Sierra Tipped MatchKings - BC test results

[Bryan Litz Ballistics]

Since Sierras announcement of their line of Tipped MatchKing's, I've gotten a lot of requests to test them for BC. Below are my findings for the 4 out of 6 bullets I've been able to acquire and test so far.

Sierra's BC's are measured by live fire, and are typically pretty accurate if the velocity bands are properly observed (7mm being the exception). A common error is to look at the BC that Sierra gives for your MV and just use that. Doing so overestimates the performance of the bullets, and will cause you to hit low at long range compared to your trajectory predictions.

As you can see from the table above, when Sierra's G1 BC is averaged for all speed ranges (which is representative of long range shooting) the results closely match the Applied Ballistics measurements of the same bullets averaged from 3000 to 1500 fps. Of course the G7 BC doesn't suffer nearly the velocity sensitivity as G1 and should be used for modern long range bullets when possible.

When I get the .22 cal 77 gr, and the .308 cal 168 gr tested, I'll update the table.

BTW, for those interested in how these Tipped MatchKings compare to the standard MatchKings; according to my measurements:
The 69 gr TMK is +8% compared to the SMK
The 125 gr TMK is -5% compared to the SMK (which I believe was 'pointed' not tipped)
The 155 TMK is *identical* to the 155 SMK (2156, which is also pointed)
The 175 TMK is +10% compared to the 175 SMK

Take care,
-Bryan

 

[CB11WYO]

Like Thanks Bryan!

 

[CenCalShooter]

I've heard the tipped don't perform as well as the bullets they were designed to replace?

 

[mac86951]

+1 Thanks Bryan. I'll be waiting for the 77 info and sticking to 2156 since I have plenty.

 

[Park ranger]

Yes thanks Bryan. I too am looking forward to the 77 grain results.

 

[Rpbump]

Thanks for the information. I'm looking forward to data on the tipped 168SMK.

Rpbump

 

[Turbulent Turtle]

I've heard the tipped don't perform as well as the bullets they were designed to replace?

Where did you hear that? Any links?

 

[m500]

Thank you Bryan.

 

[mjtripper]

Thank you for the info as I've been looking forward to your work with them.

 

[FN in MT]

Appreciate the information Mr. Litz.

BTW...Are the new TIPPED SMK's packaged differently than the old SMK's?
Does something show the box contains the new tipped bullets?

 

[Bulletman]

The stock numbers and the labeling are completely different.

 

[Ledd Slinger]

Does anyone know if these bullets will be suitable for hunting? It appears to me that with the new design, they would perform similarly to the Nosler Ballistic Tip, but of course yield a slightly better BC. Sierra says not recommended for hunting anything larger than varmints, but I bet the 175gr in 30 cal would do a number on deer. I know they are pretty new to the market, but just curious if anyone knows anything about that aspect or has used them for hunting big game animals yet? Thanks

LS

 

[CatShooter]

Does anyone know if these bullets will be suitable for hunting? It appears to me that with the new design, they would perform similarly to the Nosler Ballistic Tip, but of course yield a slightly better BC. Sierra says not recommended for hunting anything larger than varmints, but I bet the 175gr in 30 cal would do a number on deer. I know they are pretty new to the market, but just curious if anyone knows anything about that aspect or has used them for hunting big game animals yet? Thanks

LS

I spoke to them about the 0.224 69gr bullet. I thought it would be ideal for long range woodchuckin' - like a 69gr BlitzKing...

The tech I spoke to said that the jacket was substantially thicker then the varmint BlitzKings... so they might be good on coyotes, but would probably zip right through a woodchuck.

The larger calibres will probably be fine on large game, but I was disappointed in what they told me about the 69gr version.

 

[dmoran]

Probably why they call them "Match Kings", that are designed and intended to be target bullets.
Just like I wouldn't expect there Varminter, BlitzKing, GameKing, and Pro-Hunter to very in designs to better suit targeting.

 

[Ledd Slinger]

Probably why they call them "Match Kings", that are designed and intended to be target bullets.
Just like I wouldn't expect there Varminter, BlitzKing, GameKing, and Pro-Hunter to very in designs to better suit targeting.

Yeah but thats also what everyone said about Berger when they first came out...Berger VLD is now the ONLY hunting bullet I use if they are available for the caliber I am using in the field.

I know a lot of very experienced shooters that swear by the original 30 cal Sierra MatchKing (HP) for hunting as well. The 300gr 338 cal Sierra Matchking has taken many large game animals from a 338 Lapua with excellent terminal results. Though I have never tried the MatchKings because I was so impressed with Berger that I never tried anything after that.

 

[Ledd Slinger]

The tech I spoke to said that the jacket was substantially thicker then the varmint BlitzKings...

I know target bullets generally have thicker jackets than varmint bullets, so that was kind of my reasoning behind thinking they would be suitable for large game hunting. Even if the jacket was thicker than traditional hunting bullets, I'm sure the tip would help intitial expansion for proper mushrooming effect. Don't think they would hold together like the Nosler Accubond, but if they expanded less than the Nosler Ballistic Tip, that would actually be a GOOD thing.

 

[joe.grey]

Any new test results on those 308 win 168 gr TMKs ?

 

[BoilerUP]

Any new test results on those 308 win 168 gr TMKs ?

Also curious about this...thanks!

 

[mac86951]

I'm also curious to the 77tmk.

Thank you!
-Mac

 

[jsthntn247]

A friend of mine just completed some testing and found a variance of up to .020 in base to ogive on these bullets. They usually were .004, .006, or .020 all in the same box like they were made on different machines and thrown in the same box. This was consistent across 5 boxes of the same lot.