Do these bullets look right? (30-30 experts)

lharrell79 · Dec 29, 2012

Let me preface this with saying that i've never reloaded 30-30 before, so these flat points are new to me. I recently purchased 2 boxes of speer deep curl 170gr FP #2042. This is what I received:

http://s9.postimage.org/rc6qu47nz/DSCN2685.jpg

http://s2.postimage.org/8df28q7ix/DSCN2703.jpg

http://s2.postimage.org/phwdbeffd/DSCN2692.jpg

http://s7.postimage.org/s0msu5jgr/DSCN2707.jpg

Basically, there is lead everywhere. I've loaded soft points in pistol before, but not rifle. My experience with pistol soft points has been better uniformity than this. So, do these look right? Lead smeared all over, and hanging off.

In the third picture, the bullet on the far right is one that I cleaned up. After wiping off all the lead, it looks a little better. However, even the copper jacket isn't uniform. At the tip of the bullet, the copper jacket rides up higher on one side than the other. So, basically at the tip of the bullet, there is more exposed lead on one side than the other.

My concerns are reduced accuracy, and lack of controlled expansion. What are your thoughts?

ArchAngelCD · Dec 29, 2012

I'm a little surprised Speer let those bullets out of the factory looking like that. Commercial manufacturers usually tumble bullets and ammo to clean them up before they package them. Those look like they missed that step but will probably shoot just fine.

243winxb · Dec 29, 2012

Loaded with a Lee Classic "hammer" loader?? OOPs, not loaded yet. U can tell i am no expert.

LiveLife · Dec 29, 2012

243winxb said:
Loaded with a Lee Classic "hammer" loader??

They haven't been loaded yet.

bhhacker · Dec 29, 2012

They look a bit rough but will probably shoot just fine. I would maybe clean up the lead on the tips. the stuff that shouldnt be there should flake off if that makes sense.

jcwit · Dec 29, 2012

Loaded with a Lee Classic "hammer" loader?? OOPs, not loaded yet. U can tell i am no expert.

Not really, I've used a Lee Loader "hammer" for both 30-30 and 32 Win. Spec. and never had bullets look like that. In fact I even reload with cast bullets.

rcmodel · Dec 29, 2012

If I paid $28 bucks a box for Speer bullets and they looked like that??

I'd be on the phone with Speer monday morning.

Or send them an email with those pictures today.

That right there just ain't right from any manufacture.

And I wouldn't load them or shoot them.
Speer owes you some new bullets that got made right.

rc

DeadFlies · Dec 29, 2012

Yow! Those are ugly.

I agree with rc, I wouldn't tolerate that kind of slop for that kind of money. Not when there are so many other bullets manufacturers competing for my dollars.

MSgtEgress · Dec 29, 2012

I agree with RC I'm sure Speer QC would want to know about that lot # and recall them. Call Speer

lharrell79 · Dec 29, 2012

Anyone have speer's number or email? I went to their website, and they've taken down their info because of all the ammo panic inquiries.

joed · Dec 29, 2012

That is pretty bad. About all you'll be able to do is send a letter if they won't accept phone calls or email. I'd never buy their bullets again though, and I'm pretty good at holding a grudge.

I'm surprised we're not seeing a lot move of this, because they figure they can get away with it.

jcwit · Dec 29, 2012

Here you go

ATK AMMUNITION-CCI/SPEER
2299 SNAKE RIVER AVE
LEWISTON, ID 83501-9685 | view map
(208) 746-2351

Buy Detailed Profile $5.00 | view a sample www.atk.com

jcwit · Dec 29, 2012

That is pretty bad. About all you'll be able to do is send a letter if they won't accept phone calls or email. I'd never buy their bullets again though, and I'm pretty good at holding a grudge.

If I felt that way about things I've bought over the last 69 years there would be very little left to buy.

Every business has their slip-ups.

lharrell79 · Dec 29, 2012

Okay, back to the original questions. Does everyone agree that these are not normal? Does anyone have any loading experience with these, and can confirm that their bullets looked different?

45lcshooter · Dec 29, 2012

They should shoot fine. If it was me I would use a heavier sandpaper or emery cloth and just clean them up a little bit.

lharrell79 · Dec 29, 2012

I'll try contacting speer 1st to see what they say. I'm mostly disappointed with speer. I've always found them to have top notch quality.

These will be used for hunting, so my biggest concern is their accuracy, and ability to expand uniformly.

Ditchtiger · Dec 29, 2012

lharrell79 said:
Okay, back to the original questions. Does everyone agree that these are not normal? Does anyone have any loading experience with these, and can confirm that their bullets looked different?

Yep, those are poor quality bullets.
They will work OK but I would be worried the lead may flake off and get into the rifle's mechanics or moving parts.

lharrell79 · Dec 29, 2012

That's another thing i'm worried about, is the lead gumming up the rifle over time. I can literally pick it off with my fingernails, and it just falls off.

JLDickmon · Dec 29, 2012

scrape the lead off with a knife, load 'em up and shoot 'em.

they look fine, other than the QC guy took the day off..

floydster · Dec 29, 2012

Terrible bullets, where is the QC, I can't imagine a bullet of that quality leaving the factory,
someone slipped up letting those go thru the line.

Smokeyloads

joed · Dec 29, 2012

lharrell79 said:
I'll try contacting speer 1st to see what they say. I'm mostly disappointed with speer. I've always found them to have top notch quality.

These will be used for hunting, so my biggest concern is their accuracy, and ability to expand uniformly.

Sure they look bad but will work fine. They're ugly yes, but should be just fine for whatever use you have in mind.

You can mess up the tip of a bullet and it will still work fine, but mess up the base and it won't work.

kingmt · Dec 29, 2012

I don't like Speer that well but I'd shoot them. They don't look that bad to me. I've seen a lot worse in load ammo with tips bent, ends smashed, & all kinds of crazy stuff. Only times I've refused to shoot any was one I found a split jacket on & another time a guy asked me to figure out why he couldn't shoot his rifle in so I shoot a 303 for my first time & wasn't much harder then a 22 but the next shoot hurt then the third round was a 270. I wouldn't shoot anymore. The box of Remington was sealed & there want even a 270 on the range.

Walkalong · Dec 29, 2012

Call Speer. They will replace them, and probably be glad you called. That is just sloppy.

That said.

scrape the lead off with a knife, load 'em up and shoot 'em.

I would not have a problem doing this. I bet you will never see the difference on target. Tips don't matter much until you get into really long range shots.

I just bought some 130 and 150 Gr Speer Hot Core bullets to try, and the tips are near perfect.

ArchAngelCD · Dec 29, 2012

lharrell79 said:
Okay, back to the original questions. Does everyone agree that these are not normal? Does anyone have any loading experience with these, and can confirm that their bullets looked different?

No, they are not normal but it's only cosmetic from what I can see. Like I said in Post #2, it looks like those bullet skipped the tumbling step before they packaged them. I also agree it's unacceptable, and at any price from any maker.

lharrell79 · Dec 29, 2012

Thank you all for the input. I think the consensus is that these bullets are not the norm. Therefore, I will be contacting Speer and asking for an exchange.

Do these bullets look right? (30-30 experts)

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