Home Forums Hunting & Shooting Ask The Gunwriters Speer 338 cal 275gr

Hey guys, Anyone have any experience with these old Speers on game? It is part number 2411, and the hot-cor type. Looks like they would be good in the 338-06 at about 2400-2500 fps. Do they hold up in the 338 Mag? How about accuracy ? These have a semi spitzer shape to them, Thanks in advance!

Elmer K.thought/wrote quite highly of them.& I haven't had any complaints from the elk I've used them on..Not a lot left here though.. Lyle

To date I've found them to very accurate in eveery 33 I've tried them in (form big to small 33's). Unfortunately i can only vouch for how they work on chucks/yotes/ and porky's.

Mark D

oh yeah, they work just fine on those....grins

FYI, I'm pretty sure Speer discontinued the 275 .338.

The 275 Speer is the most accurate bullet I've used and an absolute hammer as a timber round. Used them in both a 338 wm and a 338-06. H4350 for both.

This is a true story. Years ago I was shooting my 338 win ,275 speer through one of those old cheap, paper screen Cronys. Target was at 200 yards and the rifle was shooting very well. First shot went fine, one the second Chrony blew over. I went out and retrieved the Chrony and about 1/4 of the bullet had cut the edge of the second window on the heavy cardboard. Went down to look at my target and the 2 shots were 1 1/2 inches apart. After that I figured it might just be a good timber load!

Boltface...

Back in the mid-1960's, I corresponded with Elmer Keith concerning loads for the .338 Winchester Magnum in my pre-'64 Model 70 Winchester.

In his letter (which I'm looking at as I write this), dated "May 28th-65", and signed simply "Sincerely, Keith", the sage, old gun-writer wrote of his fondness for his "magnificent Browning Olympian and a Halger No. 85 action mag mauser in .338 made up by Iver Henriksen with premium Douglas barrel."

He recommended I try his load in my Model 70 "Alaskan". It consisted of "a 275 grain Speer with 74 grains of 4831 and either a CCI mag or Fed 215 primer. This is the load I use in my Model 70." He added, "You will have a load that will stay in the one inch class or less and no fliers."

Jus' thought you'd like to know... <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/smile.gif" alt="" />


Strength & Honor...

Ron T.

Elmer truly liked the Speer 275 from what I've always read and placed emphasis on how well it performed in the field on live game. Sometimes other bullets show up a bit better than others in more theoretical test scenarios, but I'll listen to field results with great appreciation and respect just a bit more so than the theoretical.

Ron T, you are a smart guy .. first of all you went to the source ... secondly, you didn't lose track of his reply! I'll tip my hat in your honor!
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Edited to add: I shot the 275's in my Safari but never on any game that gave it a challenge. They were accurate enough for me. I honestly don't recall whether a varmint fell to one or not, but I do use 200 gr bullets out of my .300 Win Mag Safari for varmints and that works well, I might add... (you can leave the rake at home if you want)

Thanks for all the replies, I was thinking about the controversy on this forum about comparing the 30-06 with 180gr and 220gr bullets and the 338-06 with 180 thru 250gr bullets plus the Whelen with 180-250gr bullets. Now if the sectional density gods are in agreement, As in the 6.5x55 160gr bullets lengendary penetration performance in the nordic lands, Why can't the 338 in 250gr or better guise be the better bullet for penetration on heavy game? It would fly flatter, retain more energy and supposedly pentrate better. Bigger and fatter should only count inside 200 yards, Yes or no?

I recall reading several tests over the years that indicated the 275 Speer did not penetrate any deeper than Nosler's 250 PT and actually didn't go as far. Furthermore, the recovered bullets generally showed pretty much a picture-perfect PT and a somwhat "worse-for wear" 275 Speer being somewhat lumpy and lopsided. That was interesting to me, but...

If the bullet dumps energy and destruction in a "goodness gracious, sort of ugly though" manner and the game goes straight down, I'll value the picture of the dead animal more than I will the picture of the bullet that made it so.

Elmer knew the same point I'm trying to make.

For what it is worth and on a bit of a different note, the 275 SAF is one heck of a slug and will for darn sure penetrate and is accurate!

Mark D