Speer 1617 115 gr FB HP for hunting in 7-30 Waters?

[ihaveagun]

I just bought a 7-30 Waters and since I can't buy Sierra 7250's, I would like to know if anyone has used the Speer 1617 115 gr FB HP for hunting?

They shoot super good in my Contender.

So how do they do for hunting?

Thanks for any help.

[spinafish]

I believe they are more of a varmint bullet than a deer bullet...better choices out there for deer..the Ballistic Tip comes to mind.

[ihaveagun]

I believe they are more of a varmint bullet than a deer bullet...better choices out there for deer..the Ballistic Tip comes to mind.

Thanks spinafish
That was my first thoughts about the bullet also. I had a new box of the 1617's here and loaded some just to blown out cases and they shot better than anything I had tried. I guess a B-tip Nosler 120 or 130 would be better for larger game.
Thanks again.

[spinafish]

I use the 120 grain BT and have killed one doe and one coyote (on the same day)..no tracking required for either...the coyote was just a bag of stuff when I carried him to the truck.

[tripper]

I've only been shooting the 7-30 for  around 15 years but what I have settled on is the 140 speer btsp, or horn. BT.  The deer I have taken in this time have run from 130 lbs. to 200 lbs. at ranges from 20 to 112 yrds. All have been one shot kills all dying with in 40 yrds. of point of being hit.

[ihaveagun]

I use the 120 grain BT and have killed one doe and one coyote (on the same day)..no tracking required for either...the coyote was just a bag of stuff when I carried him to the truck.

Very good spinafish
I'm hope to try the Speer 1617 out on a yote very soon.

[ihaveagun]

I've only been shooting the 7-30 for  around 15 years but what I have settled on is the 140 speer btsp, or horn. BT.  The deer I have taken in this time have run from 130 lbs. to 200 lbs. at ranges from 20 to 112 yrds. All have been one shot kills all dying with in 40 yrds. of point of being hit.

Thanks tripper for the very good info from experience.

I've had a Contender since 1978 and shot many rounds through a JDJ barrel in 6/223, but the 7-30 Waters is new to me. I scooped up a 14" TC SS barrel for $200 at a gun show 2 Sundays ago and I have really enjoyed shooting it. I have had good results with H-335 and H-4895 so far. I am leaning towards the H-4895 because of more volume to weight ratio, but accuracy rules and the H-335 may win.

If you don't mind me asking, what powder are you using?

Many thanks.

[hoghunting]

 My 14" Contender likes the Hornady 120 gr SP with RL-15. Extremely accurate in my barrel, and very deadly on deer and hogs.

[sweetwyominghome]

tripper wrote: "...I have settled on is the 140 speer btsp"

Could that perhaps be the Sierra GameKing? Speer does not make a 140 grain BTSP, though they do have a 145 grainer.

Two excellent bullets for the cartridge are -- sadly -- no longer made. The 130 grain Sierra Single Shot Pistol bullet and the original Hornady 120 grain SSP (#2811, not the later itpped #22811 version) performed splendidly. I also took a number of animals with the 120 grain Nosler BT, but a couple friends of mine have experienced not-so-good results with that bullet in the past year or so. (I have not shot recent lots so can't comment on that, but the 120 grain BTs I used in the past afforeded an excellent blend of expansion and penetration and almost always exited on a deer given broadside presentation.)

The bullet in question -- the Speer 115 grain HP -- is indeed wicked at Waters velocities and will give limited penetration while causing extensive damage. Given a through-the-ribs lung shot, it will do fine, but match it up against a shoulder bone and you're asking for trouble. It's not a viable choice for deer-sized game in my experience.