Sierras are excellent. Where I got a negative opinion was from not being too astute and reading the manual. If a 180 gr designed for the 308 & 30-06 doesn't break a deers neck when shot from a 300 at close range its operator error not bullet failure.
I think that deer died from whiplash, I couldn't believe the bullet stopped on the neck vertebra even with a rut swollen neck. Typical sample of one and probably could never be repeated. Also typical of the old selective memory I don't recall the particulars on the dozens of times they worked perfectly including misuse of match kings on game.
Before I was told, and I guess I never read up on it as I was young and.... I ran 180 nosler partitions at 3100 out of a 300 wtby. Shot about a 225 pound buck in the neck around 125 steps. Same as you, the buck was paralyzed, and bullet was sitting expanded on the vertebrae on this side of the neck.
Went and got a handgun out of the truck when I found my pocketknife not long enough to reach the heart...
Its when I started searching for better.. and eventually found Barnes..
Was told later had I run 200 partitions it should have been different...different brand obviously, but still similar results...
Matchkings is the only sierra along with the .224 63 grain semi point that I've shot quite a bit with and have not had much varying results
