Speer hot core 160

[Cnkhunting]

Anyone have experience with the Speer 160 hot core bullets on elk? I'm shooting them out of a 7mag.

 

[AC300Win]

My experience with 180's out of a 300 win on a small deer were nearly disastrous. Bullet vaporized on the shoulder and didn't penetrate chest cavity at 300 yards. Much better options out there for elk medicine.

 

[Cnkhunting]

Thanks

 

[dogz]

It's a wonderful bullet for day in and day out elk shooting it'd be tough to find something that killed any better. Stick the bullet in behind the front and said volunteer will find himself in Croak City Wyoming real quick!

Good friend of mine calls it "the poor mans Partition".

I'd use it with zero fear

 

[RevJim]

I sold a rifle to a friend that I had hunted with for years, a Mod 700 280 Mnt Rifle reamed out to the Ackley. I got outstanding accuracy from the Speer 160HC @ 2800 (clocked) fps. I used the 150NBT@2950fps. He had a chance to hunt cow elk and I told him to use the Speer 160. He neck shot her around 50yds, on an old road in timer. Blew a gold ball sized hole all the way through, vertebrae and all! Its a good one in my book. I also believe the Sierra 160 BTHP is a good one, either in a 7mm Mag is very deadly. Have a ball man!

 

[Cnkhunting]

Thanks. They shoot 1/4" at 100 yards @3130fps

 

[dogz]

I sold a rifle to a friend that I had hunted with for years, a Mod 700 280 Mnt Rifle reamed out to the Ackley. I got outstanding accuracy from the Speer 160HC @ 2800 (clocked) fps. I used the 150NBT@2950fps. He had a chance to hunt cow elk and I told him to use the Speer 160. He neck shot her around 50yds, on an old road in timer. Blew a gold ball sized hole all the way through, vertebrae and all! Its a good one in my book. I also believe the Sierra 160 BTHP is a good one, either in a 7mm Mag is very deadly. Have a ball man!

For sure rev, the 160 Sie BTHP is one fantastic bullet! It's a bit BC challenged but that's only for those who going past 500 or so..........

 

[MagnumManiac]

My very first 300WM was a Ruger M77 MK II boat paddle stock 24" barrel and all I used in it for several years were 180g Hot Cor bullets. Never had a failure of any kind and accuracy was sub MoA even back then. Bought that rifle around 1990.
I tried the Mag Tip bullet in 180g, I believe, but accuracy was very poor.
Best bullet I used back then were Speer Grand Slams, in all weights, 150g, 165g and 180g. I also used the 200g Hot Cor, but the 24" barrel was lacking the length to push them fast enough with the powders available back then, even 7828 and a proprietary powder here in Australia known as AR2214, which is slower than Retumbo couldn't really push them much over 2850fps.

Cheers.

 

[Sockeye66]

My dad used Speer bullets (180gr Mag-Tip) for everything from Elk, to Bear, to Deer and the occasional unlucky porcupine. He swore by them and swore at the crappy yellow boxes that wouldn't stay closed.

 

[MagnumManiac]

My dad used Speer bullets (180gr Mag-Tip) for everything from Elk, to Bear, to Deer and the occasional unlucky porcupine. He swore by them and swore at the crappy yellow boxes that wouldn't stay closed.

I still have those crappy boxes that don't stay closed!
Funny thing is, the pistol boxes for the .429" 240g Gold Dot SP boxes stay closed even when dropped a short distance. None of the others do.

Cheers.

 

[Tac-O]

I'd be careful about pushing them too fast and shooting an elk up close. I've read over and over that above 2900 they get a little explosive at close range.

I pushed a 30cal 180gr to 2850 and shot a bull at 110. Clipped a rib on the way in and found the bullet under the skin on the opposite side. About 55-60% weight retention if I remember correctly. It dropped in 30 yards

 

[Muddyboots]

My experience with the 180HC is they are tough and accurate. If anything the low end expansion velocity is on high side. Otherwise good bullet and would not hesitate to use them on elk.