Thinking about the 200gr sierra's in my 30-06

[teddy12b]

I mostly shoot at the long range for fun and after the last couple of years I've gotten decent at it. I'm thinking that it's time for me to mix up my "go-to" load and try something a little bit better.

I've been using 168gr matchkings for as long as I can remember and started with them because they seem to be one of the industry standards as far as a long range 30cal bullet goes. Now here I am years later knowing that I'm not really getting all the benefit downrange I could be getting out of my 110FP heavy barreled 30-06 with these light of bullets. So I got looking and I don't know why I never really noticed this before, but the Sierra 200gr matchking and Sierra 220gr gamekings seem like they'd give me the best of both worlds.

I could go to the range and use the matchkings for my long range accuracy wants, and then if I get the chance to go hunting the 200gr gamekings would be a natural fit because I'd be so used to the ballistics of how the other rounds flew. I know I'd have to work up two seperate loads, but it seems like the two bullets would have a very similar sweet spot and that I have a match, and hunting load that are very close to one another.

I know a 200gr matchking would handle anything that breathes, but in some cases a soft point just makes better sense. Any thoughts on this? I appreciate the help.

 

[Bart B]

Sierra's 168 30 caliber match bullet was never intended for use past 300 meters. But it did pretty good at 600 yards when driven out at least 2700 fps. Anything slower often resulted in their poor accuracy beyond 800 yards because the boattail wasn't the best design for long range like the 190's and 200's have.

30 caliber 200 spitzers from Sierra were a favorite in the .30-06 in long range competition before Sierra finally made a 200 gr. FMJBT match bullet that shot a little better. When that bullet was changed to a HPBT design, it was more accurate than the FMJBT version.

 

[backwoods83]

I finally got to chrono the 208 amax 30-06 load 55.5grains H4350 win brass, fed210m's at 3.521" from a 24" barrel 2682 high 2669 low, but it wasn't what I was looking for, if I were you I would look into 190 berger vlds or 185 lapua scenars as either can be used for hunting or paper punching, I can get 2844 with a 6fps es with the 185s, awesome load, same as above except oal is 3.452" with 57.7grns of powder. The 190 berger should go right at 2800 with a 24" or longer barrel and about 57grns. Hope that helps.

 

[rscott5028]

You might want to check out the Berger 30 Cal 230 Grain Match Hybrid OTM Tactical

I'm eager to give them a try myself.

 

[HARPERC]

Sounds like a good plan! I've used and liked both those Sierra bullets in 30-06's.

 

[Nomad]

Shooting both the data on my come ups and windage works with both bullets....
Have used H4350 and RL-25, plan on working with RL-17 have had good results
so far and still working on it.
Using different primers as well as seating length.
Would be looking at some of your results will share more as time passes...

 

[teddy12b]

I've got the 200gr matchkings on order and they should arrive at the house tomorrow. I'm going to work up loads using IMR 4350, lapua brass and Federal match primers. If I can get a good load worked up for the 200gr matchkings, then I'll try to apply that load to the gamekings also. Hopefully I get a chance to try this all out on Sunday, but I'm not 100% sure I'm going to be able to get out to the range.

 

[teddy12b]

Well, I got out to the range last Sunday and tried out my new 200gr matchkings. I was using lapua brass, federal match primers 210M, and IMR4350. I started low and working up in .5gr increments shooting 5 shot groups at 100 yards. I had one of those groups just shy of 1/2" and it was towards the upper end of the safe powder levels. According to sierra's manuals, I should be sending them out right around 2600 fps. Oh it was a happy day for me.

Now, I've got another 50 of the 1/2" loads made up and the next time I go to the range I'll be stretching it out on steel targets seeing what I can get those 200gr pills to do, hopefully out to the 1000 yards steel. It shouldn't be that hard if they group nearly as well as they did at 100 yards. I'll update as range trips go.

 

[Bart B]

Now, I've got another 50 of the 1/2" loads made up and the next time I go to the range I'll be stretching it out on steel targets seeing what I can get those 200gr pills to do, hopefully out to the 1000 yards steel. It shouldn't be that hard if they group nearly as well as they did at 100 yards. I'll update as range trips go.

Best wishes.

Note that groups open up about 10% to 15% per hundred yards as the range gets beyond the first 100 yards. Sometimes even more. Thanks to muzzle velocity spread, subtle cross winds and bullet quality.