I use 168 BTHP for target in my .308 but is it also good for hunting?

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You didn't say which brand, but generally the MANUFACTURERS recommend that MATCH bullets NOT be used for hunting, because they are not designed to have the terminal performance required for clean kills. Despite this, there are a number of "experts" who do use them for hunting! Anbd swear by them! I used to use the 168-grain Sierra HPBT .308" match bullet for target ammo in an M1, and switched to the 165 grain HPBT hunting bullet when using the rifle for hunting - powder charge was unchanged.

I just started loading the 168 match bullets. I have two different brands I use. Speer and Hornady. I just got to wondering of they could be used for hunting. I use 180 grain Sierra's gamekings for hunting I will probably go to the 165 grain gamekings though to be closer to 168.

I have a friend who shoots a Sako TRG-S .300 Lazzeroni Warbird. It was suggested by Lazzeroni's owner he should use a 168 gr. HPBT Sierra Match King for pronghorn. He shot a pronghorn at 275 yds. behind the shoulder and blew the opposite front quarter off, and blood shot the hind quarter on the same side. Only half of the animal was edible. The only HPBT I will use on medium and big game is a Barnes XBT. Good luck.

For good target bullets, I would reccomend SMK's (sierra match kings) or Nosler J4's.
Wouldn't use them for hunting however.

168gr of lead and copper flying. Sure it will kill. But when you loose that big buck or elk cause your shot accidently hit the shoulder and didn't pentrate much to the lungs, don't come back here crying. Those extreme long range guys use them. and Use them effectively on perfect broadsided shots. For me its not worth the risk. I would rather have 2MOA accuracy knowing the bullet will stand up to just about any shot position and not fragment, than .25MOA accuracy hopeing it will miss all bone material.

WThunter,

The Match King bullet is not a hunting bullet and shouldn't be used as such. There is a bullet that is simular that will give very close to the same extrerior ballistics, that is the Sierra 165 grain HPBT Game King #2140. I use the Hornady 150 Interbond bullet in my .308 W and like it. Good luck and God Bless.

Your buddy didn't see that one coming? That is a heck of a lot of velocity for a regular hunting bullet to stand up to much less a match bullet.

Never use a match bullet for hunting. The exception being Barnes.

The key to hunting with hp bullets is not shoot them too fast. I shoot the hornady hp match in .308 at around 2550 fps and have had good luck hunting. I tried the hp in my 6mm loaded fast and I found the jacket in the hide. Just the lead core penetrated. Deer was just as dead but still I didn't like the way the bullet worked.

I have loaded hp in a 22-250 that came apart 20 yds from the barrel. They literaly went up in a cloud of grey.

After saying all that I would stay with a good hunting bullet to be safe. I prefer hornady......mostly cause they are usually cheaper.