As I've posted before I have a load worked up for my 300 WSM with a 180 gr Grand Slam, after hearing that speer was going to stop making this bullet I called this morning and talked to a ballistics tech and he told me there are no plans to stop making the grand slam bullets now or anytime in the future as of right now. I though I'd pass this on.
Called Speer this morning about the grand slam bullet
- Thread starter tecumseh
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DrMike
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- Nov 8, 2006
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The Grand Slam has been a star in their lineup, so it would not make sense to discontinue that particular bullet.
BK":2rbdo228 said:
They no longer use a dual core in them Kurt. They changed awhile back. Some folks like em, some complain? Never would have guessed about bullet guys complaining huh :twisted:
The Speers have always been pretty good bullets.. I had good luck with the old MagTip's in my 7RM and some other cartridges too.. I like their Hot Cor bullets. Fairly premium without the price..
bullet
Handloader
- Dec 26, 2007
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The 145gr Grand Slam in front of RL-17 would kill any big game I would want to shoot in North America in my 7mm-08. Just a real hard working bullet and consistent in terminal results. Worked good in my 7mm mag and no reason it would not work very well for tough game in my 7mm-08.
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Guest
There's been a bunch of confusion on Speer bullets over the past few years. It's all come about because someone at Speer doesn't know how to communicate well, apparently. All that's been relayed so far is true, and unfortunately the one additional piece of information is that the Hot-Cor stuff is going the way of the dinosaur in favor of the much cheaper to produce, and not as robust, Deep Curl plated bullets. Now, the deep curls are good bullets, for sure, for things like white-tails and such. But the Hot-Cors were/are stouter construction, and I suspect Speer figured they'd kill two birds with one stone with the DCs. They get to reduce cost (and doubly so in that these are produced along the same methods as the Federal Fusion bullet so development costs were already sunk) and they stop parasitizing the Grand Slam sales with the very durable Hot-Cors. Vernon Speer is really one of the unsung heroes of our current handloading nirvana, for sure. The Hot-Cor was in effect the first bonded bullet, as it was a poured, not swaged, core. Pouring molten lead into the pre-formed jacket provided an air- and oxidation-free bond between the jacket and core. Great bullets, very consistent, and highly accurate. Hate to see them go.
bullet
Handloader
- Dec 26, 2007
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Speer Hot-Cor bullets are made by pouring a molten lead core into a gilding metal jacket, rather than swaging the jacket cup around a solid lead core. This process is supposed to eliminate voids and make for an accurate bullet. The Hot-Cor is a conventional soft point bullet, not a bonded core design. AccuBond is a true bonded bullet here is a link to help understand why the Hot Cor is not a truly bonded bullet. http://www.swage.com/ftp/corebond.pdf
CatskillCrawler
Handloader
- Jul 30, 2011
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The secret to the Grand Slam is the jacket design. They're still fairly stout for a C&C design. As mentioned the Hot-Cor process was more cost effective and consistent than the dual core. I've had good success with both versions. The complaints I've heard about them is that they're not the most accurate bullet and they are sometimes too stout and fail to expand as much as hoped. I've never experienced anything but good groups and dead game using them.
I'm excited to see the Deep Curl become available. The Speer Gold Dot pistol bullets are sensational and the DCs use the same bonding process. The Fusions that we have recovered(225 gr .338 and 130gr .277) showed excellent expansion and weight retention. I will definitely try them in a few hunting rifles. I can't see how they won't be stouter than the Hot-Cor bullets unless they use a lighter jacket.
I'm excited to see the Deep Curl become available. The Speer Gold Dot pistol bullets are sensational and the DCs use the same bonding process. The Fusions that we have recovered(225 gr .338 and 130gr .277) showed excellent expansion and weight retention. I will definitely try them in a few hunting rifles. I can't see how they won't be stouter than the Hot-Cor bullets unless they use a lighter jacket.
dubyam":1dw03ryk said:
Dubyam, I have no dog in this fight, but the Deep Curls are pretty tough bullets that seem to hold onto alot of weight. They seem to be build identical to the Gold Dot technology that has been used in pistol bullets for awhile. Not a be all end all with bullet performance, but just what I have seen. The Hot Cor's are great bullets, and one of my favorites being the 358 cal 250 Spitzer is a tough sucker, but it can and will spit the core, now that is after a whole lotta penetration, but I don't think a DC can spit a core..
