I've never used them on game, so I don't know how good their weight retention is.
George
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Shoot straight, shoot often, but by all means, use enough gun!
The September/October 2001 issue of Petersen's Rifle Shooter has an article where most bullets are explained in detail. According to the article, the Speer GS bullet is as follows: "A dual-core bullet, the Grand Slam has a hard lead heel (five percent antimony) held by an internal jacket lip. The nose core is softer, for quick upset. Grand Slam jackets are four percent thicker than those on Speer's Hot-Cor bullets.
For some reason, the .338 WM 250-grain GS is very accurate with my Ruger MK-II.
Impacts over 2800 at your own risk. HTH, Dutch.
Beginning in 2000, the Grand Slam design was changed. They are now manufactured very similar to the old "Mag Tip", with thick jackets and a single Hot-Cor. One additional change is a "Heel Lock" has been included in the new design.
Depending on the distance to the Game and the velocity at the Point-of-Impact, you can expect a retained weight range of 60%(up REAL CLOSE and HIGH impact velocity) to about 73%( off a ways and lower impact velocity) with Grand Slams.
This also depends on what the Bullet is having to go through. Bone causes the bullets to open quicker than just impacting meat. So, a lot of it depends on where you place the Bullet.
By the way, I have no REAL insider information since I'm not affiliated with Speer. But, with the recent changes in Ownership, we may see additional changes in the various Speer bullets. Federal had a "GREAT" standard grade "new design" bullet that they did not make available as a component for reloading. MAYBE, we will eventually be able to get it from Speer, in addition to their other fine Bullets.
If you would like to verify what I've told you about the Grand Slam design change in 2000, call (800)627-3640 and ask to speak with Guy Neill.
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Good hunting and clean 1-shot kills, Hot Core
This year I was using up my doe tags and made a shot I could never repeat in a million years. Moving from left to right in front of me about 75 yds., I was leading for a shot in the withers when she stopped suddenly and turned her head to look behind her. Boom! She dropped dead still. I initially thought that the exit was the entrance and that there was no exit. When I was fleshing the hide at home, I found both holes, one on each side of the neck. .30 going in and about .375 coming out. In the middle it took out about six inches of spine. Millions of bone fragments shattered the lungs, but I never found any bullet fragments at all. I have never recovered a Speer GS. 180 gr. .30-06 ~2700 fps.
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Davis Chase
Shot a mule deer buck on the shoulder at 40 yards. The bullet came completely apart and did not penetrate the shoulder. It did break the shoulder and bullet fragments lacerated the lungs.
Following this I never purchased/used any more of the bullets as one failure is enough for me. I realize that 40 yards was close and the velocities high, but I've never had Nosler Partitions, Failsafe's, or Barnes X come completely apart.
[This message has been edited by Matt Norman (edited 01-21-2002).]
[This message has been edited by beemanbeme (edited 01-21-2002).]
By the way folks, I went out to the Speer Web Site this morning and they are still showing the Grand Slam as "Dual Core".
I got my original information of the change I mentioned above in the 2001 RCBS Reloading Catalog. I called Guy at that time to see if the catalog was correct and he confirmed that it was.
But, since the Site still shows the Dual Core, it has me wondering. I'll call him later if I get a chance and see what's up!
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Good hunting and clean 1-shot kills, Hot Core
[This message has been edited by Hot Core (edited 01-22-2002).]
He also told me that those Federal "Deep Shock" bullets that got such good press a year or so ago will "eventually" be made available as component bullets for us too. Looks like they will initially be available in 0.243", 0.277", 0.284" and 0.308".
So, lots of good things coming our way from Speer.
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Good hunting and clean 1-shot kills, Hot Core
Brad
Did you section one to look it over on the inside? What kind of weight retention % and expansion did you get? What was your Test Medium?
Did you get to shoot any Game with them? If so, please tell us what "path" it followed through the Game and how the animal looked along that path.
Putting it up there with a Partition is HIGH praise indeed. I'm always looking for excellent performance (like the Partitions) at less cost.
Look forward to anything else you can share with us about them. Thank you!
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Good hunting and clean 1-shot kills, Hot Core
It was purely a fluke that Federal sent me two boxes of 30-06 "Deep-Shok" ammo. I happened to e-mail (then call them) regarding another matter, when they offered to include me in pre-production field trails of the ammo. I accepted the offer!
Not having a 30-06 at the time, I dismantled the cartridges and re-loaded them in a 308 Win (probably not what Federal would have wished!). Regardless, I easily achieved just over 2,600 fps with the 180 gr Deep-Shoks (RL15) in my 19" bbl'd carbine.
The bullet is a rather straight-forward looking Boattail design. After sectioning, I can testify there's nothing straight-forward about them. They have an incredibly thick jacket with an "hour-glass" shape at the rear that holds the core in place.
I generally test bullets in wet phone books. As my supply at the time had dwindled, I shot a few into sand at point-blank-range (a chronographed 2,630 fps). I believe this is more of a torture test than the practice of shooting (til dead) wet phone books! Regardless, the bullet looked like something a marketing guy would want for a brochure... a perfect (and I DO mean perfect) mushroom with 78% weight retention. I was astounded. I had my 308 loaded with these rounds while elk hunting, but didn't have a shot while toting that particular rifle. I'm certain, however, they'd work!
While none of this is a thorough trial, I still believe these bullets will stack up against Nosler Partitions. I know that's strong and only time will tell.
I don't have any information why Federal dropped this bullet. My belief (conjecture) is they're SO GOOD that they would be "found out" and cut into their more expensive (and profitable) "Premium" line. Too, the bullet mfg's they have agreements with might not like that.
I really believe this is a "premium" bullet disguised as a simple "deer bullet." I have a supply of twenty four left and plan on loading them in my 300 WSM for spring bear season... I'll report back!
Best Regards,
Brad Amundson
That was a good "visual" description of what it looks like on the inside,thanks.
Good luck on the Elk with them.
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Good hunting and clean 1-shot kills, Hot Core
Aaron
SPEER is now making the Deep Shok bullets, and will be marketing them as a componant item in 2002.
This bullet is the old-style(?) dual-core job. Why would they want to screw up a good thing?