Home Forums Hunting & Shooting Ask The Gunwriters Why no love for Speer bullets

I'll use the 100gr. .257 in 14 twist .250s, they shoot well and behave appropriately on game at those velocities. I like the .308 165 gr. hot-cor as a cheaper practice bullet than the same weight partition. Same for the .358 250 grain bullet in the Whelen. I shot a 6 pt. in the neck at 6 yds with the .308 200 gr. in a .300 H&H, at about 2850. Almost beheaded the deer. Shot two deer under 25 yards with the 150 BTSP in a .270. They behaved about like a varmint bullet. Killed the deer, though. I also shot a four point in the chest cavity with a .308 165 gr. RN from a .300 savage. Looked like the deer just deflated. Great bullet, I miss that one. Last, I shot a decent sized doe at 8 yds with the .41 cal 220 gr out. Of a 10" contender. Entered the chest, broke most of the ribs on one side, transected the abdominal cavity, and exited the opposite hip. Messy gutting job, but no tracking. You could say I like them, but when used within their limits.

I really like their FP bullets in lever actions.

I do have a good load with the 150 FP for my dad's old .30-30, but haven't shot anything but paper yet

I have used several Speer bullets over the years. The 165gn SP is one of my favourite bullets in the .30-06 as well as the 180gn. Both flat bases. The 170gn Semi SP is another good bullet in my 8x57. The 130gn HP is a dynamite load for pigs in my .308 and here in Australia, a lot of blokes load the same bullet. Also, the 100gn SP performs well in my 20 inch .250 Savage. I have just bought a 6.5x55 and have loaded up some 140gn Speer SPs. I think that they will go ok on pigs and deer. I tend to load a lot of Hornady and Speer bullets and Sierras to a lesser extent. I must say I love the yellow plastic boxes when empty. They are so handy for storing stuff like nails, gun parts, fishing lures etc. I hope they never go to cardboard.

I don't use the boattail Speers but the flat base bullets perform well for me. I don't stress them and most of my loads with Speer bullets run from 2600 - 2850 fps.

If you can't find 'em, you can't shoot 'em.

After reading about the Deep Curls, I thought that my search for reasonably priced high- performance bullets was finally over. Never saw one for sale on-line or locally. Next thing I know, I read here that they're discontinued. Now my cheap, good bullets are Partition blems.

It took years for me to find some of the 46gr .224 FPs I wanted. I have yet to find the 110gr .308 HPs (they look like pistol bullets) that I want for light loads for my .308. At 1500 fps or so they kill foxes and such like lightning. Like somebody else said, you have to know that the bullets are going to be there from year to year when you need them.

The 250 gn seems to be cat's meow in the .35 Whelen. --- Mel

A buddy here in Montana thought that too for years, until he had one come apart during an angling shot on an elk.

After reading this thread I checked my bench and the "Yellow Boxes" are getting fewer and fewer and the amber "Grand Slam" boxes are just about gone.

When I find a bullet that works for my application I tend to buy as many as I can (I still have old Nosler SB's & 35cal. 225 and 9.3mm 250 gr. BT's stacked deep).

The only Speer products I have left are old yellow box items.
> .224 - 50gr. Spitzer, 52gr. HP & 55gr. Spitzer
> .257 - 87gr. Spitzer
> 6.5mm - 140gr. Spitzer
> .308 - 150gr. & 165gr GS, 165gr. & 180gr. TBBC
> .338 - 200gr. Spitzer
> .358 - 180gr. FP and 250gr. Spitzer
> 9.3mm - 270gr. Semi-Spitzer
> .375 - 235gr. Semi-Spitzer and 285gr. GS
> .458 - 400gr. FP

While not as experienced as many on this forum, I have been using Speer products since 1972 and the only issues I experienced or personally witnessed in the field has been; when I wound up my 338 Win. Mag. to full warp and shot blacktails, caribou and a mule deer with the 200 gr. Spitzer and wondered why it was tough on the steaks and chops. The other was when a friend used his 358 STA with the 250gr. Spitzer on a Nilgai at 80 yards, both bullets didn't penetrate and went to pieces. I finished that goat roping with a 225gr. NPT.

