New Sierra 169gr SMK (.30)

Why do you think that they'll be hard to tune?
I would assume they've messed with the ogive to milk that BC. Part of the reason I've always heard the 168s and 175s are easy to load for is because of their modest but reliable tanget ogive. Maybe that's bullshit, but I've always heard that.

Disclaimer - I'm also a shitty reloader most likely.
 
Snagged some up as well from Sierra. $12 flat shipping no matter how large or small the order it appears. I will let you all know how they do out of my Bergara HMR 308. It surprisingly is capable of .5-.75 moa with FGMM 168 and 175 SMK’s.
 
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Lengthening the boattail ... now where did I see something about boattail length?????

 
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I would assume they've messed with the ogive to milk that BC. Part of the reason I've always heard the 168s and 175s are easy to load for is because of their modest but reliable tanget ogive. Maybe that's bullshit, but I've always heard that.

Disclaimer - I'm also a shitty reloader most likely.
I think there is something to that because I've really struggled to get the Nosler VLD style bullets to shoot well in 308, something I've attributed to the very steep ogive. But, maybe we get surprised and these shoot well in a bunch of guns. The fact that they would work in a 1:12 opens some pretty interesting possibilities up for guys out there with older guns - maybe it is feasible to hit 1000 supersonic out of an old 1:12 22" or 24".

ETA - using that G1 and Hornady's calculate, at sea level and assuming a MV of 2500, the round is going 1207 FPS at 1000. If true, that is pretty crazy. For comparison, the standard 168 SMK would be doing 1108.
 
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I ordered 500 of these the day they were available. Haven’t received shipping info yet, as they said 2 week behind...money has been withdrawn from my account, so should have them soon 😀
 
The Sierra website wasn't accepting credit card info so I called them and placed an old fashioned phone order 😱 for 500. They had 100ct boxes not 500 and they're sold out everywhere else.
 
I broke down and ordered 1000 just now. Might as well give it a go, but will be a while til I actually workup a load.

I broke down and ordered 1000 just now. Might as well give it a go, but will be a while til I actually workup a load. Ill be interested to see your results.
Im regretting only ordering 500. If they end up being what they claim to be, im gonna be upset if they are OOS and hard to find by the time i get a load dialed in... Oh well.
 
Me personally, I just cant see how these make sense... The TMK's are superior in accuracy and BC.... I shot the SMK and the TMK's in my Bartlein vs Krieger 308 barrel testing a few months back and man those TMK's straight hammer. Measurably smaller groups consistently across the board with the TMK's vs the SMK's. They shoot great in my 20" Krieger/MEGA AR as well. I was a SMK guy for a long time, but these TMK's straight hammer for those of you that havent tested them.


169 SMK - 0.527 BC
168 TMK - 0.535 BC
175 TMK - 0.545 BC



Here is my 175 TMK seating depth test with 2 different charge weights in my 24" Bartlein 5R




 
Me personally, I just cant see how these make sense... The TMK's are superior in accuracy and BC.... I shot the SMK and the TMK's in my Bartlein vs Krieger 308 barrel testing a few months back and man those TMK's straight hammer. Measurably smaller groups consistently across the board with the TMK's vs the SMK's. They shoot great in my 20" Krieger/MEGA AR as well. I was a SMK guy for a long time, but these TMK's straight hammer for those of you that havent tested them.


169 SMK - 0.527 BC
168 TMK - 0.535 BC
175 TMK - 0.545 BC

Not only that, Hornady ELD-Ms and ELD-Xs provide stellar accuracy, comparable BCs, and cost on average $10 per hundred less than Sierra TMKs
 
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Me personally, I just cant see how these make sense... The TMK's are superior in accuracy and BC.... I shot the SMK and the TMK's in my Bartlein vs Krieger 308 barrel testing a few months back and man those TMK's straight hammer. Measurably smaller groups consistently across the board with the TMK's vs the SMK's. They shoot great in my 20" Krieger/MEGA AR as well. I was a SMK guy for a long time, but these TMK's straight hammer for those of you that havent tested them.


