Sierra 168gr HPBT in 30-30.

[Bill,SC]

Does this bullet expand?  I can't get it to expand at all.  Is it the 30-30 velocity?  I have great accuracy, but no expansion won't work for hunting.

[GLShooter]

Does this bullet expand?  I can't get it to expand at all.  Is it the 30-30 velocity?  I have great accuracy, but no expansion won't work for hunting.

First off it is a POINTED bullet and you would not want to load a magazine full of them.  You could do one in the spout and one in the mag and have a two shooter. Sierra makes a Gameking that will expand but the 30-30 is on the low envelope on it. The 168 Matchkings are not designed to expand and would be a poor choice. They are a target bullet and Sierra advises against using them on game. Not that it isn't done but there are better ones for the job.
 
Greg

[Bill,SC]

I should have said that I am using a TC contender.  Therefore, no problem with a tube.  The bullets were bought in bulk as gameking.  You may have the solution that they are actually MatchKing.
 
Thanks for the help.
 
Bill

[LanceR]

Sierra does not make a 168 grain .308 hunting bullet of any kind.

The 165 grain HPBT Sierra GameKing is a hunting bullet with a great reputation.  The 168 grain HPBT MatchKing is a target bullet that is not intended to function as an expanding bullet.  Which are you asking about?

Lance

EDIT:  Oops, already covered....

[Larry L]

Bullet selection for the 30-30 Contender kinda sucks. I've loaded 150gr Remington Core Loks and at yardages up to 100 yds it will expand back to the cannelure at best. The Sierra 125 HP for the 30-30 works pretty decent and doesn't blow up at Contender velocities. If varmint hunting, I use the Remington 110gr Carbine bullet under 35.0grs H335. Accuracy is fabulous out of rifles or either of the Contenders. It can get a little explosive at close ranges but 100yds+ it's a dandy. I'm not aware of any bullet that's going to work great at Contender velocities and weigh more than these lighter bullets.

[GLShooter]

I use to shoot the Speeer 130 grain HP's in my XP 100 308. It would work well for that TC I bet.
 
Greg

[shot1]

Look no further than the 125 gr Nosler ballistic tip and IMR 4198 powder for a 30-30 Contender pistol for deer size game. The 125 Sierra Spitzer also will do OK. I used the Sierra Spitzer and 29.1 grs IMR 4198 in the very first Contender I ever had and it was a 10" barrel 30-30 Win. Did fine on deer but I never had the chance to shoot one over 100 yards. This was way back before the ballistic tip was made.  I use the 125 ballistic tip in my 14" Contender 30-30AI with IMR 4198 powder and it hammers deer. I have killed 7 deer with it in the past two seasons.

To answer your question does the Sierra 168 gr HPBT expand. Sometimes yes sometimes no. If you are talking about the 168 gr MATCH KING I have shot it in rifles and sometimes it comes apart like a varmint bullet and other times it acts like a FMJ. Sierra does not recommend that these bullets be used in hunting applications. If you are talking about the 165 gr HPBT GAME KING then yes it expands great at 308 Win etc. RIFLE VELOCITIES NOT 30-30 Win PISTOL VELOCITIES. I would not use it in a single shot rifle in 30-30 Win for deer because it has too tough a jacket for those lower velocities. That is the reason that the bullet companies make bullets just for the 30-30 Win. Yes they are RN or FP bullets because most 30-30 Win are tube fed rifles but they still need a thinner jacketed bullet to expand at the lower velocities that the 30-30 Win musters up compared to 308 or 30-06. Like I stated above I think you will be VERY HAPPY with the 125 Nosler Ballistic Tip.