Author Topic: Speer Hot-Cor (Read 4030 times)

Sweet 6.5 · « **on:** June 29, 2007, 09:45:54 PM »

Anyone uses Speer hot-cor on game? What kind of bullet performance can I expect?
Take into consideration shooting distance will be between 50m and 150m and I will use my 6.5x55
and 140gr @ 2570fps.
I know they are not premium bullets and might not stand up to
magnum velocities, but I am not even close! Maybe I am too slow?

TNrifleman · « **Reply #1 on:** June 30, 2007, 12:04:32 AM »

The Speer bullets will work just fine in your 6.5x55 rifle at those hunting distances. I have used lots of Hot Cores, if you put them where they belong, they will make meat.

crash87 · « **Reply #2 on:** June 30, 2007, 02:14:43 AM »

I've used Speer hot cores for years in my 35 Whelen and have found them to work as well as a bullet costing twice as much. For three years now I've used the 220 Gr in my 350 Rem Mag, accounting for 2 whitetail deer and 1 Black Bear. 1 shot each, exits and they don't go far, sometimes not at all. I'm loading the 120 gr version in my sons 260 Rem with excellent accuracy. He's going hunting "legal of age" for the first time this fall and I have no question that not only he, but the bullet is up to the task. There's a lot of hype these past years about premium bullets being the only bullet to effectively kill game. Drive them to fast and conventional bullets sometime don't work. But in the 6.5x55 or the 260 equivalent you couldn't ask for a more effective bullet. Load them, use them on game and you will be surprised at there performance, and know you are not pushing them to slow. GOOD HUNTN'
CRASH87

Cheesehead · « **Reply #3 on:** June 30, 2007, 03:04:07 AM »

I have used Hot Core bullets in my Model 98 Mauser chambered in 8mm, the 200 grain. They are excellent performers on deer at the medium velocities of the 8mm Mauser. I could never find a reason to use premium bullets in the 8mm on whitetail. They are also very accurate.

Cheese

beemanbeme · « **Reply #4 on:** June 30, 2007, 06:30:42 AM »

Speer's been making bullets for a long time. Must be doing something right.

kudzu · « **Reply #5 on:** June 30, 2007, 08:18:25 AM »

Have used the 117 in my 25-06 with great results. Even had a double with them. Just to let you know that penatration ain't a problem. Never recovered the bullet for it passed thru both deer.

Brithunter · « **Reply #6 on:** July 01, 2007, 12:26:23 AM »

Hi All,

I have used the Speer 120 Grn Hot core bullets in the 6.5x55 on our smaller species of deer here in the UK. This is not to say that theya re onlt suitable for the smaller species but have only used them on one smallish Fallow yearling other than the Roe and Muntjac that I normally hunt. The Speer 120 Grn bullet performs very well in my experience and I would have no qualms about taking this bullet and using the same bullet and load on our Red Deer which of course are often larger than the Whitetail Deer. The 6.5x55 cartridge is an excellent one for such use and in Scandinavia is used for both Whitetail Deer and European Elk (Moose).

old06 · « **Reply #7 on:** July 01, 2007, 03:21:25 AM »

I have used the Speer 145 7mm hot core in my 708 and have settled on just that one bullet have no need for the more expensive bullets in this one and as someone else said they been around a long time

rickt300 · « **Reply #8 on:** July 01, 2007, 05:15:26 AM »

My absolute favorite bullet in the 7x57 is the 160 grain Hotcor. It works perfectly and Have yet to recover one even when used on feral hogs weighing over 300 pounds. The 180 grain Hotcor spitzer in 30 caliber has worked perfectly on game the size of elk down to deer. My favorite deer bullet of all time is the 150 grain Speer hotcor spitzer out of my 308 and 30-06, it's performance can be considered "Utterly Reliable" on all deer species up to mule deer. When I used the 30-30 I liked the 150 grain flat nose and it always performed well on deer and hogs. I also took the largest Whitetail I have harvested with the 180 grain Speer Magtip out of my 30-06, a very underated bullet. In my 6.5x55 I settled early on the 140 grain Hornady on top of 42.5 grains of IMR 4350 simply because it shot so well and performed extremely well at the 2450 fps I was pushing it. I would not hesitate to change to the 140 grain Speer bullet if it shot well out of my rifle.

Coyote Hunter · « **Reply #9 on:** July 01, 2007, 01:25:52 PM »

Used the Speer Grand Slam 160g bullets in my 7mm Rem Mag for 20 years. Took me that long to recover one and the only reason I was able to was it took out both shoulder joints of a 5x5 bull elk.

Sweet 6.5 · « **Reply #10 on:** July 01, 2007, 06:55:15 PM »

I take it then I have a winner!!

