Speer or Sierra

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layusn1

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I asked this on another forum but the more opinions the better right?
Anyone done any comparison between Spper and Sierra bullets, all other things being equal? The price isn't that much higher for the Sierras around here and if I'm not buying bulk I may as well buy best (other than than Burger, Ballistic Technologies, etc) right?

There are two main rifles I would be looking to use these in are my AR15 and My Browning A Bolt. For 223 I have been using 52gr HPBT Match Speer but I might consider a heavier bullet for experiments sake. It has a 1:9 twist but is a fully stock RRA, nothing match, custom, upgraded about it. It has a Nikon ProStaff (fixed focal length) moounted on the carry handle The second is a Browning A Bolt in 243 Win, stock, I lightened the trigger pull a little with the set screw but that is it. It has the most expensive optics in the house, a Leupold 3-9x50. I have had great success with the 75gr HP from Speer but again would consider different weights.

For reference sake I have been using W748 with CCI Small Rifle Magnum primers for the 223 rounds, Varget with CCI Large Rifle primers for the 243 and I am limited to 100 yards by my range.

I have some unopened BL-C(2) and about a half a pound of IMR 4895 to try out in 223. I have only ever tried Varget in 243.

Any thoughts, suggestions, recommendations would be greatly appreciated. Thanks.
 
I can't comment on a .22 Cal or .24 Cal bullets but I can talk about a .308" bullet. I have shot Speer, Hornady and Sierra bullets in my 1917 Enfield 30-06 and the Sierra bullets are the best hands down. I shoot both the 168gr and 175gr BTHP Match bullets from Sierra and won't settle for anything else.
 
In 30 cal, Seirra 168's are noticeably better in my M1A's then any other brand. Thus I shoot Seirra's in general. The same holds true for 7mm with my 7-08.
 
If choosing between Sierra and Speer, I will load Sierra every time. Some loading manuals take issue with certain Speer bullets. I have never seen a disclaimer for Sierra.
 
In the 223 with a 1/9 twist, you are not going to be able to go much higher than a 62 grain bullet and still stabilize. Also, it's pretty hard to beat W748. My .243 Ruger 77 is one-hole accurate with Varget, yet my .223 A-Bolts (223 and 308) both prefer W748. I really do not see much difference between Speer and Sierra in the .223, with Nosler ballistic tips doing the best, but my .243 likes both Barnes and Sierra 85 grain bullets. The .308 does slightly better with a Sierra than a Speer, but if you are talking hunting accuracy, there simply ain't no meaningful difference. Barrel harmonics being what they are, while I give Sierra an edge over Speer, you may find out Speer is the best performing bullet in a given firearm and the worst in another. That's why reloading, particularly load work up is not really a job, it's an adventure.
 
I guess it depends are what you want out of your 243?

For paper punching and target shooting Sierra Match-kings all the way.

For a Hunting bullet you may want to try something like 95 or 100gr Partitions. Just a few pennies more than the Sierra's and a great bullet for deer sized game.
 
No, I don't do any hunting, I only kill paper targets. I am pretty much hunting down accuracy here. I would like to keep the cost as close to the $20ish per box range. That is why I shied away from the much higher end serious competition type bullets. I don't know that my rifles or I could shoot well enough to notice the difference there. I do go ahead and do all of the case prep stages like uniforming the primer pocket and the flash holes and deburring the flash holes as well. I haven't gone as far as weight sorting the brass or doing anything with case necks like reaming them, comparing neck thickness etc. I think those are probably stages better saved for someday when I can afford to build a real bench rest rifle. For now I am looking for better "economy accuracy" as much as possible. It does sound like the Sierras are coming out as the hands down winner, in both forums.
 
Vern Speer got started selling hunting bullets, and has never been known for great target bullets. I've been using Grand Slams for longer than I care to remember.

Sierra bullets are my choice for target shooting, 168gr MKs do well in every 30 cal caliber I load, including 7.5 Swiss. I tried Nosler and Berger 168 grainers, but seem to come back to MKs every time.

Varget would not be my 1st choice for 243 - it's too fast IMO. I have always done well with 4350 powders from IMR and Accurate with every bullet weight.
LT
 
sorry that is Nosler ballistic tips.
I have a 7 x 57 and a 7mm mag and have tryied many different bullets.
the nosler balistic tip is a great shooting bullet
 
In the 223 with a 1/9 twist, you are not going to be able to go much higher than a 62 grain bullet and still stabilize.
Click to expand...

I get good results with 65gr Sierra Gamekings, and I have a couple of boxes of 69gr Matchkings that I plan to try.

Best results have come with 60gr Vmaz bullets.
 
