400gr. Speer for .475 lin.

Do any of you guys have an idea where i can find these. I've got only one box left and i can't find them anywhere.

Thanks

I have talked to Speer several times over the last year and a half and they have NO plans to make them at this point. They say that there is not enough demand.

Thanks Franchise,i had a feeling something was up when i couldn't find them anywhere.

I would like to use the bullet in my 475/350 Mag. It's seems to be a really tough bullet. But, it doesn't look like I'll be able to do any testing.

They are a tough bullet,have a better BC than the XTP, .242 speer vs .182 XTP,and they're very accurate out of my gun.

Bummer

Wheelguns, It will be a damm shame if Speer stops making their 325gr and 400gr JFP bullets in .475 caliber because like you they are accurate in my guns....

didn't the deep curl replace the old soft points? or do they have a 400gr deep curl?

That's what I thought.....

From what i understand for that particular bullet, it was just a name change.

I believe for the most part Deep Curl refers to there handgun hunting line of bullets. Not all bullets had a change in structure. Don't quote me on that.

I've never seen the 400 deecurl's and when I sent speer an email about them I got sort of a dumbass answer.



What the heck does that even mean? I think this guy is full of it. The 270 he's referring to is for the .44

I will have to actually look at my LGS. Most of the time I don't, and I also don't know of anybody who shoots them. How much are they normally in case I find some new old stock stuff?

PH

Just an FYI, the Deep Curl is the same bullet as the Gold Dot Hunting bullet. Just a marketing change according to Speer.

IMHO, part of the low demand is due to the instructions in Speer's reloading information that the 400 gr is intended for the Linebaugh, and is too tough to expand at 480 Ruger velocities. I think a lot of 480 guys decided why pay for a non-expanding jacketed bullet when you can have lead!

Just went to the Speer web and they list in .475 cal. 275gr., 400gr. and 325gr. bullets. The 275gr was not recommended for the Linebaugh, the other two were recommended for both the 480 Ruger and the 475 Linebaugh.

The problem is that Speer still lists them on their web site, but will not at least they have not had a production run of the 400 gr.'s in approx. 2 years. It's a real shame.

I'm not an owner of a 475 Linebaugh
(yet

At 0.475" initial diameter, why is expansion an issue? Really?

Very good question.

Ok, archery hunters, would you shoot an animal with a steel blunt or a broad head? Same initial diameter without the blades. Wound cavity means a lot when we are trying to make a quick kill.

I killed a lot of critters with my .475, and I can tell you that it needs no help at the diameter it is. I used a bullet that 430man designed that runs a meplat about 80-percent. It leaves a very large wound channel through and through. Alas, I no longer own a .475......sniffle......

I probably should get another......sniffle.....

And digress? Methinks .500 trumps .475

Oh, it certainly does, but that doesn't mean that I don't want another! Gives me an excuse to get another gun!

Because 1" is better than a half inch.

Not if it only travels 6-inches -- LOL!

yeah, but outta gary's guns it certainly travels much much more than that!

If I "Ever Get" my 475/350 Mag barrel I think that velocity will play a role in penetration, epecialy with 500 gr. bullets.LOL

Haha!

you big baby, just get another one!

Problem is that I keep buying .50 cals!

It has been said that everybody needs a smaller caliber gun for plinking....you know, something to just punch paper with.....go ahead and get the .475 for those times when you don't want to beat yourself up with recoil.....

Haha! .475 for plinking! LOL!

Depends on how you use your 1"; it may not be. Still, in all honesty, expansion on these diameter bullets just is not a necessity, they are pre-expanded.

Exactly.......

Because 1" is better than a half inch.

Gary, Well said....

I guess behind the fence, size really doesn't matter.

Interesting string...MS Hitman, I wonder why Doc chose to use a Barnes X-bullet on his Brown Bear? I guess he thought the 500 cal wasn't pre-expanded. Or maybe he wanted to "stunt hunt" until he got to the cast later in his cylinder. Yeah, that's probably it...

There's an application for all bullets and types - the only absolute is your ability to irritate. Take that crap back to AR.

Handgun Elk Hunt

Here is a story of a high-fence elk hunt where the author seems very pleased with the performance of the 400 grain Speer bullets. He states:

And he chose hardcasts for his rhino! LOL!

Darrell - great linked article, and speaks directly to the OP's bullets...wait, no it couldn't be? It appears the author of said article is none other than a certain Hitman from a southern state!

To paraphrase Doc Holliday in Tombstone - "It appears my hypocrisy knows no bounds".

Ok guys let it go. I was kidding (refer to the smiley face) and didn't intend to start the feud all over again.

Well stop. Join the handgun anonymous and their 4 step program to break the cycle.



Let me know if it works.

I can't stop! I just can't do it......I am too weak to stop......

