Sierra tipped match kings

[tackb]

Oh goody another bullet to argue over its use on game about with analy retentive people with not enough to do !

Although the MatchKing line is recognized around the world for record setting accuracy, like their untipped counterparts, Tipped MatchKing (TMK) bullets are not recommended for hunting anything larger than varmints.

Quite clearly stated on the Sierra website, so what's to argue about? Over here varmints are considered to be nothing larger than a coyote.

Coyotes are about roe deer sized arn't they?

[SevenSixTwo]

Quite clearly stated on the Sierra website, so what's to argue about? Over here varmints are considered to be nothing larger than a coyote.

I believe SMKs have been used successfully by the US military* on two-footed varmints for a decade or more.





* In sniper ammo

And, from what I've heard, by British troops (155 grn SMKs for the L129A1).

[DW58]

Quite clearly stated on the Sierra website, so what's to argue about? Over here varmints are considered to be nothing larger than a coyote.

I believe SMKs have been used successfully by the US military* on two-footed varmints for a decade or more.





* In sniper ammo

And, from what I've heard, by British troops (155 grn SMKs for the L129A1).

Interesting - from what I understand the sniper/sharpshooter ammo issued is largely RUAG/Lapua. What ammo does your source say is loaded with SMKs, perhaps US origin?

[Blu]

Oh goody another bullet to argue over its use on game about with analy retentive people with not enough to do !

Although the MatchKing line is recognized around the world for record setting accuracy, like their untipped counterparts, Tipped MatchKing (TMK) bullets are not recommended for hunting anything larger than varmints.

Quite clearly stated on the Sierra website, so what's to argue about? Over here varmints are considered to be nothing larger than a coyote.

Coyotes are about roe deer sized arn't they?

I guess some could be but with shooting coyotes I always want to go for the clean kill option. Reports I've read on using SMK's on animals wasn't favourable in that they tended to break apart and splinter when they hit bone. Personally I wouldn't use SMK's on deer or any animal for that matter for fear of wounding them badly and causing unnecessary suffering to the animal.

I feel there are other bullets out there and lets face it there is no shortage of choice that are more suited to the task of a clean kill.

[tackb]

The original SMK wasn't great on deer , the 168 g Amax was/is , no data on the new tipped SMK yet .

[Blu]

The original SMK wasn't great on deer , the 168 g Amax was/is , no data on the new tipped SMK yet .

I've never used A-Max on deer but I know folks who have. For larger deer I'm told nothing smaller than .308 though. I found this pic a while back, 120 Grain 6.5 (.264) bullet used on a small deer, lots of blood and a large exit wound.

6.5 120 grn Amax.JPG

I must admit I have thought about giving them a try, my current go to bullet for deer is the Nosler 165 Grn Accubond, it generally drops them where they stand and if they do run it's never very far.

[Laurie]

These are new designs, not the old same weight SMKs with tips added. Claimed BCs have risen by getting on for 20% whereas tipping gives 5% at best with 30-calibre HP match bullets, up to 7% with 224s.

Boat-tail angles have been reduced in some cases making them suitable for long range use. So far as use on deer goes, there is a lot more to expansion than the addition of a plastic tip, jacket thickness, position of the top of the lead core and core alloy hardness all being crucial and as a result what happens to the front of the jacket / core-top when the plastic tip is driven back into the hollow-point on striking tissue. The A-Max being highly frangible (to shatter on metal plates not game as it happens) and having a plastic tip does NOT guarantee that any other match design with tip will behave the same way, or even close to the same way.

Interesting that Sierra is not shouting from the rooftops (as manufacturers' marketing departments normally do) that this an all-new design! I think Sierra is trying to have its marketing cake while eating it implying that like the old SMKs they will be marvellously jump, load, pressure and velocity tolerant but with higher BCs thanks to the pointy tip. They're new designs with longer nose sections, so they'll behave differently - maybe more picky, maybe not - but the one certain thing is that they will not be the same as the older versions. These older models will likely continue in production in at least some instances as they work so well in so many different makes of barrel over large load and round-count variations which is a huge plus to military and law enforcement users.

FWIW, setting up a 'custom bullet' for the 168 TMK in Sierra Infinity using the G1 BCs and velocity bands quoted, if achieved this will make it an only marginally poorer performer over 1,000 yards than the Berger 168 Hybrid with its fantastically low G7 based 0.953 form factor (drag) value, the TMK only running 25 fps slower than the Hybrid and moving 0.4-MOA in a 10 mph 90-deg crosswind, or 0.04-MOA more3 per 1 mph change in wind speed. It'd be nice to get a more affordable bullet than Berger Hybrids available with almost the same performance, but looking at the pictures of the TMKs, they don't look long and streamlined enough to achieve near to Hybrid performance. Still, we'll see when they get here and can try them out.

[Blu]

Laurie, good and interesting post there mate. I dare say we here in the States will have access to the new bullet before you folks do so when they go on sale. I'll get some and let you folks know how they shoot at the different range distances.

[amyjane]

Has anybody tried these TMK's yet? Read any reports from the US?

It would be interested to hear any reviews.

[SevenSixTwo]

All I've seen are tests with Black Hills: