Speer Grand Slam Question?

[tecumseh]

Went to the range this morning and tried some Speer grand slams out of my friends 300 WSM and have been getting some great results with them, I know Speer changed the process they used to make them and wondered if they're worth loading up to hunt with? They also shot very well out of my 300 WSM with RL-22. We still have some loads we made up with some 180gr Hornady Interlocks to try out before we decide which bullet he's going to use for his hunting loads.

 

[CatskillCrawler]

The new process retains the jacket shape which helped lock in the core. They changed the core which used to consist of a harder base and a softer tip. Now they use the Hot-Cor process which utilizes the same material throughout the core. Supposedly the new process improves accuracy because it is easier to make the core more uniform.

I have used Grand Slams in 30-06 and .270 before and never had an issue. I shot a 350lb Pa blackie with a 150gr GS from my .270 thru both shoulders. My friend still uses them in his 7mm-08 and has killed large Maine WTs, moose and black bear with excellent results. I wouldn't think twice about using those 180gr bullets for anything.

 

[SJB358]

I agree with CC. The Speers are good bullets. I'm sure there are cases of failure but with the new process I would think they are actually tougher. All Speers I have messed with have been excellent in accuracy and dependability. With the Speer Deep Curls coming online now, thy are back to making modern bullets at a good price. Scotty

 

[1Shot]

It all depend on what you will be hunting. I used some of the old two core grand slam 120 gr in my 25-06 and they did shoot one hole groups at 100 but I thought they were too tough constructed for the average 100 to 150 lb WT deer I was shooting. I killed everything I shot with them 4 or 5 deer but they had a tendency to run 50 yards before going down. With 117 gr Sierra Pro Hunters shoot the same load and shoot deer in the same spots, mostly front shoulder, they drop in their tracks. My buddy used the same load with the 120 GS in his 25-06 to go on a managed farm hunt where the deer are averaging 250 to 350 lb and the GS worked perfectly. He took two HUGE bucks and a management doe and dropped them in their tracks with shoulder shots and complete penetration and quarter size exit holes.

When I was using the 120 GS I shot one 150lb class buck at 50 yards that was facing me. Bullet was going 3000 fps muzzle and struck in the center of the chest and bowled the deer right back on his butt and he died there. I recovered the bullet from the right hip joint. Bullet was a text book mushroom and weight was 87 grs.

 

[DrMike]

Speer makes a good bullet, and the Grand Slam can be very accurate. I don't doubt that they will serve your friend well. When these are shot up, encourage him to look at working up a load with Partitions or with AccuBonds for just a little extra assurance.

 

[tecumseh]

We're going to go ahead and put the finishing touches on getting the load worked up for them. We tried 180 gr Accubonds, Sierra Gamekings and Pro-Hunters and got medeocre results, that doesn't mean they're bad bullets his gun just didn't like them. We are going to try the Partitions and see how they do.

 

[super-7]

The new process retains the jacket shape which helped lock in the core. They changed the core which used to consist of a harder base and a softer tip. Now they use the Hot-Cor process which utilizes the same material throughout the core. Supposedly the new process improves accuracy because it is easier to make the core more uniform.

I have used Grand Slams in 30-06 and .270 before and never had an issue. I shot a 350lb Pa blackie with a 150gr GS from my .270 thru both shoulders. My friend still uses them in his 7mm-08 and has killed large Maine WTs, moose and black bear with excellent results. I wouldn't think twice about using those 180gr bullets for anything.

As I understand it in there press release, they will no longer be using the Hot Cor process. Whatever Hot-Cor speer bullets are in stock will be sold and no more made, their new process is the same as the fusion bullets now sold as components under the deep curl name. I have a budddy who was pissed about this and bought up over 1000 145 gr 7mm hot cor bullets. his rifle likes em and he likes em.

 

[CatskillCrawler]

As I understand it in there press release, they will no longer be using the Hot Cor process. Whatever Hot-Cor speer bullets are in stock will be sold and no more made, their new process is the same as the fusion bullets now sold as components under the deep curl name. I have a budddy who was pissed about this and bought up over 1000 145 gr 7mm hot cor bullets. his rifle likes em and he likes em.

I would happily embrace this if true. Speer's Gold Dots worked like magic and the Fusion and Deep Curl reportedly use the same electro-plate bonding procedure. The 165gr Deep Curls we shot into wet phone books from a 30-06 looked perfect. The Grand Slam jacket and this bonding process should make a stout bullet.