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SHOOTING IMPRESSIONS

I got the K8 first, so let’s start with it. With its heavy 20-inch barrel, the K8 sits like a rock on the bags, and just punches out ragged holes. It is a death-ray in prairie dog towns. While a host of loads perform well, I’d probably have to pick either the 55-gr. Nosler Ballistic Tip over 24.0 grains of Ram Shot’s X-Terminator or the 60-gr. Hornady V-MAX ahead of 23.6 grains of Hodgdon’s new super powder IMR-8208XBR. The K8’s nine-inch twist allows it to handle bullets up to the stellar 69-gr. Sierra MatchKing, and the Federal factory load with it averages .74 inch. Sierra’s 63-gr. Semi Spitzer and 65-gr. Spitzer Boat Tail bullets are also terrific. If you need a load with deep penetration for bigger small game, check out the 62-gr. Barnes Triple Shock-X with 23.1 grains of IMR-8208XBR.

The K16, with a barrel four inches shorter than the K8’s, actually gives up little in velocity, and it is fully as accurate. The 40-gr. Nosler Ballistic Tip is super at 3,494 fps with 24.2 grains of Vihtavuori N-130 powder, and is a ground-squirrel vaporizer. But loads with 50- to 55-gr. bullets get the most use, and the Hornady 50-gr.V-MAX really cooks with 26.2 grains of Varget. The Nosler Ballistic Tip of the same weight favors 25.3 grains of X-Terminator. Both clock over 3,000 fps, and accuracy is all you could ask for. These handloads compare nicely with Hornady’s 53-gr. BTHP Match load at 2,925 fps and group under an inch.