Is Sierra stuck in the sands of time?

[FOTIS]

Why is this the only major bullet company that is stuck on 1950's technology?

Speer, Hornady, Nosler Barnes etc all have upgraded their products to offer premium or super premium bullets.

These guys are stuck in the jacket core separation days I guess. I really do not get it.

 

[gerry]

I have wondered too why they don't offer a tough premium style and maybe a bonded core version of their bullets. They must be doing well though to still be going strong.

 

[FOTIS]

The only way i can alibi their marketing strategy is they are selling all their bullets to varminters, benchresters and hunters with non magnum rifles.

 

[DrMike]

I hear you, Fotis. However, the cup-and-core bullet will still deliver the goods; and Sierra is still a good bullet. I have never complained about their performance on game. My major problem is finding Sierra bullets up here. They are controlled by one distributor here in the north, and because of past shenanigans, many smaller shops won't handle them.

 

[gerry]

I do want to try them the 85 gr HP in my 260 Rem and also the 90 gr 277 HP in a 270 we don't even own yet the latter bullet is on order right now, the 110 gr ProHunter's we wanted were unavailable here . I was going to try some of the match bullets in the 260 Rem but opted to order also some 123 gr CC's from Nosler and am going to add some Lapua Scenars at some point. Other than practice and varmint bullets I tend to use a lot of Nosler and some Speer's too.

 

[gerry]

FWIW Omineca Sports who I order most of my bullets from would like to order direct from Sierra (and Speer) but they won't work with them unlike Nosler, Barnes, Hornady and Berger. Makes no sense.

 

[DrMike]

FWIW Omineca Sports who I order most of my bullets from would like to order direct from Sierra (and Speer) but they won't work with them unlike Nosler, Barnes, Hornady and Berger. Makes no sense.

It is one major reason I shoot so many Nosler, Barnes, Hornady and Berger bullets, Gerry. I snag the odd box of Sierra and Speer bullets when I see them.

 

[FOTIS]

I use them in pistols varmint guns and such only.

 

[CMBTshooter]

It seems to me that their largest money making line is the Match King. In my opinion though, Nosler Custom Competitions are just as good, if not better, and definitely cheaper.

 

[FOTIS]

Nosler needs to produce a 375 cal 375 grain Custom Comp.

 

[CMBTshooter]

If Nosler made a .375 cal, 350-375 grain Custom Comp, I'd just HAVE to get a monster .375 magnum.

 

[FOTIS]

True!

 

[Luv2Hunt]

Yes, Sierra is stuck in the past. That past has been very good to Sierra however. They have a reputation among the target blaster crowd that is envied by all other production-line bullet builders. Their production facility runs full tilt trying to supply the demand (of course everyone is right now). They have probably the most extensive line of bullets going. In the times I have spoken with them about their big game bullets, I always got the impression that they were not too concerned with core seperation. They didn't seem to think of it as the "big deal" that many consider it and market towards. I was discussing a 6.5 bullet with one of their techs and he told me "yeah, at close range if you hit some heavy bone you're probably going to see a core seperation, but it won't matter- your game isn't going anywhere." I had a 7mm bt seperation a few years ago on an antelope of all things: dropped really fast with a couple exit holes and jacket remaining behind. It is not my preferred theory, but I understand the point he was making. If I ever want to see if a rifle can shoot before I give up on it, I try Sierras.
Now that said, I don't understand them avoiding the lead-free circus or not building what the customer wants to buy (currently, bonded or reinforced bullets of some design).
Not on topic, but Speer is the real mystery to me. They seem like a company that just doesn't understand what they have or what the market is. A lot of places do not even carry Speer and it is often the slowest line for those that do. With their resources I would think things would be different, but they seem content to just plod along falling further and further behind in the race. Others say those resources (ATK) is the problem, at least for the reloading segment. Supposedly, there will be no more Speer manuals as someone made the decision it is not a productive use of time/talent. It feels like watching an old friend die slowly.

 

[FOTIS]

If we go lead free they are screwed! It will take them 5 years to catch up.

 

[gerry]

I think the company that owns Speer is making far too much money with military and law enforcement contracts to worry about us little guys. It would be a real shame to see them stop making manuals and get further behind Nosler and others.

 

[DrMike]

It would be a real shame to see them stop making manuals and get further behind Nosler and others.

True, dat. Your rationalisation is likely correct, as well.

 

[FOTIS]

Sierra does have the military contract. Not sure about Speer though

 

[CatskillCrawler]

I have no problem with their business model. They make accurate bullets that work great for target shooting and hunting. Their products are not intended for extreme hunting scenarios but otherwise they are excellent. I have no reservations using them on non-dangerous big game when impact velocities will be under 3k fps. They are the most accurate bullet in almost every gun I load for. Bring enough gun and use appropriate weight bullets and they work great.

 

[rjm158]

I live in the town where Sierra is based. I used to work there part time and have several friends who still do. And yes, while I worked there I used Noslers almost exclusively and never hid that fact.

In my opinion:

1. Their owners are satisfied with the sales of existing designs although they did recently introduce some BT style bullets mainly oriented toward varmints. The Matchkings are their bread and butter and they sell a bunch of them. They recently added on extra room for more production and are running three full shifts. The last I heard they are still behind on filling orders.

2. There is a cross section of the hunting community/reloaders who aren't concerned with cup and core, polymer tip, or any other technical terms. They know what they have used for years and it should have a small amount of lead exposed at the end. In my area, Sierra's sell for less on the retailer's shelves so this also helps make up the minds for this portion of reloaders. I have heard from a lot of people the horror stories of BT's "blowing up" on a _______'s houlder and not getting penetration. I have never experienced this nor seen it, but others may have. For those who have this concern, I think the old standby designs give a level of comfort and there are multitudes of animals killed every year with them.

3. I think if there were a breakthrough bullet design that Sierra could market, there would still be some reluctance to move away from old standby designs and only IF a true, unique difference could be shown would there be a move branch out.

4. Sierra makes some good bullets and I use a lot of their seconds because they shoot very well in my experience for less money. I have loaded ammo for friends who have killed animals with them. I have too, but only varmints, because when I'm out to put meat in the freezer it's a BT or AB in the chamber. I especially like their 52 MK .223 very much as it has always shot well in my rifles with little to no tweaking.

Ron

 

[FOTIS]

I just wish they would offer more modern options.