Sierra Heavy TMK 6MM Testing

[Lowell]

Sierra sent us some 115,116, and 117 to test. We will post the results here. @Formidilosus @PathFinder @Carl Ross

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Sierra sent us some 115,116, and 117 to test. We will post the results here. @Formidilosus @PathFinder @Carl Ross

 

[AZ Gator]

Post and article suggest early 2026.

That is for the first three random roksliders though, as they will each order 20k. The next production run is planned for 2029.

 

[longrangelead]

I was given a handful of 117's to mess with and I got curious...







Touches the lands in a new 8t factory Tikka 243 @ 2.962" and puts the boat tail right at the shoulder.
Gonna need a M+ mag...


2.80" for comparison.

I'll see if I can shoot some this weekend.

 

[Brandon.miller.4]

Maybe I missed it somewhere in the 12 pages. Will this bullet stabilize in a 8 twist tikka 243? At around 0ft DA? If so do we have any velocity comparisons yet? To say a 108 class bullet?

 

[TheViking]

I was given a handful of 117's to mess with and I got curious...
View attachment 991325

View attachment 991326

View attachment 991327

View attachment 991328
Touches the lands in a new 8t factory Tikka 243 @ 2.962" and puts the boat tail right at the shoulder.
Gonna need a M+ mag...

View attachment 991330
2.80" for comparison.

I'll see if I can shoot some this weekend.

I can see where @Formidilosus was talking about the gap behind the tips.

Do you think 103 X is ‘better’ than 108 M for 6mm projectiles according to this?

 

[longrangelead]

I can see where @Formidilosus was talking about the gap behind the tips.

Do you think 103 X is ‘better’ than 108 M for 6mm projectiles according to this?

I was wondering the same thing after seeing that. I was surprised the lead fully surrounds the tip on the 108. That might be the cause of the inconsistency that has been mentioned.

 

[Clarktar]

Spring bear around the corner. I'd love some 115/117 for the 6 UM!!!

 

[justin davis]

I can see where @Formidilosus was talking about the gap behind the tips.

Do you think 103 X is ‘better’ than 108 M for 6mm projectiles according to this?

Iv

I was wondering the same thing after seeing that. I was surprised the lead fully surrounds the tip on the 108. That might be the cause of the inconsistency that has been mentioned.

I’ve always said that the 108’s stick together little
Better and penetrate more than the eldx. The eldx have always seemed a little more explosive

 

[DangerRanger]

Maybe I missed it somewhere in the 12 pages. Will this bullet stabilize in a 8 twist tikka 243? At around 0ft DA? If so do we have any velocity comparisons yet? To say a 108 class bullet?

I don’t think anyone is shooting them at sea level yet, but expected to not be optimal at best I think.

 

[Gstew1930]

The jacket is thicker on the 112 than i would have expected. Also those cross sections are fantastic

 

[khuber84]

The jacket is thicker on the 112 than i would have expected. Also those cross sections are fantastic

Agreed, fantastic mill work, and high quality photos.

 

[CBB1]

Thank you for the cross sections. They really explain a lot. I see why the 95NBT performs so well and gives exit wounds by how the base is designed.

Maybe next you boys can talk Nosler into drawing that 6mm line out to a 108 and a 115.


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

 

[OutdoorEngineering]

I was given a handful of 117's to mess with and I got curious...
View attachment 991325

View attachment 991326

View attachment 991327

View attachment 991328
Touches the lands in a new 8t factory Tikka 243 @ 2.962" and puts the boat tail right at the shoulder.
Gonna need a M+ mag...

View attachment 991330
2.80" for comparison.

I'll see if I can shoot some this weekend.

Thank you for the pictures. This thread is the reason why I made an account. I have a couple of questions after seeing these cut bullets. The jacket in the 117 TMK seem to be as thin or thinner than the Varmint bullets. Do you think this could lead to jacket separation mid flight when shot out of fast twist barrels like a 1:7.5? The thin jacket of the 117 TMK makes me think that this bullet should be specific to longer range hunting to prevent complete destruction within an animal without adequate penetration is this thought process correct? Lastly, (and forgive me as I do not know the correct terminology for this) the 117 TMK at the base does not taper (or thicken) internally with copper jacket like the eld-x or the Nosler bullets shown in these cut bullets. I believe that this would be a detriment when it comes to penetration as the copper jacket works to keep the base together. When these bullets are used in game or gel it will be very interesting to see the results. Thank you very much for sharing these results and your testing thus far!

 

[WhoGarrDen]

Fantastic mill work and photos as others have said. The 130's and 77's appear to be a similar shape/class like the vmax and 95 NBTs, while the 117's and 95's are more aligned with the match burner/eld-m profile. Any chance of us seeing the 107's?

If the BT/Sh junction seating depth is touching lands in a tikka (longer average throats?), makes me wonder if these are going to be a bit more niche and not play well in 243's from other manufacturers, or if people are going to need to start requesting more freebore from prefits.

 

[longrangelead]

Fantastic mill work and photos as others have said. The 130's and 77's appear to be a similar shape/class like the vmax and 95 NBTs, while the 117's and 95's are more aligned with the match burner/eld-m profile. Any chance of us seeing the 107's?

If the BT/Sh junction seating depth is touching lands in a tikka (longer average throats?), makes me wonder if these are going to be a bit more niche and not play well in 243's from other manufacturers, or if people are going to need to start requesting more freebore from prefits.

I can certainly do more bullets as I get them or if people want to send at least two of each to cut.

 

[longrangelead]

Thank you for the pictures. This thread is the reason why I made an account. I have a couple of questions after seeing these cut bullets. The jacket in the 117 TMK seem to be as thin or thinner than the Varmint bullets. Do you think this could lead to jacket separation mid flight when shot out of fast twist barrels like a 1:7.5? The thin jacket of the 117 TMK makes me think that this bullet should be specific to longer range hunting to prevent complete destruction within an animal without adequate penetration is this thought process correct? Lastly, (and forgive me as I do not know the correct terminology for this) the 117 TMK at the base does not taper (or thicken) internally with copper jacket like the eld-x or the Nosler bullets shown in these cut bullets. I believe that this would be a detriment when it comes to penetration as the copper jacket works to keep the base together. When these bullets are used in game or gel it will be very interesting to see the results. Thank you very much for sharing these results and your testing thus far!

I have zero experience with TMK's on game, but the idea is the base staying together isn't a consideration at all. Rapid upset and fragmentation causing quick and complete incapacitation is the goal and the TMK does that.

If the base and jacket separate, that's just one more internal projectile.

Also, I've killed more animals than I can recall with cup/core bullets where the core exited but the jacket was caught somewhere on the off side.

In my OPINION, with highly fragmenting bullets, an exit is more likely if the core DOES separate so the jacket petals aren't slowing it down. Not that exits are a requirement in the context of the TMK's.

if someone has definitive experience, they can correct me or add here.