How do the Sierra 30 cal heavies perform?

[Falfan2017]

Has anybody had good results with 200 smk or 210 smk for 1k f class or br? Anybody compared to the Berger line up of 200.20x, 210 vld or 215 hybrid?
Thanks

 

[dkhunt14]

A few years back, the Sierra 240 was widely used in 1000 yard BR. Shot alot of them in a 308 Baer. Matt

 

[69mach]

one of my first 300wsm barrels didn’t like the sierra 210s but did like the sierra 200s. but ended up using the 215 hybrids and have never looked back.

 

[MagnumManiac]

I used the 210gr Sierra for quite some time, very good bullet, then I tried the 210gr Berger. The Berger shot tighter. Then I tried the 215 and it shot tighter again.
Now I’m using Nosler RDF
Shoot the tightest in my rifle by a good margin.

Cheers.

 

[rijndael]

The 195 TMKs shot really well for me.

 

[WIB3]

220’s , 240’s and if you are fortunate to be able to find them, 250’s all shoot very well. 240-250’s you can’t push hard. 2600-ish. But with modern day sorting techniques they will open your eyes. The 250’s were made on a 240 jacket. We experienced years ago that if you pushed them too hard they would fly apart. They have an extremely high BC. Find their velocity node and they are hard to beat.

 

[EOD Rob]

Been running SMK 200gr and 220gr for years in my 300 WM. I don't have F-Class experience, but I have taken both out to 1600+ yards. Never tried Berger, but have tried Hornady and was not a big fan. It just seems that SMK are more forgiving and easier to find loads for, for me! Not saying I'm a fan boy, but when I find something that works, I tend to stick with it. So many really good options out there these days,, its hard to pick. You can spend a lot of money on just bullets in a load work up!

 

[MikeMcCasland]

I've had pretty good luck with the 195 TMKs in a few rifles. You can't push them as fast as the 20x (large bearing surface), but they shoot really tight. All of my rifles want them up real close or into the lands.

I've got a bunch of them; kind of want to try them in a match.

 

[Ledd Slinger]

Shot the new high BC Sierra 230 MKs in an extensive head to head test against Berger 230 Hybrid. Sierra shot pretty good, but Berger won hands down.

Tried the high BC Sierra 200gr MK a bit but it didn’t show much promise. Berger 215gr shot much better.

Not really any bullets out there I know of that can beat out Berger in 30 cal offerings. I’ve also tested the new Berger 220gr LR Hybrid extensively. They shoot very well also and have great terminal performance. Took 3 mule deer bucks with the 220gr last year at 370, 650, and 840 yards.

 

[DaveTooley]

220’s , 240’s and if you are fortunate to be able to find them, 250’s all shoot very well. 240-250’s you can’t push hard. 2600-ish. But with modern day sorting techniques they will open your eyes. The 250’s were made on a 240 jacket. We experienced years ago that if you pushed them too hard they would fly apart. They have an extremely high BC. Find their velocity node and they are hard to beat.

I have a bunch of those 250's if anyone is interested.

 

[paulT]

How far off Lands are you guys seating your 215g Berger Hybrid Loads.

 

[kev77]

How far off Lands are you guys seating your 215g Berger Hybrid Loads.

Kissing or just off

 

[kev77]

Shot the new high BC Sierra 230 MKs in an extensive head to head test against Berger 230 Hybrid. Sierra shot pretty good, but Berger won hands down.

Tried the high BC Sierra 200gr MK a bit but it didn’t show much promise. Berger 215gr shot much better.

Not really any bullets out there I know of that can beat out Berger in 30 cal offerings. I’ve also tested the new Berger 220gr LR Hybrid extensively. They shoot very well also and have great terminal performance. Took 3 mule deer bucks with the 220gr last year at 370, 650, and 840 yards.

Can you send me some data on the 220s, are you shooting them in a 300norma? Thanks

 

[6MMsteve]

I use to shot the 220 smks at 1000 back in the mid 80's 308 baer running at 2975..but I really didn't know what I was doin at the time lol 86.4 gr 7828 30 inch hart 1.450 barrel .010 off lands...

 

[Ledd Slinger]

Can you send me some data on the 220s, are you shooting them in a 300norma? Thanks

Shooting in a 300 Norma Mag Improved. 109gr H20 capacity with Lapua brass. So my data wouldn’t be an exact match for the standard 300 Norma. Would have to start loads a good bit lower. What powders do you plan on using? I’ve tested with N570, IMR 8133, IMR 7977, and RL33. Also tested GM215M, CCI 250, and Rem 9.5M primers.

