135gr .308 Sierra varmint projectiles

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135gr .308 Sierra varmint projectiles

Post by Gormanchov » 06 Jul 2018, 1:14 pm

Afternoon all,

After any experiences using the above projectile or other varmint variants in 308.

Really enjoying shooting my Tikka T3 CTR at the moment and with the above projectiles being on special thought I might work out an appropriate load for a bit of varminting.
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Re: 135gr .308 Sierra varmint projectiles

Post by SCJ429 » 06 Jul 2018, 6:06 pm

How much are they? 46c each?
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Re: 135gr .308 Sierra varmint projectiles

Post by Gormanchov » 06 Jul 2018, 7:32 pm

Less 37c each at the current special
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Re: 135gr .308 Sierra varmint projectiles

Post by SCJ429 » 06 Jul 2018, 8:30 pm

I don't have a 308 but the bargain projectile was the ZMax which at around 40c was great for a 168 grain bullet. They are getting hard to find now. The Sierra is great value at 37c. Are you trying a faster bullet to blow stuff up? They should be dynamite out to 300 metres. What are you aiming at? Foxes and rabbits? It should work very well on most light skinned game.
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Re: 135gr .308 Sierra varmint projectiles

Post by Rod_outbak » 06 Jul 2018, 8:36 pm

I've pokked about a hundred grasshoppers with the Buffalo River/OSA factory ammo with this projectile, and found them to work well.

I've also run about 800 Federal 130Gn VitalShok HP projectiles through the Ruger Precision Rifle, over the past six months as well.
Yet more grasshoppers have 'enjoyed' their touch.
I find that both projectiles are pretty predictable out to ~400 metres?
[This is about the limit of my skill for a portable rest, so they might do better].
I have noticed the 130gn Speers are a bit more affected by wind, but not surprisingly so.
My mate (who sighted the RPR in for me) said he also found the 135Gn Sierras to be extremely accurate.
The crinkled mouth on them looks like it's be pretty wicked on pigs, but I think I've only shot one or two pigs over the whole time, and in both case, Porkey ran a few yards, and dropped dead.
As far as effectiveness, they both(Speer 130 HP & Sierra 135 HP) kill grasshoppers with extreme prejudice...
I'm currently running through a few hundred 125Gn Hornady SST's, but they arent anywhere near as cheap as that.

Who has them on special?

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Re: 135gr .308 Sierra varmint projectiles

Post by Gormanchov » 06 Jul 2018, 8:50 pm

I’ll load them for foxes/dogs/cats.

See how they go might have a go at some pigs if the opportunity arises as well.
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Re: 135gr .308 Sierra varmint projectiles

Post by Blutius Maximus » 10 Jul 2018, 4:34 pm

I've thrown quite a few of the factory OSA 135gr Sierra's in my 308 down range with good results but haven't loaded any yet.
it's cheap to buy at $1.50 a round which I bought mainly to harvest the brass and shoot some paper.

I was tossing up whether to buy the Sierra 135gr projectiles to reload but have ordered a couple of hundred of the 130gr Speer instead just for something different to try through my rifle. To compare I also bought a 20pk of Federal Vital Shok 130gr which use the Speer.
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Re: 135gr .308 Sierra varmint projectiles

Post by JimTom » 15 Jul 2018, 6:06 am

Mate I have been using the Speer 130gn HP which were about $36 / 100 when I got them. Cheap as chips. They shoot around 3/4 inch at 100m.
Last edited by JimTom on 28 Jul 2018, 6:58 am, edited 1 time in total.
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Re: 135gr .308 Sierra varmint projectiles

Post by in2anity » 15 Jul 2018, 3:16 pm

I shoot “bullet factory” 150gn hollow points out of my CTR 308 http://thebulletfactory.com.au/ordering.html
At what point does lack of maintenance become patina?
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Re: 135gr .308 Sierra varmint projectiles

Post by tom604 » 15 Jul 2018, 4:10 pm

if they are anything like 130 Speer's you will have fun with them, deadly on goats ,,rabbits just go everywhere :D :thumbsup:
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Re: 135gr .308 Sierra varmint projectiles

Post by JimTom » 16 Jul 2018, 9:27 am

Although the Varmit projectiles will stop pigs, in my limited experience they are only good for side or front profile shots.
Being lighter and faster they don’t have the penetration for a rear quartering shot.
Nevertheless they do the job nicely when shot placement is correct. To date I have not had one of the 130gn projectiles exit.
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Re: 135gr .308 Sierra varmint projectiles

Post by Blutius Maximus » 26 Jul 2018, 5:15 pm

JimTom wrote:Mate I have been using the Speer 130gn HP which were about $36 / 100 when I got them. Cheap as chips. They shoot around 3/4 inch at 100m. They work well on pigs.


Yeah. That's what I paid. $72 for 200 of them.
I also got a couple of boxes of 150gr SST's for $44 per box of 100. I would have preferred 165's, but at 50% more per box, may as well play with the 150's.
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Re: 135gr .308 Sierra varmint projectiles

Post by AZZA'S HJ47 » 26 Jul 2018, 7:31 pm

I recently stocked right up on the 168gr zmax, great little round cheap and drops up to this point everythong ive shot.
Sako Varmint 243,Marlin 917, Lithgow La101 .22 , 1917 BSA 303 (ted), Finnish Vkt 1944 M39,T3X Super Varmint 223, Marlin 1895 SBL 45-70 Howa 1500 308, BSA CF2 222, 1911 9mm, Adler 12G, Sako 7mm rem Mag,Ruger m77 mk1 22-250AI, Rem 700 17 Rem, BSA No 5 303
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Re: 135gr .308 Sierra varmint projectiles

Post by Sergeant Hartman » 26 Jul 2018, 7:57 pm

You can also use the 155gr optimus hbc (dyers) both them and the zmax are well under 1moa on my rifle. The "rejects" of the hbc can be had for around 180 per 500. These are target rounds used in fclass but used successfully for hunting
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Re: 135gr .308 Sierra varmint projectiles

Post by Cal-ApeR » 27 Jul 2018, 6:52 pm

Jäger wrote:
JimTom wrote:Mate I have been using the Speer 130gn HP which were about $36 / 100 when I got them. Cheap as chips. They shoot around 3/4 inch at 100m. They work well on pigs.


