SMKs on game?

[<cascadehunter>]

Is anyone using SMKs on game? TMKs endorsed heavily on RS obviously but I rarely see mention of the SMK. Curious about the terminal affects. For context I’m shooting a 19” 6.5cm with a self imposed max of 400 yards. I’ve been happily shooting 147 ELDMs, but my annual round count has upped dramatically and I’ve found a much more economical option with the SMKs. A buddy of mine picked up two boxes last week and they shot phenomenally for him.
Thanks

 

[Trapperkid]

From what I understand is the Smk is great for practice but not very dependable for damage ie it may perform flawlessly once then pencil through next time.

 

[BBob]

30 cal and up work well. They stay together and mushroom like an old school bullet. I've never had a 30 cal fail to expand and have seen 338's do well. Smaller SMK's in my experience pencil. I've personally witnessed 6mm and 25 cal SMK's repeatedly fail to expand. No idea on a 7mm.

 

[RWT]

I’ve used them in 308 for Texas deer and hogs to 300ish. Worked well if you caught bone. Golf ball sized exits if you catch a rib. DRT to 50 yard runs

 

[<cascadehunter>]

Guess I’ll just have to scoop a .223 for cheap reps. Thanks guys

 

[ACHILLES]

SMK’s work fine for killing. I’ve used the .22/90s, .25/131, 6.5/150, .30/175, .338 300s

I like to clean out and open up the meplats a little on the pointed versions so the bullets opens better doing more damage. But they will work as is, animals just run a lil further before they go down if you leave the pointed versions as is. Most likely do to the narrower wound channel from less expansion.

This is a 90gr pointed SMK I pulled out of the offside shoulder of a good sized hog at 325yds. He made it 10 yds after the shot and dropped. Meplat opened too .020”




I have shot a few deer with the 140gr TMKs out of a 270wsm as well. They seem to open up better thank the SMK’s, but only a few examples to go off of so far.

 

[NWBLKTAIL]

Guess I’ll just have to scoop a .223 for cheap reps. Thanks guys

It’s great, cheap and fun to shoot buy ammo by the case and shoot away.

 

[khuber84]

Non pointed Smk were always a good bullet. I know a lot of guys who used 300gr smk exclusively in the 338 edge for a long time, killed very well. A lot of the newer smk are pointed with a tipping die that uniforms the nose for a higher bc. This also makes expansion very inconsistent. Ones I've been around that are pointed/tipped by Sierra are the 6.5 150/142 6mm 110/107 224 95/90.