What is the difference between the two? My tendency is to shoot boat tail bullets because we hunt fields a lot. It is becoming very hard to find sierra hunting bullets now so I’m looking at Speer bullets now. Iv heard that boat tail Speers are soft and are not as consistent on game as hotcore flat base bullets. Advice or Experiences?

Speer boat tails are softer than Hot Cor flat bases. It's not a rumor, Speer says so in their manuals. Nevertheless, if used appropriately they're fine on game.

I like the Speer BTSP. And like mathman said, they are indeed soft. They work well, though, particularly if you match weight and velocity with application. They can be a bit frangible at higher impact speed, but still kill well.

Examples: the .243" 100gr version started at 3100 fps fragments quite a bit on broadside deer at close range, but it has always killed quickly, often without exiting. Better at 200 yards and beyond as far as exits.
The 30 cal 180 BTSP from a 30-06 started at 2700 fps is a great longer shot bullet, exiting a broadside elk and leaving a 2" hole from 450 yards. Shot a doe at nearly the same range, in exactly the same spot, with exactly the same result.

I shoot the 7mm 145 gr. in 284, 7-08, and 7 mag. One hell of a killing bullet!

Even the 270 gr .375" BTSP is soft. No exit on a ME whitetail after punching the offside shoulder. Impact would have been around 2500 fps.

I believe there is a big difference between the two styles of bullets. The BT Speer bullets are very soft and volatile compare to the flat base. I shot a bull elk with 160gr Speer BT this Fall at 280 yds in a 7mm saum at 2900 and never made it to the off side lung. Bullet came apart completely where it should have been a pass through with most bullets. My favorite cup and core BT bullet is Sierra Game King. And yes Sierra bullets are tough to find and that is why I used the Speers. Just my experience of 50 yrs of hunting and 35 yrs of guiding.

I've been deer hunting for decades now with 130gr Speer HC-FB in my .270 Win. I've also heard before that the HC-BT's are "softer" & not a 1-to-1 comparison. My big question is WHY not?

The BT is not an HC. Like I said, Speer deliberately makes them softer for more dramatic expansion. They suggest them as excellent for lighter species of big game.

See for example the Speer #12 manual, page 27.

I like a medium-weight Speer BT on deer and hogs when the velocity is not going to be very high, like in a short barreled carbine in 7-08, 308, etc. You'll still get good expansion at the lower impact speeds. I've had a couple fail to exit, but the animal didn't wiggle, so I keep using them in that role. I find them to be easy to get to shoot well also. Good practice bullets to boot, as they are often cheaper than everything but FMJ.

I dropped a pretty good size hog with an 85 grain Speer BT out of a 243. The range was just under 200 yards. I hit him quartering away a bit, into the chest just behind the leg. His head and neck were obscured by the brush he was going into. He dropped, squealed and thrashed a bit, and that was that.

I can't say what the bullet did beyond that since I gave the hog to another guy at camp and I didn't attend the "autopsy".

I have not used SPEER boat tails in the last 50 years, I like the hot cores though.

My wife and i shoot the Speer 130 gr HC in the 300 Ham'r for WTs and IMHO it does a great job.

I have fell many animal with a Speer flat base hot core. Its a very reliable bullet design. Most have a heavier tapered jacket paired with there hot-core process make for not as violent action as there bt design.

Just my thoughts, Speer is kinda in-neutral anymore with there rifle bullet offerings compared to other bullet companies.

Anyhow.... Only one whitetail doe couple decades back with the Speer bt. It was a not anticipated shot and hit her a little far back with a Speer 150 gr. Bt from an old sporterized enfield '06. But with not a got hit, a good trail of blood and other things led me to an expired deer. Bullet passed clean threw, damage was extensive.

The Speer bt model is of a lighter build and is assembled in the standard cup and core bullet method.

I shoot the 165gr hot cores in a 30-06, they are deer hammers. Never shot a deer with the boat tails, they don’t shoot as well in my rifle as the hot cores do.

Speer doesn't keep it a secret how the bullets are designed to work. If you expected their BT to make it through a elk out of a 7 mag, you didn't do your homework.

