Opinions on Speer Hot-Cor bullets?

[DrMike]

If you need a bullet for moose the 200gr Speer is excellent.

Used a lot of these bullets on moose. They are great.

 

[PJGunner]

About 38 years ago I got my first long range capable scoped rifle to deer hunt with when I moved to north east NC so I could shoot across those long peanut and soy bean fields. Up until that time I had only used rifles that had open sights in the mountains of TN where I lived. It was a Mark X Viscount Mauser 98 style 30-06. I picked up some 150 gr Speer BT hot core bullets for the simple reason that these were the only 150 gr bullets the little hardware/feed store that also sold guns and some loading supplies had. I found that 59 grs IMR 4350 was extremely accurate in this rifle and the ballistic coefficient of this bullet was very sleek. I did not have a chrno back then but loading manual said velocity should be between 2900 and 3000 fps. This load shot really flat for a 30-06 and man did it kill deer. One shot was all you needed and they were DRT. Yes like others have said keep them as well as any cup and core bullets under 3000 fps impact velocity and they will do a good job.

1 shot. Give the 165 gr. Hot Core a try. I run them at 2550 FPS from an 18.5" barrel Ruger 77RSI and have taken deer out to 250yards. The same load will hit 2610 FPS which is the same velocity as the Speer Nitrex ammo that sadly has been discontinued.
I haven't tried the 165 gr. Hot Core in my 30-06 yetdue to health reasons but the 165 gr. Nosler AccuBond is snapping at the heels of 2900 FPS from a custom Mauser with 24" barrel and giving very tight groups. I took a nice fat cow elk with the 165 AB bullet at right about 100 yards. Normally for elk I use my .35 Whelen with the 225 gr. TSX bullet but had to use the 30-06 due to the scope on the .35 decided to turn toes up. I shot, the elk flinched and went maybe 30 yards and dropped DRT. FWIW, that particular 30-06 has a custom barrel woth a somewhat slower that standarvd for 30 Caliber. It's shoot up to 165 gr. quite well but goes straight to hell with anything heavier. It's supposed to be a 1 in 12" but I suspect 1 in 14" twist.
Paul B.

 

[Shakeyjake]

Ive used Speer Hot-Cors with great success for whitetail deer in 30-06 and 308.

 

[GregoryB.]

I have a box of 150gr Round Nose for my 30-30

 

[Chuck R]

I've only used the .358 180 FN HotCor in my 19" 358 Win @ 2570FPS.

I've shot several pigs with it and it's worked well. I finally recovered one this JAn that entered a hogs shoulder at 10' and penetrated the length to come to rest in the hind quarter.

 

[KinleyWater]

I shoot both the 180 an 250 in my Whelen. I've never shot game with the 180, and I expect that at Whelen velocities, I'd need to be very aware of distances to get good performance. The 250, on the other hand, kills very effectively.

 

[cloverleaf]

Dad used Speers exclusively (not sure if they were always Hot Core's) in the 7mm Mag. Initially they were super accurate. In later years he complained that the rifle would no longer shoot. Could have been any number of potential issues. I know that 130 Gr speer boat tails were deadly on deer. Best I can do out of the 250 Savage is about 1.5 inch groups. BT's seem more accurate but you cant find them. 87Gr speer's worked in my friends 99. There too about 1,5 inch groups, but again many factors there. Havent used them on game yet. But I can find them and they are comparatively cheap, so I buy them. CL

 

[6.5_sWv]

I've used the 8mm 170gr Semi SP over Ramshot BigGame in my 8x57. I've also got a great load for my 338-06 with the 200gr HotCor and H-380. I've killed deer with both of them and they kill deer very well. The thing about Speer is they make good hunting bullets for a great price.