Speer Bullets thread

[Mike D Texas]

Gold Dots are highly underrated as a hunting bullet.


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[UPThunderbolt]

Absolutely, a good old cup and core bullet of traditional design is an absolute killer. Given the tendency to go for frangible bullets these days, I think you've chosen a good in between.

For what it is worth: I ran into an issue of inconsistency in the shape of the last box of .308 150 grain Speer hot core bullets I purchased. I don’t consider myself to be an advanced hand-loader, but I am fairly methodical. Among other steps, I measure the BTO on every round I produce.

With the last lot of bullets, I found my BTOs were all over the place. I could not figure out why. Eventually, I started examining individual bullets and, if you look closely, you can see they are not identical. I pulled all the bullets and put them back on the shelf. I switched to Bergers for my 30-06.

 

[Mauser]

I want to try a 375 boot tail. Anybody try thesm?

They seem to hit where you point them. Three shots, 50 yards (I was lazy).

 

[112Savage]

I’ve used gold dots 6.5mm and deep curl 6mm on deer. The deep curl seemed tougher and I caught most of them in the offside hide.

 

[Vern400]

I used 150/165 BTSP in my 308. Killed a lot of deer with them before swapping over to Sierra. They shoot good and work reliably. They were not quite as consistent as Sierra for bullet weight and that's why I switched. None of the deer I shot knew the difference. You do have to be careful not to push them too fast because they're not a hard bullet. At 2600 impact velocity they're fine.

 

[Formidilosus]

Anyone have thoughts on the spbt 130 out of 277 on elk? GRs model number 1458. Man they group good and have done great on whitetails.
Im working loads for my new tikka semi custom for elk and again, they outgroup the other imexpensive bullets- mainly hornady interlocks. Both shoot well enough.

They kill just fine.

 

[Balderdash]

I did some crop damage for a friend over maybe a 10 year span. Took quite a few with a 300 WM and cheap 180 Speer Hot Cores, which grouped very tight out to the 650 or so that I commonly shot them to. I figure total around 50 deer and an elk with that bullet. Also used the flat meplat 220grn .358's in a 35 rem and a 358 win. No problems and vast majority of animals were DRT. Had a few short tracking jobs with good blood trails.

Friend of mine has loaded the 225's in a 338 for 20+ years. A lot of moose and elk have fallen to that bullet for him.

For past 10 years or so have been loading higher BC bullets when available, but would have zero trouble loading and hunting with Speers again.

 

[Ganderzone]

If anyone knows where I can find some 6.5 impact 140s let me know.

 

[Mike D Texas]

If anyone knows where I can find some 6.5 impact 140s let me know.

How many are you looking for?


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[Ganderzone]

How many are you looking for?


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Pm incoming

 

[UPThunderbolt]

For what it is worth: I ran into an issue of inconsistency in the shape of the last box of .308 150 grain Speer hot core bullets I purchased. I don’t consider myself to be an advanced hand-loader, but I am fairly methodical. Among other steps, I measure the BTO on every round I produce.

With the last lot of bullets, I found my BTOs were all over the place. I could not figure out why. Eventually, I started examining individual bullets and, if you look closely, you can see they are not identical. I pulled all the bullets and put them back on the shelf. I switched to Bergers for my 30-06.

View attachment 929609

We are at the tail end of the Michigan Whitetail season and I’ve been driven in from camp by a substantial snowstorm. I’m bouncing off the walls sitting in the house rather than being out hunting. With that in mind, I decided to revisit this threat. I got out my comparator and began taking measurements from the base of the bullets to the Ogive. The results are listed below. I’m not sure how I came up with an extra 15 bullets?? I may have mixed in a few from a previous lot?? That may explain the 15 bullets that are substantially different from the others.

0.444-0.445 inches: 13 bullets
0.446-0.448 inches: 52 bullets
0.449-0.450 inches: 29 bullets
0.452. Inches: 5 bullets
0.482-0.483 inches: 10 bullets
0.485-0.486 inches: 5 bullets


I hope this information is helpful to some of you.

 

[Comerade]

This is an old thread, but I do have a little info
270 wcf, Speer 150 grain Grand Slam on a 6 point bull Elk at 100 yards. Muzzle velocity around 2800 fps.
Bullet penetrated both Shoulders and was found offside under the hide.
Expanded to .525 and retained 125 grains. Good performance for a lest costly bullet, folks

 

[Balderdash]

Based on the many 180's I sent through game - see earlier post, I can't say I'm surprised.

Not too long ago I put up a hefty supply of 6mm Speer BT's for a 6 ARC that gets shot a lot. Paid something like $19 per 100, IIRC. I'd say where it was, but they were sold out when I finished shopping.

 

[T-Stick]

I have experience with the 243 100 grain BTSP on deer and woodchucks. They generally shoot .66 MOA at 300 yards. They are a great dual purpose bullet for varmints and deer. They open at long range and give adequate penetration at close range.
I also have experience with the 7mm 130 and 160 weights in 7mm-08. They hold .5MOA at 300 yards. They are great for deer.

I have a 277 150 grain load that pushes 3,000 fps with RL23 and shoots .5MOA at 300 yds. I have to not bloodied it yet with that load.

The BTSP are a great compromise between a premium bullet for close range and a frangible bullet for long range. In my experience the advertised BC holds true in the field for running elevation clicks.

Nathan Foster speaks highly of them also.

 

[T-Stick]

For many years I primarily used Hornady or Nosler bullets. In the last 5 years I started trying out the Speer BTSP bullets. The general understanding I had was that Speer bullets were not accurate. I can't speak to their history but in the last 5 years I've been weighing all my bullets and keeping hunting loads within a 3/10 grain variation. The Speer boatails have shown a lot of consistency. In one lot of 7mm 160 grain bullets I have found the same level of consistency as with the 7mm 162 ELDM.