Sierra .30-cal., 165-gr. HPBT GameKing Bullets

by
posted on February 28, 2014
** When you buy products through the links on our site, we may earn a commission that supports NRA's mission to protect, preserve and defend the Second Amendment. **
Sierra bullet box 30 caliber 308 projectile ammunition firearms making ammo

Big-game hunters who focus only on “long-range” pursuit-and thus demand a bullet with a high ballistic coefficient (BC)-will assuredly look past the topic of this post, as its BC is a modest .363. Factory ammunition that features the projectile is nearly non-existent, too; in fact, during a quick search I could only locate two loads-one each in .308 Win. and 30-’06 Sprg.-in Fiocchi’s Extrema line. That being said, Sierra’s 0.308”-diameter, 165-gr. hollow-point boattail (HPBT) GameKing is one of the finest big-game bullets available. Not glitzy in appearance, this variant of the GameKing design is, according to Sierra Bullets (sierrabullets.com), “patterned after the world famous 168-gr. MatchKing bullet”-hence the reason it’s incredibly accurate. I’ve confirmed this in a variety of rifles chambered for cartridges ranging from .300 Whisper to .300 Wby. Mag. Sub-m.o.a. performance is typical, not extraordinary. Despite its “standard” cup-and-core construction, the thickness of the jacket, 3-percent antimony core, and constricted tip combine for deep penetration, even though it is a hollow point. Sierra reports that it will attain depths greater than those of the comparable-weight spitzer boattail GameKing. Coalese these characteristics with reliable, wide expansion diameters and multiple wound channels from "washed-off" material, and the results are dramatic. Its impressive terminal ballistics was, once again, illustrated when hunting whitetail deer in south-central Kansas with Tall Tine Outfitters (talltine.com) in December 2013.

After enduring two consecutive, 8-hour days with minus 10º F (or colder) wind chill factors, on the evening of day three a heavy, mature whitetail buck emerged from the wood line, offering a shot. Quartering toward me at 227 yds., the bullet-delivered from the 16 1/4" barrel of the new Mossberg MVP Patrol in 7.62x51 mm NATO (.308 Win.) topped with a Swarovski V6(i) 1.7-10X 42 mm-entered at the front of the deer’s shoulder and exited in front of the opposite hind quarter. The buck collapsed within 10 yds. One cannot ask for better performance-at any price. As for cost, Cabela’s sells 100-count boxes for $33, which enables extensive time at the range to practice without excessive expense. Perhaps the only downside to the projectile is the aforementioned low BC; however, if you know your cartridge/gun’s external ballistics, learn to read the wind, and practice, there’s no reason not to utilize the bullets for hunting at most distances. I’ve discovered this through nearly a decade and a half of constant use. Have you tried the Sierra .30-cal., 165-gr. BTHP GameKing? If so, what are your impressions?

Latest

Gotw Rra Lar 22 Tactical Carbine Web
Gotw Rra Lar 22 Tactical Carbine Web

Gun Of The Week: Rock River Arms LAR-22 Tactical Carbine

This week, we're on the range with the Rock River Arms LAR-22 Tactical Carbine, a rimfire variant of the AR-15 that's designed for reliability and gives enthusiasts a way to shoot affordably.

The Armed Citizen® July 11, 2025

Read today's "The Armed Citizen" entry for real stories of law-abiding citizens, past and present, who used their firearms to save lives.

Japanese Last-Ditch Small Arms Of World War II

The crude assortment of fighting tools used by the Japanese during World War II give clues of an unprepared and unmatched last-ditch fight that ultimately lead to Allied victory.

Federal Ammunition Awards 2025 Tom Knapp Memorial Scholarships

Federal Ammunition recently awarded the 2025 Tom Knapp Memorial Scholarships to two 4-H shooting sports teen ambassadors.

2025 Optic Of The Year: Burris Eliminator 6

Even as new generation after new generation of Burris Eliminator continued to add more advanced technology and functionality, it remained odd-looking—until the launch of this year’s sixth-generation product, which is the first in the line that can mount atop a rifle using standard 34 mm scope rings.

I Have This Old Gun: Star Model B

Of the many Spanish-made firearms to emerge throughout the 19th and 20th century, one of the most recognizable is the Star Model B, largely due to its similarity to the Colt Model 1911.

Interests



Get the best of American Rifleman delivered to your inbox.