Yeah. That's what I paid. $72 for 200 of them.
I also got a couple of boxes of 150gr SST's for $44 per box of 100. I would have preferred 165's, but at 50% more per box, may as well play with the 150's.



I was lucky enough to pick up 150's, 165's and 180's for $44 each. I noticed they quickly changed the prices back on the heavier projectiles. Got lucky. Can't go wrong with the 150 SST anyway, especially at that price.
I'd rather be hunting
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Re: 135gr .308 Sierra varmint projectiles

Post by JimTom » 28 Jul 2018, 10:12 am

Ziad wrote:You can also use the 155gr optimus hbc (dyers) both them and the zmax are well under 1moa on my rifle. The "rejects" of the hbc can be had for around 180 per 500. These are target rounds used in fclass but used successfully for hunting


Mate I have loaded and shot a few groups with these as well. Under an inch when I used BM8208.
Haven’t shot a pig with them yet however they look like they will do the job nicely.
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Re: 135gr .308 Sierra varmint projectiles

Post by Blutius Maximus » 28 Jul 2018, 2:13 pm

AZZA'S HJ47 wrote:I recently stocked right up on the 168gr zmax


I picked up a box of 500 168gr Z-Max recently. From everything I read about them, people just raved about them. I think they were a limited production from Hornady, so figured I'd pick up a box even if a bit more expensive, so I could see for myself how good they are.
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Re: 135gr .308 Sierra varmint projectiles

Post by Blutius Maximus » 28 Jul 2018, 2:16 pm

Cal-ApeR wrote:
Jäger wrote:
JimTom wrote:Mate I have been using the Speer 130gn HP which were about $36 / 100 when I got them. Cheap as chips. They shoot around 3/4 inch at 100m. They work well on pigs.


Yeah. That's what I paid. $72 for 200 of them.
I also got a couple of boxes of 150gr SST's for $44 per box of 100. I would have preferred 165's, but at 50% more per box, may as well play with the 150's.



I was lucky enough to pick up 150's, 165's and 180's for $44 each. I noticed they quickly changed the prices back on the heavier projectiles. Got lucky. Can't go wrong with the 150 SST anyway, especially at that price.



Yep. I wasn't quick enough when they had that price on the 165's. It's possible they sold out of them quickly at the special price and that's why it reverted to the normal price.
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Re: 135gr .308 Sierra varmint projectiles

Post by AZZA'S HJ47 » 28 Jul 2018, 7:49 pm

Jäger wrote:How long ago was that?

I picked up a box of 500 168gr Z-Max recently at quite a bit more than the price you would've bought yours for, but from everything I read about them, people just raved about them. I think they were a limited production from Hornady, so figured I'd pick up a box even if a bit more expensive, so I could see for myself how good they are.


I went a little crazy and have just over 3000 projectiles. They are my go to round for my howa have droped a few large pigs cleanly. Couldn't be happier with how they shoot. I may sell a box or two in a few years but knowing me I wouldn't count on it.
Sako Varmint 243,Marlin 917, Lithgow La101 .22 , 1917 BSA 303 (ted), Finnish Vkt 1944 M39,T3X Super Varmint 223, Marlin 1895 SBL 45-70 Howa 1500 308, BSA CF2 222, 1911 9mm, Adler 12G, Sako 7mm rem Mag,Ruger m77 mk1 22-250AI, Rem 700 17 Rem, BSA No 5 303
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Re: 135gr .308 Sierra varmint projectiles

Post by Sergeant Hartman » 28 Jul 2018, 8:20 pm

Rotfl....

I got 1 box, thinking if I get to many I might regret it if they don't shoot well.. they definately shoot well... lol

Anyway I am about 100 rounds a month so the 500 will last me till end of the year.
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Re: 135gr .308 Sierra varmint projectiles

Post by AZZA'S HJ47 » 28 Jul 2018, 8:44 pm

My understanding is that they have been discontinued hence why i bought so many
Sako Varmint 243,Marlin 917, Lithgow La101 .22 , 1917 BSA 303 (ted), Finnish Vkt 1944 M39,T3X Super Varmint 223, Marlin 1895 SBL 45-70 Howa 1500 308, BSA CF2 222, 1911 9mm, Adler 12G, Sako 7mm rem Mag,Ruger m77 mk1 22-250AI, Rem 700 17 Rem, BSA No 5 303
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Re: 135gr .308 Sierra varmint projectiles

Post by Blutius Maximus » 02 Aug 2018, 10:12 am

I went through my emails and found they were offered in May at 195. Not as good as 159 that they've sold these for in the past.
I missed that sale in May and it was right when i was buying a bunch of projectiles too.
It probably would have been 30 freight to get a single box of those to me here, so I paid about the same as I did for the box of 500 I picked up recently.

I've recently found someone who has at least one box in stock now, but at $275 (ouch!)
May have also found another that can get it to my door for $235 a box. If they shoot as well as I expect they will, I'll probably get more.
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