For most of my hunting life, the decision was simple: hunting bullets were for hunting, and match bullets were for competition. But after decades of hunting, years of long-range competition, and a lot of time studying terminal ballistics, my thinking has changed.

In this episode of Childs Play Outdoors, I talk about how that evolution happened.

From my early experiences with Nosler Ballistic Tips to shooting PRS and NRL Hunter, I've gradually moved toward using highly aerodynamic match bullets in more of my hunting rifles. It's not because traditional hunting bullets stopped working. It's because today's accurate rifles, rangefinders, and ballistic solvers have changed what we're capable of doing in the field.

I share some of my experiences with the .25 Creedmoor in South Dakota, why wind performance matters even at moderate hunting distances, and how shooting the same rifle-and-bullet combination throughout the year builds confidence when hunting season arrives.

We also look at some of the bullets I'm experimenting with, including Sierra Tipped MatchKings, Hornady ELD-Ms, and the new Sierra MatchKing-X.

Not every match bullet belongs in the hunting field, and traditional hunting bullets still have plenty to offer. But the old rule that match bullets shouldn't be used for hunting deserves a closer look.

• How my thinking about match bullets and hunting bullets has evolved

• Why traditional hunting bullets dominated for so long

• The influence of rangefinders, ballistic solvers, and modern rifle accuracy

• Why ballistic coefficient and wind drift matter to hunters

• Lessons learned from PRS and NRL Hunter competition

• Hunting with the .25 Creedmoor and 134-grain ELD-M in South Dakota

• The advantage of competing and hunting with the same rifle-and-bullet combination

• Sierra Tipped MatchKings, MatchKing-X, and traditional hunting bullets

• Why reliable terminal performance remains essential

Understanding Creates Mastery.

Learn more at https://childsplayoutdoors.com