6mm /.243 hunting success on Big Game

[General RE LEE]

Appreciate your response and notes in the bullet. The new 117+ tmk will be a welcome addition. It'll really put the 6mm on the map terminally.

6mms have been on the map terminally for decades. With that said, a 117 grain 6mm projectile is not going to replace a heavy 7mm or .308 caliber.

 

[6creed]

They are stupidly accurate and seem consistent in flight so far.

For killing I’d say in what I’ve seen so far they have been fine. In the 6mm flavors I’ve killed with, I might be giving up a bit of advantage to the 95 TMK and 103 ELDX.

It’s only 9 kills though so hard to really make any strong claims for or against them.

I’m using a 7.5 twist steel barrel.

How much jump are you using for the 115 VLD? I found the VLD pretty hard to tune in there calibers. I would like to use a bullet that gets fairly consistent exits and it seem you have been getting exits. Thanks

 

[kswaterfowl]

Cow elk at 658 yards. Muzzle velocity 2940 out of a 20" 6 creed with 108 eldm. Hit her right above the shoulder and dropped instantly. Golf ball sized entry and no exit.

 

[khuber84]

6mms have been on the map terminally for decades. With that said, a 117 grain 6mm projectile is not going to replace a heavy 7mm or .308 caliber.

I agree, but not at really long distances, and everyone has thought big animals need big bullets. That perceptive is changing with new bullet construction.

 

[Treeman_MG]

Lots of talk about the new (supposed) 117gr tmk. Has anyone seen/used the the 107gr match king x? They also appear to have 142gr 6.5mm and 175gr .308 versions. I made a post in the reloading forum about them, but it hasn't had much traffic.

 

[khuber84]

Lots of talk about the new (supposed) 117gr tmk. Has anyone seen/used the the 107gr match king x? They also appear to have 142gr 6.5mm and 175gr .308 versions. I made a post in the reloading forum about them, but it hasn't had much traffic.

Or you just buy regular closed tip smk and open the nose up sith 0.040 wire drill bit.

 

[Treeman_MG]

Or you just buy regular closed tip smk and open the nose up sith 0.040 wire drill bit.

I've read where people have had some success doing that, but it seems like from the description on Sierra's website, they've made some changes to the jacket and the internal composition.

 

[khuber84]

I've read where people have had some success doing that, but it seems like from the description on Sierra's website, they've made some changes to the jacket and the internal composition.

Sierra also says don't shoot tmk at game.........

 

[Treeman_MG]

Sierra also says don't shoot tmk at game.........

And now they have "hunting" match kings. . . .lol.

I'm definitely aware of how tmk's perform on game. But I'm curious if the match king x is actually the bullet sierra has released, instead of the supposed 117 tmk.

 

[Formidilosus]

And now they have "hunting" match kings. . . .lol.

I'm definitely aware of how tmk's perform on game. But I'm curious if the match king x is actually the bullet sierra has released, instead of the supposed 117 tmk.

It is not.


Matchking X’s are different. They aren’t SMK’s with tips opened or TMK’s.

 

[Treeman_MG]

It is not.


Matchking X’s are different. They aren’t SMK’s with tips opened or TMK’s.

So there is still a heavy, tipped version on the horizon? Seen any of the match king x's on game yet?

 

[Formidilosus]

So there is still a heavy, tipped version on the horizon?

Very much so.

Seen any of the match king x's on game yet?

Very little.

 

[Treeman_MG]

Very much so.




Very little.

Interesting, thanks.
Been tossing around the idea of putting some flavor of 6mm together (.243ai?), but finding it hard to shoot anything other than my tikka 22-250, for deer at least. May have to try some match king X's in my 6.5 though.

 

[Chris in TN]

Am I right that the matching X is more or less just a harder-core thicker jacket MK, sort of analogous to the TGK, just without the tip?

Probably great at higher speeds but maybe not so great at longer ranges?

AKA Sierra’s answer to a question nobody asked?

 

[Formidilosus]

Am I right that the matching X is more or less just a harder-core thicker jacket MK, sort of analogous to the TGK, just without the tip?

Probably great at higher speeds but maybe not so great at longer ranges?

AKA Sierra’s answer to a question nobody asked?

That is incorrect.

 

[Formidilosus]

Am I right that the matching X is more or less just a harder-core thicker jacket MK, sort of analogous to the TGK, just without the tip?

Probably great at higher speeds but maybe not so great at longer ranges?

AKA Sierra’s answer to a question nobody asked?

To expound- they may be a thing “no one asked for”, but they aren’t “tougher” than regular SMK’s. The real issue is that they have weirdly low BC’s on some of them- the 107gr 6mm specifically.

 

[Chris in TN]

To expound- they may be a thing “no one asked for”, but they aren’t “tougher” than regular SMK’s. The real issue is that they have weirdly low BC’s on some of them- the 107gr 6mm specifically.

Interesting. Thank you!

 

[wgcracker13]

That is incorrect.

From what I understand around the MKX, they have a softer lead core in comparison to the SMK. In the FAQ section on Sierra's website they mention under "... why not to use MatchKing for hunting" that they use softer lead core in their hunting line. My thought process with that methodology would be similar to that of what Berger uses with the thinner jacket on their hunting line, that it will take less change in momentum and energy (because physics still applies in impact and yes there will be energy loss due to heat with the deformation and disruption taking place) for disruption and fragmentation to take place.

I have shot the 200 MKX out of my 30-06, I had them at 2830 fps, pretty uncontrollable for a 7 lb rifle, I don't recommend shooting that combo without a muzzle brake or braked suppressor, it takes a lot of focus to maintain a controlled shot. With that, they fly great out to 1,000 for what little experience I have with them.

I also have loaded the 135 in my 6.8 Western. I didn't do a whole lot. I may want to try a powder around the 4350 burn rate.

I did have a friend harvest a buck with the 175 MKX with his .308 this year. About a 100 yard shot, went 30 yards and tipped over.

 

[Poe]

They are stupidly accurate and seem consistent in flight so far.

For killing I’d say in what I’ve seen so far they have been fine. In the 6mm flavors I’ve killed with, I might be giving up a bit of advantage to the 95 TMK and 103 ELDX.

It’s only 9 kills though so hard to really make any strong claims for or against them.

I’m using a 7.5 twist steel barrel.

Have you been happy with the neck length. I am shooting the 108 elite hunters and so far my sample of 1 deer has been just fine but I’m still curious if I woukd be better off on deer sized game with the eldm.

 

[TradLife406]

Sub compact 7x7
905 yards with the 6 UM 2035 impact velocity. 115 dtac
Shot twice. But I thought both were hits. Maybe I hit the first one perfectly. Then clean missed the second just before he fell over. Both felt good. Both times he reacted. Either way I'll take the one perfect shot from 905 yards.