Sierra Matchkings are rapidly become the standard. Hornady makes a good 168 grain match bullet too though. Cheap they ain't though.
"...Sierra Ballistic Tip?..." A hunting bullet with a nylon or other material insert in the point that aids expansion. However, they're not from Sierra, even though they make their Blitzking varmint bullet with an insert. Nolser makes BT's. 'Ballistic Tip' is really a marketing name.
"...A Bolt in 243 Win..." The rifling twist matters. A fast twist, 1 in 9 or faster will usually prefer heavier bullets. 80 grains and up. Browning uses a 1 in 10 twist, so it'll like your 75 grain bullet. That doesn't mean it won't be accurate enough for deer sized game with heavier bullets though. Try a Sierra 70 grain Matchking with your Varget or IMR4350(40.0 to 45.5). You will have to work up the load though.
Your AR will probably like Sierra .244" diameter 69 or 77 grain Matchkings. I don't shoot .223 so I have no idea what powder. Varget maybe. You don't need the magnum primers for any .223 load. Nor do you need CCI "milspec" primers. They're just another magnum primer marketed well.
 
My Sako heavy barrel .222 Mag loves Hornadys, so that's what I feed it. It shot the Sierra 52 Gr Match HP pretty well, but that barrel just prefered Hornadys.
 
Sierra. Speer is probably the only major company I haven't tried much. My favorites, in order:

1) Sierra (Matchkings and Blitzkings)
2) Lapua (Scenars) tie Berger (VLDs and the 80 flat based in 6mm)
3) Nosler Ballistic tips and Nosler Partitions
4) Hornady V-Max, A-Max, also FMJ(s) for plinking
5) Midway Dogtown (Plinkers)


For pistol bullets

1) Hornady XTP(s) and Nosler CC/Target
2) Zero FMJ(s)
3) Winchester FMJ
4) Montana Gold HP(s) and FMJ
5) Good cast LSWC and RN

Muzzleloader

1) Roundballs and only roundballs
 
No, I don't do any hunting, I only kill paper targets. I am pretty much hunting down accuracy here. I would like to keep the cost as close to the $20ish per box range. That is why I shied away from the much higher end serious competition type bullets. I don't know that my rifles or I could shoot well enough to notice the difference there.
Click to expand...
Sierra MatchKing 30 Cal bullets are $24.99/100.
1 lb 4895 is $21
1K Winchester LR Primers is $23

At those prices, even though the prices are high you can build a round for $0.418. That's $8.36 a box of 20 or under $42 for 100 rounds. That is well under your $20 a box of 20 criteria.
 
I think Sierra's forte is match bullets, the Match King.

Speer seems to be more hunting-centric.

Been buying Sierra for .223 AR (50gr,55gr,60gr,63gr,69gr), and 8x57. Also got some 120gr Sierra Pro Hunter for 7mm Mag.

Hornady V-Max 50gr for my dad's .22-250. He will only shoot one bullet out of it, and won't budge.

I like Speer's 235gr .375 for my dad's 375H&H. But he wanted something lighter, 220gr was lightest I could find and Hornady was the maker.

Speer has weird sizes for 7mm, I use Hornady(SST, Bonded), Sierra(Pro Hunter) and Nosler(Ballistic Tip, Partition). I may get some Sierra MK's for the 7mm Mag.

Since Alliant is part of ATK, as is Speer, the reloading data has Speer bullets. Doh!
 
69 gr. Sierra BTHP on top of 23 gr. H335 is giving me great performance from my 16" AR w/ a 1in9 twist barrel.

I'm not planning on trying anything heavier though.
 
1-in-12" Twisted .233 Remington Caliber

I shoot accurate gobs of 60 grain Nosler Partitions in .223 with a 1-in-12" Twist, still I'd like to try Swift 75 grain Scirocco IIs. Swift claims a 1-in-8" twist is required to stabilize this bullet. Now to find a 1-in-8" twist bolt-action rifle . . . Com'on Swift, I know you can make a .224" diameter 60 grain Scirocco II, if only to satisfy me and thousands of others. Letting Nosler lead the Pack, does not sound like Swift. Even Hornady produces a fine hollow-point in 60 grain. A 1-in-9" twister in .223 Rem should be able to handle 64 grainers with ease, but 75 grains? cliffy
 
The most accurate bullet in my .223 1:9 Savage is the 77 SMK, followed by the 69 SMK. 1:9 will stabilize - in my gun at least - the 77 SMK.
 
I guess you are seeing a pattern here... Sierra isn't getting all the praise without good reason. Their MatchKing and GameKing bullets are a cut above the rest.
 
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