Anyone using Sierra 85grn Game King (.243)

[mattri]

Anyone shooting this bullet?

http://www.midwayusa.com/viewProduct/?productNumber=374787

Have a 22" 9.25 barrel. Have had really good success with the 58grn Vmax and Sierra's 100grn Game King. Looking for something in between.

Accuracy potential at 200, 300 400 yards?

Looks like it would be good for varmints, antelope and small deer. Is it enough for mulies?

Any load data?

[rcinit]

I've played with them some. I was comparing them to Hornady 87gr v-max tipped bullets. I'm just shooting paper right now but will soon try them out on Pdog's. The 87's grouped better between 2900-3100fps using IMR4064. However I'm only talking about a .1-.2 difference @ 100 meters with no 85 group bigger than .8 in 5-10 mph wind. I'd have to say my average 5 shot group, if I discard the one flyer I always seem to have, is about a .6. Thats out of a 12 VLP with 26 inch barrel. I'm averaging about a .5 with the 87 Vmax bullets. The 87gr bullets do better in higher wind conditions too.

[mattri]

Thanks for the reply. I've been really interested in trying them but when I started looking at the numbers it looks like the 100grn Game King has an advantage over the 85s.

Using 37grns of IMR 4064 the 100grn leaves the barrel at close to 2895 fps. The average muzzle vel for an 85grn is 3100fps.

With a 200 yard zero, the 100grn is 7" low and the 85grn is 7.1" low but at 1202ft/lbs the 100grn has 94 ft/lbs more energy than the 85.

At 500 yards the 100grn has 123ft/lbs more energy and has dropped 4"less than the 85.

[trappst]

What's the intended purpose of this load? Are you looking for a "do all" kind of bullet? Varmints and deer?

Nothing against Sierra bullets but I've found myself using a lot of Nosler, Berger and Barnes bullets in the past couple years. You might look into the Nosler ballistic tip offerings in .243 diameter. Run the the ballistics on the Nosler against the Sierra and you'll probably like what you see.

The 90g Nosler hunting bullet has a BC of .365

Never hunted Muley's with a rifle.....actually never hunted whitetails with a rifle but if you're wanting a "do all" load for a 243 Win., stick with a well constructed bullet for those Muley's.

80g Barnes Tipped Triple Shock has BC of .331
85g Barnes Triple Shock BT has BC of .333

Take my babblings for what they're worth...I hunt deer with bow, pistol, ML and slug gun! ;D

[mattri]

I'll check out the noslers. What I really like about the Sierras is that they carry a lot of energy and stay together pretty well. I need to load some more up to see what they're doing at extended ranges but at 200 yards they're just under an inch.