100 grain Speer grand slam bullet performance in .243

[buckeye hunter]

Do you guys ever have any problem with this bullet failing to expand on small to medium framed deer?  I have found the Hornady 95 grain SSt to be too explosive (bullet seperation at impact leaving deer hitting the ground at impact but needing a follow up shot to shop them from lying on the ground and looking around)  I have some Grand slams to load to finish out the season, but I don't want to use a bullet that zips through a deer without expanding.   I would appreciate any input you have. 

[cwlongshot]

I have not used this bullet in the 243. BUT I HAVE in the 25, 7mm and 30 Cal's. They seem to expand fairly easily, at least initially, than only open so far.

 My cousin uses them in his 300H&H, he find s them a bit "too soft". His loads are not much more than what the '06 will do.

I load the 120's for my brother and he loves them, they seem to work wonderfully.

I shot a couple deer with the 160's in my 7mag. Worked like a controlled exp bullet, I have yet to recover one.

Based on that, I would not hesitate on trying them and having piece of mind that they will do what I am asking of them.

If you want one I KNOW about, try the 100Gr Interlock in SP or RN from Hornady. Nice, relyable performance.

Good luck,
 CW

[jager]

Buckeye - It is one of my favorite bullets for the .243 because it is accurate, penetrates well, and opens effectively within the range limitations of the cartridge. My other favorite "deer" bullet for the .243 is the 100gr Hornady Interlock.

[243dave]

These are my favorite deer bullets from the 243. My rifle shoots them under a inch at 100yds with no problem. I've been using them for about 4yrs and killed 6 or 7 deer with them between me and my oldest son. Behind a max load of h4831 the bullets at close range(25 to 50yds) on small to average deer in WV expands nicely and won't come apart on shoulders. Exit wounds are usually a little bigger than a 50 cent piece making tracking easy if it don't drop right away. This is the first year we haven't had complete penetration with the grand-slam regardless of angle and bones encountered, my son shot a average doe through the shoulder and angled back to the offside hip, usually it just punches through but not this time. I guess 3000fps and a range of 20 yds is a lot of stress.  Shoot the grand-slams and don't worry about it. They expand well but still penetrate.   Dave

[buckeye hunter]

243Dave...I appreciate your input my son is planning to use then on WV deer.  Thanks to all for responding.

[buckeye hunter]

My son had a chance to try out the 100 grain speer grand slam bullets today.  He shot a medium sized doe at 115 yards.   The exit wound was large.  The deer died quickly.   Thanks for your advice. 

[Lloyd Smale]

same here. I think ive used them in everything but a 6mm. Why i dont know. Theyve allways been one of my favorite bullets. By far the most accurate of the premium bullets ive tried. Ive just had such good luck with corelocks in the 6mms that i never found a need to swithch. Plus the fact that i have about a great big bag of them that must have 2000 bullets in it.

I have not used this bullet in the 243. BUT I HAVE in the 25, 7mm and 30 Cal's. They seem to expand fairly easily, at least initially, than only open so far.

 My cousin uses them in his 300H&H, he find s them a bit "too soft". His loads are not much more than what the '06 will do.

I load the 120's for my brother and he loves them, they seem to work wonderfully.

I shot a couple deer with the 160's in my 7mag. Worked like a controlled exp bullet, I have yet to recover one.

Based on that, I would not hesitate on trying them and having piece of mind that they will do what I am asking of them.

If you want one I KNOW about, try the 100Gr Interlock in SP or RN from Hornady. Nice, relyable performance.

Good luck,
 CW