sierrabullets.com Load Data

anon · Monday at 12:01 PM

I'm not sure how long this has been out there, but I just stumbled upon it.

Find load data

They have finally put a bunch of their current load data online.

rangerlong · Monday at 12:11 PM

They also have a free app, at least on the apple app store.

FLIGHT762 · Monday at 12:17 PM

Thanks for posting this. Nice to see they put this out there. Of course, I already purchased the sixth edition manual.

OkieMike · Monday at 2:32 PM

Yes, thank you.

Mike

anon · Monday at 3:08 PM

Yes, thanks for the info on the app.

Who knew my Cinco De Mayo was going to be so good with these finds.

The app even has a dial-a-velocity function.

Bmghunter · Monday at 5:32 PM

Is anyone finding that the load data from sierra is very conservative? I’m looking at the 6.5 prc data and their max charges only go up to 2800fps for the 150hpbt match bullet. It seems everyone posting velocities on their loads for similar weight bullets go faster than 2800fps.

KYAggie · Monday at 5:47 PM

Yeah. I’m looking at their 300 WSM data with R26. This is probably one of the first places I’ve seen R26 in a manual for this round. I’m messing with it right now in a 20” barreled gun with bullets weighing 200 and 210 from Nosler and I’m already at 2 + grains over their listed max with no pressure signs. Seems pretty conservative on their part. Heck my starting loads are close to their max listed loads.

straightshooter1 · Monday at 7:38 PM

anon said:
I'm not sure how long this has been out there, but I just stumbled upon it.

Find load data

They have finally put a bunch of their current load data online.

Too bad they haven't shown the data for their newest rounds (like the 169 and 177 SMK's).

southernpew · 2025-05-06T07:48:55-0400

Extremely conservative data? I don’t know anyone shooting Dasher slower than 2800, and most shoot at 2850

supercorndogs · 2025-05-06T08:01:40-0400

Just because people shoot them at said speed doesn't mean they aren't overpressure. Other things that nake a diffrence include chamber sizes, I don't see what barrel length their velocity is from, or if they shot them from a production rifle or universal receiver. I beleive they generally try to do load data testing in a minimum chamber also.

southernpew · 2025-05-06T11:08:42-0400

They state that they used a 24” barrel.

The maximum chamber pressure for the 6mm Dasher cartridge is generally considered to be 65,000 psi (pounds per square inch). However, some sources mention 64,000 psi as the SAAMI maximum.

GR.: 107 gr
Bullet Type: HPBT (Sierra)Diameter: 0.243"
Powder: Varget (Hodgdon)
Primer: CCI BR4
Case: Lapua
Trim Length: 1.540"

C.O.L.: 2.360"
Starting Powder: 29.2 gr
Starting Velocity: 2,726
Starting Pressure: 42,900

Max Powder: 31.8 gr
Max Velocity: 2,916
Max Pressure: 51,900 CUP
Source: Hodgdon

No, I do not believe the majority of PRS guys shooting Dasher are over pressure.

supercorndogs · 2025-05-06T11:28:13-0400

southernpew said:
They state that they used a 24” barrel.

The maximum chamber pressure for the 6mm Dasher cartridge is generally considered to be 65,000 psi (pounds per square inch). However, some sources mention 64,000 psi as the SAAMI maximum.

GR.: 107 gr
Bullet Type: HPBT (Sierra)Diameter: 0.243"
Powder: Varget (Hodgdon)
Primer: CCI BR4
Case: Lapua
Trim Length: 1.540"

C.O.L.: 2.360"
Starting Powder: 29.2 gr
Starting Velocity: 2,726
Starting Pressure: 42,900

Max Powder: 31.8 gr
Max Velocity: 2,916
Max Pressure: 51,900 CUP
Source: Hodgdon

No, I do not believe the majority of PRS guys shooting Dasher are over pressure.

Hodgdon data is for a 30" barrel.

TylerN · 2025-05-06T11:32:01-0400

A better question might be: are there any manufacturers publishing load data that isn't incredibly conservative?

Hogdon data is equally as weak as Sierras and VV load data is silly. Is there any published data that matches up better with real-world loads?

supercorndogs · 2025-05-06T11:33:29-0400

supercorndogs · 2025-05-06T11:36:42-0400

TylerN said:
A better question might be: are there any manufacturers publishing load data that isn't incredibly conservative?

Hogdon data is equally as weak as Sierras and VV load data is silly. Is there any published data that matches up better with real-world loads?

Na, the real question is why do dudes think they "read pressure signs" better than pressure testing equipment can measure it.

Im2bent · 2025-05-06T11:50:44-0400

supercorndogs said:
Na, the real question is why do dudes think they "read pressure signs" better than pressure testing equipment can measure it.

Probably because nobody has said pressure testing equipment

KYAggie · 2025-05-06T12:06:50-0400

supercorndogs said:
Na, the real question is why do dudes think they "read pressure signs" better than pressure testing equipment can measure it.

I’m sure I can’t, but Sierra isn’t exactly listing the measured pressures of their loads either, so who knows what they actually are. I wish I had Quickload, it would be handy.

supercorndogs · 2025-05-06T12:24:23-0400

KYAggie said:
I’m sure I can’t, but Sierra isn’t exactly listing the measured pressures of their loads either, so who knows what they actually are. I wish I had Quickload, it would be handy.

Pretty safe bet they are from a safe min to a measured Sammi max pressure.

supercorndogs · 2025-05-06T12:30:48-0400

Im2bent said:
Probably because nobody has said pressure testing equipment

Yet people like to quack about X Y or Z's reloading data being "conservative."

Jdowns0415 · 2025-05-06T12:41:15-0400

Use Gordon's Reloading Tool. Plenty of videos showing how to use it, I'm pretty sure LittleCrowGunWorks just made one and there are others. Very easy to use and has given me great results with a wide array of powders, catridges, and projectiles.

