Any body out there used the speer deep curl on larger than deer sized game? What did you think of their perfomance? Interested to see if you would classify them as a "premium" type bullet or are they too soft? Ordered a variety of bullets and was thinking of these for the heavy hitters in this caliber.

No experience with the deepcurl but I am a huge fan of the 257 Roberts. I've heard the deepcurl is soft and a wide expander. I would feel more comfortable with a premium like partition or ttsx. I've only hunted deer size game with mine using 115 nbt and 120 interlock Hp. What caliber are u using? 25-06?

caliber is 25-06. I have some 115 nbt, 120 deepcurl, and 117 spbt. Thought the deepcurls might be the best of them but will have to wait and work up loads to see which shoots better. Just got the gun and I've never had this caliber before.

The interlock Hp was supposedly designed by Joyce hornady as an elk bullet for the 25-06. Supposedly a thick jacket on it for deep penetration. I punched through both shoulders on a whitetail last year. The 115 nbt is an excellent deer bullet as well. All the bullets you have are great for deer

I'm not sure how any you have would work on elk.

quote:

The interlock Hp was supposedly designed by Joyce hornady as an elk bullet for the 25-06.

The term hollow point always scares me for big game - makes me think of a fragile bullet meant to break apart quickly and cause lots of soft tissue damage.

That 120gr Hornady is by no means frangible. It's a great deer bullet. So is the 257 120gr gr Sierra Hollow Point Boat Tail.

Just recently tried the new 120gr Speer Deep Curl in a very finicky 257 Roberts. It is very accurate and I'm anxious to try it on deer. Can't speak to elk, however.

If I was bound and determined to use a .
257 Roberts for elk hunting the bullet would be a Hornady 120 HP....and it wouldn't take long to make that decision.....

I love the Hornady 120gr HP in both the .257 Roberts and .25-06 and think it is very underrated.
Not a fan of Ballistic tips.

I have recently purchased Deep Curls in 6mm and .277 but haven't killed anything with them. My understanding was that they are essentially Grand Slams but that line was not doing well so they relabeled them and started an ad campain. I don't know if it's fact but the Grand Slams worked well.

BigNate,

I'm pretty sure the Deepcurls closest resemble the Fusion bullet. They may be a little harder but a Fusion with a flat base and dimpled heel.

I've heard since the grand slam moved away from 2 cores, it's essentially the old deep shock bullet that was discontinued.

I have some old Speer Mag tips loaded up in my 7-08 for deer this year.

The Deep Curls are a very different bullet than the Grand Slams. The DC's are bonded and manufactured using a new technology. I have tried them in a 270 and a 257 in which they are very accurate. Haven't tried them on game, yet.

I agree that the 120gr Hornady HP is an outstanding bullet.

I have no experience with the Speer DC. It may make a very serviceable elk bullet, but if going for a 700-lb animal with my .25-06 I think that I would pick the 120 grain Nosler Partition. It is not necessarily "better" than any other given bullet, but its peformance is predictable and well-tested. Is there a reason you aren't considering it?

Didn't consider the NP as I was mainly looking at BC's, costs, and hoping to avoid a "special" purpose bullet. Was just hoping to have the all around answer with good down range trajectory. I don't necessarily mind having several different loads for various applications but would prefer not to complicate by having several loads. The gun will more than likely be used by my wife (trying to step her up slightly from the .243). The rifle was not really an intended purchase with that in mind - just a spur of the moment thing. Was looking for feedback to that effect even though it may never be used for anything more than deer sized game.

I understand your desire for a single load for a particular rifle. I try to keep all of mine to a single load (and never resight). Rather than varying the load to suit the game, I prefer to vary the rifle to suit the game, which you can do if it is practical for you to own the multiple guns.

Since a trainload of elk are killed every year with .30-30's shooting 150 grain power points at 2200 fps and .243's shooting 100 grain CorLocts at 2800 fps, I'd say that your wife's .25-06 shooting a 120 grain Deep Curl at 3,000 fps is the superior, if not perfect, elk rifle. Keep the shots in the breadbasket and don't try any shots at the south end of a north-bound elk and the 120 Speers will work as well as any. The Nosler Partitions might provide a little insurance in one case in a hundred, but assuring the rifle is well-sighted and shooting where it is aimed is more important than whatever difference there might theoretically be in bullet performance.

Why not a Barnes bullet? It'll do fine as a do-it-all bullet. Sure its a bit more expensive, but sometimes paying that extra few bucks is worth it when you are pushing the limits a bit, consider it cheap insurance.

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Why not a Barnes bullet?

Don't mind Barnes - I've had good success in a few calibers with them BUT then again, I've had a few guns that just don't shoot them well at all. Super penetration but minimal expansion compared to some. I may end up trying them but they wouldn't be a preferred all around bullet especially for lighter skinned, smaller game (deer, antelope, etc)

quote:

Originally posted by scottfromdallas:
BigNate,

I'm pretty sure the Deepcurls closest resemble the Fusion bullet. They may be a little harder but a Fusion with a flat base and dimpled heel.

I've heard since the grand slam moved away from 2 cores, it's essentially the old deep shock bullet that was discontinued.

I have some old Speer Mag tips loaded up in my 7-08 for deer this year.

Your right. Brain fart. The Deep shok which was a good bullet is what I'm thinking the deep curl is, Not the Grand Slam. The Fusion in Federal(?) ammo is the Sierra is it not?

I have not been using Speer bullets for anything but vermin for a long time. I lived close enough to Nosler to drop in and get seconds so once I was convinced the Partitions were good medicine I used them quite a bit. When I started testing bullets I found the Honady Interlock and Win PP to perform quite well even compared to NP's. Most of the heavier for caliber Rem CL do pretty well also. What I'm getting at is that there are some very good performing "standard" bullets that work so well that I don't think a "Premium" is always the answer. In fact there are far fewer cases where a "premium" is actually needed.

quote:

Originally posted by BigNate:
What I'm getting at is that there are some very good performing "standard" bullets that work so well that I don't think a "Premium" is always the answer. In fact there are far fewer cases where a "premium" is actually needed.

I'm with you on that. For the animals I hunt every year like deer & hogs, I've always used cup and core. Before I reloaded it was cor-lokts and power points. Now that I reload, it's been Ballistic tip, Interlock, Hot Cor and the lapua mega. I would use a premium for elk because for me it would be an expensive trip and I'd want the extra insurance. If I lived in Elk country, I'd probably just use regular bullets.

I should also add that most of my rounds are 308 case size and the only "magnum" I own is 350 Rem. If I had a Weahterby, my opinion on C&C might change.

I hunt deer & Hogs with a Roberts & a 25'06. I use 115 or 120 Partations @ 2,850 & 3,000 fps respectatively. In a year it may cost me $25.00 more per year to use partations rather cap & core, big deal.

i met a guy a few years back who uses a 25,06 on elk. his bullet was a 115 gran barnes.
That is the one i swould chose also'
but there are better tool,s for the job.
If all i had was a 25,06 i would use the barnes. but i would like a bigger round.
...tj3006