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The Complete Guide To Sierra Bullet Selection
There is no "universal" bullet - that is, no single bullet for all shooting applications and all shooting conditions. The information below has been prepared to help you choose the right Sierra Bullet for any application, whether hunting or target shooting. Bullet selection is a personal preference, but there are some important technical considerations that must be addressed.
The Sierra Bullet tech team features some of the industry's most knowledgeable shooters, hunters, reloaders. Answers to your hunting, shooting, bullet, and reloading questions are just an email away at [email protected].
The rifle bullet descriptions in this section will help you make the correct bullet selections for your applications as well as your shooting conditions. Jump in by checking out the Henry Krank selection of Sierra Bullets, or read on to find out more.
Sierra Bullet Selection
The rifle bullets in Sierra's product line are arranged in seven classifications, depending on the intended application, design features, and the range of cartridges that may use the bullet. One classification includes all of Sierra's match target bullets for target shooting, and five classifications are for hunting applications.
These seven classifications are listed below in further detail.
Sierra MatchKing Bullets
This is the classification for Sierra's pre-eminent target bullets. The driving motivation for the design of each MatchKing bullet is accuracy. These bullets have very thin jackets drawn to an exacting concentricity standard of 0.0003 in maximum variation, and their weight is held to within ± 0.3 grain. All MatchKing have a hollow point design with a very small meplat for high ballistic coefficient. The majority of these bullets have a boat tail shape to further minimize drag and improve ballistic coefficient.They are manufactured to the very highest quality standards. Their accuracy has been acclaimed worldwide, and they have been used to win more target competitions than all target bullets from other manufacturers combined. While they are recognized around the world for record-setting accuracy, MatchKing and Tipped MatchKing bullets are not recommended for most hunting applications.
Click here to view the Sierra MatchKing selection available at Henry Krank & Co.
Sierra Tipped MatchKing Bullets
This classification includes 12 bullets in the following calibers. There are two 22 caliber offerings, one 6mm caliber, two 6.5mm choices, one 7mm offering, and five 30 caliber selections. All but one are of boattail configuration.
As with the MatchKings, they are designed for maximum accuracy performance as the utmost goal. With the proprietary acetyl resin tips added, and ogive dimension changes, the ballistic coefficient is even further enhanced to increase down-range performance. Built with the same exacting quality and integrity of the Sierra MatchKing reputation.
Click here to view the Sierra Tipped MatchKing selection available at Henry Krank & Co.
Sierra BlitzKing Bullets
These bullets are designed for explosive expansion in varmints and small game and with accuracy characteristic of the MatchKing bullets. The tips of these bullets are made of a proprietary compound, and the jackets are thin for enhanced accuracy and explosive expansion.
The lighter bullets in 20 & 22 calibres are designed to be fired at muzzle velocities up to 4400 fps. The lightest 6mm BlitzKing bullet can be fired at muzzle velocities up to 4000 fps.
Click here to view the Sierra BlitzKing selection available at Henry Krank & Co.
Sierra Varminter Bullets
This classification of bullets is designed specifically for rapid expansion and instant kills on larger varmints and small game. The shapes of bullets in this classification include hollow point (HP), spitzer pointed flat base (SPT), and semi-pointed (SMP).
Bullets in this classification have thin jackets to enhance expansion but with sufficient strength to be fired at the highest muzzle velocities in the cartridges for which they are intended. Bullets labelled as Blitzare designed for medium velocity (under 3600 fps).
Click here to view the Sierra Varminter selection available at Henry Krank & Co.
Sierra Pro-Hunter Bullets
All bullet shapes in this classification are flat base, and they include round nose (RN), semi-pointed (SMP), spitzer-pointed (SPT), flat nose (FN), and with a hollow point (HP/FN). A few bullets in this category have Sierra's proprietary Power Jacket to enhance bullet expansion in game animals when fired from medium-velocity cartridges.
All these bullets have medium to heavy weights in each calibre, and they are designed for a combination of penetration and expansion in medium and heavy game animals for their calibres.
Click here to view the Sierra Pro-Hunter selection available at Henry Krank & Co.
