An in-depth look at the Sierra MatchKing bullet. What makes it unique and is it worth the additional expense over other options?

Heralded as one of the most accurate and consistent projectiles in the entire shooting industry, Sierra MatchKing bullets are loaded into dozens of cartridges from foreign and domestic companies. Remington, Winchester, Federal, Fiocchi, and (of course) Sierra themselves; all have ammunition options that carry a Sierra MatchKing.

The popular bullets are also available in numerous cartridges. You can find MatchKing bullets in cartridges that include the .223 Remington, .308 Winchester, 6.5 Creedmoor, .300 AAC, and more.

Sierra MatchKings are, to put it bluntly, all over the industry.

But they command a fairly large price. The bullets themselves are relatively expensive, and ammunition with Sierra MatchKing bullets are at the higher end of the price scale. In many cases, they are at the top.

For perspective, when this article was written Sierra MatchKing ammunition (from Sierra) was the most expensive .223 Remington option. While the most affordable .223 round was $0.49 per cartridge, Sierra’s MatchKing Competition 69-grain HPBT rounds were $1.75 per shot. Remington’s 77-grain MatchKing BTHP were $1.40 per round.

In the .308 category, the lowest-price product was $0.94 per round, while MatchKing products came in at $2.40 per round. They may not always be the most expensive, but they are always near the top.

$114.95

20rds – 338 Lapua Federal Gold Medal 250gr. MatchKing HPBT Ammo

$299.95

200rds – 308 Win Federal Gold Medal 168gr. MatchKing BTHP Ammo

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What makes these bullets so special, what can they be used for, and (most importantly), are they worth the premium price? The choice, ultimately, depends on your expectations, activity, and budget.

It also depends on how far you want to shoot.

What is Unique about Sierra MatchKing?

MatchKing is Sierra’s product line of competition bullets. They are made for target shooting; specifically, they are made for long-distance competition target shooting, where a fraction of a centimeter can make the difference between success or failure.

These bullets are best known for their high ballistic coefficient, which creates extreme accuracy. Basically, they are more aerodynamic than other bullets.

Extreme Tolerances and Consistency

Sierra places a high priority on manufacturing consistency. They want all products to be as similar as possible, which sounds obvious but in ammunition, where the tiniest difference can impact performance, it’s more difficult than you may assume.

MatchKing bullets have a consistent jacket with extremely tight tolerances. There is little measurable difference in the jacket and almost no variation. Also, the jacket placed around the MatchKing’s core is thinner than most, which is difficult to achieve but results in superior performance.

Consistency in Weight

While manufacturers list specific weights for their bullets (55, 70, 168 grains, as examples) there are actually variations in these weights. Again, absolute consistency in manufacturing is hard to achieve, but these bullets have extreme consistency in weight measurements. These bullets have a weight variation within 0.3 grains, which gives them greater consistency and tight grouping.

Boat Tail Design

Most (but not all) Sierra MatchKing bullets have a boat tail design. This type of bullet has a sloping rear or “tail”, similar to a sailboat. This tapering towards the rear helps reduce drag, making the bullet more aerodynamic. In almost all cases, a bullet with a boat tail will have a higher ballistic coefficient and superior aerodynamics.

Small Meplats

In technical terms, the tip of a bullet is called the “meplat.” (Pronounced “mee-plat.”) The smaller the meplat, the greater the aerodynamics of a bullet. This is a fairly simple concept to understand: if a projectile (be it a bullet, an arrow, or a missile of any kind) has a flat, wide tip, it will have a hard time cutting through the air. However, if the same projectile has a pointed front, it (almost literally) cuts through the air with ease. The same principle is used in vehicles; in an effort to reduce drag, car makers create sloping, almost pointy profiles for energy-efficient cars.

Sierra MatchKing bullets have extremely small meplats. Although they use an open tip, which creates expansion at a target, the tip or “meplat” is extremely small, allowing for better aerodynamics.

All of these factors come together to create an aerodynamic bullet that can be used to enhance accuracy and consistency. Although shooter skill remains paramount, with boat tails, small meplats, and superb weight consistency, Sierra MatchKing helps create some of the tightest groupings seen in shooting.

Does MatchKing Meet the Hype?

With so many options available, from numerous manufacturers and various cartridges, it’s nearly impossible to compare Sierra MatchKing products to all other options. However, when we look at a small sample we generally see superior long-range ballistics for MatchKing rounds.

For consistency, let’s look at .223 Remington products from Winchester, which loads MatchKing bullets into at least one product and has a large selection of .223 rounds to which we can compare. We’ll simply analyze trajectory statistics because accuracy and distance are the selling points for MatchKing products.

Among six randomly selected Winchester .223 ammo products, the MatchKing option had the least drop at 500 yards. While a few other rounds had straighter trajectories at 300 and 400 yards, it appears that the high ballistic coefficient of MatchKing makes a difference when shooting at long-distance targets.

Can You Use MatchKing for Hunting?

Sierra MatchKing bullets have two factors that make them extremely tempting for hunters, including deer, varmint, and even large-game hunters.

First, as we have shown, they are extremely accurate at a distance. These rounds maintain straight trajectories at 400 and 500 yards, allowing shooters to place a bullet on target with pinpoint accuracy. What hunter doesn’t want the chance to add 100 or 200 yards to their range?

Second, they are available in some of the most popular hunting rounds. The .308 Winchester, 6.5 Creedmoor, .30-06 Springfield; all, and more, are available with MatchKing bullets. Hunters with a variety of deer rifles can load MatchKing bullets. But should they?

That said, Sierra does NOT recommend using MatchKing rounds for hunting. The only exception made is for varmints.

Here’s a direct quote from Sierra:

“Tipped MatchKing bullets are not recommended for most hunting applications.”

That’s a simple, clear, and obvious statement.

These bullets are made for competition shooting, not game animals. While you can certainly kill an animal with these rounds, the terminal performance is not ideal; it won’t deliver the consistent, reliable expansion needed for a rapid, humane harvest.

Unless you are varmint hunting, it’s best to leave the Sierra MatchKing rounds for range day.

So… Are They Worth the Money?

If you desire a high level of performance at 400 or 500 yards, Sierra MatchKing products can deliver. They have a higher price, but you’ll get tight, consistent grouping at a longer distance which, for many, is well worth the added cost.

If you want to add a box of MatchKing ammo or bullets to your collection, visit ammotogo.com today!

$299.95

200rds – 308 Win Federal Gold Medal 168gr. MatchKing BTHP Ammo

$279.95

200rds – 223 Rem Federal Gold Medal 77gr. MatchKing BTHP Ammo