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Speer Ammo

Speer Ammo: In Depth

Speer Ammo has been renowned for its exceptional bullets and ammunition since its founding in 1943 by Vernon Speer. The company was established during World War II when reloaders couldn't get the components they needed from ammo companies. Located in Lewiston, Idaho , Speer started by making hunting rifle bullets and soon developed the first mass-produced jacketed handgun bullets for hunting and law enforcement.

In the 1960s, Speer introduced the Lawman® line, putting some of these high-quality bullets into loaded ammunition. Today, their Gold Dot® line is the most trusted duty ammunition for law enforcement, also available to civilians for unparalleled personal protection.

Speer continues to innovate, expanding its product lines while maintaining its core values of determination, self-reliance, and independence. Their offerings now include a wide range of ammunition and components, all manufactured with the same commitment to quality that has defined the brand for over 80 years.

As part of Vista Outdoor, a leading provider of outdoor products, Speer benefits from a broader network dedicated to promoting rugged independence through quality gear. Whether for hunting, personal defense, or law enforcement, Speer Ammo stands out for its reliability and superior performance.

Speer Ammo History

Speer Ammunition was founded in 1943 by Vernon Speer in Lewiston, Idaho . Vernon Speer began his career in the ammunition industry by creating bullets for his own use and soon started making them for friends and local hunters. Recognizing the demand for high-quality bullets, he established Speer Bullets to meet this need.

The company quickly gained a reputation for producing reliable and accurate ammunition. One of Speer's significant early innovations was the introduction of the "Hot-Cor" bullet in the 1960s. This bullet was known for its excellent performance and consistency, thanks to a unique manufacturing process that bonded the core to the jacket without the use of conventional lead bonding methods. This innovation set a new standard in bullet performance.

Over the years, Speer continued to develop and introduce new products. In 1979, the company released the Speer Gold Dot line of bullets, which became one of its most notable products. The Gold Dot bullet was designed for law enforcement and personal defense, featuring a bonded core that provided high weight retention and controlled expansion. It quickly became a favorite among police forces and civilian shooters for its reliability and stopping power.

Speer was acquired by Blount, Inc. in 1985, which later became part of Alliant Techsystems (ATK) in 2001. ATK then split into two companies in 2015, and Speer became part of Vista Outdoor Inc., a leading provider of outdoor sports and recreation products. Under Vista Outdoor, Speer has continued to grow and innovate, maintaining its reputation for quality and reliability.

Speer ammunition is used by a wide range of customers, including hunters, sport shooters, and law enforcement agencies. The Gold Dot line, in particular, is trusted by many police departments across the United States for its proven performance in critical situations. Speer's commitment to quality and innovation has made it a respected name in the ammunition industry for over seven decades.

Today, Speer continues to develop advanced ammunition products, leveraging its long history of expertise and dedication to excellence. The company's ongoing efforts to improve bullet technology and performance ensure that it remains a top choice for shooters who demand the best in reliability and accuracy.

Speer Ammunition Products

Speer Gold Dot Line

Gold Dot Handgun Personal Protection
  • Use Case: Designed for self-defense, particularly in personal protection scenarios. This line is trusted by law enforcement agencies and civilians alike for its dependable performance in critical situations.
  • Unique Features: Gold Dot bullets are known for their bonded core, which is achieved through Speer's Uni-Cor® process. This method bonds the jacket to the core one molecule at a time, preventing core-jacket separation. This ensures the bullet retains maximum weight and expands consistently upon impact. Available in calibers such as 9mm Luger, .40 S&W , and .45 Auto , these bullets are optimized for controlled penetration and uniform expansion, making them effective at stopping threats.
Gold Dot Short Barrel Personal Protection
  • Use Case: Optimized for use in compact and subcompact handguns, making it ideal for concealed carry and close-quarters defense.
  • Unique Features: These rounds are specifically designed to perform reliably from shorter barrels, typically under 4 inches. They maintain the high performance of standard Gold Dot bullets but are tuned for lower velocities associated with shorter barrels. This ensures that they still achieve the necessary expansion and penetration needed for self-defense. Common calibers include .38 Special , 9mm Luger, and .45 Auto.
Gold Dot Rifle Personal Protection
  • Use Case: Suitable for self-defense with rifles, particularly useful in home defense situations where rifle calibers are preferred for their stopping power.
  • Unique Features: These rifle rounds are engineered to perform exceptionally well in FBI protocol testing, especially when fired from barrels shorter than 16 inches. The Uni-Cor® process ensures a consistent bond between the jacket and core, creating a bullet that is accurate and reliable through various barriers. Available in calibers such as .223 Remington and .308 Winchester , these rounds provide consistent penetration and expansion.

