Sierra TGK Blowup.

[Captcurt]

Had a herd of deer come by me this morning and smacked a big doe on the shoulder. She warped the ground hard and didn't even kick. When I got to her there was two holes on the same shoulder. The exit was 6 inches higher than the entrance and both were about 1 1/2" in diameter. When I opened the chest the ribs on the offside were specked with about 6 or 7 small wounds. That bullet must have blown up like a grenade. I was shooting a 130gr Sierra TGK in a 6.5CM and pushing it with 42gr of H4350. I have shot a truckload of deer with this load and have had jacket separation a few times, but nothing this drastic. I really prefer Accubonds but they were hard to find and I bought 200 of the TGK's to hold me over. Has anyone had a bullet enter and exit on the same side?

 

[nick22]

That does seem really strange did it hit the shoulder?

 

[Larry in wyoming]

Standing broadside?

 

[TEXASJD]

That’s different, any way the bullet could have hit something like a tree limb to cause it to tumble? Haven’t tried the TGK yet

 

[barnfrog]

She warped the ground hard and didn't even kick.

Can't really complain about that. What distance?

 

[Captcurt]

Can't really complain about that. What distance?

Not over 40 yards. That is the first time that I didn't get pass through penetration on a broadside shot.

 

[Captcurt]

That does seem really strange did it hit the shoulder?

It hit about 6" down from the top of the shoulder blade, was deflected upward and exited at the very top of the blade. I didn't see any damage to the spine. It was really strange. I wish that I had taken pictures, but I don't hunt with my phone on me and I forgot about it when I got home.

 

[algaeguy]

First deer with this bullet? Freak things happen but I am now concerned as I literally just loaded 50 for deer season this Saturday. The grouping at 150yards was impressive. BUT I love venison and it would be good to know if I can only take head shots

 

[lowcountry308]

Sierra bullets are known to fragment and not hold together well. 40 yards is pretty close too(bullet still moving pretty fast). Sounds like that is what happened.

 

[JDeere]

Sierra bullets are known to fragment and not hold together well. 40 yards is pretty close too(bullet still moving pretty fast). Sounds like that is what happened.

Many years of hunting with SGKs and not one has come apart. Now the original Nosler Ballistic tips were hell on wheels at exploding. Quit using them as I got tired of picking lead from my meat. I hear the newer hunting version is better.

OP if it hit the shoulder at that close range it could have come apart. I never take direct shoulder shots and destroy the shoulders. Low behind the shoulder heart/lung shot if I can't make a base of the skull shot. I have seen many say take a high shoulder shot. Why destroy meat is beyond me...ymmv

 

[JmacD]

Had a gameking (old fashioned lead tip) do that. I got the shot a bit off and it hit the ball of the shoulder solid! I had 6 exit wounds, one of which went straight up through the spine. Two came out the same side as entrance, one went between ribs, and two came out far side, one in the neck and the other about straight through on bullet path. She was drt, but that was pretty much a grenade! 80 yards with a 130 gr from a 270 win.

 

[GeoDudeFlorida]

It hit about 6" down from the top of the shoulder blade, was deflected upward and exited at the very top of the blade. I didn't see any damage to the spine. It was really strange. I wish that I had taken pictures, but I don't hunt with my phone on me and I forgot about it when I got home.

Strange but that’s just how bullets are sometimes. Sorry I can’t think of a better reason. I have never tried the TGK and tend to prefer heavier bullets going slower in the .30-06. I have seen some strange things - shot a boar hog in the neck from a 15’ tree blind with a .30-30 and the Speer 170gr came out his ass end. He didn’t flop, just stood still shaking all over for a couple seconds then fell over. Weird things happen.
I don’t think I’d worry too much. Unless it happens again.

 

[Howa 9700]

In OP's case, where does a tipped Game King stand in comparision to a Game King? Like an SST vs. Interlock? Or Accubond, vs. Accubond Long Range? A thin jacket at the tip designed to expand at low velocity at a distance? If it's one of those, a shoulder shot is not the place to send it.