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From grandpa on down my family has used. 270 win. In that time we have used sierra bullets to kill everything from hogs and dogs to bucks and bulls. My question is why don't i see more guys on the forums talking about sierras( outside of matchkings)? Is it lack of sexy adds or is there a performance deficiency? A few years ago i had a .270 built and i have run all the premium bullets through it with good success. I decided i had neglected the sierras and set about fixing that. 60grs of RL22 produced a .35 center to center group. I love these bullets. Am i alone? Thanks for your answers in advance. | ||
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My experience with Sierra bullets is accuracy, but not penetration/retained weight. They tend to be wonderful bullets for hunting varmints and small and medium sized big game like deer and pronghorn antelope, but can break up and fail to penetrate adequately on animals of larger size or if shot from a very fast magnum case. I use and like sierra hunting bullets for stuff under 400 lbs / 200 Kg and varmints, but bigger game like moose, no thank you! | |||
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My first centerfire rifle was a .30-06 and a half dozen or so elk fell to 180 gr Sierra GameKing bullets from it. When I rechambered it to .30 Gibbs, I changed to 180 gr Nosler Partitions for greater penetration. For over 30 years, my favorite deer and antelope rifle has been my .257 Ackley shooting mostly 117 gr Sierra GameKing bullets. I used that combination to kill at least one deer and antelope most of those years, also several bighorn rams, a Dall ram, a mountain caribou, and a 6x6 bull elk. I just switched to Nosler Ballistic Tip bullets in my .257 AI a couple of years ago because as a handloader, I like to tinker, and the grass is always greener on the other side of the fence, right? Also, 130 gr GameKings are the most accurate bullet that I've shot in my .270 Win, but it's still a game virgin. NRA Endowment Life Member | |||
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I have killed a pretty good mess of Elk, Deer, Antelope, a Mountain Goat and a Bighorn Sheep with 180 grain Sierra's in my 30/06. I've never recovered a bullet from any animal, Elk to 425 yards or Deer 35 yards recovered none they all exited. In my .257 Roberts shooting 117 Sierra's I've killed 2 big Mule Deer Bucks and about 5-6 Antelope and same story all exits no recovered bullets. They are VERY accurate in my rifles and I'm very happy with them. I say if they work for you and yours keep shooting them and don't listen to internet hype. Sierra also holds more Match records than any other brand. Have fun with yours. | |||
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I've often asked myself the same question. Over many years of reloading I have tried other bullets in my own rifles or for many others I have reloaded for, but when it comes to hunting, Sierra GKs have always been the one for me. From a very early age I used a variety of cartridges and rifles until I could afford something decent in the form of a Schultz and Larsen rifle in 7x61S&H. I could never better the 160gr Sierra GK at 3000fps on many of our species of deer and on those fantastic game animals, chamois and tahr, that we are blessed with here. Other bullets maybe will do the job, but for me the accuracy and killing effect on all the animals I have hunted at all ranges, the Sierra GK couldn't be beaten. Although I don't like saying it as I cannot put a figure on it but this has been over hundreds of animals under all kinds of conditions. I have seen a whole range of bullets used by other hunters within my own country and during a year I spent in Germany where I hunted often, but nothing has made me think I should change from Sierra GKs. I continue that 'tradition' now in my current 7mm-08 and 6.5-06, both exclusively using Sierra 140gr GKs. | |||
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I agree with the fact that due to the internet hype, people on forums do not acknowledge the use of SGK-bullets. I use 250gr SGK in my 338 and still have to retrieve a bullet. I have however heard stories (from non-users) of the bullets (for .30 cal and bigger) "exploding" upon contact with an animal. Seems like it was actually intended for military use  .Regards, RM | |||
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They were the first bullet that I began reloading and have always been a fall back for me. I have found them to be the most consistent in accuracy out of almost all my rifles and on game performance has always been good. I think that most people like to chase the "flavor of the week" for something different. The Sierra bullets are old technology and have been proven time and time again to work. They don't retain as much weight as the bonded bullets and you have to step up to a heavier bullet if you are looking for deep penetration but they work well. I am not saying that they are the best bullet out there but for what they are they work fine. | |||
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carnyman Ive gone full circle with bullets and settled on Sierra for my 7mm08. Game King for hunting, Match King for the range. 150grn 1.5" exit through the ribs. Great bullets,less than half the cost of Nosler and suitable for my needs.jc | |||
