Home Forums Lever Action Central Lever Actions - General Speer 170 grain FP

Does anybody have the actual real-world overall length of the bullet?

QL default lists the bullet as having a 1.14" oal length, but my experience with 170 grain flatpoints is that they are closer to .995". I've just never had Speer 170s.

If they are more in line with the Hornady 170 FP, I may buy some. Hornady chose to "suspend" production of that fine bullet, so I'm looking at alternatives.

My Hornadys are .978. I can't imagine any being 1.14

I have 70 of them if you want to pay a fair price for them and shipping using a USPS Flat rate Box

My Hornadys, from two lots, are .994 and .996". I'm just wondering if the Speer bullet is about the same dimension, I don't imagine it being a whole lot different. My rifle does seem to prefer the Hornady 170 fp, but if you ain't got 'em.....

I have several boxes of each lot, but with the Hornadys on suspension, I don't know when, or if, they will be back. I can't imagine components for the .30-30 being permanently out of production.

I will certainly keep your offer in mind.

Thanks.

Vic, I just measured them at 1.02

Thank's, paint.

The dimensions are reported as being longer, and listed BC is pretty good. Not that I'm going to try long-range shooting with the .30-30, but a higher BC would explain the length.

I'm more worried about the bearing surface length, which would directly affect pressure. If the bearing surface is about the same, then I could reasonably expect the pressure of the loads to be close.

Of course I would reduce some and work up, but the Speer manual I have lists the load with 3031 at just 1979 fps in their rifle, whereas I'm getting 2120 with the same charge of 3031 and a Hornady bullet. I really don't want to give up 144 or so fps in a .30-30, and I don't like running chamber pressure past 38.5 Kspi.

Their rifle may have a tighter chamber than mine. If it weren't for headspacing on the rim, I'd have a real headspace problem with my rifle, but I only get .001" primer protrusion on the first firing of the cases if they are SAAMI spec at the rim. After that, I just bump the shoulder mainly to avoid working the cases excessively in that area, but if the rim is thin, then it helps reduce the primer protrusion after firing.

Back on subject, thanks for the reply. I may order a box and give 'em a whirl, but my luck is that I would find that they work just fine, but no more are available.

I know the Sierra 170s will do what I want, so I will get some of those if I find them. I was just wondering about the Speer.

Thanks again
Vic

You might try H335 instead of the 3031. I got a bit more velocity out of that.
My load of 3011 and the Hornady matches yours velocity wise.

I've tried H335, and like you say, it was a little faster velocity-wise, but the 3031 was noticeably more accurate. I can also use it in my .45-70, though it has a preference for H322. A case full of H335 can put a light show on in a .45-70!!

As a matter of fact, the 3031/Hornady 170 is a stand-out in my rifle, so if I'm forced to use another bullet, I may lean towards something like H335.

The Speer 170 is just about the only bullet I haven't tried, besides the Barnes 150 TSX. I have run the Speer 150s and 130s, and though the 130s were fast and accurate, I just wasn't too sure of their penetration potential, though I've since heard good reports of their performance on deer.

Vic, I don't know how you're fixed for RE 15, but back when I played with the Speer bullet that powder worked very well. Nothing wrong with the Speer, I just fell in love with Sierras in my 30/30's and just never felt like changing.

Good luck with it!!

The Sierras shoot good in my rifle, both the 150 FP and the 170 FP. It's just finding some that's the problem.

I ran across the Speers and wanted to find out more about them before buying them.

I have several hundred Hornadys, but I can go through those in a year or so.

You know, one bullet I wished was available is the old Winchester Silvertip. Either weight shot well in my rifle.

All my Speer 170's are loaded up so I can't measure them for you. I can tell you this, they are super accurate in my Marlin and have performed very well on Ozark whitetails. My load pushed them right about 2,100 fps from the 20" barrel.