I have a couple hundred 6.5 (264) Speer 120 hot core bullets. Just wondering if you ever had one blow up, and how fast you had to drive them to do so? Also, how large of game have you used them on as well?

Thanks....

Mauserkid,

I loaded them at 3,175fps in my 6,5x65R kipplauf buchse (break open single shot) and took two chamois with them which, gutted, weighed 65 pounds.

One was shot at 125 yrds, the other at 175. Both broadside, and both were hit in the ribs meaning that no major bones were touched.

One of the bullets almost exploded like a hand grenade, and could not be found, except for tiny pieces of schrapnel. The second one held up a bit better and a portion of the jacket completely turned inside out and with no traces of lead could be found.

Both fell in their tracks but...

montero

I have penetration tested their big brother the 140gr. At an impact velocity of 2,650fps they penetrated 1.5" of ply followed by 10-12" of compacted wet newsprint. The mushroom was somewhat narrow at end and weight retention was around 60%. The wound channel showed that expansion was not immediate but once started was quite dramatic for a short period (a big hole some way in)before settling down to a narrow wound channel thereafter albeit still shedding pieces.

Given that period of dramatic expansion some way in I would say that the 120 is going to be velocity sensitive (as Montero has shown)and having less weight to lose in the first place it would pay to err on the side of caution - max MV 2,800fps?

One winter six years ago I assisted a professional deer stalker in the cull of 150 fallow deer.

I shot about 60-70 with the speer 120 grain out of my 6.5x55. Muzzle vel was around 2800 fps or thereabouts. I cannot remember having to shot any of those deer more than once. All were head (if they were very close and looking directly at me), neck our heart/lung shots, the longest shot was around 175 yards. I cannot remember recovering any bullets. Good cheap bullet IMHO.

Has any one had them above 2800fps with any good results?

Thanks for the replies so far...

according to my wife, i can drive my speer plenty fast...just not deep enough (sorry, couldn't resist!!) cheers...bud

If this were on the Cast Bullets forum, it'd start a discussion about using the proper lube.

I've shot about 15 Sika Hinds/calves (and countless Roe) with the speer 120 gr hot-cor out of my 6.5x55 at about 2,800 fps. Sika are renouned for being the hardest species of deer in the UK to kill but I found the bullet consistent and very effective. Almost all fell on the spot and the couple that ran were no more than 15m away with a good blood trail and none too excessive meat damage.

I didn't recover (or even try too!) any of the spent bullets, as rooting around in a big carcass in the field when it's almost dark and the game dealer wants to go home isn't too practical.