Anyone using Sierra 225gr. Gamekinds in a Whelen ?

[DakotaElkSlayer]

  Heard some mixed reviews on these bullets...  Called Sierra today and they stated they were made for the Whelen to perform on deer AND elk.  Was wondering if any of you had some hands on experience?

Thanks,

Jim

[Cecil]

Can't say how well they work on game yet , but they shoot well

[K-1]

I have loaded up a box (50) of them  for Moose this yr.. What I've heard is that they are accurate but open fast , which is good for deer but may not penetrate deep on a Moose. The load I am using is 59gr. RL 15 in a Rem CDL , they work good on paper so will see how good they are  on a bull.

[AtlLaw]

Heard some mixed reviews on these bullets...  Was wondering if any of you had some hands on experience?

Hey Jim!
This topic sounds familiar because I feel like I'm going to repeat myself, which I'm told I often do anyway    I have some of the Sierra 225's I got to try in my .358 Win.  Then I decided I'd try them, the 225's that is, this year in my Whelen since I'm trying 200 gr. Rem SPCL's in my .358 this year.  But then, Tim is included in this somewhere I think, anyway, we, some folks here on GB's, got talking about the Speer 180's and since I had some of those that I was going to try in my 35 Rem I decided to load up some in the Whelen instead of the the 225's since I should be able to get something well over 2800 fps with the 180's and they are constructed stout enough to take that velocity even though people think they are made for the old 35 and... and...    Uh, no, I guess I don't have any hands on experience with the 225's in the Whelen...

[Kurt L]

I have nothing bad to say about them!
I did some shooting after i found my load and got the 35whelen 7600 rem all sighted in
and played with yardage and scope adjustments.
I had a life size cardboard deer target for bow shooting and i kept moving out to
get my scope settings and at the end or my final was 400yds.
I could put 5 shots in the lung area with these bullets.
on deer NEVER HAD TO TRACK ONE slams them down like a sledge hammer.
I never got a shot over 150 yds every thing was about 50-150  yds.
Brother in law shot one at about 300 yds and it when in the corn but blood ever place and it only got
about 10 yds from were it was shot.
I would use these and not look back!!!!
I tried the 250 gr on deer by speer and  piss pour don't waste your money.to heavy to get good yardage
and worst of all Example:I shot a doe at 75yds broadside right it in the lungs perfect dead deer shot WRONG!
Why you may ask?Bullets don't expand,it hit a rib going in and shot the bullet down and out the bottom.we tracked
that deer over a mile.
I would leave the 250s at the store and stay with the 225 sierra for anything with the 35 whelen.

[DakotaElkSlayer]

I have nothing bad to say about them!
I did some shooting after i found my load and got the 35whelen 7600 rem all sighted in
and played with yardage and scope adjustments.
I had a life size cardboard deer target for bow shooting and i kept moving out to
get my scope settings and at the end or my final was 400yds.
I could put 5 shots in the lung area with these bullets.
on deer NEVER HAD TO TRACK ONE slams them down like a sledge hammer.
I never got a shot over 150 yds every thing was about 50-150  yds.
Brother in law shot one at about 300 yds and it when in the corn but blood ever place and it only got
about 10 yds from were it was shot.
I would use these and not look back!!!!
I tried the 250 gr on deer by speer and  piss pour don't waste your money.to heavy to get good yardage
and worst of all Example:I shot a doe at 75yds broadside right it in the lungs perfect dead deer shot WRONG!
Why you may ask?Bullets don't expand,it hit a rib going in and shot the bullet down and out the bottom.we tracked
that deer over a mile.
I would leave the 250s at the store and stay with the 225 sierra for anything with the 35 whelen.

Kurt,
Did the bullets all punch through?

Jim

[Kurt L]

As I remember I think they did. This was back around 1990? Had to sell the gun ,
I still load for it and the 225s are going bear hunting this year he told me.
You will not any other loads if you get this bullet it just works great.

[DakotaElkSlayer]

Thanks Kurt!  Was in town and checked the little shop with reloading supplies that we have.  I was amazed, there was one lonely box of 225gr. GameKings.  Think I will be working up some loads tonight.

Jim

[WyoStillhunter]

No hands-on experience with the Sierra 225s here.  I will add two comments anyway:

1.  I have had good on-game performance from the 220 gr. Hdy. flat nose on WT deer when loaded in my Whelen.  Seems like I never shoot over 100 yds. so I can't talk about long-range trajectory for the 220 FN.

2.  Ken Waters has suggested that 225 gr. may be the ideal bullet weight for the 35 Whelen.  At least he got the best results in that weight from his Rem. 700 Classic.  I used the 225 gr. Trophy Bonded Bearclaw in Federal factory ammo to take an antelope doe (about 150 yds.) and a spike elk (about 75 yds.) in the same season about five years ago.  I was impressed at the excellent terminal performance on those two animals even though one was small and light and the other was much larger and tougher.

I wouldn't be afraid to use the 225 Sierras on the eatin'-size elk I go after each Fall.  As a matter-of-fact I just talked with a local man who uses 125 gr. 30-06 ammo for late season cow elk in wide open hay meadows -- not my idea of the best bullet but he swears it gives good performance in that setting.

[gl411]

I have shot a number of deer with 225 Serria  in a .358 win-- good performance --goood expansion --always exit-- so far woods shots only--- velocity 2480--very accurate

[Mckie Hollow]

Thats what I load in My 350 Rem. Mag.

[K-1]

My son and I just returned from our Moose trip. We both used Rem.700 CDL 35 Whelens, 59gr. RL-15, 225 Gamekings. I took a 5x6 bull at about 90yd. through the shoulders. The bullet was recovered in the meat in the opposite side. There was so much damage and blood meat, we through one leg away, it was a mess. My son took a 3x2 bull at about 80yds.,through the ribs & took the top of the Heart off. The bullet wasn't recovered. The bullet hit a rib going in, made a hole about the size of a nickle. Hit a rib going out that was about the size of a golf ball, with a massive amount of blood meat between the leg and rib cage. I have never seen this much meat loss as we have with these bullets. Would I use them again for Moose ,, No I don't think so. Maybe for bear, but not for a meat hunt.

[rickt300]

I like the 250 grain Speer. It is accurate, has a great reputation though it may be a bit tough for deer.

[Boxhead]

Without question I would steer away from the Sierra for the bigger critters like elk and moose unless one can wait for a perfect broadside shot through the ribs. I used it quite successfully in my 358 Win on deer and hogs and it was very accurate too.

Here is a recovered 225 gr Barnes Triple Shock from my 35 Whelen. It was found just under the hide on the off-side shoulder of a moose I shot a few weeks ago. I suspect the Sierra would have disintegrated in this case if the Barnes lost all of its petals. Recovered weight is 168 grs. On the same trip I was faced with a straight on shot at a bull elk and took the shot with confidence knowing the bullet I was using would penetrate as needed. The elk made two leaps and dropped.