Speer's poor availability these past few years and product development is really costing them market share.

There are just so many other choices these days.

YMMV

SC

Painting with a broad brush here, some Sierra bullets perform awesome.

hard to find a better varmint bullet for a 223 than the 50gr TNT for money and splat factor.

I agree!!! I've been shooting their 50gr .224" TNT's for decades on our Pennsylvania groundhog population.

I've used a bunch, and liked the old Grand Slams too, but when I've exhausted my supply I won't be buying any more Speers. And most of the ones I have bought have been clearance items at reduced prices.

We load for 8- 30-30 rifles here and our loads consist of the 160 FTX and the 170 Sierra FN all loaded with LeverEvolution powder.

For gift giving my kids/grandangels are known to buy component bullets for me and have been able to find only the 170 Speer Hot-Cor FN for me several times. I load them with my stash of W748 in RP cases with RP primers and they are every bit as accurate as the Sierra and the Hornady FTX, though they have a different POI. I haven't used them on deer yet, just practice, but would not hesitate if the others were not available.

I think Speer are ok bullets.

I have to admitI've used a lot more Sierras than anything else. Mostly because back in 1954 when I started reloading, Sierra's were cheaper than Speer or Hornady, probably because they were made in Southern California back then and shipping was probably less. Even after I left California I was used to Sierras and how they worked so never much bothered with the other brands. Hunted most deer and not much else, not counting jackrabbits and the like. Bought a rifle that I got quite cheaply because the previous owner said it was inaccurate and he couldn't get it to shoot anything. I figured if I could find a load that would do 1.5" or less consistently I'd keep it. I tried all kinds of powder and bullets appropriate to the .308 Win. and then some powders not so appropriate. One finally worked, a 165 gr. Speer Hot Core over a stiff load of W760. Only did 2550 FPS from the rifle's 18.5" barrel but I got my 1.5" or less consistently and deer from about 30 feet away to out at 250 yards died very conveniently. Worked up a load with the 200 gr. Hot Core for my Roger #1B in 300 Win, Mag. that also worked in a Winchester M70. Dropped a cow elk at 530 lasered yards with that load. Been playing with some 150 gr. Grand Slams looking for loads for the 7x57 and .280 Rem. and have a couple hundred 250 gr. Grand Slams for my .35 Whelen to play with. Too many loads to work up and not enough time to do it.
Paul B.

I haven't read through the whole thread, but here's my take.

I've reached the age when I've mostly retired from hunting, so I don't care about killing stuff. However, I've gotten into lever rifle silhouette, and some claim Speer 30-30s work well or even best.

So, short version, I don't shoot Speer bullets because I can't find and get them consistently. Availability, especially 30-30s, has been spotty at best. I don't have the time or patience to screw around with an inconsistent supply. I go with alternatives.

'nuff said.

Paul

The market goes to;
Cheapest
Most expensive
Newest
Most accurate
Trendy
One could find other categories, but you can fit the more popular brands in those . Speer is not known as the most accurate, they are not always cheapest, their top lines never caught on, and they were never distinguished (exclusive or expensive) enough to be trendy. Lots of folks used and still use them, but to be trendy one gas to make big changes and attract attention. I drive a 93 3/4 ton diesel, many folks say they wish they could buy that kind of truck new. If they were still made nobody would like a rough riding, cloth seat, no cupholder, gearshift engaged lock out hub four wheel drive. That is about where Speer is today.

Good analogy DB.

No cupholder!

Dang, Dude.

I have never started loading for a new caliber and had a Speer bullet jump out as one I'd like to try.

I use 125 TNTs for target shooting out to 200 yards with my Garand and 03A3. Light recoil, reasonable price and they're more accurate than I can hold.

Haven't found a better bullet for my 7's than the Speer .284 145gr SPBT.