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Anyone using this bullet for deer-sized game? I got a Ruger #1 in .375 H&H last month and have been shooting a lot of cast bullets through it, but thought I might try the Speer for deer and hogs on the lease. I figure I wouldn't need to to push it hard (maybe about 2800fps) and it would shoot flat enough as we get some 200-300yd shot opportunities especially at the hogs.
Never tried the 235 grain Speer bullet myself, but I suspect it might behave to much like a varmint bullet if you give it some speed.
Any special reason for why you want to use such a light bullet in your 375H&H?
As to using that bullet it's cheaper than most for the .375 and it or the 225 grain Hornady should be plenty for anything on the lease. The rifle will cut cloverleafs with cast bullets @ 100 yds. but I was looking for a comparatively inexpensive jacketed bullet that would shoot flatter.
Personally I would not use such a light cup and core bullet in 375 for hunting, specially not for hogs.
I think you will need to load it at rather low speed to be sure it will not blow up on shoulder shots at shorter ranges and the trajectory will not be good out to 200-300 yards then.
How much will the Sierra 300 grain GameKing or the heavier Speer bullets cost you compared with the 235 grain Speer bullet?
The Sierra may be a good option. I've been shooting the rifle a lot to get used to it. I have thought about heat treating the cast bullets so I could push them as fast as the jacketed and maybe work up a CB load that would shoot to the same point of impact @ 100yds as a heavier jacketed bullet, so I could practice cheaply. My original thought about the 235 gr. Speer was to duplicate the ballistics of the original 235 gr. stuff
As far as I know you can't heat treat lead. The only way to harden them is to add antimony to the melt. I shoot light bullets in my 375 to get speed. They are set 2" high at 100, dead on at 200, 4" low at 300. Very similar to a 270.
Quote:
Originally Posted by 6thtexas
Wheelweights have antimony in them and I use them to make bullets. I have been pleasantly surprised with the velocity and accuracy I've gotten with heattreated CBs and a rifle with a good barrel. The only thing is that the hard bullets aren't great for game shooting.
I use only one bullet in my .375 for all my hunting, and that is the Sierra 250gr Gameking. From Eland to big cats, it's all I've ever needed. Great accuracy as well.Quote:
Originally Posted by 6thtexas
I use the speer for practice because its cheap, accurate and always in stock. I have yet to shoot anything with it though. I have been warned that its a very soft bullet. I am sure it would work on deer and smaller hogs.