Did these a while back and thought I'd put them on here.
From left to right.
1. Sierra GameKing 85gr HPBT
2. Hornady 87gr HPBT
3. Sierra GameKing 100gr Spitzer Boat Tail
4. Hornady 100gr Interlock Flat Base
5. Nosler 95gr Ballistic Tip
When I study these bullets closely looking straight down on them, the 87gr Hornady is noticeably heavier on the exposed front as well as a much smaller HP opening than the Sierra 85gr. The Sierra appears to be to be the same thickness back through the shank portion (although a .001 or so difference would be hard to decipher with a naked eye) but then is slightly heavier in the heel. 2 different methods of controlling expansion but both seem to work reliably well on whitetail.
The Sierra 100gr GameKing is a thin walled bullet all the way back with not a lot of heel area and no real means of controlling expansion. This seems to coincide with guys I know that use this bullet and like it very well on whitetail for behind the shoulder shots, but warn of keeping it away from the shoulder unless you want a mess.
The Hornady 100gr Interlock appears to be ever so slightly, and I do mean slightly thicker than the Sierra back through the shank area. That along with the Interlock feature makes this bullet a dependable performer. Nothing dramatic but will readily expand along with dependable and adequate penetration on all but possibly the most severe angling shots.
The Nosler 95gr BT is clearly the stoutest bullet of the bunch. With a progressively thickening jacket this bullet has a noticeably thicker jacket in the rear 1/3 portion of the shank and is at least 3 times thicker if not more in the heel.
Personally I wish Nosler offered this bullet with a non tipped option to control the violent initial expansion at the close quarters I usually shoot deer at. It's already thin up front, just letting the HP do it's job would be about perfect for me.
None of this takes into account the somewhat varying alloy compositions that I'm sure would occur between different bullet makers making some bullets slightly harder or softer. But all else being equal gives an idea of expected differences.
From left to right.
1. Sierra GameKing 85gr HPBT
2. Hornady 87gr HPBT
3. Sierra GameKing 100gr Spitzer Boat Tail
4. Hornady 100gr Interlock Flat Base
5. Nosler 95gr Ballistic Tip
When I study these bullets closely looking straight down on them, the 87gr Hornady is noticeably heavier on the exposed front as well as a much smaller HP opening than the Sierra 85gr. The Sierra appears to be to be the same thickness back through the shank portion (although a .001 or so difference would be hard to decipher with a naked eye) but then is slightly heavier in the heel. 2 different methods of controlling expansion but both seem to work reliably well on whitetail.
The Sierra 100gr GameKing is a thin walled bullet all the way back with not a lot of heel area and no real means of controlling expansion. This seems to coincide with guys I know that use this bullet and like it very well on whitetail for behind the shoulder shots, but warn of keeping it away from the shoulder unless you want a mess.
The Hornady 100gr Interlock appears to be ever so slightly, and I do mean slightly thicker than the Sierra back through the shank area. That along with the Interlock feature makes this bullet a dependable performer. Nothing dramatic but will readily expand along with dependable and adequate penetration on all but possibly the most severe angling shots.
The Nosler 95gr BT is clearly the stoutest bullet of the bunch. With a progressively thickening jacket this bullet has a noticeably thicker jacket in the rear 1/3 portion of the shank and is at least 3 times thicker if not more in the heel.
Personally I wish Nosler offered this bullet with a non tipped option to control the violent initial expansion at the close quarters I usually shoot deer at. It's already thin up front, just letting the HP do it's job would be about perfect for me.
None of this takes into account the somewhat varying alloy compositions that I'm sure would occur between different bullet makers making some bullets slightly harder or softer. But all else being equal gives an idea of expected differences.
