Game Kings, SSTs, or Ballistic Tips.

[Texmex247]

SSTs vs Gameking

I am a fan of SSTs for target or hog hunting only. Last season, I shot a hog with an A-MAX bullet. Now I know why they are not considered a hunting round. Superb accuracy but massive fragmentation and expansion. Looked like I could fit a tennis ball in the back of the hogs skull. I cannot deny their accuracy but they utilize extremely thin jackets. I would stick with the gamekings which are definitely more well constructed than BT bullets.

 

[Kachok]

You do know that the SST and A-Max are two totaly different bullets right? SSTs have a heavier much more tapered jacket and a "locked" core, while the A-Max has a paper thin jacket. While the SST is also a fast expander it does hold onto enough mass to keep going while the A-Max explodes like a varmint bullet. Not all tipped bullets are the same, none of my Nosler Ballistic Tips have failed to go through and through yet.

 

[Duane M]

Kachok. I was wondering what size deer are you shooting and how far away are they. I find the ballistic tips do not penetrate through and through. Our deer are around 200 lbs and usually I'm shooting around 25 yards. The ballistic tips fragment and do not exit. The chest is mush but no blood trail to speak of. They run off maybe 20 to 50 yards. The Sierra however do exit most times. For example one broke in half and left two small exit wounds.

 

[WYOMan]

When your hitting at 100 yards or less, unless your using a TSX, a solid, or a bonded bullet, your likely to have explosive expansion. I've had Gamekings do that. My initial velocity is mid-range, and I have the possibilty for shots that are longer here, so I don't really worry about that. But as I posted prior, even if it doesn't exit, as long as you have pureed the heart and lungs your bullet didn't fail. They don't tend to get far when no blood or oxygen is pumping.

 

[wyohome]

^Tracking is pretty easy here, as opposed to thick, wet areas.

 

[WYOMan]

Born and raised in the midwest ( escaped in 08 ). My brother and I hunted in IL, IA, and MO. If you make a bad shot, then yes, tracking could be a little bit of a chore. We never had it happen, but we did help a landowners son track a badly wounded doe once. That was something I'll never forget.

 

[Kachok]

Kachok. I was wondering what size deer are you shooting and how far away are they. I find the ballistic tips do not penetrate through and through. Our deer are around 200 lbs and usually I'm shooting around 25 yards. The ballistic tips fragment and do not exit. The chest is mush but no blood trail to speak of. They run off maybe 20 to 50 yards. The Sierra however do exit most times. For example one broke in half and left two small exit wounds.

Deer around here run from around 140lbs for your average doe to low 200s for a decent buck. Most of mine have been shot inside 100 yards but a few are further out then that. A 120gr 6.5mm has a reasonable SD (about like a 165gr 30 cal) I have never had an issue with penetration with them at 2900fps muzzle speeds though this year I switched to a tighter shooting RL19 load moving just over 3000fps. All shots with them thus far have been broadside and right behind the shoulder, they leave a nice exit wound with plenty of blood too, not that any tracking has been needed. I have found bullet fragments in the far side rib cage but as long as the bullet exits I am not worried about that.
What gr Ballistic Tips are you using in your 06? I load 168gr BTs for mine though I have not tried them on deer yet since my 165gr Game Kings have given me spectacular downright excessive performance.

 

[Duane M]

I was using 150 grain Winchester silver ballistic tips. I may have that name mixed up a bit but you probably know what I mean. I never lost a deer, the chest was mush but they did run. I love the game kings. I shoot 165 grain Sierras in my 3006. I've been lucky so far. They haven't run. One ran about 20 yards. Sounds like your shooting good size deer as will. The one I shot this year was just under 200 lbs field dressed.

 

[Kachok]

The older silvertips are not the same as Nosler Ballistic Tips though they are VERY often confused, the true Ballistic tip has a heavy tapered jacket that keeps the bullet together. The old silver tip was nothing but a thin jacket soft point with an aluminum cap protecting the point from deforming under recoil. The Winchester Combined Technology Ballistic Tip is the same as the Nosler only with an "anti-fouling" coating. I have never used Silvertips, they are known to be on the fragile side, but real Ballsitic Tips have always performed really well, Nosler does not put their name on junk IMHO, then again neither does Serria.

 

[Duane M]

OK Kachok I get it. I thought the Ballistic Silver tips were the same. They are good bullets and I never lost a deer. I got a good buy on the Sierra's and bought 10 boxes. Ammo is expensive in Canada and I couldn't pass up $8.00 a box for the game kings. Walmart was moving and I made an offer to the manager and he accepted. So instead of $35.00 I got them for $8.00. Like I told him I'll take all you got. So far I love them. So anyway I was just surprised that you were getting those results with the ballistic tips. My results were great but different. Like it's been said many times dead is dead. My nephew shoots a 303 with 150 grain Federal soft points and the deer he shoots are dead as well. My brother shoots 308, 150 grain Remington Corelokt. He loves them. So I guess it's what your rifle shoots best. Probably all the soft points work well. Thanks Kachok, happy hunting and Merry Christmas.

 

[Texmex247]

Just to clarify, yes I do know the difference between an A-max and an SST. Although the SST is a sturdier bullet construction wise, they have always fragmented in the live game that I have shot(deer@150lbs, hogs up to 250lbs.). Winchester BST has been my prefered factory load for hunting in my 280 remington but my reloads group much better and the lower velocities I load to make for a little less recoil which my shoulder appreciates especially after a 5 or 6 hog day.

 

[Kachok]

Every lead core bullet I have ever used fragments some, while some do more then others as long as I get through and through and am not tracking I am happy with the results. When you say your SSTs fragmented do you mean complete seperation or just some of the front portion of the bullet? Did they fail to get full penatration? What caliber and weight? On all tipped bullets I stick with rather high (.240+) SD bullets since I expect them to shed at leasd 25% of their weight.