Sierra GameKing Bullets
All bullets in this classification are for hunting and all have boat tails. Their shapes include hollow point boat tail (HPBT), spitzer boat tail (SBT), and full metal jacket boat tail (FMJBT). The bullets in this classification have medium to heavy weights in each calibre. With their boat tail shapes, they have high ballistic coefficients, retain their velocities well, and resist crosswinds and vertical winds well as they fly.
These bullets are designed for a combination of penetration and expansion in medium and heavy game animals for their calibres.
Click here to view the Sierra GameKing selection available at Henry Krank & Co.
Sierra Tipped GameKing Bullets
GameChanger (TGK) Bullets: These are hunting bullets with the perfect combination of Sierra’s legendary match accuracy coupled with deadly penetration. Sierra re-engineered their legendary MatchKing bullet into a hollow point design for quick expansion and fitted it with a transparent green tip for ballistic uniformity. Inside, the GameChanger features a unique construction that utilises a special lead alloy surrounded by a tough copper jacket that delivers excellent penetration and expansion at a variety of ranges.
Click here to view the Sierra GameKing selection available at Henry Krank & Co.
Sierra Hornet Bullets
These are 22 calibre bullets of 40 and 45 grains in weight designed in the traditional shape for the 22 Hornet cartridge. Their purpose is hunting varmints and small game, and they are designed to expand reliably at velocities in the 2500 to 2800 fps range, although they can be loaded in cartridges generating up to 3500 fps muzzle velocity.
Click here to view the Sierra Hornet selection available at Henry Krank & Co.
Sierra Bullet Designs
Sierra also uses several basic shape designs for rifle bullets, although some features of different shapes may be incorporated into a single bullet. Shape and characteristic features easily distinguish each design.
The most popular are described below.
Hollow Point
Hollow Point is a bullet shape used for the MatchKing bullets as well as a number of Varminter, GameKing and Pro-Hunter bullets for hunting. The Hollow Point shape has an opening in the nose, which depending on the use of the bullet, may be designed for complete fragmentation, controlled expansion, or no expansion at all (MatchKing). With the wide range of Hollow Point bullet performance capabilities, proper bullet selection for a particular use is crucial to ensure the desired performance in the field.
Spitzer
Spitzer is a term taken from a German word that means sharp pointed. The spitzer shape is readily identified by a characteristic long ogive point shape closing with either a small diameter exposed lead tip or with the proprietary compound tips in Sierra's BlitzKing bullets.
Spitzer bullets may have either a flat base or a boat tail and have much higher ballistic coefficients compared to the traditional round nose or flat nose bullet shapes. The spitzer shape with either a flat base or a boat tail has become the "standard" for hunting bullets today.
Boat Tail
Boat Tail bullets have a smaller diameter base, a shape resembling the configuration of the stern of a sailboat. This shape significantly reduces the base drag on a bullet, giving boat tail bullets a significantly higher ballistic coefficient than flat base bullets of the same weight and point shape. Thus, boat tail bullets have lower sensitivity to crosswinds, higher retained velocity downrange, flatter trajectories, and higher energy and momentum delivered to the target than their flat base counterparts.
Semi-Point
Semi-Point is a bullet shape designed to provide heavy bullet weight within a given bullet length, and at the same time provide a ballistic coefficient higher than either the flat nose or round nose bullet shapes. The semi-point shape features a nose with a tip of exposed lead that is larger in diameter and more rounded than the spitzer shape. This shape sometimes works well in rifles having twist rates too slow to stabilize the longer spitzer or hollow point bullets of the same weight.
Full Metal Jacket
Full Metal Jacket (FMJ) bullets are easily recognized by the jacket, which covers the entire bullet forward of the base with only a small amount of exposed lead at the base. Sierra's FMJ bullets also have the boat tail configuration.
When used at reduced velocities, Sierra's FMJ bullets are nonexpanding in light game, and often are an ideal choice for varmint or predator hunters wishing to minimize pelt damage. FMJ bullets also allow hand loaders to effectively duplicate 5.56 mm and 7.62 mm ball ammunition for use in military style rifles.