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c-m, When I first started loading (several years ago) I wanted Speer 150 grainers for my .30/06 Sprg. because that's what I could afford and like most novices was impressed with the higher velocity the 150's would offer.  Proudly attempting to make my first bullet component purchase, I was frustrated because I couldn't locate any Speers at several stores (I know it will come as a surpise to many today; that, in the day's prior to Mail Order you actually went to a shop to purchase componets). Finally, one of the shopkeepers mentioned that "No, don't have 30 caliber 150 grainers" but "I've got a box of 165 gr. Sierra SPBT Game Kings." That purchase started a life-long relationship with Sierra GameKings. Yeah, there's currently plenty of vouge options and they all have their place in the diverse cartridges I shoot. I've changed back & forth from the 165 gr. SPBT's to the HPBT's GK's a coupla times depending on availbility for the Ought-Six and they have worked perfectly on game from large to small. Yeah, the .30/06 & my 7x57R get a steady diet of Sierra GameKings and the way I load 'em they are extremely accurate and performed superbly. I load them for a German hunting Buddy who refers to the ammo as the ".... the original, self-seeking cartridge". Have fun with your Sierra's too. Cheers, Number 10 | |||
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As long as the bullet is used within its design parameters... SGK's are good bullets and incredibly accurate in my rifles. I also have a bunch of SGK 300gr. Gamekings for my .375H&H. That doesn't mean I'd run out and try to shoot Cape Buff with them either! That bullet might be a bit fragile for that particular critter. Bear? Maybe. The real problem SGK's is that folks expected them to perform at 3300 fps the same as 2700 fps - and they just don't quite hold together at 3300 fps. It's just a question of using them within their design parameters. I love the 117 SGK in my .257 Bob. At 2850fps they are just fantastic on deer and pigs. Regards, Robert ****************************** H4350! It stays crunchy in milk longer! | |||
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Thanks for the replys. I love to tinker with my guns/loads also and wont stop checking out the next "ultimate critter killer". But i do believe for my deer/pig use I'll just keep a couple boxes of sierras on hand. Thanks again guys. | |||
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Before the Internet and all the boutique bullets Sierra was the premium bullet. They reliably were more accurate than most other brands and offered adequate performance if you used one appropriately heavy. Where cup and core bullets get branded inadequate is the velocity freak using some stubby lightweight bullet simply because it will go fast without regard to it's ability to hold together or penetrate. | |||
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I like Sierras and have had plenty of good results with them. I even have used them out of my seven mag stoked pretty good pushing 140gr GK at mulies. I took one with it at about 140 yards. Throught the chest, complete penetration. It was staggering but heading out of sight so I hit it again. Both shots were pass-throughs and both would have been leathal individually but sometimes an animal doesn't react the way you expect. The insides were literally poured out of the chest. I'd not hesitate to use them. I just happen to be getting good performance and pricing on some others so stock up when I get deals. I use a lot of Hornady bullets, and buy seconds on Nosler Partitions when they have the flavor I like. I bought a bunch of Woodliegh PP for my .338 and being as it only takes one, am struggling to find an excuse to buy more in that caliber. I also bought about 1k of the Barnes XLC's for my 7mm RM when they were discontinued at a screaming deal, and have yet to shoot up even half of them. Use whatever works for you. It may not be in vogue but neither are wool pants. | |||
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It seems that I've had some different experiences from the others on this thread. My experience with Sierras in the early 80's in Africa was limited to .224", .277", .338", and .375". I took a lot of game with them and recovered quite a few bullets. I remember at least one example of a .375" 300 grain Sierra where the copper CUP was recovered with no lead core. The same thing happened with a .338" 250 grain. The copper CUP was recovered, empty. Yes, it is true that recovering the CUP meant that the animal was taken. However, it also taught me not to trust the bullet for dangerous game like buffalo or for raking shots. With the .224" and .277" we also recovered small pieces of bullets. The .224", of course, was limited to very small game, normally 50 lbs and under. Bullets usually passed through on broadside shots. The 270 had more bullets recovered, both 130 and 150 grain, because it was also used on game up to hartebeest and waterbuck. Even in this small calibre there was an example of CUP only, besides examples of small button-shaped remnants. (I also remember turning the Sierra boattails around, filing off the lead tip and using them for stubby little flat-nosed solids. I took at least two little antelope with those, no bullet recoved, ofcourse.) What did I learn, fairly quickly? I learned that for hunting I needed to spend the extra money for Nosler partitions. Back then, Nosler was the benchmark for