Speer 243 Grand Slam Bullets

[Jeff Flannery]

3031 shoots best in my 700bdl, 700adl and ruger amer. 243. Also it shoots real well in my ruger amer. 7mm/08. They all like varget too

 

[ThomasT]

3031 shoots best in my 700bdl, 700adl and ruger amer. 243. Also it shoots real well in my ruger amer. 7mm/08.

Thats good to hear. Maybe I will try some. And the same day I shot the new 243 I also shot my 7-08 with 139gr bullets and 4350 powder. What loads are you using in the 243 and 7-08? I see you used 31grs with a 100gr bullet in the 243, have you tried it with lighter bullets? I may order some Speer 90gr Hot Core bullets.

I have tried to do what others have done and decide on one powder for all my rifle loads. I came to the conclusion that 4895 was a good all around powder. The only round it wouldn't give close to top velocities in that I load for was the 243. All other rounds it would work. So I have several pounds of 4895 from IMR and Hogdon. Plus bought an 8 pound jug of 2495, Accurate Arms answer to 4895. And so far it was a good choice. The 2495 made a good load in my 35 Remington and 30-30.

But you never know for sure what will actually work until you try it. And I am not one that has to have absolute top velocity. For where and how I hunt most ranges are close. At least within 150 yards. You don't need top speed for ranges like that.

 

[Jeff Flannery]

I use 39grs of 3031in my 7mm/08 pushing a h ornady 139 interbond. In the 243's I use 32.0 grs of 3031 in my 700 bdl and adl 243 with an 85 gr Hornady spitzer. My ruger American likes 32.0 grs of 3031 pushing the 85 gr bullet too. They all like Varget too. Ruger likes 31.0 grs and the rems like 31.5grs both pushing a 100 gr Hornady. For 85 gr bullets in varget I use 36.0grs for the 85 gr bullet and 37.0 in the rems

 

[2ndtimer]

I have never tried 3031 in any of the .243 Win. rifles I have had, but IMR-4064 worked well with lighter bullets less than 80 gr in weight. In reviewing my old Hornady loading manual, that 31 gr 3031 load would only leave the muzzle at 2600 fps or so. My current load for my .243 is a Speer 90 gr Deep Curl with 41.0 gr of Reloder 17. It chronographed 3055 fps, and I used it to take a nice pronghorn in Montana two weeks ago at a lasered 318 yards.

 

[DM~]

For deer in my .243, I use IMR4350 with 100NP's, and I have been using the same load since the 70's...

I have tried other bullets, but I always go back to 100NP's...

DM

 

[ThomasT]

My current load for my .243 is a Speer 90 gr Deep Curl with 41.0 gr of Reloder 17. It chronographed 3055 fps, and I used it to take a nice pronghorn in Montana two weeks ago at a lasered 318 yards.

I looked at Midway and they didn't show the Deep Curl bullets. A google search found them and show they have been discontinued. I hate that Speer has also discontinued the 105gr Hot Core Spitzer and the 105gr RN bullets. Since the Grand Slams were priced so cheap I am guessing they have been or are being discontinued. Whats the deal with Speer? They have been my Go-To bullet place for 30+ years.

I looked in all the load data I have and never found a 100gr bullet load using 3031 and a 31gr charge. An IMR load data pamplet showed 35.5grs of 3031 for around 2500fps. So I am guessing a 31gr charge would at best be around 2400fps. Really slow for a 243.

After my sight in Friday I reloaded my cases with 100gr NP bullets and 41grs of IMR 4350. I am guessing the velocity to be around 2850fps. Thats good enough. The main thing is they were accurate.

 

[stillquietvoice]

I used imr 4350 42 gr over 100 gr interlocks, sie prohunters, and nbt's, also used win 760 40 gr charge with same bullets in my 243. As for 7mm08 I use imr 4350 48.0 gr for 139 hornandy interlocks and sst's. For 140 gr gamekings, prohunters or nosler ballistic tips it gets 46.5 gr works well in my rifle. I've also used win 760 for 160 gamekings, I haven't settled on a specific charge yet.

Imr and h 4895 also produced adequate accuracy in both calibers but I wanted more energy at impact.

 

[2ndtimer]

I looked at Midway and they didn't show the Deep Curl bullets. A google search found them and show they have been discontinued. I hate that Speer has also discontinued the 105gr Hot Core Spitzer and the 105gr RN bullets. Since the Grand Slams were priced so cheap I am guessing they have been or are being discontinued. Whats the deal with Speer? They have been my Go-To bullet place for 30+ years.

