Home Forums Hunting & Shooting Hunting Rifles 338/06 and Speer 225 BT???

Anyone have any experience using this 225 Boat Tail in your 338/06 or Improved? I've read where it is pretty soft, but thats coming from Magnum Users, near as I can tell. I get that, but wonder how it does at 2600+ out of 06 case? I'd like to hear your experience and velocity you settled on? Thanjs

I've used it out of my 338RCM for elk

They were really affordable until last year.

Jim, I just used the last of a box of them I have had stashed on my shelf for years. I needed some bullets to run through the new rebore and those were sitting there along with some old Hornady 225 SP's. I loaded them both over 52 grains of 4064 and just shot them. Cleaned the rifle back down to bare steel every 12-15 rounds till I'd shot through all 50 new cases. Made an even 2500 give or take 10 FPS for both bullets. They looked decently accurate.

Long way around the tent pole, but they turned into confetti in the dirt behind my target. Not that I expect miracles, but at a gentle 2500 I'd have expected them to hold together a bit more. Probably a wicked deer killer in my book. Anyhow, wished I had better intel for you, but that is my .2 cent's worth.

Just bought some from Midway, haven't shot them yet.

Just lookin' at the price $27.49 for 50ct.----WHATTTT!!!! That is 55cts. each for Speers (they are the lowest on my list of bullets and just wanted to try them!}-----NEVER AGAIN, didn't pay attn to the price when I bought them!

Hip

P.S. This is due to my Good Buddy Joey (I [bleep] in my pants)Biden! Just went to Home Depot and bought some Rid-X for the septic system and some Bug Bomb to kill any insect pests in the shed-----$52.00 WTF?

Hip

Thanks guys. Scotty, I wonder if they got brittle with age, you mentioned you had them a long time? Hip- I'm glad you didn't price particle board at Home Depot, you would have had a stroke! lol
OldPine- How did they do on your elk? 338 RCM is first cousin to the 338/06/Imp. I had one awhile, I just couldn't get used to the little Ruger. I really have no plans to use them hunting, I like the way my rifle is shooting the 175-200-210, plenty for the cow elk I hunt (or, if I'm lucky and get a Hayfield Hunt, cow elk "I just shoot") lol

I don’t think they were that old. 10 years tops.

Not nearly as old as the 275 Speers I’m shooting

I agree, 10yrs aint nothing on a jacketed bullet. I guess one would just have to wait for a double lung shot, which I bet 99.99% of every hunter tries to do anyway, ha. I'm just not that big a fan of any 225 anyhow, heck, I may not ever shoot them.

https://www.ballisticstudies.com/Knowledgebase/.338-06+A-Square.html

Scroll down to the "hand loading" section read about the 225 grain Speer BT ( and others).

I've nothing to add on this particular bullet or anything in 338 for that matter as I don't shoot it, but will just say its been my experience with the Speer BTSP in any caliber at any weight, it is a soft bullet comparative to others of the same weight. Not the HC, but the boat tails.

That's not knocking them at all, it can be used to your advantage depending what they're used for, and at least they're consistent about it. You know what you're getting ahead of time.

The Sierra BT's by contrast, you just have to find out or go off of others experiences. Some weights in some calibers break up pretty quick, others are surprisingly tougher than they should be like the little .243 85gr GK HPBT.

I use them for case forming 338-06 AI. Was banging around with The 'Horn not too many days ago and he was flinging the .616 BC 230 ELD-X's at 2850fps+,outta a Montucky 21" 338 WinMag. That's a rather nice BC Boost. Hint.






The .338" 225 BTSP Speer is no prize,from any angles,though you can't get into trouble with them at 338-06/AI velocities. Hint.................

Thanks guys, I am really enjoying this 338/06, seems to be a just right fix for this little rifle. While I love the looks of Ackley cartridges, I'm getting some good loads as is. If I get bored with it, for sure, it will get the Ackley reamer, OR Shermanized, or Gibbs.

That rifle turned out well.

I just started messing with the 250 Scenars in my 338WM with RL26.. Seems pretty decent so far speed wise.

Well...I'm not bored with the rifle, but just had to get it reamed to the Ackley! ha Hey Stick, your photos "enabled" my affliction for the Ackleys! lol I'll use my Speer 225s for FF also, you talked me into it Stick!!

Just shot some the other day in my Savage ,338WM. Shot pretty well , around an inch with H4350 on a nasty day. Should shoot a lot better in warmer temps. (for me----not the bullet)!

Hip

Not .338 225 BT’s but I have and do run 250 grain Speers in my 35 Whelen up to 2700 and they hold together just fine. Not hot, just the latest Speer load data with 2000MR and a good barrel.