Sierra often gets criticized, at least in rifle projectiles, for their "inferior" construction. It ain't always so. I offer this photo.

[Linked Image]

It shows, from lower left clockwise: Hornady 300 XTP, Hornady 300 XTP-Mag, 325 Cast, 300 Sierra; all 45 caliber (.452) fired from a 5 1/2 in Redhawk using a load of 22 grains W296 for a velocity of around 1100-1200 fps. They were fired into solid freshwater ice at a distance of around 3 feet. While it doesn't really prove anything practical in terms of how they might perform on something live, I think it is obvious that Sierra sometimes gets a blanket bum rap for not have as much integrity as other bullets. They say this is a tough bullet. I can't argue with that.