My current load uses N570 with CCI 250 primers. N570 gave me the best speeds, accuracy nodes, and has shown excellent temperature stability. RL33 gives good speed but it seemed a little sensitive and is the dirtiest burning powder I’ve ever used. Never seen a barrel so jet black when cleaning. IMR 8133 worked well and I had some great groups, but I couldn’t get it to produce any nodes in ladders. Accuracy would be great, then next step up or down in charge weights would open up significantly. IMR 7977 is very close to H1000 in burn rate and is a little too fast if looking for too speed because it will pressure up with lower speeds long before the slower powders. Accuracy was good at times but nodes were very narrow.
H1K and 7977 are better suited for bullets 215gr and less. I recommend using slower powders for 220gr and up.

All testing done at ranges of 500-635 yards in two different 300 NMI rifles.

 

[kev77]

Shooting in a 300 Norma Mag Improved. 109gr H20 capacity with Lapua brass. So my data wouldn’t be an exact match for the standard 300 Norma. Would have to start loads a good bit lower. What powders do you plan on using? I’ve tested with N570, IMR 8133, IMR 7977, and RL33. Also tested GM215M, CCI 250, and Rem 9.5M primers.

My current load uses N570 with CCI 250 primers. N570 gave me the best speeds, accuracy nodes, and has shown excellent temperature stability. RL33 gives good speed but it seemed a little sensitive and is the dirtiest burning powder I’ve ever used. Never seen a barrel so jet black when cleaning. IMR 8133 worked well and I had some great groups, but I couldn’t get it to produce any nodes in ladders. Accuracy would be great, then next step up or down in charge weights would open up significantly. IMR 7977 is very close to H1000 in burn rate and is a little too fast if looking for too speed because it will pressure up with lower speeds long before the slower powders. Accuracy was good at times but nodes were very narrow.
H1K and 7977 are better suited for bullets 215gr and less. I recommend using slower powders for 220gr and up.

All testing done at ranges of 500-635 yards in two different 300 NMI rifles.

Thanks for the info, N570 is working well gor me with the 230s, I have never had ver good luck with h1000 in anything to be honest. Ryan Pierce uses 50bmg and rl50 in his rifles lately I believe. I wonder if its too slow for the 220s

 

[Ledd Slinger]

Thanks for the info, N570 is working well gor me with the 230s, I have never had ver good luck with h1000 in anything to be honest. Ryan Pierce uses 50bmg and rl50 in his rifles lately I believe. I wonder if its too slow for the 220s

The 220s seem to react well to the same type of powders the 230s like if that’s any help.

215s work ok with slow powders but seem to like a little faster burn rate. I only got the 215s up to 3140fps with N570 before I started getting really erratic speed readings with extreme spreads of 100fps that was telling me it’s time to quit. Also using N570, I’ve had the 220s up over 3200fps with predictable and repeatable speed gain avg to each incremental charge increase and minimal spreads. So in my testing it seems like the threshold between bullets liking a little bit faster powders ends at the 215gr and bullets preferring slower powders starts at 220gr.

From the Hodgdon line, I have never had very good luck with H1K either, or Retumbo. Not that they shoot horrible, but I always find something that shoots better. I don’t even own either of those powders anymore nor to I intend to buy them again. Tho many people have had good luck using H1K with the 215s in the Norma cases.

Alliant used to be my go-to for powders when I wanted speed and accuracy but most of them, with the exception of RL16, are more sensitive temp changes than some of the other brands. I only recently started using Vihtavouri powders a little over a year ago and have very impressed with their overall performance for speed, accuracy, consistency, and forgiveness.

IMR 7977 gave some good groups with the 220gr but the speed wasn’t there and I never found a good node. Tho with some more work and primer swaps, it might be a viable substitute for H1000 as they are basically the same burn rate.
Below is a group shot with the 220gr using 7977 at 635 yards from a bipod on the ground. Although lacking the speed capable of the 300 NMI, it had pretty good accuracy. But change the load .5gr up or down in charge weight or move the bullet .005” in or out on seating depth and it opened up significantly. If it would have given me the speed I wanted, then I would have tried a primer swap but I decided to leave it and move on.

 

[MagnumManiac]

It appears that both the Sierra and Berger like to be .005”-.010” off in my 3 barrels depending on actual bullet.
The 215gr Berger that I used exclusively for F-class liked to be .005” off in all but the 26” barrel. This barrel likes a jump with just about any bullet I put in it @ .020”-.030” off...or jammed HARD.
This barrel actually likes the 210gr Berger Target best.

Cheers.

 

[Laurie]

I've had pretty good luck with the 195 TMKs in a few rifles. You can't push them as fast as the 20x (large bearing surface), but they shoot really tight. All of my rifles want them up real close or into the lands.

Very interesting Mike. I have a few hundred sitting on the shelf and must see how they perform in my 300 SAUM. I've only shot 185 Berger Hybrids in it to date, which it does very well indeed, but Hybrids have become scarce in the UK such is the demand and all Berger prices here are steep (and getting more so too).