Home Forums Reloading Big Game Rifles Speer Grand Slam bullets

I started my 280 Rem. with the old 160 Grand Slams. Shot decent, but performance on deer sucked. Not enough expansion and no blood trails. Switched to Barnes from then out and never looked back. Only changes have been switching to newer versions of Barnes in all calibers

For me, Interlocks have always been the best bang for the buck. I have been using them for many years. I have never had a rifle that would not shoot them real well and they perform great on deer. I have not shot many Grand Slam, but to me, they are not a bit better than Interlocks, and are more expensive.

I used Grand Slam bullets in my 270 for a few years, the 130's worked great, but not any better than a 130 Hot Cor on a deer. Half the price, just as dead.

I think you'd be better off with the 145 GS on deer. The 160's have been a little on the hard side out of 7-08's.
In almost 30 years of using GrandSlams, I can't think of a single rifle that wouldn't shoot them well. Guess I'm just lucky.

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Taking a lesson from Jack and Eleanor O'Conner's experience and what I have gleaned from this web site and many more; I have chosen a good 160 grain bullet at 2600-2650 fps as my preferred "all around" hunting round for my two 7x57 rifles. And I would recommend that bullet weight as a goal for anyone owning a 7x57 of good quality and modern strength. I personally have chosen the 160 grain Nosler Partitions and Accubonds and purchase the Blemished and overrun offerings from SPS at a reduced price. But I think Speer, Hornady, and Woodleigh bullets would work well. I am currently focusing on the Ramshot Hunter Powder for load development. I have used both IMR and Accurate 4350 powders with satisfactory results in the past. But I will accept the "most accurate load" in that 2600 - 2700 fps window as my primary go to load and go forth with confidence after game up to and including elk and moose.

Jinx, I'm inclined to think that the bullet the O'Connors used most in their 7x57s is the 160 gr. Speer Hot Core. I think that if they'd been using Grand Slams or something else Jack would have said so. I'm using the 160 gr. Grand Slam in tests in a .280 Remington with interesting results. Average velocity is 2900 FPS and change and groups .75" on average.

One powder I've had some interesting results with is Rl17 in my 7x57 including some quite high velocity for the cartridge and the 150 gr. Nosler Partition and 150 gr. Nosler ABLR. Accuracy with the Partition is quite good but results with the ABLR have been well below dismal not only in my three 7x57 rifles but in the .280 Remington as well.
Paul B.

PJ,

I think you are correct about the O'Conner's using the Speer bullets, but I tend to favor the Noslers. Like you, I like the 150 grain Nosler Partitions as well and got good accuracy out of them using Accurate 4350 a few years back. I have yet to try a Accubond; but intend too! I have heard complaints from other sources regarding the ABLR bullets and their accuracy! I haven't tried any of those and probably won't; due to the fact I won't be using my 7x57 for shots beyond 200-250 yards at most. This decision is based on what I feel are my own personal capabilities. At age 78, most of my hunting trips are getting limited in effort ! Besides my personal experience in black tail deer, elk, and mule deer hunting (amongst the group I hunt with on a routine basis); most kills were made at 200 yards and less. I may be giving the RL17, RL19, and Ramshot Big Game powders a look as well for the Nosler 160 grains, but Ramshot Hunter will be my first development effort. Thanks for your input on the powders. Keep me posted on your 7x57 endeavors and 280 Rem as well. If I decide to step up from the 7x57, the 280 Rem would be my next choice!

CJ

No experience with the .284's...……………. But the 180 grain .308" is THE bullet for my house load for 6 different .300 Win Mags. Enough 4350 to make roughly 3050 fps...…….go forth and kill...……… ALWAYS leaves two holes on whitetails. Drives deep on what have ya...…….


I love me some Speer Grand Slams !!!!