Sierra Tipped GameKing Performance

[Levy_ken]

I could be wrong but from the heavy for caliber 277 options out there the bullet with the terminal performance closest to ELDM etc youd be looking at the 170 ballistic tip

Which 170 ballistic tip specifically?

 

[mxgsfmdpx]

I actually prefer longer times to death so I can develop my tracking skills. Anyone who makes bullet choices based on the most lethality must scared of tracking and therefore not a true woodsman.

I’d recommend taking up, what they call, archery.

 

[Levy_ken]

I’d recommend taking up, what they call, archery.

Good point. I’d really like for my bullet’s wound channels to be as broadhead-like as possible so I can replicate the archery experience during rifle seasons as well.

In my experience, which is quite limited on the TGK specifically, they behave much closer to traditional hunting bullets than they do the TMK.

In bare gel, gel with mediums placed in front, and 3 big game animals (two whitetail does, one cow elk), the wounds were quite narrow and bullet expansion is lacking.

In all seriousness though, definitely helpful info. Unfortunate that Sierra decided to go that direction with this bullet. Bergers might be the way to go then I guess.

 

[tkabzems]

Which 170 ballistic tip specifically?

Nosler 170 gr ballistic tip

 

[mxgsfmdpx]

Good point. I’d really like for my bullet’s wound channels to be as broadhead-like as possible so I can replicate the archery experience during rifle seasons as well.

In all seriousness though, definitely helpful info. Unfortunate that Sierra decided to go that direction with this bullet. Bergers might be the way to go then I guess.

If it were me I’d be using the 145 ELDXs.

 

[BigAl!]

I actually prefer longer times to death so I can develop my tracking skills. Anyone who makes bullet choices based on the most lethality must scared of tracking and therefore not a true woodsman.

That’s a really bold statement. If you want to work on your tracking skills go in the woods more, find tracks, and follow them. Don’t make inaccurate statements about those who make a conscious effort to quickly kill their intended species by being selective with bullet choice.

 

[slatebuilder]

I actually prefer longer times to death so I can develop my tracking skills. Anyone who makes bullet choices based on the most lethality must scared of tracking and therefore not a true woodsman.

We have gone the other way in our house. I have put the most effective killing bullets that I have/had knowledge of at the time in the hands of my wife and kids. A quick clean kill has been our priority. The dissatisfaction/disappointment of some bloodshot shoulder meat will ware off long before the bad memory of the rodeo accompanying poor bullet performance in the field.

Honestly how far can you shoot in field positions in hunting conditions? What will impact velocity be at those ranges?

Edit: If you are a traditional hunting range, 300 yards or less guy, the TGK is probably good. As others have mentioned, the 170 NBT is awesome, so is the 145 ELDX.

 

[Jellymon1]

That’s a really bold statement. If you want to work on your tracking skills go in the woods more, find tracks, and follow them. Don’t make inaccurate statements about those who make a conscious effort to quickly kill their intended species by being selective with bullet choice.

 

[Levy_ken]

That’s a really bold statement. If you want to work on your tracking skills go in the woods more, find tracks, and follow them. Don’t make inaccurate statements about those who make a conscious effort to quickly kill their intended species by being selective with bullet choice.

We have gone the other way in our house. I have put the most effective killing bullets that I have/had knowledge of at the time in the hands of my wife and kids. A quick clean kill has been our priority. The dissatisfaction/disappointment of some bloodshot shoulder meat will ware off long before the bad memory of the rodeo accompanying poor bullet performance in the field.

Honestly how far can you shoot in field positions in hunting conditions? What will impact velocity be at those ranges?

Sorry should have specified I was being sarcastic since it doesn’t always transfer over the internet . The reason I started this thread was to try and find a heavy-for-caliber .277 bullet that maximizes terminal performance. Completely agree with what both of you are saying.

 

[Levy_ken]

If it were me I’d be using the 145 ELDXs.

so is the 145 ELDX.

Yeah I had been hoping to find something heavier/higher BC, however its easy to get caught up in the “heaviest for caliber” or "highest BC” hype. I guess the reality is that for hunting applications (and realistic distances) a very terminally effective bullet is going to be more important and apparent than eeking out that extra BC advantage. Plus at .536 G1 the ELD-X still isn’t terrible. @mxgsfmdpx any experience/testing with the Elite Hunters?

170 NBT is awesome

Have no experience with this bullet so correct me if I’m wrong, but based on the description on Nosler’s website it seems like this bullet probably has similar construction/performance to the TGK? As in a tougher bullet than something like an ELD-X, ELD-M, TMK etc.

 

[slatebuilder]

Yeah I had been hoping to find something heavier/higher BC, however its easy to get caught up in the “heaviest for caliber” or "highest BC” hype. I guess the reality is that for hunting applications (and realistic distances) a very terminally effective bullet is going to be more important and apparent than eeking out that extra BC advantage. Plus at .536 G1 the ELD-X still isn’t terrible. @mxgsfmdpx any experience/testing with the Elite Hunters?

Have no experience with this bullet so correct me if I’m wrong, but based on the description on Nosler’s website it seems like this bullet probably has similar construction/performance to the TGK? As in a tougher bullet than something like an ELD-X, ELD-M, TMK etc.

NBT’s are a bit tougher, they seem to act more like a bonded bullet than a match bullet on game.

I have shot plenty of 145 ELDX in practice, competition, and hunting. I’d wager a bet that they are terminally effective and accurate beyond what the vast majority of shooters are capable of shooting in hunting situations.

