Home Forums Hunting & Shooting Ask The Gunwriters Speer Hot Core

While searching for an inexpensive lightweight bullet for targets, plinking, coyotes, antelope and the like, I ran into the 150 grain Speer Hot Core. Two different pre 64 model 70s just loved the things, both at about 2 grains under max. Anyone out there have any experience with these things on antelope or deer? Cheap, super accurate and ????

Wayne

Wayne, I've used the Plain Jane Speers a lot on deer... my favorite cup n' core bullet. They hold together and work. Biggest Whitetail I ever shot was with a 150 Speer FB at 2,700 from a .308. He went 240 lbs on the hoof. The bullet punched both shoulders and exited. He was piled up inside 20 feet. I used the 120 Speer quite a bit in the 250 Savage as well with great results.

240 lbs on the hoof, man that's about like our spike bulls isn't it.

That thing had to be a tortuga!

Dober

The Speer 150 grain out of my Winchester 70 featherweight and Savage 99E (both in .308)is both accurate and has great on game performance. I have taken game animals from the size of eastern whitetail deer and smaller and this bullet always does its job. I've been reloading the 150 / .308 Speer since 1989 and it is still my go to bullet. I also use this same bullet at the range and out at 200 yards on a good day I can keep them inside 1 1/2 inches from the rifles mentioned. I also have good luck with the 145 grain / .284 bullet out of my 7mm Remington Magnum rifle.

cur dog

I have used it too, on mule deer. No problem. I use the Hornady more as it has been more acurate on the whole but I would be vary happy with either...tj3006

Speer 120g Hot Core bullets are wonderfully accurate in my .25-06. Havent killt anything with them yet.

Dober, I'll dig up a photo of that buck for you to see. I've got a pic of Cole when he was about two years old standing next to it with his binky in his mouth. That deer was flat ginormous.

Brad,

Have you used the 87gr Speer hot core in the 250 savage???

Doc

FWIW I use the 87 gr Hot Core in my 20in 1899 TD. I didn't realize how much I prefer accuracy to bullet weight until I did.

It is a 1.5-2.5 inch gun with 100 grainers but sub one inch with the 87 gr.

Bullet holds together really well too.

As to the Speers in general I like the flat base Hot Core bullets though I have used more 165's than 150's.

The BT's aren't Hot Core as most know and they do not hold together nearley as well.

Mac, find that pic man, I'd love to see Magnum in a pic like that...

Dober

I've had good luck with the 87 hot core in the 250 Savage, and my son has real good luck with the 150 and 165 in the 300 Savage, both early 50's M99s. Key seems to be keeping impact velocity under 3K, same as most cup and cores.

Duh, I think it just hit me. Is the Hot-Core Speer's replacement for the good old flat based cup and core bullet we've been using for 50 years? If so, no wonder the thing works. The 55 grain in the M-70 bull barrel Swift and the 20X Unertl Programmable was my "money" gun for years. (About 30 years ago)

Wayne

I've been using sper hot cor's for a long time in a 270, 30-06, and I'm going to try them in a new 308. I've had nothing but excellent performance from them.

The Speer Hot Cores that I've used (.30 caliber, 150 gr Spitzer, 150 gr FN) have been very reliable performers. Not quite as accurate as Sierras and Hornadys in my rifles off the bench, but functionally about the same for any hunting purposes you might have. If they are super accurate in your rifles, that's a great bonus.

Good shooting!

Took a Savage 99 in 250 out antelope hunting with 87gr Speer HotCor and it performed just beautifully. I'm a Partition bigot, but I wouldn't hesitate to use HotCor's on antelope or deer.

Like Calhoun, I am biased towards Partitions in 25 & 27 cal rifles. BUT, the Hot Core out of a 35 Whelen has performed without fail. So, I save a little money, get good accuracy, and great terminal performance. My confidence is complete in this bullet!

I have read other posts on these bullets. Based upon Speer's website and you guys' experience, it sounds to me as though these are basically bonded bullets.

Do ya'll think they would be too soft for magnum velocities?

My wife shot the 120 speer out of her Swede for several years. Worked well on Antelope and Mule Deer. I have used the 275gr. .338 on Elk. It performed very well, and was very accurate to boot.

JB has stated that the so called bonding of the Hot Core doesn't appear to exist. The few bullets we've been able to recover seem to bare that out. With the oxidation rates of copper and molten lead, it would be hard to get the "solder joint" effect and get a well balanced bullet. That said however, I've been favorably impressed with the performance on our Kansas whitetails with the 87 Speer out of my old M99.
As to magnum velocities, I'd still rather keep them under about 2800-3000 fps at impact.

The 120 gr. Speer H/C is very accurate in my Ruger #1B. I haven't had a chance to try it on game yet. About the only bullet that will shoot worth a hoot in my Ruger 77 RSI is the 165 gr. Speer H/C, but is a deer slayer supreme for me. The only other Speer H/C/ I shoot is the 250 gr. in my .35 Whelen. Maybe I'll get a chance to see what it can do one of these days, that is if I ever draw another elk tag. Didn't get on again this year. Makes it six tagless years in a row. I do know that friends of mine in Canada swear by the 250 gr. Speer H/C for moose, often stating complete pass through on broadside shots and the moose not moving very far after the hit.
Paul B.