60TMK vs 53 V-Max

[RAG]

I have new build components ordered up for 22BR Heavy varmint rig to push the 53 V-max (11-twist barrel). But the Sierra 60 TMK has caught my attention, but I am pondering some questions.

BC: I wonder if anyone has verified the true BC. Sierra seems to be closer than most and claims .323 G1. Hornady claims 53-vmax is .29 G1 BC, but Applied BLISTERS radar testing confirms .25, which isn't bad (just not nearly as good as what most folks think they are getting). So if the 60TMK is over .3 G1, that would be nice tradeoff for medium-range shooting with little wind.

Stabilization: limited reports from 22-250 velocity stabilized out of 12-twist, but Sierra recommends 10". But they surely want to accountnfor, and cover, slower velocities (3,100 or 3,200fps) such as shorter barreled 223s. So I'm thinking I wouldn't need to change my order to a 1-10" twist, as the 11" would probably stabilize well above 3,500+ FPS. (My 6BR has tuned out best with 55s and 58s at 3,910fps...so im thinking the 22BR should have little difficulty getting 3,600 in stout custom action and with lapua brass).

Explosiveness - important (to me) when shooting prairie dogs and squirrels. I've never shot TMKs. Not sure how big the meplat is that the pyloymer tip is covering? I'm guessing the jackets might be a little thicker?

 

[STOMP442]

Sierra does a really good job for the most part when it comes to giving accurate advertised BC's The thing to remember is that you need to take the average of listed BC's they give for the different velocity bands. Say what you will about Applied Ballistics but they are probably the best at what they do and the numbers they come up with are probably the most accurately measured and verified ballistic coefficients in existence. That being said they don't have any data for the 60TMK as of yet. But looking at the data for the 69TMK & 77TMK what sierra is listing and what AB is measuring is very close. The 69TMK has an advertised average G1 BC of .345 while AB measures .355. The 77TMK has an advertised average of .402 and AB measures .395. So there is plus or minus 1% between the two. I would venture to guess what Sierra has listed for the 60TMK to be in the same ball park which would be a .293 average G1.

 

[pdhntr]

I have new build components ordered up for 22BR Heavy varmint rig to push the 53 V-max (11-twist barrel). But the Sierra 60 TMK has caught my attention, but I am pondering some questions.

BC: I wonder if anyone has verified the true BC. Sierra seems to be closer than most and claims .323 G1. Hornady claims 53-vmax is .29 G1 BC, but Applied BLISTERS radar testing confirms .25, which isn't bad (just not nearly as good as what most folks think they are getting). So if the 60TMK is over .3 G1, that would be nice tradeoff for medium-range shooting with little wind.

Stabilization: limited reports from 22-250 velocity stabilized out of 12-twist, but Sierra recommends 10". But they surely want to accountnfor, and cover, slower velocities (3,100 or 3,200fps) such as shorter barreled 223s. So I'm thinking I wouldn't need to change my order to a 1-10" twist, as the 11" would probably stabilize well above 3,500+ FPS. (My 6BR has tuned out best with 55s and 58s at 3,910fps...so im thinking the 22BR should have little difficulty getting 3,600 in stout custom action and with lapua brass).

Explosiveness - important (to me) when shooting prairie dogs and squirrels. I've never shot TMKs. Not sure how big the meplat is that the pyloymer tip is covering? I'm guessing the jackets might be a little thicker?

I have been shooting the 53 gr. V-max and 60 gr. TMK in two 22-250s with 12 twist barrels primarily for pds. They are my two favorite bullets by far.

I have not verified the true BC of either bullet, as I have two cheap chronographs and extrapolating from drop and MV, I probably wouldn't post it here anyway.

I know of several other guys shooting the 60 TMK out of 12 twist 22-250s and all but one is working, and working well. I would think a 1-11 would be perfect.

As far as terminal performance (on pds) the 60 TMK is interesting to say the least. Just two weeks ago I had the opportunity for the first time to observe someone else shooting the TMK at pds. They are able to produce the aerial flips when hit low, and other times will drive the pd off the mound as if hit with a golf club. The one aspect that I haven't seen from other bullets was the apparent ability to send chunks of pd flying off at incredible speed, for a surprising distance.

I use the 60 TMK for coyotes in several 223s. I am very happy with the performance also. I have not had a splash yet, and they expand inside the coyote but haven't left any large exit wounds. Head on body shots, they won't exit.

Jim

 

[RAG]

Sierra does a really good job for the most part when it comes to giving accurate advertised BC's The thing to remember is that you need to take the average of listed BC's they give for the different velocity bands. Say what you will about Applied Ballistics but they are probably the best at what they do and the numbers they come up with are probably the most accurately measured and verified ballistic coefficients in existence. That being said they don't have any data for the 60TMK as of yet. But looking at the data for the 69TMK & 77TMK what sierra is listing and what AB is measuring is very close. The 69TMK has an advertised average G1 BC of .345 while AB measures .355. The 77TMK has an advertised average of .402 and AB measures .395. So there is plus or minus 1% between the two. I would venture to guess what Sierra has listed for the 60TMK to be in the same ball park which would be a .293 average G1.