guaranteeded penetration. Nosler partitions were always recovered intact. ALMOST. Yes, even Noslers could have funny things happen. I remember one 130 grain Nosler partition taken from a 150 lb. Uganda cob buck that had the back end core sticking out and bent. The front core was gone. The shot was taken in very thick, small-treed forest and almost certainly tweaked a branch before entering the animal as a keyhole. Yes, some Noslers lost their front cores and had a smaller frontal diameter than a Sierra that mushroomed perfectly. But some Noslers also mushroomed perfectly and all of them provided better overall penetration. The very first concern of a hunting bullet is PENETRATION at all velocities of the cartridge. Anything being fired at 2600fps and faster, which included all of the cartridges that we were using, needs a premium bullet of guaranteed penetration, or needs to be restricted to broadside, light game. Today I tend to shoot monolithics, starting with the Barnes X, TSX, TTSX, and now including Nosler E-tip and CEB's Raptors. Penetration is too important, and the conditions of a real hunt are too vague and vacillating to risk a bullet that would perform 90% in comparison to the premium monolithic or premium partition/bonded. That's my 4¢ worth. (Premium bullets cost more than 2¢, but you never know when that extra bit of penetration will result in a recovered animal that may have been lost with a lesser bullet.) +-+-+-+-+-+-+ "A well-rounded hunting battery might include: 500 AccRel Nyati, 416 Rigby or 416 Ruger, 375Ruger or 338WM, 308 or 270, 243, 223" -- Conserving creation, hunting the harvest. | |||
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If I was hunting in Africa or dangerous game, I would probably not use them, or the BT or Interlock for that matter, but I don't. I am blessed with being close enough to the Sierra plant so that I can go there on occaision and buy the blem bullets by the pound. They have always worked for me. I usually buy either mid-weight or heavier for the optimum performance, i.e. 180 for the 30-06 and 165 for the 308, but use the matchkings for coyote hunting with my 223 and 260. I get about 1" at 200 yards with either. I will admit to just being cheap. I also frequent the Nosler Shooter's Pro Shop to get the best deal I can there as well. Occaisionally they will have Partitions at a good price and one of my 308s and my 264WM seem to really like those. Larry "Peace is that brief glorious moment in history, when everybody stands around reloading" -- Thomas Jefferson | |||
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Sierra Game Kings at non-magnum velocities are great. I shoot them in my 6.5x55 and they've held together well. I plan on giving them a try in my .30-06. "Beware the man with only one gun; he may know how to use it." | |||
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I have killed everything from small deer and antelope to a 500+ pound Waterbuck with 165gr Gamekings out a 308 Win. They have always worked well, shot sub moa groups in good rifles and except for the Waterbuck, held together just fine. The Waterbuck bullet shed it's jacket, but it was recovered in the heart, the critter dropped in less than three steps. Even in a 338WinMag, the 250gr Gameking boattail is a great choice. The bigger the bullet, the harder Sierra makes the lead core, it's right in their loading manuals. | |||
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Hi. Regarding your "back & forth" with 165gr SP/HP, could you give some details/comments? I have both, but haven't used them. IIRC, the HP is supposed to be much tougher than the SP. Thanks.  | |||
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I think Sierra is just overlooked because they don't have a diverse product line with new poducts like Nolser, Hornady & Barnes. There just isn't much to talk about. Speer doesn't get any love either although they did release the blue collar bonded bullet. | |||
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Carnyman, I do do use and appreciate them as you do. My killing load combo is using 140gr GK with the 270 Winchester. Killed every deer I've ever shot at. And our deer here in Sask are quite large. But yeah, on larger critters, I wouldn't want to use them when they're are obviously better choices. Cheers | |||
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I have a new to me 30-06 that likes 165 gr Sierra Game Kings. It seems to be pretty rough on whitetails. My son used it on a couple this fall. Just two tests on hair for me, it seems to be similar to a poly tipped bullet. It upsets fast and does not blow through a deer. Lots of energy stays in the animal. Quartering on shots that penetrate the diaphram sure make a mess of things in there. Not sure if I would take the bullet moose hunting, it is fine on whitetails. | |||
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The irony has never been lost on me that you and I always screw around with different bullets and different loads looking for the latest and greatest, while RC just knocks the crap out of everything he shoots at using the same load of Gamekings in his 270. That buck last year in CO looked like someone had launched an RPG through his boiler room. | |||