Round Nose
Round nose bullets are a traditional design often used by hunters in areas affording shots at game only at short ranges. This bullet shape is easily recognized by a large, rounded, exposed lead tip. The large amount of exposed lead at the nose causes positive expansion of these bullets at moderate velocity levels.
Flat Nose
Flat nose bullets are designed especially for rifles with tubular magazines. The large diameter meplat greatly reduces the chance of recoil-induced ignition of cartridges in the magazine when the rifle is fired. A large amount of exposed lead at the nose of these bullets causes positive expansion in game at moderate velocity levels, especially those with a Sierra Power Jacket.
The Power Jacket has a series of "skives" cut into the mouth of the jacket. The skives ensure positive and controlled expansion of the bullet at moderate velocities and are used in several Sierra handgun bullets as well as flat nose rifle bullets.
Sierra Handgun Bullets
Sierra’s handgun bullets are separated into three classifications, depending on the intended application, design features, and the range of cartridges that may use the bullet.
SportsMaster Bullets
SportsMaster bullets are intended for use in revolvers and rifles with tubular magazines have a cannelure to facilitate roll crimping.
The bullets in this classification are available in three different configurations; Jacketed Soft Point (JSP), Jacketed Hollow Point (JHP), and Jacketed Hollow Cavity (JHC) styles.
Click here to view the Sierra SportsMaster selection available at Henry Krank & Co.
TournamentMaster Bullets
Competition-style handgun bullets built for accuracy. TournamentMaster bullets are designed and manufactured for exceptional accuracy and are non-expanding at typical handgun velocities. With no cannelure, they are designed for taper crimping. TournamentMaster bullets are available in two design configurations: Full Profile Jacket (FPJ) and Full Metal Jacket (FMJ). They are excellent selections for any type of hand-gun target competition.
Click here to view the Sierra TournamentMaster selection available at Henry Krank & Co.
SigSauer V-Crown Bullets
Personal defence bullets built for optimal weight retention and expansion.
Click here to view the Sierra SigSauer V-Crown selection available at Henry Krank & Co.
Pictured and described below are different design configurations of Sierra handgun bullets.
Jacketed Soft Point
Jacketed Soft Point (JSP) is a classic bullet design for deep penetration with high weight retention on medium and large game. Features include a special lead alloy core formulated to provide proper expansion qualities. On impact, the bullet will allow the core to flow over the leading edge of the jacket, in effect locking the core in place and retaining as much mass as possible.
The jacket consists of specially dimensioned walls formed by Sierra's unique progressive draw process, which results in uniformly tapered, concentric walls with a heavy base. The JSP design is used in Sports Master bullets.
Jacketed Hollow Cavity
Jacketed Hollow Cavity (JHC) is a design unique to Sierra and acclaimed for superior performance. Positive but controlled expansion is ensured by the unique cavity, which is formed in the core prior to final nose forming. The result is a small opening in the bullet tip over a large cavity for a good ballistic coefficient and balance.
Sierra's Power Jacket provides positive, uniform and controlled expansion by means of specially placed skives in the jacket around the tip of the bullet. The JHC bullet design is used generally for handgun bullets in several calibres.
Full Profile Jacket
Full Profile Jacket (FPJ) is a design concept featuring a thick, tough jacket that covers the entire profile of the bullet. Intended for maximum momentum transfer to steel targets, this design generates good dwell time on the target for maximum "push." The heavy base is fully enclosed to withstand the high pressures of magnum loads and maintain "match" accuracy.
The unique upset qualities of this design and strict dimensional tolerances combine to provide unsurpassed accuracy and performance. The FPJ design is a silhouette bullet with some hunting applications where deep penetration and minimal expansion are desired.
Handgun Full Metal Jacket
Full Metal Jacket (FMJ) is a traditional design configuration featuring traditional Sierra accuracy and quality. Designed for flawless feeding characteristics in semi-automatic pistols, it is also recognized for its deep penetration due to its heavy jacket. Although nose configurations and ogives were designed for positive feed in auto-loading pistols, Sierra's strict quality control and dimensional controls result in an exceptionally accurate bullet.
