Home Forums Reloading Big Game Rifles Speer Bullets

my philosophy is if it worked well in the past, It will still work well in the future..

I've always had good luck with Speer bullets....

I buy Speers when ever I find them available.

Different round but same here. Not terrible shooting just Sierra's get the nod more and more due to seeming to make prettier groups.

The second most accurate load I had for the 350 Rem was with 250 grain SPEER bullets (most accurate was with Interlocks):

350 RM, Remington 600, 250 grain SPEER, 9 1/2M, 56 grains IMR4320, 0.66 MOA

In my 256 Win Mag the most accurate load was factory Winchester, alas I don't have any anymore. But the following was one of the two most accurate hand loads. It is devastating on cotton tails.

256 Win, Winchester 92, 75 SPEER, 16 grains IMR4227 0.700, 1.13 MOA (group sizes averaged .7" at 59 yards)

My cousin likes the 170 Grain SPEER bullets in his 8x57 - he says it is the most accurate load he's tried. I believe he said that was with IMR4064.

The old Speer Deep Shocks are the best cup and cores ever made. Still have a couple of thousand 165s and 180s.
George

The Speer 170 SMP, is the only bullet I shoot in my 8 mm Mausers....with speeds as low at 1800 fps and as fast as 3100 fps...

it works at both speeds, and every thing in between... and no shortage of accuracy...

I've always looked at the 8 x 57, its like its a big copy of the 223 Rem.. So I use powders I'd load in my 223s... SR 4759, IMR 4198 and RL 7 being the main 3.. but also Blue Dot, Unique and Alliant Steel....

none have EVER failed to drop what I have shot them with... usually blacktail deer...

even testing them into wood as a test media, their penetration and apparent damage to the media has been impressive...

Couldn't resist. Bought some hot core 90 grains to replace my dwindling supply of 100gr Pro hunters ( why I ever switched form 85hpbt I just don't know). PH's shoot great and work fine but am hoping the HC's may be ever so slightly tougher.

I lament going away from 140 GK's in my 260 because internet says my 1-10" was too slow but those were the best performers ever. Been using 120's but giving the 140 HC's a try. Length was about identical to the Sierra 140 ...about as scientific as I could get but cost was such I couldn't pass it up.

Do you all load Speers to same levels as other bullets? I don't hot rod anyway. Likely start with 40grains H4350 for both.

I think you will find the 90 Speer HCs to be "tougher" than the 100 gr. PHs. In my experience Speers are generally a bit stouter and the 90 and 105s that I shot in a 26" barreled B78 single shot at fairly high velos went through deer far or close up with little issue, and honestly with a bit less expansion than I personally prefer. YMMV

Dbrink thanks- I know people confuse the standard Speers , which are very soft, with hot cores. I always thought the HC's would be tougher but what I read over last three days make it sound only marginally so. Of course I just went and ordered some...... I went to Sierra's from Hornady's because I felt he Hornadys weren't expanding enough. Trying to find that middle road here.

Well I received my order from Speer and was surprised when I measured using a comparator. The 140 6.5 HC is shorter than the Game king. Thinking it might bode well for my slower twist barrel.

Shot 90gr hc into wet magazines 6inch thick setting in water and a box to hold mags together. It weighed 20gr when found it came apart after 4 inch penetration only jacket found

I use some Speers. 165 gn SBT in my sons 30-06. They shoot little groups and when he shoots deer the deer just drop. I shoot 180 gn GS in my 300 Weatherby and they group well and deer just drop dead. And neither bullet tears up a bunch of meat. The 250gn Speers group better than The Hornady 250s in my Whelen. Never have killed anything with them yet. I have no doubt fhey will work fine. They cost less than some of the other brands as well.

My dad left me around 300 270 130gr hot cor old school yellow box there just as good as a interlock I’ve killed deer from 10-300 yds silver dollar size exit on every one

Didn’t federal at one time load hot core in there ammo called hi shok

The smallest groups with my two 6.5 CMs are with 140gr Speers and Hornady's 41.5gr H4350 load. Consistent sub-moa, and one rifle is a 99 Savage.

243- I recently saw something from JB, not sure if what I read was recent or just recent to me, but he suggested a better test was dry books - not yet.

I would also consider going to the source with any questions. Nothing beats asking the people who make them.

Using the phone - online customer service - 877-426-7849

For email contact, go here - https://www.speer.com/contactus

https://www.speer.com/support.html

That 250 Speer is as good as a 250 Partition as I’ve seen.

Used the same bullet in the 6.5 Grendel ( Ruger American Bolt action) with a charge of 29 grains of W 748...

dropped a decent sized blacktail on the spot.... at about 125 yds, 2 seasons ago, when the rifle was new.