Home Forums Reloading Varmint Rifles Sierra Gameking, 62 vs 65 grain

Can anybody tell me the difference between the 62 and 65 grain Gamekings?

And before somebody tells me there are 3 grains difference I had already done the math to figure that out.

Sierra says the 62 is a semi spitzer but the pic shows it as being of spitzer design.

The only difference I see is 3 grains. Maybe they "solved" a problem that didn't exist? The minute differences in BC tell me that the bullets have the same shape. Maybe the 62 has a thinner jacket or softer core. Time to email Sierra!!

The Campfire wisdom seems to be that the 62 gr. semi-spitzer is shorter and will stabilize in a slower twist barrel. The description on the 65 gr GK says it requires a 10 twist or faster to stabilize.

Sierra 62 gr. GK

Really doesn't say much, got sidetracked to the 63 grain SMP.

Sent em an email, see what they say.

https://www.24hourcampfire.com/ubbt...9/re-sierra-62gr-gk-in-1-14#Post14984509

Sierra 62gr GK in 1-14" [Re: chamois] #14989104 06/22/20
Joined: Jun 2015
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chamois Offline OP
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Sierra said “no”.

A 1:10” is required.

If you feel compelled to stay away from the 65 grainer for any reason the Sierra 63 gr. SMP is an outstanding bullet ( the only Sierra bullet I'll use on anything bigger than varmints) It is indeed the "short/fat" and will stabilize in a 1 in 14.


Heard good things about the 65 GK but have never used one, so no help there.


This #275 pig fell to a 63 gr SMP..

Pure speculation here, but 62gr is the weight of the M855 5.56 projectile, it would make some marketing sense to make a hunting bullet of that weight just because that is what AR shooters are used to.

Saw on one of the web sites this morning.. that they were having the 65 grain Game Kings on sale for $22.95..

don't recall which web site tho... was on Powder Valley, MidWay and Graf & Sons..

As for accuracy, I've found the 65 GK to be as accurate as the 69 MK, at least to 200 yards in a couple of 1 in 7" twist Colt ARs and a 1 in 9" CZ bolt-action. The 63 CMP shoots very well in slow or fast twist barrels. I'd like to try the 62 grain.

Its classified as a varmint bullet but I'm guessing, based on your results, it behaves differently?

Yeah, Dober turned me on to it years ago. I believe he killed his best bear with it out of a .22-250 a 7+ footer

It behaves like a good deer bullet, and is very accurate.

a 70 grain Speer SMP is even more of a good idea...

I am one of the few naysayers you'll find on the 70 gr Speer. Back in the day before premium bullets for .22s I gave them a try on three deer. Was very disappointed with the results and never went back. Others, including a good friend, did a lot more killing with them, and swore by them

Thanks, I'll get some on order.

My question to Sierra was other than 3 grains what are the differences between th 62 and 65 grain Gameking, here was the reply.

LOL so they take a 1-10 minimum twist.

Myself Tom...I've has some dramatic kills with them...With H 380, I was running them at about 2900 fps...

Saw a few critters killed w those when I was a young feller. When we were about 10 my bud killed his first deer with them from a 222.

Seen them used in 222, 223 and 22-250. They worked, nothing special just dead deer.

Neither bullet being discussed is available from Midway or Natchez Shooters.

Yes they are. 62’s in stock. 65’s available for BO. at Midway. Grafs, Bass Pro and Optics Planet have em.

65's were available on Gunbroker a couple of days ago, watch that shipping though.

I should have been more clear. I was referring to the 63 grain Sierra and the 70 grain Speer. My apologies for the confusion.

I shot a couple deer with the 65's. They aren't special enough to spend much time searching for.

Suppose they worked about like any bullet from any cartridge as long as placed correctly?

Specifics, please

Didn't see where they were a bit better than a 55 gr. Hornady sp. and maybe not as good. The first deer I shot was a big doe. Broadside maybe 125 yards. Hit a rib going in and had three small exit wounds on the far side. Bullet apparently broke up. The thing that I can't explain is there was considerably LESS damage to the lungs than I'm used to seeing with the Hornady's despite the fact that it apparently broke up. I have put one of the Hornady's through both shoulders of a similar sized deer from 80 yards and found the bullet nicely mushroomed and in one piece just under the hide of the off shoulder.Color me not terribly impressed with the Sierra. The Horny's are half the price and work at least as well on deer.

Possible difference in velocity.

I had the Sierra's loaded to just over 3000 fps and the Hornady's to 3200. There's not much difference in accuracy between them in my rifle. Both bullets/loads group under .75" at 100 yards. The Sierra's do have a better BC so will retain velocity a bit better and be less wind sensitive but I wouldn't shoot deer with either at distances where it would make any difference.

