Are Federal Fusion bullets really Speer Grand Slams?

[Newtosavage]

I've been a Federal Fusion fan for a while now, even though I hand load most of my ammo. Fusion has proven to be the most consistently accurate factory ammo I have tried. Noting that the same parent company owns both Federal and Speer, and also noting the similarities between the Fusion bullets and Speer's Grand Slam bullet, is there a chance they are the same bullet?

 

[LoonWulf]

The grandslams are (or were, correct me if I'm wrong) traditional cup n core with some modifications. They only come as flat base as far as I know.
The fusions are bondeds, and are offered in boattails exclusively, also as far as I know.

 

[2ndtimer]

I believe the Fusion bullets are closer to the short lived Speer Deep Curls that were offered briefly a few years back. They were a bonded (plated) bullet that apparently got a little twitchy when approaching maximum loads. Speer cautioned to use only their specific data when loading them. Then abruptly discontinued them.

 

[Newtosavage]

The grandslams are (or were, correct me if I'm wrong) traditional cup n core with some modifications. They only come as flat base as far as I know.
The fusions are bondeds, and are offered in boattails exclusively, also as far as I know.

I was looking at the ogive and meplat shapes, and cannelure, and BC's. They are very close.

A description of the Grand Slam sounds pretty close to a "bonded" bullet:

"original Grand Slam bullets had a two-piece core with the rear being harder than the front. Now, Grand Slams feature a three-component core that is poured into the gilding-metal jacket and flows into a heel pocket. Essentially, the Hot-Cor process, along with the added mechanical lock (at the heel) and thick shank, results in 80 to 85 percent weight retention. Internal fluting makes upset possible at a wide range of velocities, and a higher ballistic coefficient than Mag-Tip slightly flattens trajectory. Grand Slams have a cannelure for applying a crimp and are suitable for the largest game in a given cartridge’s application; however, with the enhanced performance comes a significant increase in price."

 

[LRDGCO]

I was looking at the ogive and meplat shapes, and cannelure, and BC's. They are very close.

A description of the Grand Slam sounds pretty close to a "bonded" bullet:

"original Grand Slam bullets had a two-piece core with the rear being harder than the front. Now, Grand Slams feature a three-component core that is poured into the gilding-metal jacket and flows into a heel pocket. Essentially, the Hot-Cor process, along with the added mechanical lock (at the heel) and thick shank, results in 80 to 85 percent weight retention. Internal fluting makes upset possible at a wide range of velocities, and a higher ballistic coefficient than Mag-Tip slightly flattens trajectory. Grand Slams have a cannelure for applying a crimp and are suitable for the largest game in a given cartridge’s application; however, with the enhanced performance comes a significant increase in price."

That's marketing for "why you should pay a premium for OUR cup and core bullet".

They are good bullets. I have used the Grand Slam successfully on elk. Would use them again. But the Fusion are a true bonded bullet.

I agree with you about Fusion consistency. I reload for everything but wanted to use a PTR-91 for a hog night hunt, needed some off-the-shelf, and chose some Fusion 150s. They were great. Then lent my BIL a 30-06 for elk last Fall and the Fusion was excellent. He even got an elk, which implies some sort of divine characteristics...

 

[Swampman]

I got 1000, 64 grain .224" Federal Fusion pulls from RMR a few years back. I remember that the cannalure placement was different from Gold Dots, as were the tips (not really enough there to call a meplat).

Loaded to the same OAL, they shot the same and I couldn't tell the difference when shooting milk jugs.

 

[horsey300]

I was looking at the ogive and meplat shapes, and cannelure, and BC's. They are very close.

A description of the Grand Slam sounds pretty close to a "bonded" bullet:

"original Grand Slam bullets had a two-piece core with the rear being harder than the front. Now, Grand Slams feature a three-component core that is poured into the gilding-metal jacket and flows into a heel pocket. Essentially, the Hot-Cor process, along with the added mechanical lock (at the heel) and thick shank, results in 80 to 85 percent weight retention. Internal fluting makes upset possible at a wide range of velocities, and a higher ballistic coefficient than Mag-Tip slightly flattens trajectory. Grand Slams have a cannelure for applying a crimp and are suitable for the largest game in a given cartridge’s application; however, with the enhanced performance comes a significant increase in price."

The fusion is bonded better, much closer to a gold dot really (check out the 6.8 gold dots) the deep curls were amazing, but the grand slam available now is just a hotcor with better jacket design. Think of a slightly better bc gold dot...... speer offers the gold dot bullet component in a 120 6.5 for your Grendel, and a 123 for the x39 fans....... as well as others.

 

[someguy2800]

Fusion and gold dot are the same type of bullet. They start with a swaged lead core and electroplate the jacket onto it, then score the tip and cut the end off to make a soft point. Grand slam and hot core are cup and core bullets only they pore the lead into the jacket rather than swage the jacket around the core.

And yes, fusions are superb bullets!



I wish they would sell them all as components!

 

[Newtosavage]

He even got an elk, which implies some sort of divine characteristics...

Even better!

 

[Newtosavage]

And yes, fusions are superb bullets!

I wish they would sell them all as components!

Me too!

 

[Newtosavage]

Thanks for the tip folks. Just ordered some 120 6.5 Gold Dots to try in my Howa Mini Grendel. Seeing as I have a ton of 8208, and that 120 grainers tend to do really well over that powder, I'm hoping to find a good hunting load with them. The 123 SST's just weren't quite what I was looking for and the 130 Gamechangers, while outstanding, are loaded over LeverEvolution powder, which is much dirtier than I like.