Sierra sportsman soft point question?

[N555]

If I load the serria 158gr 38cal sportsman softpoint bullets to about 1,250 to 1,300fps do you think they will expand much?

 

[41 Mag]

Expansion usually depends upon what something is impacting. Just keeping it simple, if you are hunting for deer, you will usually get more expansion if you hit solid stuff like shoulder blades and leg bones than say just ribs and lungs.

With that particular bullet you'll get some expansion but how much will also depend upon the range of the shot to impact and just what you hit. The further you shoot the less velocity and expansion.

 

[tightgroup tiger]

It's not going to expand much, but it will expand some. I've shot them into hard dirt and they are just bulged on the end. Nothing dramatic at all.
That's what I use those bullets for, penetration.

 

[Thomasss]

Are you referring to Sierra Sport Master bullets and shoot them out of a .357 Magnum? The Sports Master bullet has specific expansion velocities to represent different states of expansion. I would suggest you call Sierra for a better explanation. In order to reach the velocities you mention, you would be required to shoot this type of bullet out of a .357 Magnum. You may not have to do that though depending upon what you want to achieve. Penetration can be just as important as expansion depending upon your target.

 

[AJC1]

Are you referring to Sierra Sport Master bullets and shoot them out of a .357 Magnum? The Sports Master bullet has specific expansion velocities to represent different states of expansion. I would suggest you call Sierra for a better explanation. In order to reach the velocities you mention, you would be required to shoot this type of bullet out of a .357 Magnum. You may not have to do that though depending upon what you want to achieve. Penetration can be just as important as expansion depending upon your target.

I have the zero jsp loaded up for launch in a carbine at about 1550 for pig. I expect less expansion than an xtp...

 

[buck460XVR]

If I load the serria 158gr 38cal sportsman softpoint bullets to about 1,250 to 1,300fps do you think they will expand much?

Sierra touts them as this......

Accuracy at 50 to 100 yards and tough construction were the main design criteria for the 158 grain #8340 Jacketed Soft Point bullets when they were introduced in 1970. Accuracy rivaling the best target grade wadcutters makes this an exceptional hunting bullet for the 357 Magnum or larger cartridges in handguns or rifles when deep penetration and expansion are required. Best suited to medium game and heavy loads, this bullet is also right at home on the Handgun Silhouette range.

This tells me that they are a good choice for hunting deer at the velocities you claim.

I have the zero jsp loaded up for launch in a carbine at about 1550 for pig. I expect less expansion than an xtp...

I tend to agree. My understanding is that those are match/target bullets and not hunting type bullets.

 

[AJC1]

Sierra touts them as this......

This tells me that they are a good choice for hunting deer at the velocities you claim.


I tend to agree. My understanding is that those are match/target bullets and not hunting type bullets.

The Sierra website said good for both.... I haven't shot any on animals to verify

 

[buck460XVR]

The Sierra website said good for both.... I haven't shot any on animals to verify

.....I was talking about the Zero JSP you said you had loaded up. THEIR website states they are for Match?target shooting.

 

[AJC1]

.....I was talking about the Zero JSP you said you had loaded up. THEIR website states they are for Match?target shooting.

Oh I can't say the zero is any different or simular.... need to test

 

[N555]

I got some 158gr Hornady standard, xtp hollow points. I'll try those first, 3 boxes of xtp cost about the same as 2 boxes of those serria soft points.

 

[PO2Hammer]

Disregard

 

[Show Me]

If I load the serria 158gr 38cal sportsman softpoint bullets to about 1,250 to 1,300fps do you think they will expand much?

No. That's why they make hollow point molds. Even cast wont

 

[N555]

No. That's why they make hollow point molds. Even cast wont

Yeah that why I'm going to try standard xtp hollow points first.

 

[N555]

I'll be in the middle of the 158gr HP xtp and I'm assuming I'll proby be on the lower edge of the serria 158gr SP assuming the serria expands like the flat point xtp.