Speer Hot-Cor?

[krumfola]

I’ve used Remington Core-Lokt for years and have had good results. How do the Speer Hot-Cor compare? Distances will be less than 400 yards on whitetail.

 

[pertnear]

I've used both & I would say they are very comparable as to there performance on game. Both bullets may shed there core on deep penetration, if you can recover one. Mushroomed bullets usually retain 55% to 70% weight. I have not recovered enough bullets to prove this, but I believe boat-tail bullets can shed their cores more easily. I shoot Speer Hot-Cor flat-base bullets also exclusively these days for deer.

Just IMHO...

 

[Tommie]

“Old fashioned” cup and core bullets have been murdering deer for over a hundred years.

 

[moorepower]

“Old fashioned” cup and core bullets have been murdering deer for over a hundred years.

Just had this conversation with my brother in law.

 

[AckleymanII]

Speer's are a big step up in quality from the Rem Core Loct, flat base are the Hot Cores

Speer boat tails are NOT hot cores(not as tough)

Often, you will prefer one or the other.

Some barrels LOVE the Speer bullets when you are looking for sub 1/2 MOA groups on a hunting rifle.

I found that the flat base hot cores penetrate similar to the Hornady flat base that think they are partitions.

When I want to put more shock on a deer, I use the Boat Tail bullets, more penetration using the flat base Hot Cores
25/06-100g BTSP
257 Weatherby-100g flat base Hot Core
7/08-130g BTsp at 3000- Hot Core flat base on hogs; 145g Speer Hot core is another great bullet
308 + 30/06-165g BTSP

I like to shoot 8" behind the front shoulder, takes out heart, lungs, and Diaphragm with the Speer Boat tails. When I want shoulder shots, the Hot Core always completely penetrates.

 

[krumfola]

That’s what I wanted to know. I appreciate the responses.

 

[howl]

Different ones vary. I have had some 6.5mm that were hard like an elk bullet and a 30 cal that was a soft deer bullet. They're more consistently made by model in my experience is the difference I would note.

I would suggest asking Speer directly about each specific bullet model within the line.

 

[Ray123]

Yes, hot core Speer bullets work great on deer. They will shed weight, but make big exit wounds in .338 win mag, deer just drop. I've had good experiences with all the old cup and core bullets in that caliber on deer. A spitzer flat base is as good as a boattail ballistically inside 300 yards, and tends not to separate jacket as easily...I used to shoot deer with cheap less than $2 lb Hodgdons surplus powder and Speer factory 2nds in the hot core line...no need for a premium bullet, and your target kill area is quite large. And the deer were all quick clean kills, they didn't notice I wasn't using a premium bullet. Also killed some elk bulls with Speer hot cores, just use a little more bullet weight.

 

[snert]

i found the 200 grain 35 cal hot core to be too hard when fired in a 357 Herrett (for deer). Little expansion. Designed for bigger critters and higher velocity.

 

[1shot]

Dropped a white tail at about 70 yds. with a 265 gr. hot core out of a T/C Encore 454 Casull. Went about 10 yds. and piled up DRT. The bullet mushroomed nicely and stayed intact.

Lloyd

 

[1K6BRA]

I have limited experience with the Speer hot cores but I have shot six or eight Pennsylvania whitetails at pretty close ranges between 50 and 100 yards. I have only used them in my 250 savage and I have only used the 87 grain. Here is a picture of one I shot maybe five years ago, that is me in front and you can see the exit hole on that buck. All the deer I have killed with this bullet have either dropped in their tracks or taken a few steps at most. And I know they are accurate at least in my rifle. I would definitely give them a thumbs up and a try.

 

[0.1 Aggregate]

i found the 200 grain 35 cal hot core to be too hard when fired in a 357 Herrett (for deer). Little expansion. Designed for bigger critters and higher velocity.

Which bullet are you talking about? Speer doesn’t offer a 200 grain .358” HC bullet. Perhaps you meant the 220 FN, which is definately too hard for Herrett velocities.

I used the 180 FN HC in my 14” .35 Remington Contender to take deer. At an impact velocity around 1900 fps it expanded well and penetrated deeply (see photo). Typical for HotCore bullets IME they expand with the jacket tight against the shank maximizing penetration while still killing well. The non-HotCore Speer boattailed bullets expand into wider mushrooms but are more prone to shedding their jackets.

.

 

[Bill K]

Having shot both, over the years, I still prefer the old Remington Core Lokt, when I can shoot lead on game. Presently my state now only allows lead free bullets on both game and non-game listed animals for hunting.

 

[snert]

I shot Hot core 200 grain circa 1990. 358 cal. For what its worth it wouldn't expand at the velocity I could drive it at 357 herrett velocity on whitetail. A 180 SSp worked MUCH better.

 

[0.1 Aggregate]

I shot Hot core 200 grain circa 1990. 358 cal. For what its worth it wouldn't expand at the velocity I could drive it at 357 herrett velocity on whitetail. A 180 SSp worked MUCH better.

I found the 200 grain 35 cal hot core to be too hard when fired in a 357 Herrett (for deer). Little expansion. Designed for bigger critters and higher velocity.

Once again, Speer didn’t make a 200-grain .358” HotCore bullet, so what bullet was it that didn’t expand?




.

 

[Mr. Ten-X]

Deer are fine. Larger animals not so fine.

Buddy took a cow elk with his 375HH using the Grand Slam (hot core). Projectile was not loaded to warp drive velocity. Cow as at 125yds, slight quartering away. Projectile was aimed at and hit the off shoulder. Animal died on the spot. Technically, tthe projectile did its job and the animal died. The jacket was found under the hide on the shoulder.

Question now becomes...what if it hit the shoulder on entry and had to pass deep into the vitals. Would it have made it, especially had it been a large bull? What about a Canadian Moose?

Not a confidence builder.

 

[searcher]

For deer - those bullets are fine - and I think comparable to the Remington. I've had a few rifles that favored them for accuracy until I switched to lead-free bullets. But as others have noted - the cups can separate if bone is struck - so I'd pick shots. I'd stick to the heavier weights.

 

[AckleymanII]

If I want to shoot elk sholders, it will be with a Barnes TTSX.

I have never shot at elk shoulders. For cow tags, I use a 243 Win with 100g partitions. We rode mules, no long shots, all cows flopped very, very close to where they were shot if not where they were standing.