FAQ

Look on this site's main page for the "Dealer Locator" link.

We received so many requests for these that they are now part of the line. See the "Specialty Reloading Products" page for information. Load data for the capsules is on the package label.

Those ports are lead-fouled because the lead bullet core is exposed at the bullet base. Hot powder gases pick up lead from the exposed core and deposit it in the vents. The cure is to switch to SPEER TMJ bullets. The core base is fully encased and cannot be melted.

The designation "223 Remington" is a cartridge name and does not relate to the exact bullet diameter required. The proper bullet diameter for the 223 Remington is 0.224".

The physics of loading cartridges indicates that a heavier bullet will build pressures faster than a lighter bullet owing to its mass. The greater mass of the heavier bullet resists change (acceleration) more than a lighter mass so the powder charges for the heavier bullet will nearly always be lower than those for the lighter bullet of the same construction. This indicates that, without other data to follow, the heavier bullet data can be used as a starting point for the lighter bullet.

The differences in load data reflect changes in the way pressures are measured and changes in components over time. The loads developed in the past reflected the current state of pressure measurement and the components available then. Things change, so always use the latest datNot all bullets are built alike either, so data for a "Brand-X" bullet will produce different pressures than a Speer bullet. The best action is to use data from the company that made your bullet.

You can’t go beyond safely. Speer load data at the maximum levels reaches the pressure limits established by the Sporting Arms and Ammunition Manufacturers Institute (SAAMI). Do not exceed these maximum loads. And NEVER start with the maximum load. We provide start loads so you can work up incrementally to see if, for some reason, the maximum loads are not appropriate for your particular firearm.

Unlabeled powder cannot be reliably identified and should be treated as scrap. Its non-approved container is also a safety hazard. Discard the powder in a manner consistent with your local disposal regulations.

That cartridge and several others were not standardized when the last SPEER Manual went to press. However, you can find supplemental data sheets for this and other new cartridges and bullets by visiting the "Supplemental Loading Data" page on this web site.

You are on thin ice! You have produced a handload with so much pressure that you've deformed the case head. Pressures have to be at least 20 percent over safe levels for this to happen. Stop, scrap any remaining ammo, and use published data from now on.

1954. Ray Speer, Vernon's son, developed the first one.

Look under "Specialty Reloading Products" for "Bullet Boards." there, you can download a chronology of the entire series of SPEER bullet boards, complete with approximate production numbers.

Yes, several popular rifle and handgun bullets are sold in Speer Value Packs. Visit the Bullet Selector and look for "Value Pack" in the product description. Value Packs contain between 300 and 1000 bullets, depending on caliber.

No. Not all rifle cartridges require crimping. The groove on the bullet is positioned for those that need the crimp. If the recommended seating length puts the crimp groove above or below the case mouth, we determined that crimping was not needed. Having the crimp groove above or below the case mouth has no adverse effects on accuracy or performance.

Yes, crimping is mandatory for ammo to be used in any rifle with a tubular magazine. The pressure of the magazine spring and the vibration of recoil can cause the bullet to "telescope" into the case, resulting in poor feeding and increased pressure. When loading for a tubular magazine rifle, always select a bullet with a crimp groove, and one that has a flat point to prevent in-magazine firing.

Speer never made such a broad recommendation. Speer’s recommendation is: Do not apply a crimp to any bullet that does not have a crimp groove. The die company in question markets a die to produce a “factory crimp” and recommends it be used on any bullet. Speer’s tests, and those by another bullet maker and an independent gun writer, show that crimping a bullet that doesn’t have a crimp groove degrades group size by an average of 40 percent. Other than the crimp die, we have no problem with our bullets in that firm’s dies, although our preference is for RCBS® products. We express our thanks to the die maker for allowing us to make contact with so many new SPEER customers.

Grand Slam provides a thicker jacket than its Hot-Cor equivalent. It will open just as fast, but will have somewhat deeper penetration. This helps at those times you don't have a perfect "broadside" shot, where penetration becomes extremely important, even on whitetail deer. It is also a very good feature when hunting whitetail with a Magnum-class cartridge like the 7mm Remington Magnum. The 145 grain Hot-Cor, driven that fast, may show reduced penetration. Going to the tougher Grand Slam will let you take full advantages of the velocity that your choice of the 7mm Mag and a 145 grain bullet offer. Still, the Hot-Cor's 40 years of success tell you that it remains a potent choice today. If you are shooting a rifle with more modest velocities than a Magnum, or need to watch the budget, Hot-Cor is excellent.

Sorry, we don't have your rifle here, nor do we use a crystal ball. What shoots well in our rifles may not work in yours. Each rifle and set of components combine in a unique way, making an exact prediction of accuracy in another rifle impossible. Any accuracy load we list would only show that it was the most accurate load in our test gun, and may not be as accurate in your gun. Only your gun can show you what is best through your testing the components you are interested in using.

Changes in raw materials beyond our control made it hard for us to maintain the previous bond we had between the front and rear cores. We tested alternatives extensively, and found that the single, ternary-alloy core gave better accuracy and increased retained weights by an average of 14 percent.

Nothing. Most likely, your rifle has a twist rate of 1-7 inches, intended for 62 grain military ammo. Several bullet makers compared notes and all had the same observation: muzzle velocities over 2800 ft/sec in a 7" twist will tear apart conventional 22 caliber bullets. Try our 62 grain FMJ or 70 grain semi-spitzer to keep bullets together. Handloaders must be aware of twist rate when shopping for a 223 rifle. The standard 12" twist is best for varmint-class bullets.

No. Match BTHP bullets, regardless of make, were designed to punch little holes in paper. On a game animal, the expansion characteristics are unpredictable. If the bullet disrupts on the animal, the wound track will be similar to that of a varmint bullet, with too little penetration for humane kills. At longer ranges, the match bullet will act like an FMJ and fail to expand at all.

Look at Gold Dot ammo. We have a 200 grain 44 Special load whose bullet was designed expressly for 44 Special velocities. It expands at velocities as low as 780 ft/sec in our tests. That's less than most 3" barrels generate with this load.

That bullet dates to about 1970, when it was state-of-the-art. It was great in some guns and troublesome in others. We replaced it with a 21st century Gold Dot hollow point +P load. The new load gives more reliable expansion, more velocity, improved feeding, and better bullet integrity.

Gold Dot is loaded with premium, service-proven hollow point bullets in a nickeled brass case Lawman is loaded with less-expensive TMJ and FMJ bullets in a standard brass case. Other than that, the attention to detail that is our hallmark is the same for both.

No. Both headspace on the case mouth. The shorter 40 S&W will not be supported in the 10mm chamber, so headspace control is lost. You'll get misfires, blown primers, deformed cases and, potentially, gas jetting from the action. Always use the correct ammunition for your firearm. Don't cut corners!