game animal. There are even fewer people who have put in the time at the range practicing in field positions to be able to reliably take the 500 yd, 600 yd, or 700 yd shot. Those people do not come on to an internet forum and ask what bullet they should use for their hunting stunts.
I'll repeat, there is absolutely no reason to use an inappropriate bullet for hunting when there are so many good, purpose built hunting bullets available. Life is all about trade offs, but don't trade something for nothing.
Just to be clear, I didn't say bullet manufacturers necessarily lie but that some of the things they said weren't true. Why; I'm not really sure. Perhaps they never tried it and are relateing myth, lore and legend. Maybe it's so they can make more money selling pretty "expanding" bullets.
My favorite type of conspiracy theory, one that lacks even a basic motive. I don't think Sierra is lying to us about the use of SMK's in hunting, for profit because, wait for it,.... SMK's are more expensive than the SBTs that they do recommend. So nefarious motives are out the window because Sierra is giving up a little extra cash with every box of SBTs hunters buy over SMKs... the only explanation left must be that Sierra is totally in the dark about the construction and capabilities of the bullets that they have been making for 50 years... Really? Isn't there a simpler explanation, that sierra knows exactly what they are talking about and you don't? So you've blown up a few ground hogs and knocked over a few deer, do you really think that your knowledge of the construction, capabilities, and hunting reliability of the SMK holds a candle to that of the company and people that designed them and have been making and shooting them for decades?
Here's an interesting article on the subject.
http://www.shootingtimes.com/ammo/ammunition_st_matchbullets_200909/
YMMV