Again, I am sure it comes to the bottom line, but I gotta think that Speer has tried to up the ante some with all the premiums on the market today and pinched in where they could. I guess I am just impressed by then. If I wasn't so Nosler dependent, I would shoot alot of Speers stuff.
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@Bullet - I'm aware that the Hot-Cor isn't truly bonded. Thus the wording I used "...in effect..." as the pouring process actually does cause significant adhesion of the lead to the jacket, far beyond that of a swaged core. I'm not a metallurgist (which you already knew... :wink: ), but I've discussed it with a couple of bullet manufacturing folks (engineers who know their stuff) and pouring molten lead actually does cause some molecular level adhesion between the core and jacket. It's the first step in the direction of bonding, in my opinion, though a few more steps from electrically or chemically welded core-jacket mating like seen in the various bonded core bullets today.
@Scotty - Nice to hear you've tested a few and they hold up well. I was under the impression from reading Speer/Federal/ATK's information that the DC was made via the same process as the Federal Fusion, and were, as the fusion, meant to be "deer bullets" as per Federal's advertising of the Fusion. I may have to test a few myself in some hyper velocity impacts into media after seeing what you've done with them.
@Scotty - Nice to hear you've tested a few and they hold up well. I was under the impression from reading Speer/Federal/ATK's information that the DC was made via the same process as the Federal Fusion, and were, as the fusion, meant to be "deer bullets" as per Federal's advertising of the Fusion. I may have to test a few myself in some hyper velocity impacts into media after seeing what you've done with them.
Dubyam, my post wasn't directed to assault you either buddy, just wanted to show you what they look like..
I will probably try a couple others as well. Seeing as the lead does stay with the jacket, it tells me their bonding is pretty decent and the way the jacket folds back looks pretty deadly. I think a good test of them would be out of my 270 or 7WSM's under full throttle loads at near muzzle velocity impacts. That usually tells a decent story of how "tough" a bullet is.. I don't know if I will get to it shortly, but I know Joel has been working with the 225's out of his 338-06. I would love to try them, just to see.. Again, I think Federal Launched them as a deer bullet as to not step on their premium priced line of ammo, but I have a sneaking suspicion they are in the same "toughness" category as the AB's, Interbonds and such.. They also have decent BC's and man, the price on them is pretty good..
Hope this Fall some folks test em on some game.. I am not abandoning my Nosler ship, but it is good to have choices, and they do have a 140 6.5 bullet which would be a good one in the 264 I think?
I will probably try a couple others as well. Seeing as the lead does stay with the jacket, it tells me their bonding is pretty decent and the way the jacket folds back looks pretty deadly. I think a good test of them would be out of my 270 or 7WSM's under full throttle loads at near muzzle velocity impacts. That usually tells a decent story of how "tough" a bullet is.. I don't know if I will get to it shortly, but I know Joel has been working with the 225's out of his 338-06. I would love to try them, just to see.. Again, I think Federal Launched them as a deer bullet as to not step on their premium priced line of ammo, but I have a sneaking suspicion they are in the same "toughness" category as the AB's, Interbonds and such.. They also have decent BC's and man, the price on them is pretty good..
Hope this Fall some folks test em on some game.. I am not abandoning my Nosler ship, but it is good to have choices, and they do have a 140 6.5 bullet which would be a good one in the 264 I think?
bullet
Handloader
- Dec 26, 2007
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dubyam, I was not assaulting you either, I just thought from your post you might not have known that the Hot Cor was not a truly bonded bullet. :grin:
DrMike
Ballistician
- Nov 8, 2006
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It is a good time to be shooting as all the major manufacturers are providing a quality product. Consequently, dubyam, I'm not assaulting you either! :mrgreen:
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Bunch of wise guys…I guess I can say I've been thoroughly peppered with assault jokes. :lol:
For what it's worth, I was just trying to clarify my earlier post.
I can say I'm particularly interested in the 225gr .358cal based on some developments around my load bench. I can't let the cat out of the bag yet, but I'm interested…
For what it's worth, I was just trying to clarify my earlier post.
I can say I'm particularly interested in the 225gr .358cal based on some developments around my load bench. I can't let the cat out of the bag yet, but I'm interested…
DrMike
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That got my attention! My imagination is running wild. I just finished loading a bunch of .307 cases with the 170 grain Speer Deep Curl. I'll try to get them out this week to see what they do.
DrMike
Ballistician
- Nov 8, 2006
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Baited breath! Did you eat some smoked elk meat loaf? :lol:
bullet
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DrMike":2qj1ew2s said:
:mrgreen: :mrgreen: :mrgreen:
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