Unlike other FMJ designs, the Sierra bullet is capable of match accuracy as well as flawless feeding for the utmost in shooter confidence. It is an excellent choice for combat or speed type competitive shooting situations.
Selecting The Right Sierra Bullet
When selecting a match bullet for target competition, there are two paramount technical considerations: the maximum accuracy that a match rifle can deliver and crosswind deflection. Rifles are individuals also. One rifle may deliver fantastic accuracy with a particular bullet in a particular cartridge, but another rifle shooting the same cartridge with the same bullet may not deliver acceptable accuracy.
This is why Sierra offers a number of MatchKing bullets in most calibres, sometimes differing by only a few grains in weight. The best bullet for maximum accuracy in any particular rifle and cartridge can be selected only by testing. Experienced target shooters know that they must try different bullets and often different loads (powder and primer) behind each bullet.
A bullet's deflection in a crosswind depends on two factors: the muzzle velocity and the ballistic coefficient of the bullet being fired. For muzzle velocities above 1600 fps, crosswind deflection decreases as muzzle velocity increases. Crosswind deflection always decreases as bullet ballistic coefficient increases. For almost all the MatchKing bullets in each calibre, ballistic coefficient increases with bullet weight. So, if there were no other considerations, we would choose the heaviest MatchKing in each calibre and shoot it at the highest possible muzzle velocity.
However, this is not always possible because of powder capacity and/or chamber pressure limits. With a big magnum case, we often can minimize crosswind deflection by using the heaviest MatchKing bullet in that calibre and load it to the highest possible muzzle velocity. Large, heavy bullets always reduce the powder capacity of any case. Chamber pressure limits often restrict the selection of powders, so that full flexibility to achieve high muzzle velocities is just not possible.
With many cartridge cases, we simply cannot fire heavier bullets with enough muzzle velocity to minimize crosswind deflection. A lighter bullet with lower ballistic coefficient but fired at higher velocity sometimes has less crosswind deflection.
Sierra Infinity Programme
An exterior ballistics computer programme, such as Sierra's Infinity Programme, can greatly aid the target shooter. The shooter can test the crosswind deflections of different candidate bullets and loads with this programme. This approach might not lead to the best bullet selection, but it may reduce the number of bullet and load combinations the shooter must try on the shooting range.
Selecting a bullet for hunting is considerably different. Several variables are involved in most hunting situations, and these strongly influence bullet selection. The first considerations are what type of game will be hunted (varmints, small game, medium game or large game) and what rifle/cartridge combination will be used. When going after varmints or small game and shooting a rifle in a smaller calibre, shooters may want a bullet that expands explosively for instant kills. However, if shooters want to preserve the pelt of a small animal for mounting or selling, they may want a bullet that does not expand, leaving small entry and exit wounds.
When preparing to hunt medium game (deer, antelope, sheep, mountain goats, etc.), hunters might be using a rifle in 6mm, 25, 6.5mm, 270, 7mm, or 30 calibre, or even the venerable 45-70. In this case, a bullet that penetrates light bones and expands in flesh to produce a wide wound channel is needed. To go after heavy game on the North American continent (buffalo, elk, moose or bear), or heavier medium game on the African continent, shooting a rifle chambered for a larger calibre may be preferred. These situations require a bullet that smashes through large bones and expands reliably in flesh to produce a very large wound channel.
These characteristics will help guide bullet selection. Generally, sub-MOA accuracy is not required for hunting, except possibly for small varmints (ground squirrels etc.) at long ranges. But of vital importance will be the velocity, retained energy, penetration and expansion properties of the bullet and cartridge for your intended game animals.
Click here for further information on Sierra's Infinity Programme.
Get Started
These are just a few comments illustrating the thought process required to select a bullet. Shooting conditions and prior experiences are important factors in deciding which bullet is best for the individual situation. Regardless of your needs, Sierra offers an extensive variety of bullets for your hunting and shooting requirements.
Take a look at the extensive Henry Krank range of Sierra Bullets to make your selection.
This article appeared in its original format online at Sierra's Resource Centre.