Sierra #1365 failures 55 grain SBT

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yoteblaster

Active member
I have been using this bullet with great success for 20 years. Bought a bunch awhile ago an I have been having a good number of coyotes run off, same powder,gun, primers. Prior to the purchase of the new lot of bullets I lost none. Shooting them out of a 20 inch barrel AR at about 3200 fps
 
E=mail Sierra and ask them if they changed it, I doubt it, but then you'd know.

Lots of people like this bullet. Why would they would change it just to get yelled at LoL.
 
After reading all the Kudus for the 1365 on coyotes I gave a box a try and had huge exits, unacceptable for saving fur, this was out of a 22-250 and went back to 52gr Speers.
 
The Sierra #1365 Game King is a SBT bullet. I emailed them and they said nothing has changed. In a 223 it was a perfect balance, dropped them instantly but no exit. My results now are it drops them and they run off.
 
Originally Posted By: yoteblasterThe Sierra #1365 Game King is a SBT bullet. I emailed them and they said nothing has changed. In a 223 it was a perfect balance, dropped them instantly but no exit. My results now are it drops them and they run off. Have you tried filming with thermal to verify if those #1365 jackets are bouncing off coyotes?
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First it was Vmax that was causing runoffs. Then it was 223 in general causing runoffs, maybe the newer twist rates, maybe the shorter barrels, who knows. Now it's #1365 is causing runoffs.

One thing that's never at fault, is the shooter.
 
I have used the 1365 some in the past but my go to bullet for my 220 Swift is the Sierra 55 gr HPBT (#1390). I am shooting it at 3865 fps and have not experienced offside damage with them. They have been a good fur saving bullet in my experience.

Something to think about if you are looking for an alternative.
 
I have the video to show the proof. Knocked one over last night, feet up in the air, tail doing the death wag and then no movement. One minute later he's up and running almost full speed.
 
Maybe the one on video wasn't a solid hit. I have seen grazing hits on both deer and coyotes drop em like lightning then up and scooting.

A bud had this happen on a large doe several years ago, luckily she was in the open and he thought she dropped "too" fast. Kept the gun on her and centered her up when she tried to regain her feet.

He had hit her high in the neck. Probably knocked her out then she regained her marbles and started to get up.

I have seen this more than once. hard to know for sure on the critters that get away.

Another thought, have you checked zero since all of this started?

How many have you lost?

 
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My 8 year old son killed his first deer (~135 lb buck) this year with a #1365 GameKing. Shot from a 16” barreled .223 @ 2,850 fps at about 60 yards. The deer was facing us and Sawyer made a great shot centered on the chest/base of the neck. The deer dropped immediately and was dead in seconds.
Upon dressing, I saw that the bullet destroyed the left lung and continued on into the guts. I couldn’t locate the bullet, but it definitely penetrated at least 16-18” of deer. It didn’t encounter any bone. I was very impressed and will be putting one on fur as soon as possible.
 
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Originally Posted By: DocHallidayMy son killed his first deer (~135 lb buck) this year with a #1365 GameKing. Shot from a 16” barreled .223 @ 2,850 fps at about 60 yards. The deer was facing us and Sawyer made a great shot centered on the chest/base of the neck. The deer dropped immediately and was dead in seconds.
Upon dressing, I saw that the bullet destroyed the left lung and continued on into the guts. I couldn’t locate the bullet, but it definitely penetrated at least 16-18” of deer. It didn’t encounter any bone. I was very impressed and will be putting one on fur as soon as possible.

We have killed a lot of Missouri whitetails with the Sierra GameKing SBT, on broadside shots it passes through on most shots, 223, 220 Swift and 22-250.
 
OP, could it be that the barrel has some wear on it and you have lost 150 or so FPS?

I love the 55g winchester at 3100 out of an AR for minimal to zero hide damage. We could do some trading. My load is 26g of Win 748.
 
Been using 1365 for years in a 22-250.
They have been "face in the dirt" bullets.
Have not bought any for a few years as a stocked up big when Bat-Ears was President but I can't imagine Sierra changing anything.
 
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