Re: why not hunt with 175 smk's
vman,
Regarding Berger, many get the two jackets and the time line confused...
The original VLD is what would later become known as the hunting bullet line, when it was learned that some match shooters were having problems with bullets not making it to the target. Berger quickly developed a heavy jacket version and when it was released they changed the packaging on the original version, putting them into a hunters orange box and marking them "Hunting".
I suspect that the blow ups we hear of are still old inventory bought/imported before the switch over. To add insult to injury, the original version was in packaging that had the term match grade or some such marked on the box as well. But it was those (the original) that started the hunting revolution so to speak.
stungib,
Looking at my European mounts, 1” below the eye would not be a kill shot regardless of what bullet was used. An inch and a half behind the eye would have taken out the brain cavity, and below that would be the spine.
OP,
People think that they will not work for hunting coyotes, deer, etc because Sierra specifically recommends them for target shooting only.
The following is my opinion only...
If Sierra were to indorse them for hunting use, Sierra would be acknowledging the design does expand and this would likely lead to the military looking to another bullet and Sierra... a loss of revenue.
Now SMK’s do have a jacket that has been said to be 45% thicker than game bullets, so it does stand to reason that they would stay together longer and/or less likely to expand. But you are free to use them as you see fit. I have used them against ground hogs and they preformed just like a FMJ when no bone was hit. Berger Hunting VLD’s expand violently, Lapua Scenars I have not made up my mind about them yet. I used one to down this guy this season but the bullet did exit and was un-recovered so I can not say one way or the other.
Due to the shot no bone was hit and the bullet traveled from just behind the front leg (as I was taught) and exited a six inches beyond the diaphragm. The deer was traveling quartering towards me. From now on I will always aim for my exit as a exploded tummy is not so yummy.