Home Forums Reloading Varmint Rifles Any experience on the Speer 55 grain SP on deer or antelope?

How do they compare to the Hornady 55 SP?

Thanks

I’ve shot a bunch of pigs with them. They’re a little softer than the Hornady. They kill very well if you put them in the chest but they rarely exit anything over 100lbs.

My experience is at 223 speeds.

Thanks Kid. Appreciate the knowledge. I've got several thousand of them and thought I might sight my grandsons 223 AI with them. He gets to hunt deer this year and is pretty recoil sensitive.

I buy them usually by the 1000 round pack. I've loaded them for kids for deer hunting, via Boy Scouts and let the kids load their own ammo, and me and their dad supervising... 223 and 22.250... Never heard back on failure, but have many a happy boy show me pics of their first deer with them..

I shoot them a lot at varmints every summer, so that is why I am usually Flush with them in hand...but I've done the same with Hornady 55s, 50s and 60 SPs also.

What he said. Pard took this whitetail with one in a .222

I’ve never shot a deer with them but have used them on a few coyotes. If you don’t have 100% faith in them maybe just order a box of the hornady 55’s or better yet the 60sp and set your mind at ease. I’ve shot a few handfuls of deer with both of those and I don’t recall the 60’s ever staying in a deer on broadside shots.

I have never had a sp bullet from a 223 exit A deer. Used 63 sierra, 55 hornady, 70 speer, 55 remington.

Same here. Used all mentioned except the Remington. Maybe size? Maine deer, even does, are larger on average vs NYS/CT IME. Killed well tho.

I fire formed my 22/250 AI brass while killing coyotes and p. dogs with the 55 Speers. There are a very soft bullet compared to a 55g Hornady, which is one of the toughest cup and core 22 cal bullets made. If you hit a rib with the 55g speer, it will blow to shreads, my best guess.

We shoot the 223 AI also, and with a hot load of N135, the 55's are doing 3675 fps....potent. We fire form the AI brass with Benchmark and cci 450s at 3450 fps.

Sierra 55g bthp is another really tough bullet, sierra will tell you the same. Do not be fooled by the HP in the Sierra.

Speed is the killer, and of course, shot placement trumps all unless your bullet blows up on contact.

55g Hornady are available right now from suppliers at a very reasonable cost and you may elect to get a couple of thousand for the youngster to play with.

I had rather shoot a Hornady than a barnes.

3675 out of a 223 AI. That is some serious velocity. I just ordered some 55 Hornady's Bet they work OK