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23 cent surprise

Downhill

Gold $$ Contributor
I was given 200 Speer 30 cal 130g varmint bullets several months ago. Finally decided to give them a go. It is a flat base bullet with a hollow point that resembles the intake on a F86 Saber. Weights all over the place, base to ogive- not worth the aggravation. Grabbed a handful of 308 brass, Federal, Winchester and Lake City ( wasn't expecting stellar results). Threw charges of surplus AA2230C at 44, 45 and 46 grains. Seated by loading manual recomendation. Set up at 200 yards with my 12 twist FTR rifle. No group exceeded 1moa, the best at 46 grains. Really surprised. Will be doing serious load development next time.
 

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I was given 200 Speer 30 cal 130g varmint bullets several months ago. Finally decided to give them a go. It is a flat base bullet with a hollow point that resembles the intake on a F86 Saber. Weights all over the place, base to ogive- not worth the aggravation. Grabbed a handful of 308 brass, Federal, Winchester and Lake City ( wasn't expecting stellar results). Threw charges of surplus AA2230C at 44, 45 and 46 grains. Seated by loading manual recomendation. Set up at 200 yards with my 12 twist FTR rifle. No group exceeded 1moa, the best at 46 grains. Really surprised. Will be doing serious load development next time.
Are those like a .308 version of the TNT?
The TNT's always shot very well in 22 and 6mm
---
when I want to test any new .224 accuracy off the bat
I will start with 50 gr TNT's
---
Matter of fact...
My latest Wildcat I started off with 2230-C and TNT's before digging into the better stuff.
 

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Are those like a .308 version of the TNT?
The TNT's always shot very well in 22 and 6mm
---
when I want to test any new .224 accuracy off the bat
I will start with 50 gr TNT's
---
Matter of fact...
My latest Wildcat I started off with 2230-C and TNT's before digging into the better stuff.
They sure look like a TNT. That 2230C was $42 for 8lbs in the mid 90's. Wish I had bought it all, easy powder to work with. A bit on the psychotic side if you leave your ammo in the sun during summer matches though.
 
They sure look like a TNT. That 2230C was $42 for 8lbs in the mid 90's. Wish I had bought it all, easy powder to work with. A bit on the psychotic side if you leave your ammo in the sun during summer matches though.

I saw Speer gold dots in .310 for 7.62 x39 that looked like the ones in your picture a week or so ago for sale somewhere.

I may grab a few hundred for testing and see how they do.
 
I was given 200 Speer 30 cal 130g varmint bullets several months ago. Finally decided to give them a go. It is a flat base bullet with a hollow point that resembles the intake on a F86 Saber. Weights all over the place, base to ogive- not worth the aggravation. Grabbed a handful of 308 brass, Federal, Winchester and Lake City ( wasn't expecting stellar results). Threw charges of surplus AA2230C at 44, 45 and 46 grains. Seated by loading manual recomendation. Set up at 200 yards with my 12 twist FTR rifle. No group exceeded 1moa, the best at 46 grains. Really surprised. Will be doing serious load development next time.
These are not TNT, they are the standard varmint bullet. The TNT has a much smaller hollow point. BTW, these 130gr Varmint bullets you've got are sheer death on pigs. Very very good bullet in the lungs.
 
That bullet looks just like the Speer #1447 ... .277" diameter 100 grain HP that I used to use in my M70 in 270 Win ... 48.5gr of IMR4895 would put them in under 1/2 MOA all day long...bad news for groundhogs and also killed deer no problem one opening day when I forgot to bring my deer ammo.

varmint-hollow-point_24.webp

I also have some of the Speer "TNT" bullets in .277" (90gr) ... the hollow-point is smaller and the meplat more pointed in those. I still have not ever shot those, though. (I bought a big box of 650 of them when a Gander Mountain store near here closed down and sold off all their inventory for pennies on the dollar.)

Glad to hear you're getting good results with Speer #2005, because I bought a few hundred of the .308" version but haven't tried them yet...
 
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Been around a while, my first rifle was a 308win and those are what I used on Idaho rockchucks at the ranch (1981-82), definitely did the job. OP, nice groups there and looks like they might have cleaned them up a little over the years. I recall they shot good enough out to 200yd in that hunting rifle.

Speer_130hp_640px.jpg
 
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That bullet looks just like the Speer #1447 ... .277" diameter 100 grain HP that I used to use in my M70 in 270 Win ... 48.5gr of IMR4895 would put them in under 1/2 MOA all day long...bad news for groundhogs and also killed deer no problem one opening day when I forgot to bring my deer ammo.

View attachment 1759317

I also have some of the Speer "TNT" bullets in .277" (90gr) ... the hollow-point is smaller and the meplat more pointed in those. I still have not ever shot those, though. (I bought a big box of 650 of them when a Gander Mountain store near here closed down and sold off all their inventory for pennies on the dollar.)

Glad to hear you're getting good results with Speer #2005, because I bought a few hundred of the .308" version but haven't tried them yet...
Those 90gr TNT have shot very well out my Tikka 270, awful hard on Coyotes.
 

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