Blackheart: Looking on Hornady's website, I see quite a few 55gr 22cal bullets. Which one are you using, thanks,

The standard 55 gr. SP with cannelure.

Before the 65 gr GK was available, I shot a few deer and pigs with the 63 gr Sierra SMP. It worked real well. Then, when the 65 gr GK came out, I bought a bunch and used them on pigs mostly. Both are very accurate, but the 63 gr is a stubby bullet and would stabilize in my 14 twist 220 Swift barrel. The 65 gr GK won’t even come close to stabilizing in my 220, so it gets used in the 9 twist 223.

A fellow I know and respect says that the 223 bullet you really want to use in your 223 is the 64 gr Nosler Bonded Solid Base. Says he gets exits on pigs. I don’t get that with either Sierra bullet. I think Nosler quit making that bullet, unfortunately. So, the 70 gr Accubond is probably the next best thing. For now though, I’ll stay with the 65 gr GK.

The 65 gr GK is a very accurate bullet. I called Sierra and was told to use the load date for the 63 gr SMP because they have the same bearing surface.

Among the best bullets for deer and pigs in the 223 would be the 60 gr Partition. I’ve used it on some pigs, with good results, and I’d use it more if it was more accurate in my rifle. I still have not found the magic load for that Partition.

I had no idea Nosler was discontinuing the Bonded Solid Base line. I have never tried them, but I liked having the option. Kind of a bummer.

I tried many of the Nosler 64 Bonded in several rifles with twist rates varying from 1 in 7" to 1 in 14". I used only two powders, TAC and H4895. The most accurate loads would have been adequate for hunting - around 1.5". I gave up on this one and went back to the Sierra 65 GK.

Has anyone tried the Winchester Power Point 64 grain bullet?

I have no used the Sierra 65 GK but I had exactly your luck with the 64 BSB from Nosler....gave them up pretty quick. Shot a couple deer with them and if anything, I can say the damage was excessive.

I bought 3 or 4 hundred of the 65's a while back. First few boxes were fine and shot pretty well. The rest seem to have the ogive everywhere! 10 to 15 thousands difference in COL. Thought something was wrong with my die setup so I tried some Nosler 55 bt's and every single one came in at 2 to 3 thousand for COL! Found some of the 64 bonded and got a few hundred to try. First attempt with em got me 1 to 1 1/4" groups. Pretty sure they can do a lot better. If their discontinued maybe I should grab the rest. I was planning to use em defending myself from the Antifa hoard when they come my way!! lol

I've read reports where some got good accuracy with the 64 Power Points. I tried them in four bolt-action rifles in .223 and .22-250 with twist rates varying from 1 in 9" to 1 in 14". They would be accurate enough for some hunting, but I got groups of from 1.6" in a 1 in 9" CZ .223 to over 2" in a Lilja-barreled FN Mauser with a 1 in 14" twist. I don't recall if I ever tried these bullets in my Colt ARs which all have 1 in 7" barrels.

Thanks Iotech. I have some but haven't loaded them up yet. Thought I would try them in varying twist rate rifles and see if there's any difference.

Yeah, they were accurate enough for deer sized game at 200 yds and under...

If they were free, and the 63 SMP Sierra or the 60 grain Sierra HP cost me money, I'd still use these two Sierras....

Have you used the 60 grain Sierra HP on deer?

I have and it resulted in too much, and shallow, damage.

I very much prefer the 63gr SMP.

Blacktails, yeah...

usually mature run on average 110 to 150 lbs...but can get bigger...

I guess they killed well? Sounds like I need to find a specific use for the ones I have.

Worked fine for me Cliff....

Good. I'm going to load and shoot them. We'll see if I can make them go straight.

Ive heard good things about the 64 PPs from Winchester but have never used them...buena suerte!

64's kill deer and hogs real well out of a 22/250! Smack Down's

My plan is to run some out of a 8" twist 22-250. Do you have any data on them?

I load the 65 grain Game Kings in Winchester brass with CCI-41, and 26.5 grains of CFE223 that gets a velocity of 2960 out of a 16" 1-8 twist AR. Groups under an inch at 100 yards. I actually was trying to develop a load for a Ruger #3, but that particular load proved more accurate in the AR. I did shoot a deer last year with the #3 with that load at about 60 yards and the bullet went through both shoulders with a good exit would.




My buddy just got a bunch of the 62 grain game kings. Going to make a trade so I can test some out in a 1-12 twist Remington.

I've done a BUNCH of killing with the 64 Win PP out of .223 in both a 1-9 and a 1-8 twist. It is my favorite hog killing bullet. I got a bunch of them at a really good price so have been running them for years.

I've burned hundreds of these 65gr SP and thousands of 55gr V-Max. On a deer or coyote I see no difference. They both do well. I poked a nice 9pt with a solid neck shot with a 55gr V-Max at 200yrds... dont over think it.