I looked in all the load data I have and never found a 100gr bullet load using 3031 and a 31gr charge. An IMR load data pamplet showed 35.5grs of 3031 for around 2500fps. So I am guessing a 31gr charge would at best be around 2400fps. Really slow for a 243.

Yeah, the Deep Curls were discontinued years ago, but I still had some, and they were very accurate in my .243. I also have a box of Speer 90 gr Deep Shoks for the .243 that I don't think were ever released through conventional retail channels. They also have proven quite accurate and I hope to stick one of those in a deer or antelope sometime in the future. I got them cheap online years ago.

 

[ThomasT]

I said I would post a picture of my sight in group with the Nosler Partition bullets and here it is. Not great for a 243 but the more I shoot the better it gets. I guess the barrel is breaking in. Anyway the 3 in the bull were my last 3 shots. The bull is a 2" circle so I guess this is about a 1.5" group. The top 3 shots were after I cleaned the barrel and I guess it needed to foul a little.

 

[Virginia Jim]

Looks good. Now back up to 100 yards and se how she does.

 

[ThomasT]

Looks good. Now back up to 100 yards and se how she does.

That was a hundred yards. What makes you think it was closer? I'm puzzled.

 

[stillquietvoice]

I had to use a real long coal to get my 111 savage to shoot. I bought it used with no idea of round count. It had some throat erosion. Saami spec is 2.650 in my length was 2.70in. With that length it would shoot .75 in groups.

 

[ThomasT]

I just used the recommended COAL in the Speer manual on these loads. Maybe later I will play with the seating depth. But the older I get the less I worry about that stuff. As long as I can keep them in the bull thats good enough for my kind of hunting. Its an 80 mile round trip to my buds land to test loads so less testing gets done these days.

 

[STCL01]

My only experience with the Grand Slam is with the 7mm 140 gr. I have used them in a 7mag and 7mm-08. In both instances I got decent accuracy. However in the 7-08, which was notoriously grouping in the 3" range, the GS pulled it down to what you are seeing at about 1.5 at 100. I switched to a 140 Nosler Accubond and the groups are right at 3/4" in the 7-08 and 1/2" in the 7mag. Once again no experience with 243, but everything that I have put an accubond in it has been magic. For what you are doing at those ranges what you have will be fine. My wife took a nice deer with the 7-08 with the SGS at about 115 yards. Worked well, and I am only pushing those around 2700 according to the book.

 

[ThomasT]

The Grand Slams came today but I haven't opened the box yet. The 7-08 is a fantastic round. I don't get too hung up on speed. In an old article written by John Wooters he talked about loading some rounds for a 280 Remington for his wife to use in Africa and just used the starting loads because he didn't have time to work up hotter loads. He said everything she shot with the those starter loads dropped on the spot and never needed a single follow up shot. It seems like guys are too concerned about speed. You need it to make the bullets work but too much of it is just as bad as not enough.

 

[Garandimal]

I just bought a new Ruger American in 243 and am looking at loading for it. I considered buying some Nosler 100gr Partitions but at $36.49 for 50 bullets I looked a little more. I saw Midway had Speer Grand Slam bullets for $10.39 for a box of 50 and bought two boxes of those instead.

I plan on using IMR 4350 for powder at about 41grs. Anyone have any experience with these bullets or a favorite load for them?

The new Speer GS - is not the old Speer GS.

It's also 1/3 the price.

Given that, they are a very good and accurate cup-n-core bullet - with a fluted and protected point, tapered jacket, and the "hot-cor" bond.

The two things they don't like are:
- fast
- hard

If you over-stress them, with either high velocity or hard bone, they will not perform very well.

So avoid both.

Switched from the 150 gr. Speer "Hot-cor" to the 150 gr. GS for my std. .270 WCF load, driven at a little over 2,800 fps, and it has performed great on both deer and hogs.

Am also starting to load the 140 gr. GS for my 6.5x55, at ~ 2,800, and expect the same performance.

Just stay away from heavy femurs, and 3,000 fps, and you won't know they aren't Partitions.




GR

 

[DM~]

The new Speer GS - is not the old Speer GS.

It's also 1/3 the price.

Given that, they are a very good and accurate cup-n-core bullet - with a fluted and protected point, tapered jacket, and the "hot-cor" bond.
GR

The only problem I have with your post is your "hot-cor" bond, they are NOT bonded in any way...

The "hot-cor" does nothing to "bond" the bullet... GS' are NOT bonded in any way, and the heated core doesn't add anything to how the bullet performs on an animal when it hits it...