Thanks for reading my article! I never said I don't use jacketed bullets, just wondering why all the wrist-wringing over expansion on a bullet with an initial diameter of 0.475"; still wondering.

This ought to really twitch your knickers, I've shot some Barnes originals from my .500 Linebaugh. Got expansion up 0.85" and I'm back to shooting cast.

I just saw this. What the crap is going on? If you'd read my stories you'd see my reasoning for doing what I do. It's spelled out REAL SIMPLE. I used X bullets on the brown bear because: 1) It was the most accurate bullet in my .500 2) My previous experience with a A LOT of handgun kills with Xs show that they cause very good tissue destruction from the expansion plus they penetrate almost as good as solids. Soooo, I intended to hit the brownie in the shoulder (I did) AND I wanted more tissue desttruction in the lungs than a solid would give. Bullet #3 in the cylinder was a Cast Performance because if the bear was running after two Xs I wanted penetration from rectum to chest. The bear fell on the first shot and quivered. My guide said he was going to shoot if the bear moved. The second X and the solid was to keep him happy. The bear was already dead.
Rhinos need all the penetration you can get. You'd be crazy to use anything other than casts or Punch bullets.
MS Hitman is one of my best friends. I agree with him totally. Jacketed .475 bullets don't expand anyway on most game. Use casts. They're better with the larger meplat. Why all the fuss? Is simple too hard to understand?

Hey Doc I completely agree with you on using the barnes followed by cast is a great lineup for dangerous game, not unlike the rifle guys shooting dangerous game also, most will recommend a soft first followed by solids because of the usual angle on something frequently departing the scene after the first shot. I don't fully agree that a big-bore jacketed bullet won't expand however. If you hit bone they will often expand quite nicely. I haven't recovered a 475 yet. But at the end of the day we all use what we like and that's the beauty of freedom and I also agree this isn't worth arguing about.

deer with a 454


deer with a 500 W.E. - 1" in diameter

Doc,

First and foremost, I read your stories - your experiences and results are clear...that's precisely why you were my example. Second, I know you and MS Hitman are friends - so I was hoping that your experience in particular may make sense to him. The whole back and forth of this thread was bullets over ____ in diameter are "pre-expanded". But your simple explanation below speaks volumes to me, and I know you only from the Sixgunner.



This I understand. This you understand. And a whole bunch of others comprehend. But for some, apparently this is a reach.

As far as your point #3, I know very well why the casts backed up the X's - as Gary pointed out, just like solids after or under softs in the big rifles. I was using sarcasm.

I appreciate your experiences and details on terminal performance - and understand them. Simply put.

The only statement that I'll make on this forum is that it seems a little foolish to take a "shot" at James for needing a little more to hunt behind a fence when the one posting the statement killed a Emu at Show ME Safaris with a handgun, which was a high fenced operation. That's like the pot calling the kettle black.

.475 bullets will expand on game larger than deer even when pushed at handgun velocities. The Oct. 2000 Sixgunner has a photo of an expanded 400 Gr. XTP that was pulled out of a Bison that was killed by Bob Baker. The bullet expanded nicely and penetrated well. Why would anybody have a problem with a bullet that works that well? I brought up the Oct Sixgunner because it was the first reported kill with the 400 gr. expanding bullet on large game from a factory load. Since then many accomplished hunters such as Ken O'Neil have used expanding bullets in the 475 to kill large dangerous game.

The purpose of this forum was about the availability of Speer 400 gr. bullets. Whether you think a .475 hole and not larger is the be all, end all or not is not the point.

Everyone would agree that you wouldn't shoot a Rhino with an expanding bullet, but only one so far on this site has done that and I doubt anybody else will. Rhino's bring a price tag that very few can afford. They require more penetration than prob. any other animal than a hippo or elephant. Again, who will really ever hunt them?

The fence comment wasn't directed at James it was directed at me.

And was made with my tongue firmly planted in my cheek. Lots of really sensitive guys running around here. Makes me wonder why they feel the need to be so defensive.

Hunting in South Africa is done under fence, has been for decades. So I am as guilty as the next guy for spending nearly two weeks doing that. Same for hunting with Doc and Mark Hampton at Show-Me Safaris.

LOL

Well I think part of that is because we're all a bit touchy because of all of the anti-gun / anti-hunting pressure we feel on a constant basis. Anyone who seems to be breaking ranks by saying something perceived to be against high-fence for example is going to come under fire. And too, we are a rather tight group and if someone attacks another then there will likely be several that will come to his defense, even if its really just an inside joke between a couple of guys. With that said, I guess it's time to lock this one down. We've gotten so far off topic I don't think we'll ever get back.

No, the Speer 400gr. DeepCurl bullets are not available.
Happy Easter everyone!