Home Forums Reloading Big Game Rifles Speer 140 grain hot core 6.5 mm?

Hey folks joined this forum even though I've lurked her a lot. Anyone tried these out of the 6.5's? Will be loading for 6.5 creedmoor, but never tried these so I ordered a box. Will be using H4350 and R17. Last year I shot the 140 Gameking out of this rifle and 120 BT. Both were very accurate. Just wanted to try something new this year. In the 6.5x55 and 260 Rem I have used Hornady SP, nosler AB, and 120 BT. Have had great luck with all of them. Is the hot core a good deer bullet? Would like if they shot as good as the gamekings did in this rifle. Thanks for any advice.

Welcome !

I have been shooting them in a 260 Model Seven -very accurate with all powder charges when working up .

BUT I have yet to shoot a deer or pig with them. They'll do fine on deer/pigs after all it's a 140gr. bullet .

Cleveland48,

Glad you finally decided to join!

I've taken a number of deer with the 140 6.5 Hot-Cor from a .264 Winchester Magnum, the bullets started at 3200 fps. All of the deer were 200-250 yards away, so impact velocity was around 2700-2800 fps. They all expanded fine, held together and exited, leaving about a 1" hole.

It's the only bullet that will group in less than 1.5" in my Model Seven. I've tried most everything between 100gr and 140. My son-in-law has three one shot kills with the gun and load.

Thanks everyone! I have never tried Speer bullets before due to them being hard to find locally. It's pretty much nosler and Hornady here with some Sierra mixed in. I've killed several deer with all the 6.5mm bullets I listed earlier, and all performed excellent. So I thought I would try something different this year.

On game performance on Whitetails and feral hogs has been excellent out of my 6.5x55. Accuracy is very good as well. Of course I really don't push them hard enough to really give them a good test. Mule Deer's experience above out of his .264 WM is a much better testimonial.

The 140 Speer Hot Core is one of my favorites.

Thanks I won't be pushing them very fast. My 140 Gameking load was clocking 2640 fps out of my 22" barrel and H4350. I got some Reloader 17 to try that would prolly give it a little more speed. I have been using only 6.5 mm rifles since 2008 for deer hunting. 6.5x55, 260 Rem, and now the creedmoor. I have had great performance with the 140's at 2600-2700 fps and 120's at 2800-2900 fps. Some I'm only looking to get these in the 2650-2700 fps range. Should make for a great setup for these southern whitetails.

I killed my first antelope and a pile of whitetails with the Speer 120 out of a 260. Never left me wanting for anything else. Cant imagine the 140 would be any different.

Thanks! Should be here today and I'll work up some loads to try by next week.