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Federal

Federal Gold Medal Match 175gr Sierra MatchKing .308 Win

The benchmark .308 match load. 175gr Sierra MatchKing HPBT delivers sub-MOA accuracy and supersonic performance past 1,000 yards, with the exact bullet profile used by military M118LR long-range sniper ammunition.

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Quick Specs

Price
Contact for price
Weight
N/A
Brand
Federal
Category
ammunition

Features

  • 175 grain Sierra MatchKing HPBT
  • .308 Winchester
  • Match-grade brass
  • 2,600 fps

Compatibility Tags

caliber: 308caliber: 762x51

Overview

Federal Gold Medal Match 175gr is the reference load for .308 Winchester precision shooting. The 175-grain Sierra MatchKing hollow-point boat tail is the same projectile geometry used in M118LR, the U.S. military's long-range sniper round, and nearly every bolt-action and semi-auto precision .308 made in the past 25 years has been tuned around it. If you are zeroing a precision rifle, buying the scope, and doing the load-development math, this is the round you start with.

Performance is the reason this load has been the gold standard for two decades. A G1 ballistic coefficient of 0.505 keeps the 175 SMK supersonic past 1,000 yards from a 20 to 24-inch barrel, and the 2,600 fps muzzle velocity matches military M118LR specification within a handful of fps. Federal's match assembly process uses weight-sorted brass, tight neck-tension control, and match primers that drop standard deviations into the single digits from a quality rifle. Sub-MOA at 100 yards is the floor, not the ceiling, and half-MOA is common from a tuned precision rifle.

The tradeoff is cost and intended use. At $2.00-2.80 per round it is not a training load, and the Sierra MatchKing's thin jacket is not a hunting bullet, it will fragment unpredictably on game and should never be used for deer or hog hunting. Use Gold Medal Match for precision competition, zero confirmation, long-range practice, and any application where group size is the metric. For training volume, burn cheaper 147-150gr FMJ and save the match ammo for the range day that matters.

Key Features

  • 175-grain Sierra MatchKing hollow-point boat tail projectile
  • Same bullet as military M118LR long-range sniper ammunition
  • G1 ballistic coefficient of 0.505 stays supersonic past 1,000 yards
  • Muzzle velocity of 2,600 fps from a 24-inch barrel
  • Muzzle energy of 2,627 ft-lbs
  • Weight-sorted brass and match primers for single-digit ES
  • Sub-MOA accuracy from quality rifles

Pros

  • +The standard by which every other .308 match load is measured
  • +Matches M118LR bullet profile, so military DOPE and drop charts apply directly
  • +Supersonic past 1,000 yards from a 20-inch barrel
  • +Brass is match-prep-ready for handloaders
  • +Widely available and consistent lot-to-lot

Cons

  • Premium pricing at $2.00-2.80 per round makes it impractical for training
  • Sierra MatchKing is a target bullet, never use for hunting
  • 175gr is heavy for barrels with slow twist rates (1:12 struggles)
  • Not the absolute best BC available (Berger 185 Juggernaut beats it) but cheaper and more available

Detailed Specifications

caliber
.308 Winchester
bulletWeight
175 grain
bulletType
Sierra MatchKing HPBT
muzzleVelocity
2,600 fps (24" barrel)
muzzleEnergy
2,627 ft-lbs
ballisticCoefficient
0.505 (G1)
caseMaterial
Brass (match grade, reloadable)
primer
Match rifle, non-corrosive
intendedUse
Precision competition, long-range practice, zero confirmation

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