I've never used the Speer Boattail so i can't really comment on how it shoots or performs in the field. I have been using the Hot-Cors for over 30yrs and they are without a doubt my favorite hunting bullet. I use them in 25.06, 260rem and .308 with excellent results in accuracy and on game. I also used them in 30.06 when i owned one with equal results. I'm sure the boattail is a good bullet as well because lots of people use them and i see lots of positive reviews on that bullet.

IME the boattails are too soft.

Shot at Weatherby speeds?

Used to really like the Grand Slam boat tails. But the newer model Grand Slam fragments more for me. Perhaps I should try the Hot Core.

I am in the same boat and discovering that developing loads using Accurate 4350 and Speer bullets is not as easy as Sierra's with H4350.
Still, I thought a 90grain hard-ish hot core for my 6mm might be the ticket and a 140 from my 260 work as well as the Sierra's did- which were the ultimate performer of any load I ever used on anything.

I wasn't aware the GS was ever made with a BT.

Slooowwwwww the fhuqk down,take a deep breath and simply Start At The Fhuqking Start. HINT.

EXACTLY what rifle/make/model? EXACTLY what scope mounting system/make/model? EXACTLY what scope/make/model? Hint.

Undoubtedly it's a Goat Fhuqk,but the start is how you begin to connect dots. Not that "field boat tails" weren't/aren't a fhuqking RIOT. Hint.

I'll give you one chance. Hint..........

They weren't.

I've shot a bunch of older and current production Grandslams and I haven't been able to see any difference in how they act on game. If anything, the new version is more accurate.

What bullet and cartridge are you using that you're seeing the fragments with?

The Hotcors are not going to be tougher.

Based on 2700 fps from a 375 H&H. 270 BT

Interesting. I have no experience with that particular bullet. What did you shoot it into?

Is anyone here hunting elk with 7mm-08 and 145 Hot Cor? What are the results?

If I were to use a Hot Core in 7MM, I believe I would go with the 160 gr. I run that one at 2600 FPS from a 7x57 using 7-08 data. My rifle is a modern Winchester M70 Featherweight. Even cow elk can be big and tough so I prefer more bullet weight. I would think if you went fo a lungs shot the 145 gr. bullet would work. Proper placement is was does the trick.
PJ

I can't comment on "elk", but that 160 Hotcor is an awesome bullet. I loaded some 160 Grandslams in my 7mm-08 as back up for a moose hunt last year and they work great, too.

Speer hot core 160 worked well for me in full loaded 7x57 on mule deer and elk.

That's a classic combo!

What is your max distance you will encounter in "the fields" you hunt?

There isn't much real life difference in trajectory between flat-base (FB) spitzers vs boat tails (BT) out to easily 300 yards (and pushing 350-400 yards). Makes for an easy pragmatic decision to pass on BT design as result-if you want for those hunting distances.

In my view, if you plan to shoot "long distance" (however you define that, ie >400+++ yards), you should have a laser range finder to get the correct distance. If you have the ability to obtain an accurate distance, then the bullet design (FB vs BT) is moot, as you simply adjust your elevation setting for the bullet drop at that determined range. This approach negates any trajectory advantage a BT may have over a FB bullet.

I like to use "heavy for caliber" flat base Speer bullets, for their high sectional density. I used to use .277" 150 grain Speer HotCor flat-base bullets (sold off my 270 Win rifle 15+ years ago), but now use 0.308" 200 grain Speer HotCor flat-base spitzers in my 30-06 rifles. They have high ballistic coefficients (and high sectional density values) for "flat" shooting. I don't typically shoot "long range" for deer. Here in Maine, my deer shots are woods range. I just like high sectional density bullets for good penetration at any angle; but, if I post up on the edge of a clear cut, I feel comfortable taking a 300+ yard shot with my flat-base bullets. I don't have a laser range finder.

Speer bullets have been very accurate in my rifles (have also used 0.308" flat-base HotCor 165, 170 flat point, and 180 grain spitzers).

Go ahead with the Speer HotCor flat-base spitzers. Know your distance. Drag your game home.

my 2c.

Speer's BC number is inflated.


Not quite. Wind drift and remaining velocity which effects bullet behavior upon impact are affected by BC.