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I too have been a dedicated user of Game Kings for over 30 years, with never a fault. I have observed them to 'blow up' in a few instances, but those times resulted in pretty spectacular instant deaths. A bullet that penetrates into the body cavity and flies to pieces in there, like the GK's did, is a good thing IMO. Those little pieces of shrapnel that shred the heart/lungs and do damage to the spinal column at the same time is a phenomenon not to be ignored. The icing on the cake is the sterling accuracy they have provided me too. I will temper my applause for the GK by saying if presented with a target that could eat me or stomp me into the dust, I would opt for a tougher bullet. | |||
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Like a lot of the other replies, I have had good luck with the GKs. At different times they have gotten a bad rap from some. If you use the GKs on deer, antelope, and that size and structure of game, which is "softer" than say African game I think you will have good performance. We have had in a range of guns from 223 to 375, and across the velocity sprectrun some there. When the animals are larger and harder then I think it makes sense to go to a different design, such as the Partition. My experience with the solid style bullets was much worse than with the GK's. Just drilled a little hole through and out the other side. With the GKs I almost had one shot kills and many DRT. There were just one or two that in spite of being hit hard still managed to run a very short distance, which you dont like, but it sometimes happens. When the hunting Ballistic tips first appeared they were the rage. Everyone said " you have to use these ..", so I got some and tried them. On the first deer the damage was jusr massive and while dead is dead, this was jsut a mess. Then on the second, the deer stepped at the shot and the BT got on the shoulder. Only the fact that I got a clean second shot and got lucky some too, stopped a lot of tracking. That was my last BT shot. Then reports of what I had seen started surfacing more and more. So I had narrowed it down a lot. The GK, then the partitions, now the Accubond, and then a solid if it calls for it. But for a while here on AR there was a strong current against the GK. Just use the right bullet in the right application. | |||
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Cas II- I was thinking of that buck when i started this post. But look at all the fun RC misses by not playing with all these fancy boolits! Guess I'll have to get some GK's for the new 6.5 you built for me. | |||
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Plus one!  Regular cup and core bullets work great at impact velocities below 2600 fps. At higher velocities, premium bullets are more reliable.Dave DRSS Chapuis 9.3X74 Chapuis "Jungle" .375 FL Krieghoff 500/.416 NE Krieghoff 500 NE "Git as close as y can laddie an then git ten yards closer" "If the biggest, baddest animals on the planet are on the menu, and you'd rather pay a taxidermist than a mortician, consider the 500 NE as the last word in life insurance." Hornady Handbook of Cartridge Reloading (8th Edition). | |||
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velocity is like a new car, always losing value. BC is like diamonds, holding value forever. | |||
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I have several boxes of GK's on my shelf. I really like the 225 35 cals. Sometimes they can be more accurate than Hornadys, but when they are not I tend to gravitate to Hornadys or Core locks because any difference in their performance on game is minimal IMO, and it seems like they do tend to cost just a bit more most of the time. Sometimes the little bit of accuracy is enough to justify a couple bucks more. Sometimes its not. And sometimes it just comes down to bullet availibility for me. Different weights and such. AK-47 The only Communist Idea that Liberals don't like. | |||
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The 250 gr SGK has performed marvelously in my .375 H & H. I've had 2 PH's tell they wouldn't work on African game only to have to change their tune. Around 2800 fps, they still retain 77% of their weight and a beautiful mushroom..... just my .02 | |||
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The .270 and Sierra GKS.....neither will kill anything Two things I didn't know before I ran into this forum 7 years ago Oh yeah.....elk are bullet proof and the 7 RM is magic medicine All too funny ________________________________________________ Maker of The Frankenstud Sling Keeper Proudly made in the USA Acepting all forms of payment | |||
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Although my bullet of choice has become the Nosler Accubond, I have complete confidence in Game Kings used appropriately. This Winchester Model 70 Supergrade in 300 WSM racked up 26 one shot kills, DRT, on hogs deer and turkey, using 150 gr. Sierra Spitzers, MV, +/- 3,250 fps.  Best GWB | |||
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 Just got through loading up a couple dozen 225 gr. Sierra GK's over 61 gr. IMR 4320 for my Rem. 673 Guide gun in 350 Rem Mag. Won't be long but it will be time for fun with hoglets! They definitely make an impression. LOL Best GWB | |||
