Sierra Bullets

Sierra Bullets has been making precision projectiles since 1947, and they've earned their trademark "The Bulletsmiths" the hard way. While other companies chase trends and diversify into every corner of the gun business, Sierra does one thing -- they make bullets that shoot where you point them.

Founded in California during the post-war shooting boom, Sierra moved to Sedalia, Missouri in 1990 where they still operate today. They're a SAAMI member and have built their reputation on the MatchKing line, which has won more precision rifle competitions than any other bullet in history.

The MatchKing line isn't just Sierra's flagship -- it's the standard every other match bullet gets measured against. These hollow point boat-tails have been putting rounds through the same hole since the 1950s.

• •Timeline of MatchKing development and key milestones

The 175-grain .308 MatchKing deserves special mention. It's loaded in the military's M118LR sniper round, it's what most F-Class shooters reach for at 1,000 yards, and it's probably responsible for more long-range hits than any other bullet ever made.

The 168-grain held the crown for decades, but the 175 surpassed it beyond 800 yards with better ballistic coefficient and transonic stability.

The 175-grain .308 MatchKing is probably responsible for more long-range hits than any other bullet ever made.

Sierra also makes the MatchKing-X line for extreme long-range work and Tipped MatchKings with polymer tips for better BC. But the original HPBT MatchKings are still the gold standard.

Sierra's hunting bullets don't get as much attention as the MatchKings, but they're solid performers. The GameKing line bridges match accuracy with hunting expansion -- you get Sierra's precision with reliable terminal performance on game.

• •Sierra's hunting bullet lineup and positioning

The Tipped GameKing (TGK) adds a polymer tip for higher BC and consistent expansion initiation. These are genuinely accurate hunting bullets, not just marketing fluff. If you want to reach out on elk or punch tight groups with your deer rifle, TGK bullets deliver.

Pro-Hunter bullets are Sierra's budget hunting option -- flat-base spitzers that perform well at typical hunting ranges without the boat-tail premium. Varminter bullets are built thin for explosive expansion on prairie dogs and coyotes.

For non-reloaders, Sierra recently launched GameChanger loaded ammunition using TGK bullets. Limited caliber selection, but it puts Sierra's hunting performance in factory brass.

Sierra's strength isn't having the highest BC or the latest polymer tip technology. Their strength is consistency -- lot-to-lot, bullet-to-bullet uniformity that lets you trust your dope at 1,000 yards.

Sierra's strength isn't having the highest BC or latest technology. Their strength is consistency -- lot-to-lot, bullet-to-bullet uniformity that lets you trust your dope at 1,000 yards.

Sierra excels at traditional match and hunting applications. If you're shooting High Power, F-Class, or precision rifle competition, MatchKings should be in your load development rotation.

• •High Power competition standard
• •F-Class proven at 1,000 yards
• •Military sniper ammunition
• •70+ years of competition wins

For hunting, the TGK line offers genuine accuracy advantages over most hunting bullets. You can shoot groups with them at the range and count on expansion in the field.

Where Sierra falls short is modern trends.

• •No lead-free monolithic options
• •BCs lag newest designs
• •Limited extreme long-range optimization

If you're chasing every tenth of a mil at extreme distances, Sierra might not be your first choice.

But for most shooters -- including serious competitors -- Sierra's combination of accuracy, consistency, and proven performance is tough to beat. They've been making precision bullets since before "precision rifle" was a thing, and it shows in the results.

Sierra Bullets proved that a bullet could be a precision instrument, not just a chunk of lead with a jacket. The 175-grain .308 MatchKing is probably the most battle-tested long-range projectile ever made -- it's what's loaded in military sniper ammunition, it's what F-Class champions use, and it's what most serious precision rifle shooters reach for when they absolutely need to make the shot.

Yes, newer designs from Berger and Hornady have higher ballistic coefficients. Yes, other companies offer more hunting bullet variety.

Sierra has something money can't buy -- decades of proven performance under every condition you can imagine.

But Sierra has something money can't buy -- decades of proven performance under every condition you can imagine. When you're loading MatchKings, you're loading the same bullets that have won more matches, set more records, and made more long-range hits than probably any other projectile in history.

Their hunting bullets deserve more credit too. The TGK line offers match-grade accuracy with reliable hunting performance -- a combination that's rarer than it should be. For most hunting situations, Sierra's traditional cup-and-core construction works just fine, and the accuracy advantage is real.

The bottom line: Sierra does bullets right. They're not chasing every trend or trying to be everything to everyone.

They make consistently accurate projectiles the same way they have for 70+ years, and the results speak for themselves. If you handload for precision -- whether that's competition, hunting, or just shooting tight groups -- Sierra belongs on your bench.