Brithunter · « **Reply #11 on:** July 01, 2007, 11:56:30 PM »

Looks like it. The bullet can only work properly if delivered to the correct spot on the target and with grouping like that well it does make it easier.

firstshot · « **Reply #12 on:** July 02, 2007, 06:01:27 AM »

Sweet 6.5

I used to shoot the 140 Speer Hot Cor's in a 6.5x55 Sweed I used to have and as you have found, they were extremely accurate. I killed several deer with this load and never recovered a bullet. Terminal performance was excellent. None ever went more than 20-30 yds.

I now hunt with a pair of 7mm-08's, a Rem 700 Mtn LSS and a Rem 7600. The 145 Grn Speer HotCor on top of IMR 4350 @ 2,800 FPS is my go-to load and I've had nothing but complete pass throughs on deer. For the 7600 I've developed a 154 Grn HDY RN load for woods hunting.

Not that you will need it, but good luck with your new HotCor load.

firstshot
---------------------------------------------------------
Make your first shot count!

303Guy · « **Reply #13 on:** July 27, 2007, 11:36:52 PM »

Quote from: Sweet 6.5 on June 29, 2007, 09:45:54 PM

Take into consideration shooting distance will be between 50m and 150m and I will use my 6.5x55
and 140gr @ 2570fps. ...... Maybe I am too slow?

With that velocity you can expect a velocity at 300m of just over 2000fps and a trajectory of within 45mm of line of sight, right out to 200m (with a scope height of 50mm). Not too slow at all. And more importantly, not too fast!

It sure sounds exactly what I would like.

Good Hunting to you!
303Guy

Sweet 6.5 · « **Reply #14 on:** August 26, 2007, 09:50:34 AM »

Thought I should give some feedback. Shot two Impala this weekend. First one
on the left shoulder exit on the ribs right hand side. The buck dropped after about 5 meters.

The second one (80 meters) was facing away from me. Shot about 2 inches in front of the left back leg
in and exit between the right front leg and neck. It dropped after a 20 meter dash.

I think for now I will stick to this load.

Dand · « **Reply #15 on:** September 19, 2007, 10:36:27 PM »

I have had good accuracy with 180 gr 308 hot cores in my 300 win mag. I use them a lot for practice and have taken a couple caribou with them. I think my last moose was put down with a 200 gr hot core at about 40 yards. I also took a small black tail deer with 180 gr hot core from a 30-06 at about 20 yards - pretty explosive at that close range. My friend took a very large moose at about 50 yards with a 250 gr .358 hot core from his 35 Whelen. He recoverd that bullet and it was picture perfect and held together well.

I think the hot cores are a very good bullet.

jro45 · « **Reply #16 on:** October 12, 2007, 05:45:10 AM »

I've heard nothing but good things about those HOT CORE bullets Speer makes.

Bearwolf · « **Reply #17 on:** October 12, 2007, 06:04:35 PM »

Speer Hot-Cor bullets get the job done very well. At least on the wild hogs, white-tail, and axis deer that I have shot. Have tried a few other bullets but have stuck with these over the past 18yrs. 150gr in 308 win and 130gr in 270 win. Push them around 2650 to 2800fps and you will have a winner if you put the bullet where it belongs.

smokepolehall · « **Reply #18 on:** October 22, 2007, 02:42:32 PM »

I use them in my Swede 6.5x55 M96, great deer getters!

Sweet 6.5 · « **Reply #19 on:** October 23, 2007, 07:06:23 PM »

Smokepolehalll

Do you use 140gr or 120gr and at what fps?

Sweet

Slamfire · « **Reply #20 on:** October 24, 2007, 07:50:39 PM »

If my rifle didn't prefer the 129 Hornady's, I'd use 'em.

jro45 · « **Reply #21 on:** October 25, 2007, 06:25:27 AM »

I've shot those Speer Hot Cores over 3100 FPS before and they hole up. I was using one of my Ultras mags.

thumbcocker · « **Reply #22 on:** October 25, 2007, 01:30:22 PM »

I've used the 150 gr. hot cor to kill more deer than I can remember. I've had good luck with 180's in an '06 too. Pushed mine at about 2800 f.p.s. and had excellent results. Complete pass through's and little bloodshot meat.

Fred M · « **Reply #23 on:** October 26, 2007, 09:24:53 AM »

I think the Speer Hot core is the most underated bullet, because they are cheap. I use the 100gr in a 257Roberts and they are deadly, Shot quite a few deer with them and non ever ran off.

smokepolehall · « **Reply #24 on:** October 27, 2007, 10:49:38 AM »

I don't know the fps as i don't have a chrony. I use the 120grs. reloaded with H4831 i am thinking i use 50 grs. i would have to go look it up. I can if you want to be exact. I know its not the max load.

Sweet 6.5 · « **Reply #25 on:** October 27, 2007, 09:24:43 PM »

Not to worry about the fps. I have the 120gr's now going at 2750 fps and I
am not going to push them harder. Not max yet but fast enough for me.

ccoker · « **Reply #26 on:** October 30, 2007, 11:43:39 AM »

I have used the 80gs in the Fed 243 load with great success on Texas Whitetail and hogs...
will be using them in a 308 this year