Just wondering if they are a reasonable alternative with decent accuracy compared to other cup and core bullets, for general use (general shooting and deer hunting)? Availability seems to be improving and pricing is not bad. I have not used them in decades.
any recent experiences with Speer Hot Core bullets?
- Thread starter Pat Brennan
- Start date
One of my go to, for both informal shooting and hunting.They are as accurate as I am(likely much better!), and I have never had one separate on game animals. Right now they are priced reasonably as well. Disclaimer; my experience is with 30 cal. and under, I don't shoot a super super extra mag anything, nor can I regularly hit an elk in the head at 500 yds like a lot of people seem to do. So... just my humble experience. ..... catnip
I have been using the .358 Hot Cor 220 gr FP in my pre-81 BLR 358 Win for 20 years.
It shoots slightly better (1" groups @ 100 yards w/ Win 748) than the 225 Nosler Partition (1.1" groups @ 100 yards w/ Re-7 and 1.2" w/ Win 748), and the 225 gr TSX (1.1" groups @ 100 yards w/ IMR4895), in this rifle.
On-game performance on elk, moose and grizzly bear at distances ranging from 60 to 140 yards over the years has been very good. Recovered bullets were nicely mushroomed and had good expansion and penetration, despite only achieving 2209 fps at the muzzle in the rifle's 20" barrel.
I now have the .338 200 gr Hot Cor's to try in my 338 Federal. I expect similar results on game should I find a good load for this bullet in my LH Sako 85. (The Federal blue box 200 gr Uni Cor ammo shoots best in this rifle so far of the tried factory ammunition offerings.)
While I am not exactly sure what the difference is between the 200 gr Uni Cor bullet and the 200 gr Hot Cor bullet is, I know that the moose, caribou and stones sheep taken with this bullet to date have been quick, clean kills with all but one animal expiring within a few yards of where initially shot at distances of 80 to 150 yards. The one that travelled further was my daughter's moose that I made a follow up shot for her as it was disappearing into the muskeg. It travelled approx 200 yards before expiring. Both shots had been in the front shoulder, hers shattering the heaviest portion of the bone and mine taking out one lung, due to the quartering away shot.
It shoots slightly better (1" groups @ 100 yards w/ Win 748) than the 225 Nosler Partition (1.1" groups @ 100 yards w/ Re-7 and 1.2" w/ Win 748), and the 225 gr TSX (1.1" groups @ 100 yards w/ IMR4895), in this rifle.
On-game performance on elk, moose and grizzly bear at distances ranging from 60 to 140 yards over the years has been very good. Recovered bullets were nicely mushroomed and had good expansion and penetration, despite only achieving 2209 fps at the muzzle in the rifle's 20" barrel.
I now have the .338 200 gr Hot Cor's to try in my 338 Federal. I expect similar results on game should I find a good load for this bullet in my LH Sako 85. (The Federal blue box 200 gr Uni Cor ammo shoots best in this rifle so far of the tried factory ammunition offerings.)
While I am not exactly sure what the difference is between the 200 gr Uni Cor bullet and the 200 gr Hot Cor bullet is, I know that the moose, caribou and stones sheep taken with this bullet to date have been quick, clean kills with all but one animal expiring within a few yards of where initially shot at distances of 80 to 150 yards. The one that travelled further was my daughter's moose that I made a follow up shot for her as it was disappearing into the muskeg. It travelled approx 200 yards before expiring. Both shots had been in the front shoulder, hers shattering the heaviest portion of the bone and mine taking out one lung, due to the quartering away shot.
I shoot them from my 308 ( Howa 1500 ). I use some Dominion 4064 powder behind 150 gr hot cores. Haven't played around too much for load development but I am getting between 2 - 3 inch five shot groups at 200 yards which is good enough for hunting with that rifle. I the past I shot Speer 175 gr mag tips out of my 7RM and those were awesome on game. ( deer and bear )
Note: I had a custom 300WM rifle made up and used a few 180 gr's to break in the barrel and sight in the rifle. They shot very well. They kept well under a minute at 300 yards.
Note: I had a custom 300WM rifle made up and used a few 180 gr's to break in the barrel and sight in the rifle. They shot very well. They kept well under a minute at 300 yards.
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Pricing is fantastic. Just bought a few boxes of 130gr 7mm for my 7mm08. Primarily bought em for range/practice purposes, I've got a bunch of 140gr partitions on the shelf for hunting. Haven't loaded any yet, but I've heard very good things and the price was hard to pass on.
Also grabbed 100gr in 243 cal, although they're listed as BTSP not hotcor. One of the sponsors had em on sale like a month ago, figured it was a good opportunity to stock up.
Also grabbed 100gr in 243 cal, although they're listed as BTSP not hotcor. One of the sponsors had em on sale like a month ago, figured it was a good opportunity to stock up.
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Very accurate in all the cartridges I tried them in: 0.5 moa for Hot-Cor 130 in my 270 Win and 55 grains IMR 4350, same in my 30-06, 180 grains and 56.4 IMR 4350, 0.7 moa in my Tikka 6.5x55, 140 grains and 47 grains H4831sc. And still very affordable and available.
I started with a box of the Hornady 174gr FMJBT and the 150gr seem more consistent.
