Home Forums Hunting & Shooting Deer Hunting Hornady Spire Point Bullets

I am curious about the Hornandy Spire Point Bullets. I used the factory 150 grain out of my .270 Weatherby. I shot 5 Whitetails behind the shoulder and never recovered a single animal. It seemed they never opened up. There wasn't much of a blood trail either. Three shots were 100 yards and two shot at 180 yards. What are your opinions on this bullet?

That don't make any since, you would think any 150 grain bullet out of a 270 Wby at that range would flatten any deer. Maybe you are holding to far behind the front shoulder How do you know you hit them right behind the shoulder if you never recovered any of them? something just not right.

I've shot lots of game with Hornady Spire Points over about 30 years, from pronghorns to elk, and have never had a single problem like you describe. I did have a failure to expand from 117 gr, .257 Hornady boattails in the mid-80's, so I quit using them. But the Spire Points? Never seen it happen.

Maybe the problem was from the factory loading...

Dennis

I've shot quite a few elk with hornady interlocks out of a 338. none went more than 20 yards. Should work fine on deer

Scar22,

You can save yourself some time by going to the general big game forum and reading the hornady / speer topic. Lots of opinions there.

The only problem I've ever had with them is when I blew the shot. I know it was me because the deer still died, and hole goes where you put it.

Adam

Do you have any experiences with which to compare this with before we start saying you didn't pull the trigger hard enough? Just seems unlikely to lose 5 deer with good shot placement from a powerful cartridge shooting a bullet that seems up to the task.
Lemme guess, this was in South Texas?

These bullets shot .5 inch out of my gun and Im very confident in my shots. I did switch to the ballistic tips 140 grain and shot 5 deer behind the shoulder and dropped each one in there tracks. The range was between 130 - 250 yards. The entry hole was impressive with a devastating exit hole on all deer. Would the spire points be better for larger game such as elk? Are Whitetails to thin skin for spire point ammo?

{quote=Scar22]These bullets shot .5 inch out of my gun and Im very confident in my shots. I did switch to the ballistic tips 140 grain and shot 5 deer behind the shoulder and dropped each one in there tracks. The range was between 130 - 250 yards. The entry hole was impressive with a devastating exit hole on all deer. Would the spire points be better for larger game such as elk? Are Whitetails to thin skin for spire point ammo? [/quote]





was it the same 5 deer you missed with the hornadys?
LOL!!!!!!!!!!!!

I wish LOL

Think I'll try them one more time on the farmers permit.

Everyone knows the 150 Hornady is too tough for deer! And 1/2 inch accuracy isn't nearly good enough to hit them behind the shoulder. I'm glad you found such a superior bullet to use on your deer in that Ballistic Tip. I'm sure they won't escape any more.

Probably need to leave those big tough Hornadys for elk. Deer are like jello, won't expand a bullet that's been around for 50 years.

How do you know where the bullet hit, and that it didn't open... IF YOU NEVER RECOVERED THE DEER?

Sorry to be a smartazz, couldn't help it. I like quick opening bullets for deer, so I'd use those Ballistic Tips for deer, but I don't see why the Hornadys wouldn't have worked

Yeah, my BS meter is pegging too.

True maybe the scope was bumped

I have used the 140 gr in my 270 win and they were true murder on deer. You cant' claim good placement or lack of expansion if you never recovered your deer. Not trying to get you ralled up or anything but you may need to work on your tracking skills it can be tricky sometimes.

Scar22, I've got a few questions.
1. Are these bullets handloaded?
2. What size groups are you shooting?
3. What velocity are you getting?

I've nailed quite a few deer w/ 150 gr SP Interlocks, and my brother-in-law for whom I load has too, and never a problem; they open up just fine... approx 2800 fps impact velocities I'd guess based upon chrono and range of hits.

I've also nailed a couple w/ 180 RN Interlocks, and ditto. Lower speed at impact, of course, but same results... as a matter of fact all of these (with presumably tougher bullets being heavier) were DRTs.

From your 270 Weatherby I'd highly doubt those bullets were just "pencil holing" through. Even if they are particularly heavy and built for elk (which I don't know that they are) the velocity you'd get from that over the 270 WCF which would be the norm would be enough to offset the difference.

JB calls these "poor man's premium" and while I'm not particularly poor they're my premium. They're great bullets with which I always know what I'm getting and they seem to shoot well out of all of my rifles. I've never had a problem with 'em on game that wasn't related more closely to the nut behind the stock than the projectile coming out of the muzzle.

Scarr22:

"I used the factory 150 grain out of my .270 Weatherby..."

"These bullets shot .5 inch out of my gun..."

He didn't mention velocity...

Guys, I'm going to give Scar22 the benefit of doubt. I have a Ruger No. 1 chambered for a .270 Weatherby and I've loaded Hornady SP 150 gr bullets over max and had them come a part.