Speer Lawman Line

Lawman Handgun Training
  • Use Case: Ideal for training and practice, allowing shooters to practice with ammunition that mimics the feel and performance of self-defense rounds without the higher cost.
  • Unique Features: Lawman ammunition is ballistically matched to Gold Dot defensive ammunition, ensuring that training sessions are as realistic as possible. This line uses clean-burning propellants and reloadable brass cases, making it both economical and practical. It is available in calibers such as 9mm Luger, .40 S&W, and .45 Auto, ensuring compatibility with most popular handguns.
Lawman Clean-Fire
  • Use Case: Designed for indoor range training, ensuring a cleaner shooting environment by minimizing exposure to airborne lead and heavy metals.
  • Unique Features: Clean-Fire ammunition features a fully encapsulated lead core and primers that are free of lead, barium, and antimony. This significantly reduces the amount of airborne contaminants, making it safer for extended indoor practice. Available in calibers like 9mm and .45 Auto, Clean-Fire rounds are ideal for maintaining a healthier shooting environment.

Speer G2 Line

Gold Dot G2
  • Use Case: Designed for law enforcement and personal defense, providing enhanced barrier penetration and consistent performance.
  • Unique Features: The G2 bullets feature a shallow cavity filled with elastomer, which prevents the nose cavity from clogging with barrier material. This design ensures reliable expansion and penetration through barriers such as auto glass and steel, making them highly effective in various defensive situations. Available in 9mm Luger, .40 S&W, and .45 Auto, the G2 line offers improved performance over the original Gold Dot.

Other Speer Products

Plastic Training Bullets and Cases
  • Use Case: Low-cost, low-recoil training, particularly useful for indoor ranges and safe practice scenarios.
  • Unique Features: These plastic bullets and cases are designed for training purposes where traditional ammunition may not be suitable. They offer a lightweight and low-recoil option for practice, allowing shooters to train effectively without the need for full-power ammunition. This is ideal for novice shooters and those practicing in confined spaces.
Shot Capsules
  • Use Case: Custom shot cartridges for pest control and small game hunting, providing versatile options for handloading.
  • Unique Features: Speer's shot capsules can be loaded with various shot sizes, offering flexibility for different hunting and pest control needs. These capsules are designed to deliver a consistent shot pattern, making them effective for taking down small game or controlling pests at close range.
Lead Round Balls
  • Use Case: Suitable for muzzleloading and historical firearm use, providing traditional performance for black powder enthusiasts.
  • Unique Features: These lead round balls are crafted for use in muzzleloaders and other historical firearms, offering reliable performance for those who enjoy shooting with traditional black powder firearms. They are available in various sizes to fit different calibers, ensuring compatibility with a wide range of muzzleloading firearms.

Where is Speer Ammo Made?

Speer Ammo is primarily manufactured in Lewiston, Idaho . This facility is a key part of Speer’s operations and has been producing ammunition since the company’s early days. The Lewiston plant produces a wide range of Speer products, including the popular Gold Dot line, which is renowned for its reliability and performance, particularly among law enforcement agencies.

Lewiston, Idaho , is the main manufacturing location for Speer Ammo. This plant produces a significant portion of Speer's ammunition, including the well-known Gold Dot series used extensively by law enforcement and civilians for personal protection. The facility is equipped with advanced technology and machinery to ensure high-quality production and employs hundreds of workers dedicated to maintaining the brand's standards of excellence.

The Lewiston plant has also been instrumental in implementing innovative technologies. For instance, Speer, along with CCI , has developed and started producing the Catalyst lead-free primers at this facility. This technology is part of their effort to produce cleaner and more reliable ammunition, highlighting Speer's commitment to environmental sustainability and product innovation.

In summary, Speer Ammo’s primary manufacturing site is in Lewiston, Idaho, where they produce a variety of ammunition products, including the flagship Gold Dot line, using advanced manufacturing technologies and a dedicated workforce.

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