Sierra 120 Tipped Gameking

[stonehog]

I loaded and shot some of these in my Howa mini 22" today. Powders:
8208: 26.6, 27.0, 27.4
N540: 28.5, 29.0
SWMR: 30.8, 31.4 (flattened primers - higher velocity - too hot)
LVR: 30.6, 31.0, 31.4

Of note were N540 and LVR for accuracy and good velocity. SWMR was too hot giving me velocities of 2619 and 2648 ave. The N540 and LVR were both in the mid 2550s with MOA accuracy and no pressure signs.

120TGK.png

[Timitus]

I loaded and shot some of these in my Howa mini 22" today. Powders:
8208: 26.6, 27.0, 27.4
N540: 28.5, 29.0
SWMR: 30.8, 31.4 (flattened primers - higher velocity - too hot)
LVR: 30.6, 31.0, 31.4

Of note were N540 and LVR for accuracy and good velocity. SWMR was too hot giving me velocities of 2619 and 2648 ave. The N540 and LVR were both in the mid 2550s with MOA accuracy and no pressure signs.

[ATTACH=CONFIG]20072[/ATTACH]

Thanks for the update. I might give LVR a shot. I have a pound of it. What was your COAL?

[zholley]

120TGK TAC.jpg

Here is what I'm starting with for a quick hunting load.
28.8 grains of TAC (Sierra Max Load), Federal GM Match AR primers, Hornady Brass @ ~2.270"

Out of an 18" AR, this group averaged 2425 fps. I worked up to this one in about 70 degree weather. No signs of pressure and this one really tightened up compared to my others, but I was also feeling a bit off due to a large amount of wind which calmed down slightly during this group.

I'm loading 10 for a hunting trip next weekend to have some for testing terminal performance if the opportunity presents itself, but I don't want to load too many as I'd like to experiment with some more rounds to ensure that I didn't just get lucky with this group.

[Timitus]

Nice looking load. It should do the job for you on your up coming hunt.

[stonehog]

2.313 on this round. I'm going to load up some varied OALs and see if it changes things.

[Timitus]

2.313 on this round. I'm going to load up some varied OALs and see if it changes things.

Thanks for the update.

[Jake TN]

[Timitus]

I harvested a doe yesterday. Here is a break down of how the Sierra 120g TGK performed. The load was 27.5g of IMR 4064, COAL of 2.280 at 2450 fps average from my 22" barrel Ruger American. The doe was shot at 30-40 yards. It was facing the right of me slightly quartering away. Shot entered just behind the right leg. It ran 10-15 yards and piled up. The bullet was a pass through with no bones destroyed. Passed between ribs on both sides of the doe. I found the right front shoulder broken but could see no visible reason. When she was running away after bullet impact I didn't notice her leg not working correctly. The bullet did fragment on impact as I found a couple of 1/8th or smaller pieces. It is possible that I will find more in the broken shoulder later. There was no lung damage that I could find.
[ATTACH=CONFIG]20040[/ATTACH] Bullet entry.
[ATTACH=CONFIG]20041[/ATTACH]Bullet exited the chest and passed through the off side elbow.
[ATTACH=CONFIG]20042[/ATTACH]Bullet path through the heart.
[ATTACH=CONFIG]20043[/ATTACH]Bullet fragment damage to heart.

Update on the deer I shot. After processing I found that the blood shot right femur did get hit with the bullet and was shattered. So at the range I shot her it went through bone missed the ribs, hit the heart, missed ribs going out, and went through the off side elbow joint.

[Timitus]

Congratulations on your harvest. I hope you are starting to feel better. I ended up hitting bone going in which explains the fragmentation of my bullet. With future hunts maybe it will become clear if the bullet is to tough to expand without hitting bone.
Was your shot a pass through?

[WIshooter]

Any chance of someone making a cross section of this bullet to compare jacket thickness to other bullets?
I bought some of these but if they don't do damage like a fusion or ballistic tip I'll just use them as range fodder.

[Jake TN]

[zholley]

The weekend hunt went well. I harvested two does and a good sized hog and they all dropped where they stood at the time of the shot. Super happy with the bullet so far!120TGKHog.jpg

[Timitus]

Congratulations. What load did you work up for the hunt?

[USAF Retired]

[ATTACH=CONFIG]20077[/ATTACH]

Here is what I'm starting with for a quick hunting load.
28.8 grains of TAC (Sierra Max Load), Federal GM Match AR primers, Hornady Brass @ ~2.270"

Out of an 18" AR, this group averaged 2425 fps. I worked up to this one in about 70 degree weather. No signs of pressure and this one really tightened up compared to my others, but I was also feeling a bit off due to a large amount of wind which calmed down slightly during this group.

I'm loading 10 for a hunting trip next weekend to have some for testing terminal performance if the opportunity presents itself, but I don't want to load too many as I'd like to experiment with some more rounds to ensure that I didn't just get lucky with this group.

This is the info I was looking for. TAC has seemed to do the best for me out of gas guns. My chamber in my BCA is 2.281. That would give me .010 jump. My barrel is 2 inches shorter @ 16". Hoping to get my chrono out, but the wand may be busted on it. I can rough calculate 2375. This might be my hunting load, as long as while I am working up I show no pressure signs.

Shot one doe, but missed another with my 6.5 CR last weekend. In a ground blind, that 22" barrel and Magpul stock are like swinging a sword. Could not get my rifle in place to get the other doe and she was only 30 yards from the blind. I need a good load for my 16" BCA to maneuver better. Longest shots is about 200 yards, so that should be perfect.

Thank you.

[grayfox]

Just got back from the range this afternoon.
With my 22" howa re-barrel (preferred barrels).
My 115 Tac-tx over ArComp is holding good at 27.2 gr, 2530 MV, 0.630" ctc.

But what surprised me was the performance of the 120 Tgk... using both Ar Comp and Xbr.

AR comp, 27.8, 28.0, 28.2 grs, 4 rounds each.
120 TGK, 2578(sd-14.0), 2594 (sd-5.4), 2616 (sd-7.1).
the 27.8 showed the best grouping, but this is still under test.

Xbr, 27.8, 28.1, 28.4 grs, 4 rounds each.
120 TGK, 2529 (sd-7.0), 2536 (sd-7.3), 2573 (sd-9.3).

This barrel seems to have nodes at 2530 and 2590 thereabouts.

While I feel pretty good about the 115 Barnes load, this 120 tgk will soon take over, since I bought 300 of them.

I'm using fed 205 primer and Starline brass, seating to 2.280. No fcd for the bolt action.