Please specify BT or Flat Base

I like 120 btips and Vmax but they are pricey and I think these Speer 130's will do a good job on paper and deer.

Any difference seen on deer between hot core Flat base, and boat tail?

in the 7mmx41 and 7mmx57 the Speer psp flat base has proved accurate. Never killed a deer with either. roger

Ran some #'s at 3k mv and the BT is only 1" flatter or so at best at 400-500 yds.

If the FB is more accurate that is the one I want, I hear they often are at least to 300 yds or so, also, the FB may hold up better being a Hot-core. Cheaper than Hornady 120's and definitely the Vmax and Ballistic tips.

I have no doubt either work well on game, just curious if more penetration and/or less expansion with hot core.

With my 7mm I shot a golf ball at 200 yds dead center with 130gr boat tails. At 3400 fps.

How far did the golf ball travel or was it DOA? Ha.

Must be a WSM or Rem Mag?

quote:

Originally posted by 6.5BR:
...Any difference seen on deer between hot core Flat base, and boat tail?

Well, yes indeed there is a difference.

The 130gr Speer BTSP is a bit more fragile than the 130gr Speer FB Hot-Cor. And it is a toss-up as to which will be "more accurate" in any specific rifle.

If you are using a 7mm-08 or a 7x57(you did not mention the Cartridge), then these are perhaps the very best two choices of Standard Grade bullets available for Deer.

If the vast majority of your shots are inside 300yds then the Hot-Cor will "normally" Exit shoulder-to-shoulder on our Southern Deer.

If the vast majority of your shots are from 200yds on out, then the BTSP is the Bullet I choose to use.

I would not use either of them in a higher velocity cartridge, since the 145gr Speer FB Hot-Cor and 145gr Speer BTSP provide better performance at 7mmRemMag velocities.

And if talking about a 7mmSTW or 7mmRUM then I'd prefer to go still heavier with Standard Grade bullets.
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The only thing you might take objection to about the 130gr bullets is when they are Seated just off the Lands, there isn't a whole lot of bullet in the Caseneck - less than 1 caliber. It has never been a problem for me, but some folks seem to think it is a bad thing.

Best of luck to you.

Yes I am using a 7/08 and 7BR 21" rifle speeds either 3k or 2700 or so.

Hmmmm, not a problem on depth, as it won't have to be 'battle field' reliable, the Flat Base would have more bearing surface in the neck for tension. That might help.

Heck, I might just get some of each to see what difference in accuracy, all else being equal, use the more accurate one.

In my sons .284 Win we are loading 130 grain Speer BT's. Accuracy is good and we only have them going 2550 - 2600 fps. His shots will all be limited to under 200 yards. However he has been shooting targets at 200 yards from the bipod getting about 4" groups I figure for 12 years old he's doing well, shoots 1" to 1.5" groups from the bench at 100 yards. We will try to "meat" test these bullets in October.
I got lucky and bought about 700 of those bullets for $7 a box when a local drug store was scaling back their sporting goods dept.
Good luck with yours.

If you decide you 'overstocked' I will gladly help 'refund' your money on those bullets!

Good shooting for that age, close to the speed from my 7BR rifle, good to 200 or better.

Thanks. Oh, what rifle, factory or custom? Not many 284's seen.

It is a .284 in a Ruger M77 Flat Bolt, factory.
My dad bought the gun new at Bi-Mart in Eugene Oregon when I was a kid. My brothers, dad and I used it on deer for years. Dad gave it to one of my brothers and he then gave it to my son and my son is crazy about it partly because it is very unique ( cartridge and flatbolt ) and partly because of the family handed down thing.
The .284 is truly a performer in a short fat package.
I must admit I can't wait to watch him down a deer with it!
As far as being overstocked I really am not, in just the last 8 months my son has shot up about 300 rounds so I'm down to about 350 or 400 of those bullets.
With the 130 grain boat tails I shot 2 groups yesterday both were .55" 3 shot 100 yard groups. One load was 44 grains of IMR 4064 and the other was 50 grains of IMR 4350 and they shot to nearly the same point of impact.

It is a keeper! 284 might have been the first true 'short magnum' non belted.