OkieMike · 2025-05-06T17:25:52-0400

I had read somewhere (on here I believe) that Sierra doesn't (didn't?) use pressure testing equipment... They were using the same indicators that a handloader at home would use... Flattened/cratered primers, ejector marks, yada, yada, yada...

Whether or not they've invested in real pressure testing equipment... You'd have to ask them.

Here's where it gets muddy...

Take a look at Hodgdon's 6 Creed load data for the 105 BTHP using Superformance. Then compare it to Hornady's. 2 grains difference in max charge...

Hodgson says 24" test barrel. Hornady says RPR with a 24" barrel.

Same brass, same bullet, same powder. Hornady used a Federal primer, Hodgdon used WLR...

I'm sure there were different lots of powder, brass, and bullets and of course different guns/receivers used for testing.

Still, 2 grains.

Either one is being very reckless or one is being very conservative.

Seems a guy could load up using Hodgdon data. And just to be safe he stops at 1.5 grains below their max charge... Maybe it shoots good there... But he's still .5 grains over Hornady's max charge. By Hornady's reckoning he's overpressure.

Or is he?

And how does he know if he can't trust what the brass is telling him?

Mike

supercorndogs · 2025-05-06T18:31:20-0400

You could have asked them to confirm your claims and make sure you arent spreading bulkshit.

Diffrent load data between an RPR vs a test barrel. The mystery that can't be solved.

OkieMike · 2025-05-06T20:19:26-0400

supercorndogs said:
You could have asked them to confirm your claims and make sure you arent spreading bulkshit.

Diffrent load data between an RPR vs a test barrel. The mystery that can't be solved.

So an RPR chamber is going to be tighter than a test barrel on a universal receiver which is very likely cut to SAAMI minimum?

Seems legit.

It's almost like you're saying different platforms might develop pressure differently.

So which load data are you going to go by?

Mike

supercorndogs · 2025-05-06T21:21:36-0400

OkieMike said:
So an RPR chamber is going to be tighter than a test barrel on a universal receiver which is very likely cut to SAAMI minimum?

Seems legit.

It's almost like you're saying different platforms might develop pressure differently.

So which load data are you going to go by?

Mike

No, I didn't say anything besides diffrent load data from diffrent chambers. Then laughed because that is shocking to some people who can tell load data is conservative by looking but apparently haven't read much about how they make it.

Or better yet judging by snipershide online safe in my gun posted load data.

I tend to use multiple sources to decide on a safe starting point.

ma smith · 2025-05-06T21:29:26-0400

modern manuals are conservative simply by looking at earlier editions of the same books by the same publishers.

don't need to over-explain it...

OkieMike · 2025-05-06T21:40:32-0400

supercorndogs said:
I tend to use multiple sources to decide on a safe starting point.

So you extrapolate your own "safe" starting data from multiple sources and make an educated guess about where to start.

Neat. I do that myself. And if I only ever had to work out a starting charge, I'd be set.

But we constantly get fingers wagged at us about NEVER exceeding book max.

So which book max is the max?

Mike

OkieMike · 2025-05-06T21:44:29-0400

ma smith said:
modern manuals are conservative simply by looking at earlier editions of the same books by the same publishers.

don't need to over-explain it...

Yes. I've seen older starting charges that exceed modern max charges.

Mike

supercorndogs · 2025-05-06T21:52:28-0400

OkieMike said:
So you extrapolate your own "safe" starting data from multiple sources and make an educated guess about where to start.

Neat. I do that myself. And if I only ever had to work out a starting charge, I'd be set.

But we constantly get fingers wagged at us about NEVER exceeding book max.

So which book max is the max?

Mike

You're just searching for something to argue about.

supercorndogs · 2025-05-06T21:56:25-0400

ma smith said:
modern manuals are conservative simply by looking at earlier editions of the same books by the same publishers.

don't need to over-explain it...

Powders change. lots of bullets change. Lots of brass change. Testing equipment changes. Temp and humidity change. We dot live In a world with a small amount of variables.

turkey_creek · 2025-05-06T22:02:25-0400

straightshooter1 said:
Too bad they haven't shown the data for their newest rounds (like the 169 and 177 SMK's).

I’ve had perfectly good success using data for the 168 with the 169. Think I even read here somewhere when they came out, that’s what Sierra told them to do.

ma smith said:
modern manuals are conservative simply by looking at earlier editions of the same books by the same publishers.

don't need to over-explain it...

I digress this one, at least in .308. The current online data has significantly higher charges listed than my fifth edition print copy.

OkieMike · 2025-05-06T22:04:08-0400

supercorndogs said:
You're just searching for something to argue about.

Yeah, a little bit.

And I'm not picking on you personally. You just happened to be the guy who said it this time.

"Thou shalt not deviate from book charges" has a few caveats to consider was the point.

Mike

straightshooter1 · 2025-05-06T23:06:28-0400

turkey_creek said:
I’ve had perfectly good success using data for the 168 with the 169. Think I even read here somewhere when they came out, that’s what Sierra told them to do.

Yeah, I find my loads for 169 SMK are very close to that for my 168 SMK's. I've read some reloaders saying the load data for the 168 TMK is close to that for the 169 SMK . . .???

turkey_creek · 2025-05-07T00:19:37-0400

straightshooter1 said:
Yeah, I find my loads for 169 SMK are very close to that for my 168 SMK's. I've read some reloaders saying the load data for the 168 TMK is close to that for the 169 SMK . . .???

Of the data I have compiled, they are in the same ballpark, but it does seem the 168 TMK gets a bit more velocity than the 169.

sierrabullets.com Load Data

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