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Speer TnT Bullets

Posted: Mon Jan 23, 2012 12:24 pm
by mvpal
Hi all,

My first post on the forum.

I ended up with 500 32gr TNT-Green (Speer #1020) bullets and have bee looking all over the place to find good loading data for them.

My dad and I both have contact Speer with no help from them which I find very odd because they have load data for all of their other bullets.

Anyone here have any experience with them or able to find load data?


-------
Thompson Encore .204

Re: Speer TnT Bullets

Posted: Mon Jan 23, 2012 1:37 pm
by 204cat
never had them but i would suggest starting load as the 32g vmax and work your way up. they are 204s right ? find what works best in your rifle.

edit
i see them. http://www.snipercompany.com/reloading- ... 19731.html flat base hollow point nonlead.

Re: Speer TnT Bullets

Posted: Mon Jan 23, 2012 2:52 pm
by mvpal
That is about what I have come to.

After this post I got on the phone and got a guy from technical services on the line. I had asked many questions about any available load data. Long story short, they basically holding out for the The SpeerĀ® Bullets Reloading Manual #15. He did not specify any times of release and said this in a manor of words.

I am new to reloading relatively and always use a factory resource as a starting point. I find it sort of irresponsible of them to release a product with no data and when you call in to tech support the initial answer to the question is "we havent tested them".

I get that they are protecting data and understand. Mabey a limited data release along with the product is a solution.

On the bright side, i know I will have them when data come out.

Re: Speer TnT Bullets

Posted: Mon Jan 23, 2012 5:41 pm
by 204cat
http://www.rugerhunting.com/204_data.php

http://www.rugerhunting.com/204_data_hornady.php

http://www.rugerhunting.com/204_data_hodgdon.php

http://www.rugerhunting.com/204_data_alliant.php

this will get you started. that little button at top that says 204 load data. they accutually said "we have not tested them" ????

Re: Speer TnT Bullets

Posted: Mon Jan 23, 2012 7:46 pm
by Ol` Joe
Alliant is Speers sister company under ATK and does all of Speers data testing. Go to their site and the 32gr TNT is covered with some published data. I don`t know why Speer would tell you no data was available and not direct you to Alliant. Only one powder is listed but a call to Alliants tech service should get you more.
http://www.alliantpowder.com/reloaders/ ... ?gtypeid=2

Re: Speer TnT Bullets

Posted: Mon Jan 23, 2012 7:59 pm
by mvpal
Thanks .204cat.

Yes the littoral response from the Speer rep after I asked "why don't you have any published load data for the .204 TnT bullets when you have it published for all the other TnT bullets made after #14" was "because we have not tested them".

For a person new to reloading I instantly had lost respect for Speer. Then i realized that there is no way they put out production bullets without testing them so after more questions he said "we have tested them however we just haven't released the data.

I feel like they are doing this in an effort to create some hype for the release of #15. It is interesting to me that they have all load data published for every TnT bullet they have made after #14 except for the .204.

I could just be naive but there has to be some reason for them not publishing.

Re: Speer TnT Bullets

Posted: Mon Jan 23, 2012 8:29 pm
by mvpal
Thanks for posting the information on Alliant Ol' Joe. I wonder why Speer didnt share that, or they just didnt think about it.

I dont see myself buying Varmint power.

Has anyone found success with it?

Re: Speer TnT Bullets

Posted: Mon Jan 23, 2012 8:42 pm
by Ol` Joe
mvpal, give Alliant a call and see if they can offer more choices. They will only have data for their powders but might have something in Rx10 as example that isn`t released yet on their site. Hodgdon or Western should be able to give you starting loads for some of their powders also. Keep in mind the Speer won`t exactly the same as a Sierra as example but the starting data should be fine, you`ll just have to keep a close eye on the charges and figure your own max. That isn`t much different then you would do even with good data that includes a suggested max.

Re: Speer TnT Bullets

Posted: Tue Jan 24, 2012 5:08 am
by Glen
Carefully increase charge weights by .2grs at a time.

Re: Speer TnT Bullets

Posted: Tue Jan 24, 2012 5:21 am
by tpcollins
I clicked on the Speer link and it said this about these bullets"

"These excellent varmint options use non-lead technology for great terminal performance".

Are these an all copper buller?

Re: Speer TnT Bullets

Posted: Tue Jan 24, 2012 6:09 am
by Ol` Joe
tpcollins wrote:I clicked on the Speer link and it said this about these bullets"

"These excellent varmint options use non-lead technology for great terminal performance".

Are these an all copper buller?
No.
They have a powdered core similar to the Nosler "lead free", Hornady "NTX non-toxic", or Barnes "Varmite Granade".

Re: Speer TnT Bullets

Posted: Sat Mar 10, 2012 7:33 am
by Mad dog
I have had the same frustrations...anybody have anything specific from Alliant or personal experience loading these speer bullets for the 204 yet?

Re: Speer TnT Bullets

Posted: Mon Mar 12, 2012 7:26 am
by HeadLever
Mad dog wrote:I have had the same frustrations...anybody have anything specific from Alliant or personal experience loading these speer bullets for the 204 yet?
I grabbed some about 5 months ago (the 39 grainers, which are not lead free) and loaded them up using 25.5gr of Benchmark. They shot pretty well (about .6" @ 100yds) out of my Cooper. Not quite as accurate as the Sierra 39 gr BK our of my gun (.4s), but they are quit a bit cheaper. I might buy another couple hundred for duty in the squirrel patch since the Sierras are getting jacked up in price. Overall, I was pleased with how they performed.

Re: Speer TnT Bullets

Posted: Mon Mar 12, 2012 7:29 am
by HeadLever
tpcollins wrote:I clicked on the Speer link and it said this about these bullets"

"These excellent varmint options use non-lead technology for great terminal performance".

Are these an all copper buller?
The 39 grain TNTs contain lead. It is the 32 grain bullets that are 'green' and have to powder core.

Re: Speer TnT Bullets

Posted: Mon Mar 12, 2012 10:34 am
by 204cat
welcome. mv.
The 39 grain TNTs contain led. It is the 32 grain bullets that are 'green' and have to powder core.
good to know.