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Sevastopol, I've have never noticed one bit of difference in the performance of either of the Sierra 165 grainers; SPBT's or HPBT's. The way I load them; which is @ right at (out of several loading manuals) just below or right at maximum noted charges with either AA-4350, H-4350 or IMR-4350 (loads are bullet/powder dependant). I'm a "batch" loader and very seldom load less than 50-100 cartridges for a single chambering at one session; so sometimes here in Europe I get caught with bullet availability being an issue - try to keep a good stock but sometimes that just doesn't happen. Right now have a good supply of the 165. gr. SPBT's. Cheers, Number 10 | |||
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Over about a 40 year period hunting deer and hogs with my 7x57 using every available bullet in 140-160 gr. I've settled on the 150 Sierra GK as my favorite. I'm basically an experimenter at heart but the performance of that Game King has been so good that I've stuck with it. I would not choose a Sierra to be shot out of a magnum rifle for elk sized game though, but that might be a mistake. Given a broadside shot I would expect The appropriate weight Sierra bullet to kill quicker than a bonded bullet. velocity is like a new car, always losing value. BC is like diamonds, holding value forever. | |||
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Thank you. | |||
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Maybe another perspective; The Two Bullet Theory? I've used Sierras also and I think I still have a box of 180g 30-06 ammo loaded. I've kept it for a while because we occasionally have shooting contests around here and the load I have is extrordinairily accurate. For accuracy shooting the Sierra is proven and dependable. If I'm in the right frame of mind and I've had just enough coffe but not too much I think I can win any accuracy contest I enter with that load in my rifle. For big game hunting, there are several bullets known, really proven to be outstanding performers. Noslers, Barnes and Northforks come with a figurative guarantee that makes the shooter bleed confidence. Acurracy is proven. Penetration and expansion documented to the last. True, cost is increased and sometimes astronomically on a bullet to bullet basis. If we're developing loads for africa, odds are good you wouldn't need more than 50 rounds for the range and 50 rounds while there hunting so the actual bullet investment is about $100.00. a hundred bucks as an expense included in an african safari ain't much. For a domestic hunt we outta need less than 20 rounds for the hunt and the same 50 for load development so a marginally cheaper investment. Of course because we all get to meet and greet here load development takes much less time and expense so as an example based on advise I got on AR I knew r-15 and the TSX were proven for the .375 and there wasn't much to play with. I learned that varget worked well in the 9.3, aa2230 in the .458. If the above is true, then the question is why? Why take a bullet to the range that needn't either penetrate or expand and why take a bullet to Arizona for deer or Idaho for elk thats inexpensive? A mucho $ deer hunt and we're bringing a $.25? A $.05 piece of paper target and we're bringing a $3.00 bullet? Why? In a lot of my rifles, re sighting in with different loads is either not required or is a minimal adjustment. Banging away at the range and then heading up the hill for hunting often only requires a change of ammo in my pocket and nothing more. | |||
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Lot of deer and elk have been killed with game kings, I wish they made them in heavier weights and bonded them or at least "core locked" them. A 200g core locked .308 Game King out of a 30-06 would be just fine on elk from any direction. Hard to justify hunting with Sierras with the new long range Accubonds coming out though ... Regards, Chuck "There's a saying in prize fighting, everyone's got a plan until they get hit" Michael Douglas "The Ghost And The Darkness" | |||
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In my experience Speer bullets are tougher , and less prone to shedding their jackets , than Sierras . Sierras do tend to be a tad more accurate though , love their match bullets ! Don't forget to have your Liberals spayed or neutered ! | |||
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I like Speer too. But I weighed bullets from a couple of boxes of the premium Speer bullets and I was very surprised at the large variances in weight in just one box. I realize that it might not make a large difference in some rifles and loads. When I weighed the Sierras they were pretty much right on for weights with only a few being being out a tenth of a grain to 2 tenths (0.1-0.2 grns). They were considerably more "in the range" with much smaller total difference than the Speer. While I realize that is a small sample, I have weighed other Sierra bullets and saw similar results. And a few other Speers with mostly similar results too. I stand by what I thought that for softer animals they work great and for larger heavier animals and African game I use the Partition or the Accubond style bullets. The Sierras make you smile at the range though and their cost is great too. | |||
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I think some shooters confuse Game Kings with match bullets. Sierra loading data is consistent in stating that Matchkings are not recommended for game. Game kings have always served me well. In politics as in theology! "The heart of the wise inclines to the right, But the heart of the fool to the left." Ecclesiastes 10:2 | |||
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