NEW: Sierra 145 Gr. 6.5mm Tipped GameKing

I started using Sierra Bullets in the 1970s and I’ve always found them accurate and reliable. I’ve used them for competition, on SWAT, and hunting both varmints and big game. I shot out several .308 Winchester barrels at around 6,000 rounds each with .30 caliber 155 and 168 grain Sierra MatchKing bullets. For varmint and coyote hunting, I relied on various lighter weight varmint bullets. Sierra’s GameKing line has always been the standard for medium and large game. Today I’m taking a closer look at the new Sierra 6.5mm 145 Grain Tipped GameKing!

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About the Sierra 6.5mm 145 Grain Tipped GameKing

The Sierra 6.5mm 145 Grain Tipped GameKing was specifically intended for the 6.5 PRC, but it is suitable for use in any of the various 6.5 cartridges including 6.5 Creedmoor, 6.5×55, .260 Remington, 6.5 Wby RPM and more.

From Sierra:

Introduced in 2024, this bullet was engineered around the 6.5 PRC. Giving a heavier bullet with a tremendous G1 B.C of .597 to capitalize on the high velocity potential of the intended cartridge. Also providing excellent expansion results in a true long range hunting bullet. Accuracy is excellent and performance is outstanding. Feed your 6.5 PRC what it deserves. Available in 100 count (#4345) and 500 count (#4345C).

Solidly in the category of long-range projectiles for the 6.5 cartridges with its .597 G1 BC figure, this TGK weighs in at a very useful 145 grains which keeps it light enough for good muzzle velocity. This bullet shoots well from standard 1:8 twist 6.5 barrels.

I specifically asked Sierra representative Mitchel Demand about the minimum impact velocity for reliable expansion and which North American big game this bullet was intended for.

He advised me that the bullet would reliably expand in lung shots down to about 1800 fps, and that it was intended for game as large as elk! Mature bull elk are particularly large, strong, tough animals, so I am impressed.

The Rifles

We tested the Sierra 6.5mm 145 Grain TGK in both 6.5 PRC and 6.5 Creedmoor.

We’ve used a 6.5 PRC Bergara B14 Wilderness HMR for several stories.

It’s proven to be accurate and utterly reliable. The synthetic stock is tough and easily adjustable for length of pull as well as comb height.

It comes with a radial muzzle brake. We eventually replaced that with one of Erik Cortina’s EC Tuner Brakes.

To test the accuracy of Sierra’s 145 grain Tipped GameKing, Gavin turned to a custom 6.5 Creedmoor he’d built a few months ago. This rifle has proven capable of excellent accuracy with a variety of 6.5 Creedmoor ammunition.

One feature of this terrific rifle is the Foundation Samson stock which was developed specifically for PRS competition. This is a great-looking rifle that also shoots superbly.

It was a great accuracy testbed for these Sierra TGK bullets.

Load Data and Results

Like many other manufacturers, Sierra publishes load data for their bullets. Sierra sent me their recommended load data for the 145 grain Tipped GameKing and the 6.5 PRC cartridge.

Slow-burning powders produce the best results for the 6.5 PRC. Sierra specifically recommends H4831SC. Retumbo has also worked well for me in the past and we’ve seen excellent accuracy from MAGPRO powder.

I decided to load three different charges of MAGPRO and one with Accurate 5744. I loaded all the rounds in Hornady brass on an RCBS Supreme press.

I’m a fan of flat-shooting, accurate cartridges capable of delivering the goods at longish ranges.

The 6.5 PRC is one such cartridge and the high BC of Sierra’s new 145 grain Tipped GameKing helps bring out the best.

Sierra 145 Grain 6.5mm Tipped GameKing Ballistics

The TGK requires at least 1800 fps impact velocity for reliable expansion on big game lung/ribcage shots. With a 2900 fps muzzle velocity, the Sierra doesn’t slow to that velocity until nearly 800 yards!

Gavin gave this bullet the best possible chance of showing off some accuracy by firing it from the custom 6.5 Creedmoor rifle he’d built a few months ago.

He loaded 40 grains of H4350 in Lapua cases. The diminutive 5-shot 100 yard group demonstrates that the 145 grain Tipped GameKing lives up to Sierra’s reputation for accuracy!

Ballistics Gel Testing

Of huge importance to hunters is how the chosen bullet will perform on game. Since we can’t go around shooting deer, bear and elk out of season, we use Clear Ballistics Gel to test the penetration and expansion of hunting bullets.

While synthetic ballistics gelatin will not 100% reflect what a bullet will do to a human or animal, it provides us with valuable data and allows us to compare the performance of different bullets and different loads. American-made Clear Ballistics Gel is reusable. It can be melted down and utilized again for even more tests. Consult ClearBallistics.com to view all of their offerings!

For our gel block testing, I chose to download the cartridge with Accurate 5744 to 2380 fps, approximating a 400 yard impact velocity. I also want to note that this load shot well and could be used for modest range deer hunting when a high muzzle velocity is not required.

Sierra’s performance was impressive with 21” of penetration and a large temporary wound cavity. The bullet remained mostly intact and well mushroomed.

The expanded diameter was .64” and the recovered bullet weight was 113 grains or 78 percent.

That is a nice combination of expansion, penetration and bullet weight retention.

Conclusion

This was my first experience with the 145 grain Tipped GameKing and it struck me quite favorably as a hunting bullet for North America and probably elsewhere.

Accuracy, good penetration, and good expansion — all of those attributes mark it as a fine choice for hunting. It is suitable for normal and extended ranges, expanding at 1800 fps impact velocity. I intend to load some of these for my own 6.5 Creedmoor which is rapidly becoming my favorite for an all-around deer rifle.

The bottom line: Would I hunt with this bullet? Yes, absolutely.