Home Forums Reloading Varmint Rifles 63 grain SMP v. Hornady 60 SP

Hi gang,

my rifle shoots 60 grain hornady SP quite well. it is a 22 250 with a 20 inch tube and 1 in 14 inch twist. I tried the winchester 64 grain PP but my rifle does not stabilize it well and groups open up to over 1.5-2.0 inches. The 63 grain SMP from sierra looks like a very short bullet for its weight and I want to give it a try. Anyone have any experience with this bullet versus the 60 grain hornady for use on deer size game?

any thoughts would be appreciated.

tks.

Colin

Colin-I've used the 63 Sierra and H414 to take a lot of deer/lopes. I've yet to find a 14 twist or quicker that wouldn't just shoot like crazy with the bullet.

I've also used the 60 Horn sp and hp on game and it's done it's work quite well.

The biggest black bear that I've shot I took with a 22/250 and the 63 Sierra/H414 combo. The bruin was quartering away and 178 yds out. The bullet went into the body just in front of where a bruins love handle would be and exited it's adams apple....

Dober

Glad to see you chime in Dober I was just getting ready to let him know that you shot many of them in your 250. Have you gotten any yotes yet? Anyway, I shot a few of the 63 and they shot well, I didn't shoot many as I sold the 250. I can't think of anything that would be able to handle a 63gr out of a 250. HAPPY HUNTING

Can't speak to the Hornady 60gr, but the Sierra 63gr shoots lights out in my 225 Win, which has a 14" twist. 64gr Power Points go into 4" groups from this rifle.

4 me, the 50 TNT and the 63 Sierra have day in and day out been good shooters in '250's, Swifto's and 223's.

Plus those 63's are just plain ugly and I like em.

Dober

63 Gr Sierra have shot well form me in 14 twist guns. But the 60 Gr. V-Max shoots but does not group well.

Colin : If I had to choose just one bullet to shoot in my 22-250 it would definately be the 63 gr Sie. It does an awesome job on whitetails ,wild hogs, coyotes etc.
I have never killed a bear with it like Dober has but it is definately my go to bullet in my 22-250 and has been since the early 70's.I shoot several different weight bullets in my 250 but I can honestly say it is definately one of my favorites.
good luck with yours. I use IMR 4064 behind it.
navarro1

I have a lot of bullets that I love in 22 centerfire.. but the 63 SMP has to be one of the favorites.. between that and the 70 grain Speer SMP.. both are my GOTO bullets when I am using the 22 cal on heavier game than varmint...

because of their SMP profile both stablize well in a one in 14 or one in 12 twist...

the Hornady 60 SP is also an excellent bullet, but for performance on game, I'd go with the 63 SMP hands down..

try the 70 grain Speer if you ever get around to it also..

Fantastic guys! Thank you! I emailed Sierra and they tell me that the OAL of the bullet is 0.755 with is very similar to the hornady SP at 0.75 on my calipers. The 64 grain power point is over 0.79.

I am ordering up a box of 63 grain SMPs tomorrow and will give them a whirl. Will let you know how I make out.

tks again.

Colin

Col..,

The 63SMP has been very accurate in several guns and I've taken a couple of whitetails with it. The 60Horn has not done well for me at all. Not knocking Hornaday. I'm a big fan. That particular bullet just hasn't shot well for me in a number of differant cartridges with twists running from 1-12 to 1-7.

O

The 63 S came to be in order to get the last bit of useful life from a throat-eroaded barrel. You could seat the bullet close to the lands and still have some shank in the case neck.(220 Swift et.all, shooters note) When deer hunting with 22s was a new idea, the 63 S was the natural choice. I shoot 55 S SMPs as a first choice in a pasture poodle gun, accuracy is to brag about...Bill

Unc..,

My understanding is that it was made short for it's weight in order to shoot well in slow twist barrels. My experience is that it shoots well in every twist I've tried.

O

I finally got to play with some loads for this 63 grain SMP.

I worked up with IMR 4895 to 35 grains. 3 shot accuracy at 100 yards is running at 0.6-0.7 inch consistently. The rifle is a browning a-bolt with 1/14 twist.

This accuracy level is pretty typical for this rifle and is comparable to what it shoots with 55 and 60 grain hornady bullets. The sierra smp 55 grain shoots 0.4-0.5 inch which is the best I could ever do with it. Overall, pretty impressed with the 63 grain SMP. Should be a good deer load though I must admit I did not see much difference between the 63 grain SMP and the 55/60 grain hornady and the 64 grain power point when shot into dry newsprint at 50 meters.

22-250 right?

You are definitly moving them right along I bet. Open the distance to 150 and you might start seeing a difference. No experience with them but I understand the 64gr PP should hold together very well too.

WOW, Dober. That's fantastic penetration. We've had other reports here of the WW 64 gr. Power-Point breaking both shoulders of a caribou. Why do you think that is with these 63-64 gr., .22's ? E

The 64 pp gets a lot of good reviews. Unfortunately my rifle does not shoot them that well. Groups open up over 2 inches at 100 yards. I did shoot a 160 pound black bear last spring with one though at 150 yards and broke shoulders going in and out. Bear dropped at the shot and did not move. I am really impressed with the accuracy of the 63 gr SMP. Anyone ever section one and compare the jacket thickness to the 64 gr PP?

Thanks!

Colin-I'm not very scientific about this stuff. I just know that the 63 Sie is incredibly accurate (I've had ok accuracy with the 64) and the 63 just plain kills well (as does the 64 I hear, I've not used it much).

Dober

Reviving an old thread! I've got a new AR that I'd like to use for deer. Silver State Armory is selling 5.56 63gr Sierra Soft Point ammo. Has anyone tried it? I don't like all copper bullets so the Barnes TSX that "everyone" is raving about is out. Any other recommendations? Thanks fellas.
Seth

63g Sierra will not let you down, no experience with the 60g Hornady.

The 60 grain Hornady is a good one...no experience with the Sierra 63 grainer..but I trust Dobers judgement and experience..if he says it works...it does.