PMC certified
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Will a SMK kill a deer?
SMK for Deer?
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Sure.
Why wouldn't it, deer are not hard to kill
Hardwoodmaterials
Well-Known Member
It will but it may pencil through leaving very little blood trail if any or may blow up when it hits like a varmint bullet or it may mushroom and work perfectly fine. I have always been told the difference between target bullets and hunting bullets is one is designed for paper with no regards to results on live targets and the other is designed for consistent performance on game.
While the open tip makes it technically legal to hunt with in TN, I wouldn't recommend using them regularly. My one experience with 77gr SMK broadside shot on deer at approximately150 yards. Bullet hit rib on entrance and shattered into four pieces, shredded heart and lower lungs, fragments found against rib cage on opposite side. Weight of recovered fragments 67gr. If it had not struck the rib, I believe it would probably have punched through intact without expanding.
mr.big
Well-Known Member
Lol. Hey Pat good to see you around.
PMC certified
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Hey, Eric. How's the family?
mr.big
Well-Known Member
Doing well. Nicole had us a grand boy and twin grand daughters and Ethan has a baby girl due in about a month.
If the question is whether it is a good idea to use a match bullet on game, the answer is no. Some states specify expanding bullets. TN only prohibits FMJ. A SMK terminal performance is very similar to FMJ.
backyardtndeer
Well-Known Member
To me there are too many better options in bullets designed for hunting.
Not the SMK but the Hornady ELD-M match bullets are absolute deer slayers.
I've seen quite a few 140 eld-m's used on hogs and deer from a 6.5CM. I can't imagine finding a better bullet from the results we've seen.
skipperbrown
Well-Known Member
I've seen a lot of brags about kills with smk. However, I haven't seen anyone post about losing one because they didn't have a blood trail. I heard that smk won't open at less than 1700 fps, but who really knows? If smk shoot good out of your gun, I would try to find a game bullet that is very similar and match the weight/velocity.
PMC certified
Well-Known Member
Thanks for all the input.
As was posted earlier deer are pretty easy to kill. Therefore, I am personally of the opinion that precision shot placement is of the most importance.
In some rifles I have found accurate loads with SMK's. I have used them with success previously and hope to use them again.
As was posted earlier deer are pretty easy to kill. Therefore, I am personally of the opinion that precision shot placement is of the most importance.
In some rifles I have found accurate loads with SMK's. I have used them with success previously and hope to use them again.
308 168 smk
Will
Seen if often
Will
Seen if often
