Sierra Heavy TMK 6MM Testing

[rbutcher1234]

I’ll be driving a bunch of the 107 tmks out of a 16” 6BR. Not as fast as what other are reporting, but should be easier to validate performance in the edge cases near 1,700 fps.

At 6BR speeds, I’m already assuming the 116 is a worse choice than the 107.

 

[Castle Rock]

The tips on the TMK’s are less than impressive IMO. These are the 116’s. Tip on the left is raised slightly, canted to the right and where the jacket meets the tip is also crooked.

View attachment 1043720


They still shoot decent, but nothing spectacular. But you can’t expect anything extraordinary with tips wobbling at 260,000 RPM’s. 42.5gr. N555 gave 3010fps from a 26” 6 creed at 2.920” COAL.

They must have poached someone from Hornady, at least the tips weren’t busted off completely.

 

[JDMBEND]

Powder Valley has 500 ct 153 TMK’s for $238.95, compared to Midway at $314.99. These shoot very well, at least for me.

 

[ddowning]

Would love to see where you hit pressure using a 116 with 4350 and sc in a 243

Use a 5" drop tune and load h1000 to the neck shoulder junction. Seat bullet. Lotta speed, no pressure, good barrel life. Since it is the preference on here, maybe not the best for short barrels and suppressors due to the possibility for unburnt powder to end up in the suppressor. In 24" barrels or longer (maybe 22" okay) it is magic.

 

[ddowning]

It's the "what's on the other side of that ridge" mentality. You just have to know. So you do what it takes to find out. And who knows......perhaps the 116's will shoot .250" groups.....LOL.

Hasn't happened for me since Sierra and Tubb changed the RBT on the 115 DTAC. Those were good shooting bullets.

 

[ddowning]

Did another pressure workup with the 116 TMK in a 20" 243 Improved, same barrel as the early accuracy testing. Didn't shoot for any groups, just velocity and pressure with two brands of brass. H1000 was the powder, CCI 200 primers, 2.920 COAL.

Alpha:
49.5: 2929
50: 3000
50.5: 3003

Federal:
49: 2886
49.5: 2913
50: 2919
50.5: 2987

No ejector marks, clickers, or heavy bolt lift. Just need to decide whether to keep a near perfect metric quick drop at 2800, or go up to 3k and have to do a little more thinking.

You can wrap a tiny piece of tape around the turret and mark it for bdc. It works well for faster cartridges. Same premise as quick drop and you can rip it off and relabel if you have a big condition swing. A writable turret label works better, but a little $ and more time/effort. I don't even have ballistics in my rangefinding binos. I just range, dial distance and shoot. It works well for hunting/nrl hunter unless a long shot and huge condition swing. Most hunting is done with a 243AI 26" and a 105 at 3150+fps.

 

[ddowning]

Funny you say that. I’m so torn on staying with 6 Creed/243 or switching to either 6 ARC or 6 GT. 20” barrel Tikka. I’d prefer to shoot something with lighter recoil to allow me to stay in the scope better. 243 has been snappier than I expected.

Anyone have experience with the relative recoil between the ARC and GT?

GT would be easier cause I can just rebarrel my Tikka. ARC has more factory ammo and less recoil. Can you easily spot shots with the GT in a light hunting rifle? I’ve never shot the ARC or GT

Depends on your ability to control recoil and how it balances. A brake or heavy suppressor will help it. A lot of practice and you can do it. Depending on what "light" is quantitatively will answer if it is fairly easy or very difficult. 8-10 pounds is doable. 6# takes some serious skill, if possible. I say that, because I've never been able to do it with a rifle that light.

 

[TheM1DoesMyTalking]

Anyone seen the same issues with the 107s?

The tips on the one box of 107s that I have so far look good.

 

[ChrisAU]

nothing has caught my eye with the 107’s I’ve loaded either

 

[huntnful]

116 TMK in a 26” 6 creed.

42.5 gr. N555 yielded 3010fps

40.5gr. H4350 yielded 2960fps.

 

[rharbaugh]

Tip on the left is raised slightly, canted to the right and where the jacket meets the tip is also crooked.

View attachment 1043720

View attachment 1044015

We know which one had the crooked tip

 

[huntnful]

We know which one had the crooked tip

Lmao . No explanation needed?

I’m going to load up some more and shoot them at distance here pretty soon

 

[huntnful]

My box of 116s came in today. I pulled out 2 of them to make measurements, and one of them looked just like the "off" bullet in @huntnful photo. I'll go through the box at some point and pull out some off-looking ones and shoot them for a group against a group of "good" looking ones, but definitely going to be selective when loading anything meaningful.

I've shot piles of the 77s and 130s and their consistency has been great. Better than ELDM for me.

Keep us posted

Iv seen similar with different lots of ELDs. Had one lot so bad I sent it to Hornady. They told me the tip has minimal impact on the precision but did replace that lot of bullets for me.

I’m sure they did say that lol. In all seriousness the tipping process of a jacketed lead bullet has to be difficult to perfect I would think. It doesn’t look like they are machining the nose portion at all. So how ever the jacket is drawn to the nose is dictating the tip fitment?

I’d like to see how it’s done for sure.

 

[BearGuy]

116 TMK in a 26” 6 creed.

42.5 gr. N555 yielded 3010fps

40.5gr. H4350 yielded 2960fps.

View attachment 1044015

Do you think 40.5 of H4350 is near max for pressure or do you think you could stuff a little more and gain a little speed? Plenty there but just curious.

 

[Lawnboi]

Keep us posted


I’m sure they did say that lol. In all seriousness the tipping process of a jacketed lead bullet has to be difficult to perfect I would think. It doesn’t look like they are machining the nose portion at all. So how ever the jacket is drawn to the nose is dictating the tip fitment?

I’d like to see how it’s done for sure.

I have no idea on how tipped bullets are made. But it does make sense to me that a 2 piece bullet is likely more consistent than a 3 most of the time.

I shoot bergers for match stuff, but can’t let go of the tipped bullet performance on game.

 

[huntnful]

Do you think 40.5 of H4350 is near max for pressure or do you think you could stuff a little more and gain a little speed? Plenty there but just curious.

I loaded it low enough that I didn't encounter any pressure signs. I'm sure i could take it up a little bit.

I have no idea on how tipped bullets are made. But it does make sense to me that a 2 piece bullet is likely more consistent than a 3 most of the time.

I shoot bergers for match stuff, but can’t let go of the tipped bullet performance on game.

Makes sense to me!

 

[JDMBEND]

Do you think 40.5 of H4350 is near max for pressure or do you think you could stuff a little more and gain a little speed? Plenty there but just curious.

Only way to find out is to Carefully try it. If you currently don’t see any signs of pressure bump it up.

 

[JDMBEND]

Of course after I order 1,000 TMK’s a QC issue pops up.
Will definitely sort through them and check for any inconsistencies. Tested them in 3 different guns/ barrels and were very accurate with very low SD and ES numbers.

 

[huntnful]

Of course after I order 1,000 TMK’s a QC issue pops up.
Will definitely sort through them and check for any inconsistencies. Tested them in 3 different guns/ barrels and were very accurate with very low SD and ES numbers.

I’m not trying to make a mass panic, or something out of nothing.

Just bringing it to attention. Don’t worry about it if it doesn’t show up on paper for you. I saw some weird shit in my groups, so started looking at tips and noticed some oddballs. Of course I wish they more perfect, but it may not matter at all. I’m going to keep shooting them for a while. I just laid some out on a white towel so I could see them better before I loaded them. They looked fine enough.