DM

 

[ThomasT]

This is from an American Rifleman article. It says the 24 and 25 caliber bullets were never a two piece core. Now all Grand Slams are a single core bullet. And it also says the Hot Core is not bonded but doesn't use a lubricant so the core is not likely to slip on impact. I never load hotter than book loads and normally just a little under max. I don't try to make a smaller gun work where you really need a bigger gun. I have bigger guns than a 243 and would use them on game other than deer.

With the exception of those in .24 and .25 caliber, which always featured a one-piece core, 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.

https://www.americanrifleman.org/articles/2010/11/10/revisiting-speers-big-game-bullets/

 

[Jeff Flannery]

I looked at Midway and they didn't show the Deep Curl bullets. A google search found them and show they have been discontinued. I hate that Speer has also discontinued the 105gr Hot Core Spitzer and the 105gr RN bullets. Since the Grand Slams were priced so cheap I am guessing they have been or are being discontinued. Whats the deal with Speer? They have been my Go-To bullet place for 30+ years.

I looked in all the load data I have and never found a 100gr bullet load using 3031 and a 31gr charge. An IMR load data pamplet showed 35.5grs of 3031 for around 2500fps. So I am guessing a 31gr charge would at best be around 2400fps. Really slow for a 243.

After my sight in Friday I reloaded my cases with 100gr NP bullets and 41grs of IMR 4350. I am guessing the velocity to be around 2850fps. Thats good enough. The main thing is they were accurate.

Sorry or the mis print! I use 33.5gr of 3031 pushing my 100 gr hornady's

 

[ThomasT]

OK but that still sounds like a really light 243 load. Nothing wrong with that. Should make a good load for the kids to shoot. But still under 2500fps per the IMR manual. If you like faster powders maybe try Reloader 15 or IMR 4064 or 4320. Those are a little slower burning than the 3031. The IMR manual list 38grs of 4064 and 39.5grs of 4320 for just over 2900fps from a 22" barrel. But check your data before using any ones suggested loads. Those are still economical loads that give you a decent jump in bullet speed. And don't forget the excellent 4895 powder. Its one of the best all around powders you can own. Its shows 37grs for 2910fps from the same 22" barrel.

 

[Jeff Flannery]

I have all the powders you mentioned above except reloader 15. I fact I just yesterday loaded up three reloads for each powder using a 65 gr hollow point bullet. I want to see which one will give me the best accuracy. I'm more concerned about accuracy than wallop! Thanks for the reply!

 

[ThomasT]

I have all the powders you mentioned above except reloader 15. I fact I just yesterday loaded up three reloads for each powder using a 65 gr hollow point bullet. I want to see which one will give me the best accuracy. I'm more concerned about accuracy than wallop! Thanks for the reply!

Those powders should be great for those lighter bullets. And yes accuracy is always more important than speed. But speed has its place. Poist what you get when you test those loads. I have some 75 and 80gr bullets on hand.

 

[Garandimal]

The only problem I have with your post is your "hot-cor" bond, they are NOT bonded in any way...

The "hot-cor" does nothing to "bond" the bullet... GS' are NOT bonded in any way, and the heated core doesn't add anything to how the bullet performs on an animal when it hits it...

DM

Bond - as in intimate, not molecular (bonded).

The bullets tend not to shed their jackets... unless pried off, due to excessive expansion.

A good cup-n-core bullet.




GR

 

[Captcurt]

I've been lucky I've never missed one, but I've never shot at one that was running or where it would be a hard shot. Most time I get them to stop with a yelp or whistle. I did lose two deer, one was a big buck in Alabama that rolled down a hill onto the next property over, the owner would not let me retrieve it. The other I shot standing about 200 yards out, looked like a good hit. But only found a lot of white hair, think I hit the brisket. It was -7 out and I think the powder lost some power. Both where with a 3006 so I think I am cursed.

Troy, my friend, you may have jinxed yourself. I have a friend who said that he had killed every deer that he had shot at. At that time he had only taken 5. The very next day he missed the only bull elk that he had ever seen. 200 yards and he thought that it was 300. Was sighted in at 200 and held over the bulls back. Never touched it. I still remind him of that one.

 

[troy fairweather]

Troy, my friend, you may have jinxed yourself. I have a friend who said that he had killed every deer that he had shot at. At that time he had only taken 5. The very next day he missed the only bull elk that he had ever seen. 200 yards and he thought that it was 300. Was sighted in at 200 and held over the bulls back. Never touched it. I still remind him of that one.

I've nearly taken 100 deer. But just something about the 06. I like shooting it but just don't have any luck with it. Trust and confidence is huge, 7mm are my go to.