The Accurate Reloading Forums
235 gr speer .375 bullets ??
24 December 2002, 17:29
PC235 gr speer .375 bullets ??
When I picked up my .375 my dealer talked me out of woodleigh 270 gr .375 bullets and instead steered me towards the speer .375 cal 235 grainers he said they will be very good pig & roo bullets and much flatter shooting. He also gave me the box fairly cheaply.
Who has had experience with these bullets ??
are they any good ?? do you agree thye will be better on pigs than the 270 gr variety, usually I I shoot heavy for caliber stuff.
Thanks folks.
24 December 2002, 17:51
N E 450 No2PC I have used the 235 Speer in a reduced load with 64gr. of IMR 3031 for deer hunting. It worked perfect, gave good expansion and penetration. It might be a little distructive at max velocity and close range, but should be a good long range bullet. Let us know how it works out.
24 December 2002, 17:57
PCNE 450 N#2,
hope fully as the scope was previuosly sighted in on another rifle I will be able to get it zeoed in after 3-4 shots and then I will have 8 or so shots to shoot some grassy's. I only have 12 cases at the minuet and were I will be on Christmas day is 1 hour from my reloader
How much flatter do they shoot than the 270's & 300's ??
Thanks for your load data as well.
25 December 2002, 09:29
todbartellWhen zeroed in at 200 yards, here is the 300 yard drop.
235 gr. Speer @ 2900 fps - 8.3"
270 gr. Hornady SP @ 2700 fps - 9.1"
300 gr. Nosler Partition @ 2550 fps - 10.2"
The 200 yard energies:
235 gr. - 2829 ft-lbs
270 gr. - 3007 ft-lbs
300 gr. - 3006 ft-lbs
I would think the 235 gr. would work well for medium sized game, but for the larger stuff, the 300 gr. would be the one to use. They don't loose much to the lighter slugs.
24 December 2002, 22:17
N E 450 No2I agree with Todbartel. If I was shooting big pigs I would use a heavier constructed bullet. Here in Texas when the Boars get up around 275lbs the "gristle plate" gets pretty thick. Shooting through the "plate" and hitting the shoulder bone can be tough on the bullet.
25 December 2002, 00:48
PCThanks folks,
I suppose I am stuck with the 235 gr speers for 50 shots at the minute so I will use these up and then proceed from there. I have ordered a 9.3x62 CZ as well and when that arrives I might sight that in for 230 odd gr bullets and step up to the heavier stuff for the .375.
I know what you mean about the heavy bullets not giving up much to the lighter stuff 2" on big game is neither here nor there @ 300 yards, that is the main reason I chose the 410 variety in my CZ .416 Rigby.
25 December 2002, 18:28
kynadogI have used the 235 gr. speers on whitetails this season and they really do a lot of damage coming out the other side. I get the impression the bullet is fragmenting badly, although I have not recovered a bullet to prove it. As soon as I have shot up my 50, I am going to a better constructed bullet.
26 December 2002, 05:55
Frank NowakowskiI used the 235 Speers several years ago on deer and elk and found them TOO soft. They fragment very easily on bone. With so many good bullets out there I'd stay away from them, especially for larger game.
I have no idea about roo's so they may work fine.
FN in MT
26 December 2002, 08:41
jeffeossoPC,
Cheers!!!
I like the 235 for "getting used to it" shooting.. but one outta your 585, and it'll feel like a 22. pretty accurate in my 376, 2800+, and i think the jacket is harder than the 300 gr hornday. I usually cut bullets into pieces to "feel them out" and measure the jacket.
if cost is an issue, and you can get the 225 hornady, give em a whirl. Just magic on pigs.. and I bet you can 3000 fps with them.
jeffe
26 December 2002, 13:11
<Chigger>I tried the 235 grain bullets, but never got them to shoot as acurately as the .250 grainers.
RL-15 & 2850fps = velocity of 2850fps.
I would much rather use one of my .338 mags pushing a 210 grain Barnes at 3100fps shooting 1/2 groups at 100 yards.
![[Smile]](images/icons/smile.gif)
26 December 2002, 23:22
PCFor those interested I shot five grassy's with the 235 gr speers ranges from 20-120 yards and On the biggest it was hunched over giving a quatering shot, the speer entered on the left rump and travelled through to the opposit side ribcage with about 1" exit.
Each fell as though hit by lightening, only one was blown open and that was a really small one on the run at about 20 yards.
Jeffo, the .375 is a really pleasant rifle, awsom power levels and low recoil.
27 December 2002, 06:03
StonecreekOkay, I give up, P.C. What's a "grassy"?
27 December 2002, 06:22
jackfishYou might want to check out the Hornady .375" 225 grain spire points. I would think they will work very well on hogs and roos with a moderate load in the .375 H&H. Lonnie Hummel of Hornady says they are Interlock design and similar in jacket thickness from the tip through the ogive to the base as the 270 grain bullet. They are much cheaper than the Speer 235 grain. I can get them going 2850 fps with 70 grains of H4895, CCI 250 primers, Remington brass, 3.58" COAL. This load shoots as flat as a 150 grain .308 Winchester load.
[ 12-26-2002, 21:24: Message edited by: jackfish ]27 December 2002, 10:08
<Telly>I have never gotten best accuracy out of my .375s with the 235 gr. bullets at some of the higher velocities. But when I used IMR 4064 and throttled them back just a wee bit, they shoot great. Lower speeds might hold them together a little bit better as well.
Telly
27 December 2002, 10:56
PCStone creek,
grassy is is just a nick name for a roo.
Jackfish, thanks for the tip on the hornadies.
Telly I just had a quick minute of roo sight in so next trip out when I have more cases to muck about with I will see how they group. It will now head in for a bedding & float job next week. I think I will be using the factory stock for a year at least until I can afford a good composite. It worked well & shouldered real nice as is anyway.
27 December 2002, 12:56
308SakoWhile I have shot many 235 Speers my impression was always that they were of the "soft" type. I believe that if you want to download, why not shoot a smaller rifle. By all means use the various 300 Premium bullets and enjoy yourself to the max.
27 December 2002, 17:12
PC308sako, I just like the bigger calibres and they kill very reliably even when running it in 3rd gear. When my 9.3x62 arives I will step up to heavy .375 bullets most likely.
I do not see the .375 as a big calibre anyway, it is an alround rifle with low recoil and reasonably flat trajectory while giving a reasonable sized calibre hole. To me it is just a big 30/06. I can not wait to try it on some pigs.
28 December 2002, 09:37
John Frazerquote:
Originally posted by N E 450 No2:
PC I have used the 235 Speer in a reduced load with 64gr. of IMR 3031 for deer hunting. It worked perfect, gave good expansion and penetration. It might be a little distructive at max velocity and close range, but should be a good long range bullet. Let us know how it works out.
450 NE
My .375 H&H is incredibly accurate in preliminary testing with the same load at 62.0 gr. for right on 2500 fps. What kind of velocity are you getting?
And for those who've had these bullets fail -- how fast were you pushing them?
John