The Accurate Reloading Forums THE ACCURATE RELOADING.COM FORUMS Rifles Big Bores Speer 500 gr. AGSGo | New | Find | Notify | Tools | Reply | |
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First let me say I don't hunt, rather I shoot for fun, although books about hunting are exciting to read, for sure. Speer quit making the tungsten core .458" bullets. I was wondering why? I've read comments that, being short for their weight they were a good choice for cartridges like 458 Win Mag where space isn't the most generous. I've shot them through 40" of Doug Fir 6 x 12 laid end to end. They traveled straight and put a hefty dent in the plate I placed at the end. I can make a guess at why but I'm hoping the real experts here can enlighten me. I also noticed Barnes doesn't offer the 600 gr. soft point anymore either. Lousy performer? | ||
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Can't say anything about the Speer product as I don't use them. As far as the 600 grain Barnes. It was one of the 'original' designs. Meaning cup and core. It was a bit too long for a 458WM using lots of powder space in a factory length cartridge. It worked just fine, especially in Lott or Weatherby versions as long as it was not pushed too fast. It still have 5 full boxes of these bullets squirreled away in the basement. | |||
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I wish they still made the AGS, I recently found a box of 338 AGS's. I just don't want to burn them up because you can't replace them. They cost about $4 each and that was new old stock so it was probably sitting on the shelf for ten years at that price, they'd probably cost $6 or more at today's cost. I'm actually surprised they aren't more popular, I'd think for DG they'd be good preferable. I wonder if someone like Barnes or hornady marketed a version of the tungsten core solid if they'd have a better following. I've always liked Speer bullets but I think they need better marketing and updated bullet designs. It would be fun to do some penetration testing with the AGS compared to some of the other solids. ----------------------------------------------------- Do not answer a fool according to his folly, or you yourself will be just like him. Proverbs 26-4 National Rifle Association Life Member | |||
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I tested the .416/400-grain Speer AGS against 3/4" mild steel at 100 yards, long ago. The tungsten rod inside penciled through. The jacket surrounding the tungsten bounced off the plate. Not a perfect outcome. I lost interest. Monometal brass or copper solid would be more reliable in game. | |||
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Michael458 did that on the Terminal Bullet Performance thread.. - cause I sent him a few in .416"/400 grs to test..  The AGS did fairly good, but not as good as the new design solids with 65-70% meplat like CEB and North Fork... | |||
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The Speer AGS Solid: There have been some field reports of failure when the sub-caliber tungsten penetrator rods are shed through the nose of the bullet. Like on my steel plate test. That is the only fly in their ointment. They did great at MIB:
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A photo of the 400 Barnes Banded and the 400 African Grand Slam  [/QUOTE]Doc M's photo above shows the short overall length of the AGS .416/400 versus a Barnes Banded Solid of same caliber and weight. Short length helped it overcome the small meplat. Great bullet except for the structural integrity thing of a two-piece bullet that utilizes a harder-and-denser-than-lead cylinder inside a soft brass jacket. Let alone any concentricity issues of mating a tungsten "pencil lead" to a brass jacket. | |||
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They were too expensive to make industry inside news...swift is bringing out an improved version | |||
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That's if you dont hit the first shot nicely Therefore I found them to be very economical  I have ~300-400 stored away, I'm ready! Almost. Still have health issues, other than my back. I'll be back one day, I didn't forget how to shoot. Long lost Brother Ron how ya doin? Miss you guys here please say hello for the crew. Best Eric Petersen sorry about the spelling, I missed that class. | |||
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i did read some where the tungsten type pills by speer were failing on elephant, i recall they were shattering | |||
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Good Day Long Lost Brother Eric, Great to see your post.  You must have more of a life than some of us around here.  PM sent. Best, Ron | |||
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I saw one in Reno. Wasn't supposed to, but I did! | |||
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