You have a good point...Sierra has always done a pretty good job at not over exaggerating BCs. On that note, this 60 TMK should be a winner driven at high velocities, for medium range varmint duties. Flat and pretty good in the wind!

 

[RAG]

I have been shooting the 53 gr. V-max and 60 gr. TMK in two 22-250s with 12 twist barrels primarily for pds. They are my two favorite bullets by far.

I have not verified the true BC of either bullet, as I have two cheap chronographs and extrapolating from drop and MV, I probably wouldn't post it here anyway.

I know of several other guys shooting the 60 TMK out of 12 twist 22-250s and all but one is working, and working well. I would think a 1-11 would be perfect.

As far as terminal performance (on pds) the 60 TMK is interesting to say the least. Just two weeks ago I had the opportunity for the first time to observe someone else shooting the TMK at pds. They are able to produce the aerial flips when hit low, and other times will drive the pd off the mound as if hit with a golf club. The one aspect that I haven't seen from other bullets was the apparent ability to send chunks of pd flying off at incredible speed, for a surprising distance.

I use the 60 TMK for coyotes in several 223s. I am very happy with the performance also. I have not had a splash yet, and they expand inside the coyote but haven't left any large exit wounds. Head on body shots, they won't exit.

Jim

Thanks Jim...I think my next build has been confirmed! I had been comparing my current fav P-dog rig (6BR pushing 55 Bking and 58 V-max at 3900) to 22BR, and with a G1 BC gain of only .2 according to radar verified data, there was very little gain (especially when considering there will be 100fps loss or so) in trade for cutting barrel life in half. But if I can get top tier accuracy from the 60TMK, I'll finally have a round that has notable improvement in the wind, with good terminal affect as well! The numbers look good!

 

[RAG]

STOMP442...Applied Ballistics has been 99% spot on for me with 7 or 8 cartridges/rounds.

I recently went all-out in ballistics technology and it's changed my life. I now use a Leica Geovid 3200.com, paired with a Kestrel 5700 Elite (mounted in rotating wind vane).. and for those who don't know, Keatrel uses Applied Ballistics data. Leica Geovid can do it's own ballistics calculations as well, but it's not nearly as good as AB data in my experience,,,and it doesn't measure wind.. So I paired it with Kestrel so the two talk to each other...I simply take a range and I get crazy accurate windage and holdover data displayed not only in my Leica Geovids, but also on Picatinny Mounted HUD, where it's updates every second in front of my eyes based on changing wind conditions. Gamechanger! My ability to tag a target, first time in 20mph crosswinds at 300-450yds has gone up dramatically, to say the least.

...still, I've been seeking a suitable p-dog cartridge/round that fights the wind a little better. I recently chambered up a 6x47L to push 105 class bullets, but this won't be a great high volume cartridge.

 

[STOMP442]

STOMP442...Applied Ballistics has been 99% spot on for me with 7 or 8 cartridges/rounds.

I recently went all-out in ballistics technology and it's changed my life. I now use a Leica Geovid 3200.com, paired with a Kestrel 5700 Elite (mounted in rotating wind vane).. and for those who don't know, Keatrel uses Applied Ballistics data. Leica Geovid can do it's own ballistics calculations as well, but it's not nearly as good as AB data in my experience,,,and it doesn't measure wind.. So I paired it with Kestrel so the two talk to each other...I simply take a range and I get crazy accurate windage and holdover data displayed not only in my Leica Geovids, but also on Picatinny Mounted HUD, where it's updates every second in front of my eyes based on changing wind conditions. Gamechanger! My ability to tag a target, first time in 20mph crosswinds at 300-450yds has gone up dramatically, to say the least.

...still, I've been seeking a suitable p-dog cartridge/round that fights the wind a little better. I recently chambered up a 6x47L to push 105 class bullets, but this won't be a great high volume cartridge.

Applied Ballistics has worked for me 99% of the time as well. I only use it on a phone app but it gives me accurate drop data nearly every time. There are only two bullets that I use often that AB I think needs to do some more testing on as they are way off for me. The 140 and 147 ELD-Ms have G7 listed at .291 & .315 by AB while I find the advertised average of .318 & .334 fit much better in my experience.

 

[Ironworker]

Why, oh, why has Sierra stopped making the 60gr TMK?

 

[1mil]

Good question...my guess is they focus on top sellers. Many BK's are available again that were not seen for awhile.
BTW...I shoot 60TMK's in a 9 twist 22BR at 3700. Very explosive for a match bullet but not as much as 55grn BK or 53grn Vmx at 3900fps.
I do have 450ea of the 60TMK's for sale here. I've decided to run the 53/55 grn this year. The 60grn vmax is also a favorite but the bc is not great.

 

[Savageseven]

How does the 60 grain nosler ballistic tip compare to the 60 grain v-max and the 60 grain Sierra TMK ?
As far as the BC Numbers ? i love nosler ballistic tips but i wish they would make the 60 grain without the cannelure .

 

[jelenko]

You can find the BC's on the manufacturers' websites.
The 60 TMK has essentially the same BC as Sierra's 69 SMK. The BC for the H 60 vmax is about 25-30% less.