- Location
- Western Manitoba
In 1980's, I was using Sierra SPBT 165 grain in my 308 Win - EXCELLENT groups on paper targets - but then I hit a white tail doe on the spine - did not penetrate that bone - pieces of bullets all up that backbone - lost a lot of the meat on that one - so I switched then to Speer Hot Core 165 grain - based on that "one" experience - have not had any reason to change since - is currently about 500 left on hand - I hope the makers have not "improved" them, in the meantime. After many dozen deers and one elk, I have been given no reason to look for alternative.
Is likely not the "recent" experience that OP was asking about - will be performance of "recently made" versus "recent performance" with that brand of bullets that were made 20 years ago.
Is likely not the "recent" experience that OP was asking about - will be performance of "recently made" versus "recent performance" with that brand of bullets that were made 20 years ago.
At one time Speer made two different types of bullets. The traditional cup and core which wasn't HOT CORE.
The Hot Core Speer hold up as well on game as any other good cup and core bullets.
BONE shots are extremes for any bullet to withstand, especially at close ranges.
OP, if you're considering using the Speer Hot Core bullets, I would suggest you use HEAVY FOR DIAMETER BULLETS.
For instance, if you normally use 150 grain bullets with premium bullets, step up to 165 or 180 grain bullets with cup and core, even the hot core type.
Remember, other than the Hot Core bonding, which is very similar to the Hornady interbonding, without the internal bands, these bullets are older tech.
That being said, they are at the top of the ladder of that older tech and are very effective bullets when chosen properly for the conditions you intend to hunt.
If you're taking longer shots out to 300 yds, you will want a bullet that will penetrate as well as expand properly on game.
On the other hand, if you're hunting out of a tree stand or blind where shots can be up close and personal, then you want a bullet that will stand up to extreme stresses. If you're going to use cup and core, the older ideology comes into play and you need to follow Elmer Kieth's advice, BIGGER IS BETTER.
The Hot Core Speer hold up as well on game as any other good cup and core bullets.
BONE shots are extremes for any bullet to withstand, especially at close ranges.
OP, if you're considering using the Speer Hot Core bullets, I would suggest you use HEAVY FOR DIAMETER BULLETS.
For instance, if you normally use 150 grain bullets with premium bullets, step up to 165 or 180 grain bullets with cup and core, even the hot core type.
Remember, other than the Hot Core bonding, which is very similar to the Hornady interbonding, without the internal bands, these bullets are older tech.
That being said, they are at the top of the ladder of that older tech and are very effective bullets when chosen properly for the conditions you intend to hunt.
If you're taking longer shots out to 300 yds, you will want a bullet that will penetrate as well as expand properly on game.
On the other hand, if you're hunting out of a tree stand or blind where shots can be up close and personal, then you want a bullet that will stand up to extreme stresses. If you're going to use cup and core, the older ideology comes into play and you need to follow Elmer Kieth's advice, BIGGER IS BETTER.
I have used piles of the HotCore. Great bullets very consistent. The old 105gr in the 6mm rem was deadly on anything. 200gr in the 338 win has never had anything ask questions.
The 105 has been discontinued so I went to the Grandslam. Another good bullet. 6mm likes it with D4350.
165 HotCore in the 308.
180 in the 30-06.
The boat tails are decent. But not a HotCore.
The 105 has been discontinued so I went to the Grandslam. Another good bullet. 6mm likes it with D4350.
165 HotCore in the 308.
180 in the 30-06.
The boat tails are decent. But not a HotCore.
They work just fine in Magnum loads if the bullets are heavy enough. That's why magnums were developed to push HEAVY bullets faster than standard cartridges.
With the development of some very good and tough bullets of the past 25-30 years, heavy bullets aren't needed to do the same job in most circumstances.
The lighter bullets are faster, accurate enough for the job and perform well at close and longer ranges.
BUTTTTTT if you're going to use OLD TECH, just remember the same rules don't apply when it comes to results on point of impact.
Apply the right rules to the product you're using and that product will do its job.
Mix up those rules and the results will not be pleasing or ethical.
When using cup and core bullets, such as the Speer Hot Core type, or any other type, HEAVY BULLETS work best for penetration and proper expansion, without to much weight loss or meat damage.
The people who developed that type of bullet had it figured out pretty well. No need to experiment and needlessly wound a game animal.
- Location
- Western Manitoba
Sort of in-line with bearhunter's post - I had read old guy Elmer Keith had or claimed a lot to do with Winchester bringing out the .338 Win Mag - I think he saw it similar to his .33 OKH Wildcat - I believe he had commented it was a really good long range antelope rifle. Was some of his columns that really lamented W-W decision to drop the 300 grain loading for .338 Win Mag - so sort of what he thought was "reasonable" to use - I did have a couple boxes of 285 grain Speer for that rifle. But, I see is tendency (or perhaps marketing??) down to 180 grain for 338 Win Mag - can not be same "concept" in mind?
I do recall an article by Keith - if he had a cartridge that was doing 2,700 fps and had left over capacity, he wanted a heavier bullet, not a faster one. Not likely "modern thinking" - but I suppose he was working with what was available to him in those days - bullets, powders, primers.
I do recall an article by Keith - if he had a cartridge that was doing 2,700 fps and had left over capacity, he wanted a heavier bullet, not a faster one. Not likely "modern thinking" - but I suppose he was working with what was available to him in those days - bullets, powders, primers.
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dgradinaru
CGN frequent flyer
- Location
- British Columbia
I've had good results with them. 170gr Speer SP-200gr. They hold up well and penetrate. Also more affordable than the competition.
