39g sbk how often do they make them

[Fern]

So I got into reloading 2-3 years ago and picked up a cz Kevlar in 204r. Been trying to find 39g sbk for over a year now with no luck.
Does Sierra only make runs of this projectile every couple years? I know with things being the way they are they are probably focused on other calibers but maybe someone may have some experience and been through this before.
I found one site that supposedly had them but they were pretty pricey and couldn’t justify spending $50/100 just to see if my rifle likes them.

 

[redrockranger]

I think that is a question only Sierra can answer.

 

[22vartarg]

Sent you a PM

 

[JSH]

I have shot several hundred and yes they do seem to group tighter than other 20’s. But, when they are hard to come by I quit looking several years ago. I stock up on Vmaxs and Varmegedons. About the same with VV powder I really like it, but I am not going to search all over the country every time I start to run low.

I have no complaints on the Hornady 20’s, though I wish they would make a 50-55 grain 20 HP

 

[Hotshot]

I'm with JSH. Work up some good loads with Vmax bullets and you won't lose much. Sierra did this during the Obama gun scare but eventually made them available again.

 

[jpx2rk]

Speer makes a 39g hp, but they are hard to find at times, like now. What little testing I've done with them, they are pretty accurate, but the 32 & 40 vmaxs are easier to find.

 

[Ledd Slinger]

Love the 39gr BK because of its amazing accuracy but Sierra priced me out of them. I’m not paying that much for Varmint bullets. Same reason I don’t shoot Berger varmint bullets. I love Berger bullets for big game hunting but can’t justify the price for the volume of shooting ground squirrels and prairie dogs require.

On the question, I haven’t seen 39gr BKs on the shelf anywhere for about 2 years. Saw 32gr BKs not too long ago but no 39s

 

[Rick300]

Sierra told me MAYBE 2024

 

[Coyotefurharvester]

Even though we like and want that bullet, the 20's are such a niche market, there is more profit in other bullets. The real money is in 9mm,.224,.308 calibers and just a few bullet lines.

 

[SShooterZ]

I have a CZ 204R as well and have found the 32 gr SBK works very well in it. I haven't tried Nosler or Hornady yet but if my history with CZ is any indication, they probably shoot as well too.

 

[B23]

I have a CZ 204R as well and have found the 32 gr SBK works very well in it. I haven't tried Nosler or Hornady yet but if my history with CZ is any indication, they probably shoot as well too.

I had a CZ 527 Varmint model 204 for a brief period before a buddy talked me out of it and it shoots the Hornady Superformance 32gr Vmax ammo so well that's all he ever shoots in it.

 

[JSH]

Sierra told me MAYBE 2024

Why even bother.
As you mention, niche market. Even though 20 and 17’s are low supply, we are still way down the heap as far as demand.

 

[B23]

Why even bother.
As you mention, niche market. Even though 20 and 17’s are low supply, we are still way down the heap as far as demand.

And it's not like the Nosler's or Vmax shoot bad or are a whole lot different performing and they seem to be more readily available so they'll get my money.

 

[mikeinct]

I'm down to less than 250 loaded & loose 39gr. SBK's I only found 200 back in 2014. I treat them like gold. CRAZY.

 

[Coyotefurharvester]

I guess lucky I purchased 1000 pulls a couple years ago. They do have a cannelure, but shoot pretty good, almost like new.

 

[JohnD]

So does anyone know the running capacity difference between Hornady and Sierra? The 40 Vmax seems to be available now and again but as well documented, the 39 SBK not so much. I would think that Hornady is producing all the .308, .224 and 9mm they can if that's where the money is. Although the SBK shoots very well in my 20's, the Vmax isn't far behind and I have moved on to them as price is a factor as well. Oh well, enough rambling.

Good shooting, John.

 

[searcher]

I'm down to less than 250 loaded & loose 39gr. SBK's I only found 200 back in 2014. I treat them like gold. CRAZY.

I bought a few 500-packs last time they were available. I find myself smiling thinking I want to wait to load them up - as if I'm waiting for "special" squirrels or something. Now I'm waiting as I'm getting ready to replace all the barrels on my regularly used varmint guns. There is always the chance my new tubes won't like them. If not - you may see them posted soon. Those V-Maxes in 32 and 40 are almost as accurate in my rigs (like 5/16" instead of 1/4") and used to be at a considerable discount to the BK's when they packed them in the Z-max boxes. Sadly - those days, like $1.00/100 primers have faded off forever, I'm sure.

 

[croes]

I bought a few 500-packs last time they were available. I find myself smiling thinking I want to wait to load them up - as if I'm waiting for "special" squirrels or something. Now I'm waiting as I'm getting ready to replace all the barrels on my regularly used varmint guns. There is always the chance my new tubes won't like them. If not - you may see them posted soon. Those V-Maxes in 32 and 40 are almost as accurate in my rigs (like 5/16" instead of 1/4") and used to be at a considerable discount to the BK's when they packed them in the Z-max boxes. Sadly - those days, like $1.00/100 primers have faded off forever, I'm sure.

For those of you that have shot the Hornadys and Nosler, are you seeing similar differences in group sizes compared to the Sierras?

 

[JSH]

Ford vs Chevy vs Dodge

May have to tinker with a load but all very useable. If you can find a varmint that will wave a flag with his yardage, yeah they may group better. I will admit that I think I can find an accurate load easier with a Sierra bullet, but if not available I won’t loose sleep over it.

Between the wind, mirage and dust this past week I would have been better off throwing rocks, even though I was flinging a few Sierra’s.

 

[RegionRat]

The 20 cal Hornady 40 gr VMax were much easier to find than the Sierra 39 gr, going back a few years ago.

Since then, there were some Hornady available, but I can't say I have seen any new Sierra 39 gr in a long time.

Even if I did find some here and there, it was during the storm when the limits were so tight it didn't make sense to order one little box at a time. A short while later, you could buy Hornady in quantity that made sense when talking about prairie dog ammo.

I would say not to hesitate with respect to buying what you can find. That is not to say that we can't show examples of barrels that can group one brand better than the other, but I am offering that in a "good" barrel it isn't difficult to get the worst between them under 0.5 MOA.

Will that favorite bullet, the one that you can't find, go smaller?... yes maybe, but unless shots are going past 350 yards those differences may not be important enough to stay home cause you didn't want to shoot a different brand. Would I rather have the bullets that shoot 0.3 MOA than 0.5 MOA, yes but not enough to stay home. In a better world you wouldn't have to make those choices, but here we are... YMMV