Match bullets and high bc bullets are awesome, and if you can use them, by all means do. Don’t forget though, what bullets account for the vast majority of game killed on the planet. There’s nothing wrong with dumping a buck or bull with a corelokt, interlock, TGK, Partiton, or whatever you shoot them with.

 

[Tx270WT]

I was impressed with the 165gr 308 load I used last season. Very impressed with the 5 deer it took, so much so that I’m going to try some 140gr in my 270 this season

 

[Levy_ken]

NBT’s are a bit tougher, they seem to act more like a bonded bullet than a match bullet on game.

Good to know

I have shot plenty of 145 ELDX in practice, competition, and hunting. I’d wager a bet that they are terminally effective and accurate beyond what the vast majority of shooters are capable of shooting in hunting situations.

For sure - whenever I’ve used ELD-X’s (usually the 6.5 143gr) they’ve performed when I’ve done my part. Any problems I’ve had have been due to me, not the bullet.

Match bullets and high bc bullets are awesome, and if you can use them, by all means do. Don’t forget though, what bullets account for the vast majority of game killed on the planet. There’s nothing wrong with dumping a buck or bull with a corelokt, interlock, TGK, Partiton, or whatever you shoot them with.

Definitely good to keep in perspective. Nothing wrong with pursuing better equipment, components, gear, etc., but at the end of the day the most important variable is ME.

 

[Formidilosus]

Yeah I had been hoping to find something heavier/higher BC, however its easy to get caught up in the “heaviest for caliber” or "highest BC” hype. I guess the reality is that for hunting applications (and realistic distances) a very terminally effective bullet is going to be more important and apparent than eeking out that extra BC advantage. Plus at .536 G1 the ELD-X still isn’t terrible. @mxgsfmdpx any experience/testing with the Elite Hunters?

Have no experience with this bullet so correct me if I’m wrong, but based on the description on Nosler’s website it seems like this bullet probably has similar construction/performance to the TGK? As in a tougher bullet than something like an ELD-X, ELD-M, TMK etc.

The 145gr ELD-X kills well. Of the “high” BC .277 bullets, the 170gr NBT and 170gr Berger are the ones. I haven’t seen a bunch with the 170gr NBT, but what I have has been good. NBT’s vary based on caliber and weight. Most are closer to Accubonds than say an ELD-M or X. While the 170gr NBT isn’t a massively fragmenting bullet, they do lose some weight and create a good wound channel.

 

[The Guide]

Good to know

For sure - whenever I’ve used ELD-X’s (usually the 6.5 143gr) they’ve performed when I’ve done my part. Any problems I’ve had have been due to me, not the bullet.

Definitely good to keep in perspective. Nothing wrong with pursuing better equipment, components, gear, etc., but at the end of the day the most important variable is ME.

In my Tikka 270WSM the factory 145 ELDX has me to 1800fps all the way out to 910 yards @ at my current conditions. I bet in the 6.8 Western you might get it just a little further than that. 900+ yards is a long ways on live game but sure is fun to practice to/past to make you a better marksman.

Jay

 

[mxgsfmdpx]

@mxgsfmdpx any experience/testing with the Elite Hunters?

Yes but zero in .277 cal. I’d assume they behave like elite hunters behave. Overall, decent penetration, tend to expand nicely enough, not as early as I’d like but they will kill well in general.

Nothing to really write home about when comparing to TMK, ELDX, ELDM in my opinion.

 

[Levy_ken]

The 145gr ELD-X kills well. Of the “high” BC .277 bullets, the 170gr NBT and 170gr Berger are the ones. I haven’t seen a bunch with the 170gr NBT, but what I have has been good. NBT’s vary based on caliber and weight. Most are closer to Accubonds than say an ELD-M or X. While the 170gr NBT isn’t a massively fragmenting bullet, they do lose some weight and create a good wound channel.

Copy that, thanks for the info. The Noslers weren’t really on my radar but a couple people have mentioned them now so I’ll have to look into it.

Seems like Hornady oughtta make a heavier ELD bullet for .277 but I guess a large majority of their market is probably geared towards traditional slower twist .270 cartridges rather than something like the 6.8 Western.

 

[Levy_ken]

In my Tikka 270WSM the factory 145 ELDX has me to 1800fps all the way out to 910 yards @ at my current conditions. I bet in the 6.8 Western you might get it just a little further than that. 900+ yards is a long ways on live game but sure is fun to practice to/past to make you a better marksman.

Jay

That’s awesome! Definitely much farther than I am effective at haha. Nice to have the extra velocity for training at longer distance and to know that you’re going to be well above your threshold for upset at most typical ranges.

 

[FLS]

I’ve killed dozens animals, whitetails, antelope and hogs with the 130 TGKs out of a 6.5 Creedmoor. Farthest was 725 closest was 25 -30. None have made it out of sight.
An elk and a bunch more deer with 110 Tipped Game kings out of a 25-06. Elk was 260 yds staggered on the first shot so it hit him again. Down in a heap, zero yards traveled. None of the deer went more than a few yards.
More deer and hogs with the 165/Tipped game kings out of a .308. Again none went very far. They are definitely a harder bullet than a TMK or ELDM but not any harder than a Nosler Ballistic Tip, of similar weight in the same caliber. They’re very accurate in my rifles, expand well and do significant tissue damage and sometimes exit. Excellent hunting bullet IMO.

 

[FLS]

The Sierra Brand 130 and 140 shot 0.5 " groups, the Sig Sierra 130 shot 1 " groups. Since Barnes bought Sierra I've only seen the 140. I think I found a place that still have a few boxes of the Sierra brand 130's. If they have them I'm going to buy them out

Other way around. Sierra bought Barnes back in 2020.