169 SMK - 0.527 BC
168 TMK - 0.535 BC
175 TMK - 0.545 BC



Here is my 175 TMK seating depth test with 2 different charge weights in my 24" Bartlein 5R





No doubt the TMKs are an impressive bullet. I have used the 168 and 175 TMK in 308 and the 130 TMK in 260 and the only issue I had with them was they are slightly more jump sensitive that the SMK, but only slightly.. All perform exceptionally but are noticeably more expensive than the Matchking. These new Matchkings are also available, and the .008 difference in b.c. is well ... actually insignificant. At 800yd, Strelok calculates a 0.1mil difference in elevation and 0.0 windage at 5mph. At 100, elevation goes to 0.2 and still no windage difference. Sounds like the 1gr difference in weight is the only attributable difference. That bears experimentation at some point, but at $0.06 per bullet ... there would have to be some significant difference.

Not only that, Hornady ELD-Ms and ELD-Xs provide stellar accuracy, comparable BCs, and cost on average $10 per hundred less than Sierra TMKs
Again, excellent bullets, but I find they are, like the TMKs, more jump sensitive. When running the same ammo between my 20" Proof barreled Mega gasser and my 22" Tooley/Bartlein AIAX, that is important.
 
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No doubt the TMKs are an impressive bullet. I have used the 168 and 175 TMK in 308 and the 130 TMK in 260 and the only issue I had with them was they are slightly more jump sensitive that the SMK, but only slightly.. All perform exceptionally but are noticeably more expensive than the Matchking. These new Matchkings are also available, and the .008 difference in b.c. is well ... actually insignificant. At 800yd, Strelok calculates a 0.1mil difference in elevation and 0.0 windage at 5mph. At 100, elevation goes to 0.2 and still no windage difference. Sounds like the 1gr difference in weight is the only attributable difference. That bears experimentation at some point, but at $0.06 per bullet ... there would have to be some significant difference.

Accuracy was the biggest thing that stood out over 2 barrels (Bartlein 5R and Krieger 4G) was the biggest difference. Was it monumental, no. But it was consistent with 2 differenct barrels with 2 different rifling.. 6x5 AGG tests were 0.1" smaller with TMK over SMK in both barrels at 100yd. My groups at 500 and 600yd were smaller with the TMK as well with the same loads.

I would say it depends what you're after....
 
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No doubt the TMKs are an impressive bullet. I have used the 168 and 175 TMK in 308 and the 130 TMK in 260 and the only issue I had with them was they are slightly more jump sensitive that the SMK, but only slightly.. All perform exceptionally but are noticeably more expensive than the Matchking. These new Matchkings are also available, and the .008 difference in b.c. is well ... actually insignificant. At 800yd, Strelok calculates a 0.1mil difference in elevation and 0.0 windage at 5mph. At 100, elevation goes to 0.2 and still no windage difference. Sounds like the 1gr difference in weight is the only attributable difference. That bears experimentation at some point, but at $0.06 per bullet ... there would have to be some significant difference.


Again, excellent bullets, but I find they are, like the TMKs, more jump sensitive. When running the same ammo between my 20" Proof barreled Mega gasser and my 22" Tooley/Bartlein AIAX, that is important.


Ive done extensive testing with TMK's in 223 and 308. I did not find them jump sensitive at all as shown on my above seating depth tests. I shoot them in both bolt guns and AR's and both shoot very very good for me.
 
Me personally, I just cant see how these make sense... The TMK's are superior in accuracy and BC.... I shot the SMK and the TMK's in my Bartlein vs Krieger 308 barrel testing a few months back and man those TMK's straight hammer. Measurably smaller groups consistently across the board with the TMK's vs the SMK's. They shoot great in my 20" Krieger/MEGA AR as well. I was a SMK guy for a long time, but these TMK's straight hammer for those of you that havent tested them.


169 SMK - 0.527 BC
168 TMK - 0.535 BC
175 TMK - 0.545 BC



Here is my 175 TMK seating depth test with 2 different charge weights in my 24" Bartlein 5R






Hell i didn't realize the 168gr TMK had a .535 BC you're right. Is the 168gr TMK a new TMK or has it been out?
 
Been out for a couple years at least I feel like

Damn i guess i just missed that? It's hard to keep up with sierra's releases because they'll literally redesign a bullet under the same moniker and suddenly the BC jumps because they've changed the ogive. But yeah the 168gr TMK kind of makes the 169gr SMK moot. I suppose the SMK is a little cheaper.