I'd like to collect some of your learned opinions on the usefulness of the 220 grain Sierra RoundNose. So far I have only fiddled with it at the range, where I can get 2500fps and 1" groups at 100 yards. I have yet to try 200 yards. I'll be trying to up the fps a bit to see if the 1 MOA is still there.

My question is this: Would you feel comfortable with this bullet in the field? I'm thinking it would be good medicine on brown bear, but I read a lot about the FailSafe bullets in lighter weights. Does this classic design still have a place on the shelf?

Any advice and real-world experience would be much appreciated.

I would go with the 220 gr. Nosler Partition. A far better heavy weight .308 hunting bullet, my opinion only. Downed my brown bear with it at 40 yards, 30-06.

[ 01-14-2003, 09:25: Message edited by: CK ]

I have shot this bullet and the 220 Hornady in the 308 Norma for years. I'm shooting them at 2800fps and they are very accurate in my rifle. They work quite effectively on game. I do agree though that the Nosler would be the better choice. Nicely shaped too. Regards, Bill.

I prefer the 200 grain Partition myself, although I used a 180gr Grand Slam to kill a grizzly this past fall.

[ 01-14-2003, 07:46: Message edited by: AKBman ]

I will be happy to use it. Have used local PMP in 220 grain and they worked great

I tried a box of Winchester Silver Tip 220's. They kicked like a mule off the bench. They grouped well but they caused some brain damage.

Ranger Dave,

Where do you find factory 220gr ammo for a 300WinMag? Winchester only goes to 180.

Thanks for all the input. I'll be benchmarking my Sierra results to start tuning the more expensize Nosler stuff.

It was old stock. I bought 2 boxes and only shot paper targets with them. The ammo was in Winchester old white coloured boxes. I bought the ammo about a year a go in Toronto.

I use 220 g. rn. Sierra bullets (reloaded ammos) in my 300 WM BAR rifle, for wild boar hunting. They give VERY good results; boars fall better and faster than with the 180 g. spitzers that I used in the past, and meat damage is lesser. Accuracy is surprising, and I am 100% satisfied. - Lorenzo

The 220 rn Sierra is too soft for Brown Bear. It is a great bullet for softer game.

For the Big Bear, go with the 220 Nosler.

Those would be awesome bear bullets.

[ 01-16-2003, 09:10: Message edited by: todbartell ]

Why ? .300 works great.

I shot factory ammo 300 wby 220 gr round-nose (don't know if Sierra's) last year in RSA. I was puzzled to see that these bullets acted like solids if no bone was met, an disintegrated totally if they hit a rib, with therefore no exit. Just like if they were too hard in the 1st case and too soft in the 2nd case . Either way it resulted in dead animals

Winchester used to load a 220 gr Silvertip, and it worked quite well for me.

They have dropped that loading now, but I have picked up a couple hundred of the 220 Silvertip Bullets that they loaded in the factory ammo.

I don't need them any more, if anyone wansto buy them, write me.

King:

Wby loads a 220 Hornady in their factory ammo.

The experiance you had sounds about the same as Jorge had on his hunt with 220 Hornadys.

Maybe they work better at a lower velocity, as I have used them in my 30-06 with very good results.

I used a 200 grain Nosler Partition roundnose for a 91/2 Brown Bear. I had a head on shot with the Bear standing facing me. I had the load at 2900 fps and got a one shot, dead in his tracks kill. That experience, with the presence of three other bears with 20 to 50 yards, that had to be dealt with, convinced me to pack a .340 Wby my next trip to Bear country. Yep, the load worked perfectly, but I felt much more comfortable with the larger chambering. Good shooting.

[ 01-17-2003, 00:41: Message edited by: phurley ]

Terry,

Your offer is much appreciated, but I can't take advantage of it because I'm in Hawaii and shipping would probably exceed the sale price.

Looks like I'll keep handloading the 220s. I was in Texas recently and picked up two 100rd boxes.

With any luck the recipe for my Sierra RN will also work with the Nosler 220. Thanks to all for the help.