Will something bad happen if you fire Speer bullets through your 284 rifle ?

[VaniB]

Ok guys, I'm being facetious here, but has anybody had any luck in the accuracy department with Speer .284 bullets? I'm really wondering if Speer bullets are as bad as the low or none-existent interest on these forums might seem to indicate. (??)

I was ordering Hornady 162 Amax and Hornady 139 SST bullets when I then started checking out what Speer had to offer. I took note of their reasonably priced .502 BC BT-Spitzer bullets and .394 BC 130 grain flat base Spitzer bullets which would round out a good sampling for me of different weight bullets and test loads at the 100 yard range. While I don't hunt, I do enjoy shooting 5 shot groups at the 100 yard range and seeking sub 1/2" groups. I know Hornady's are capable of this, as well as Nosler and Sierra.

Anybody had any luck with these Speer bullets?

 

[DOGCAPPER]

I rechambered a #1 Ruger 223 to 220 Swift..First 3 shots with 70 gr Speer at 200 yds was .753..Continued to shoot in this range for years..Being stingey with no. of rounds fired...Used 160 Grand Slams in 7mm Mag.hunting with excell
ent results..Used Speer 115 gr in 7-30 Waters pistol for hunting..For target it is still Berget, Bart, Yinks, etc.LT

 

[fdshuster]

Over the years I've weighed a lot of Speer bullets and measured with an ogive gauge and always found a lot of variations.

When I see other benchrest competitors using them, then I might give them more consideration. Most local sources do not even stock them on their shelves. Berger, a few custom makers, and Sierra meet all my needs.

 

[bheadboy]

if you are comparing accurch and consistance for other than deer hunting my answer from experince is a great big

YES!!!

Bob

 

[people]

Their small stuff is ok.

 

[Preacher]

I use a lot of old 200 grain .338 Speers in a few rifles and they have done really well..
Not something I would use for really long ranges though, to many better bullets to choose from..

 

[jonbearman]

I shoot their 180 spitzers with real good accuracy out of my .308.I wouldnt hesitate to use them to hunt.

 

[VaniB]

I had been hoping that if Speer had taken the time to produce some boat tailed spitzer bullets with a high BC to look and portray the role of a target bullet, then perhap they might have constructed them with repeatable consistancy too.

Ok, I'm hearing ya. The message is to save them for hunting. Got it! Thanks for the input.

 

[quartermaster]

I use their 130 gr HP in my .308. It is the only bullet I have been able to get very good accuracy with. I never tried any other of their bullets, but I have been very happy with these

 

[LHSmith]

125 gr. TNT's in a 30 BR Heavy Varmint BR gun shoot small..... very small.....just not quite as small as a custom bullet, but close enough you have to measure groups to tell the difference. So yes, Speer CAN make accurate bullets.

 

[nhm16]

In my cheapie 6.8SPC II chambered AR, my best accuracy comes from a 90gr TNT, about 0.6 moa.

 

[VaniB]

LHSmith
nhm16,

ahhhh, thank you!!!.....and there, with what you two guys mentioned just above, lies the excuse for me to give the 130 and/or 145 grain Speers a try. ;D

I suppose if I weigh and sort the bullets (like I always do anyway with all my handloads), the Speer bullets may still not provide 1/8" groups, but may be plenty capable of sub 1/2" targets .....which will please me plenty. ( since I have no plans to participate in tournamets and test Berger bullets at $45 a box)

 

[gotcha]

I used the Speer .284, 145gr SP in a 7BR, XP-100 in Silly wet comps for years. Grouped @ 1.125", 200 yds. Nice shooting bullet. Tried their 87 gr TNT in my .257AI. Sorry to say it was the worst bullet tested. My experience = obviously mixed results. I've decided to stick w/ the above mentioned, more consistent bullets. Not cheaper to buy but, cheaper in the long run. .02 cents

 

[wapiti25]

I have had just OK results with Speer, about 1 Moa on the good side out of factory barrels. Speer has been more expensive from most sources than Hornady.

 

[Romulus]

No .284 info but I shot .308 TBBC for a hunting season with great accuracy. They were just a PITA to get. Since the load's purpose was inside 600 for mule deer hunting I didn't sort or check out the projectiles for consistency. Groups at 450 were ringers and 600 were about 4". Nothing world class, but I didn't spend much time on the load. I don't shoot them anymore though.