Remember the Speer 3/4-jacket bullets?

[Old Corp]

Some of our more 'mature' guys here may remember the Speer 3/4-jacketed SWC-HP bullets. When I worked at a LGS in the '70's that was an area reloading supplier, they were VERY popular, and were so well into the 80's and some of the 90's.
Less expensive than conventional JHP's and were made in .357, .41 and .44.

It was a great target bullet, and a great hunting bullet in the right applications.

Does anyone know if a firm offers anything similar for sale anymore?
Almost makes me interested in a swaging setup I've seen that uses spent auto pistol brass (9mm, .40 cal.) and using lead wire for a core. Just have never tried all that before.

 

[arjay]

I do remember them,but by the time I started reloading in the mid 80s I don’t remember seeing them in my local stores. The selection of components around here was pretty slim

 

[robertrwalsh]

Saw them. Used them. Liked them. Usually in fairly intense large bore revolver loads. I am unaware of anybody offering anything similar now.

 

[twodog max]

I shot a lot of those back when in both 44 and 357. I really liked them. I have hardly used Speer since they dropped those but if they bring them back I will sure buy more.

 

[rockquarry]

I still have a couple of boxes of the .44 caliber version (240 grs.?) I read a warning some time ago, well before the Internet so maybe there was some credence to it. In fact it could have been a warning from Speer.

Anyway, the warning advised not shooting these half- or three-quarter jacketed bullets too slowly as the core and cup could separate, leaving the copper cup stuck in the bore. Anyone recall seeing the same information?

I'm pretty sure no experienced handloader would buy such bullets to shoot slowly.

 

[scattershot]

I remember them, they were my favorite bullet for a while.

 

[cmj8591]

They shot great in both 357 and 44 plus they were cheaper than regular jacketed bullets but you could drive them just as hard. I'm not sure why they went away. The equipment necessary to swage them is cost prohibitive, otherwise I'd be making them.

 

[cmj8591]

I still have a couple of boxes of the .44 caliber version (240 grs.?) I read a warning some time ago, well before the Internet so maybe there was some credence to it. In fact it could have been a warning from Speer.

Anyway, the warning advised not shooting these half- or three-quarter jacketed bullets too slowly as the core and cup could separate, leaving the copper cup stuck in the bore. Anyone recall seeing the same information?

I'm pretty sure no experienced handlaoder would buy such bullets to shoot slowly.

I remember seeing that warning. I'm not sure if it was an official Speer warning or something I read in one of the gun rags. I still have a couple of old Speer manuals that have loads for them. I will dig them out and see if they mention anything.

 

[Mike in Reedley]

I don’t know if this exact bullet had these problems, but I remember cold swedged bullets having issues back in the late sixties/ early 70s. Some varied significantly in weight from bullet to bullet. Often the core and jacket separating prematurely. That might be why they went away.

 

[arjay]

They had the warning in my old Speer manual. I forget which edition it is and I’m too comfy to go and look lol

 

[rockquarry]

I have many old Speer manuals; maybe that's where I saw the warning. Seems like these bullets may have been available in the '60s when I started handloading.

 

[pasound]

I saw them. Owner of the LGS I frequented back then told me to buy them, as I was a reloader. Used them for years until I ran out of the supply.

 

[Shotguncoach]

I pick those up at estate auctions whenever I can. I have about 300 of the 160 grain .357 half jackets and a box of 146 grain .357 half jackets waiting for my next reloading session. Great bullets over a stiff charge of 2400.

 

[jb28]

If I remember right Speer # 10 had that warning.
I wonder why they couldn't do a bonded bullet of the same design.
I was given about 25 of the 146gr hp and loaded them using 2400. I'll shot them someday. (if I can find where I stashed them) lol.

 

[Nevada Ed]

I have one box of full power, .357 hunting loads, with the Speer 160 gr
lead tip, copper bullet , that I us for Nevada Mule deer, that are inside of 100 yards, with my 6" barrels.
I carry a revolver on my hip, when I go hunting, along with with my rifle
to cover any range that comes into the picture.

The 140 and 160 were great bullet weights for the Magnum, and accurate.

Just don't try to pull one with a "Hammer" , since the lead will pull out of the copper jacket.

 

[22lrfan]

I still have several hundred of the 160's.

I looked in my Speer 10 and 11. Both had the warning in the .38 Spec section but not in the .357 section.

 

[ameridaddy]

I still have 10 or so of the 1/2 Jacketed SW laying around in my little miscellaneous box of stuff I can't bear to throw away. I used to shoot them pretty hot in my model 28 back in the 70's. They were a little odd, being 160 grains rather than the usual 158 grains. I used the 158 jacketed data, no problems.
I also have a few half jacketed Hollow Points as well, but I don't recall they weight of them.

 

[Skeet 028]

Loaded a lot of the 240/44s in my old Ruger Flattop and some of the 146s in a Ruger short bbl FT 357...good bullets. I have a stash of a few 44s and some of the 41s. I swaged some 357s at about 150 gr with a swage setup from Herter's. Still have the thing, jackets, dies and wire but the bullets made were only so-so and not HPs. They would shed jackets too

 

[gmiller0737]

I still have a couple boxes I don't really use them .44 cal 225 grain & .44 cal 240 grain,One reason I haven't used them is I have a Original Ruger .44 Carbine & that lead band above the jacked may clog the gas port I have a couple of Hand Guns in .44 Mag but I like to be able to use the ammo in all My .44's

 

[Rpg]

I believe these are the first center fire projectiles I ever reloaded. I was 14 at the time.

Until now, I was unaware of any problems about core and jacket separating.

I may still have a partial box of those hand loads somewhere in the basement.