Speer Hot-Cor 180 gr Spitzer Soft Point Bullets: Unrivaled Performance for Medium-Large Game Hunting

Are you a dedicated handloader and hunter in pursuit of the ultimate bullet for consistent accuracy and devastating terminal performance on medium to large game? Look no further than the Speer Hot-Cor 180 grain Spitzer Soft Point bullets, available in convenient 100-count boxes, with five boxes per case. Engineered for the discerning reloader, these .358 diameter projectiles embody Speer's commitment to quality, offering a unique blend of affordability and high-end hunting capability.

Hunters often grapple with the challenge of finding a bullet that delivers reliable expansion and deep penetration across varied ranges, without compromising on cost. The Speer Hot-Cor series directly addresses this need. What makes these bullets stand apart in a crowded market? It's the innovative Hot-Cor manufacturing process – a foundational technology that revolutionized bullet construction and continues to set Speer apart. Unlike conventional methods where the core is simply pressed into the jacket, Speer's proprietary Hot-Cor process involves pouring molten lead directly into the copper jacket. This unique technique ensures a complete, void-free fill and a molecular bond between the core and the jacket as the lead cools and solidifies. The result is unparalleled core-to-jacket concentricity and integrity, which translates directly into superior downrange accuracy and virtually eliminates core-jacket separation upon impact.

Unpacking the Engineering: Speer Hot-Cor Technology Explained

The science behind the Speer Hot-Cor 180 grain Spitzer Soft Point is fascinating and directly contributes to its legendary performance. Understanding this technology helps handloaders appreciate the consistency they can expect from every single bullet.

• Molten Lead Core Bonding: The defining characteristic of Hot-Cor bullets is the way the lead core is fused with the copper jacket. By pouring molten lead into the jacket, Speer creates a unified projectile where the core and jacket are effectively one piece. This bonding process prevents the common issues of core slippage or separation that can plague other bullet designs, especially during high-impact scenarios.
• Enhanced Structural Integrity: This unique construction method results in a bullet with exceptional structural integrity. Whether impacting a thick hide or bone, the Hot-Cor maintains its form, driving deep and reliably expanding to create a devastating wound channel.
• Superior Consistency: The uniform core-to-jacket bond ensures that each 180 grain Spitzer Soft Point bullet behaves identically. This consistency is crucial for handloaders seeking to develop highly accurate loads, as variations in bullet construction can lead to unpredictable flight paths and terminal performance.

Key Specifications and Their Impact on Performance

The Speer Hot-Cor 180 gr Spitzer Soft Point is meticulously designed with specific attributes that contribute to its effectiveness in the field. Let's delve into the details:

• Caliber and Diameter (.35 Cal / .358"): This bullet is specifically designed for rifles chambered in .35 caliber, utilizing a .358-inch bullet diameter. This makes it an ideal choice for popular cartridges such as the .35 Remington, .358 Winchester, .35 Whelen, and even some heavier loads for the .350 Legend. Its .358" diameter ensures a precise fit for these rifle barrels, optimizing gas seal and stability for maximum accuracy.
• Bullet Weight (180 grains): At 180 grains, this bullet strikes an excellent balance between speed and mass. It's heavy enough to deliver significant kinetic energy and momentum for deep penetration, yet light enough to be driven at respectable velocities, ensuring a flatter trajectory out to typical hunting ranges for medium and large game. For cartridges like the .35 Remington, 180 grains is a classic, highly effective weight, while for the more powerful .35 Whelen, it offers a fast, flat-shooting option.
• Bullet Type (Spitzer Soft Point): The Spitzer (pointed) design minimizes air resistance, leading to a higher ballistic coefficient and a flatter trajectory. The Soft Point ensures reliable and controlled expansion upon impact. The exposed lead tip initiates expansion rapidly when it encounters resistance, while the robust jacket and bonded core control the expansion, preventing fragmentation and ensuring deep, straight-line penetration through tissue and bone. This combination is precisely what hunters need for quick, ethical kills.
• Overall Length (OAL: .860"): The precise overall length of .860 inches is critical for handloaders. This dimension helps determine seating depth, which impacts cartridge overall length (COAL) and can influence chamber pressure and accuracy. Reloaders must consult their specific loading manuals to ensure safe and optimal COAL for their chosen cartridge and firearm.
• Ballistic Coefficient (BC: .245): The ballistic coefficient of .245 (G1) indicates how efficiently the bullet cuts through the air. While not the highest BC on the market, for a Spitzer Soft Point hunting bullet of this weight and diameter, it offers a very respectable performance, ensuring good energy retention and reduced wind drift out to common hunting distances. This makes it an excellent choice for shots out to 200-300 yards, depending on the cartridge.
• Sectional Density (SD: .201): Sectional density is a key indicator of a bullet's penetrating capability. At .201, this 180 grain .358 bullet possesses excellent sectional density, meaning it can overcome resistance more effectively and penetrate deeper into game animals. This is vital for reaching vital organs, even after encountering tough hide or bone, contributing to humane, single-shot kills.
• Core Material (Lead) and Jacket Material (Copper): The traditional combination of a lead core and copper jacket is enhanced by Speer's Hot-Cor bonding process. This classic pairing, optimized by Speer's unique manufacturing, provides the perfect balance of malleability for expansion and strength for penetration, ensuring predictable and devastating terminal ballistics.

Optimized for the Hunter: Real-World Applications and Ethical Kills

The Speer Hot-Cor 180 gr Spitzer Soft Point bullets are purpose-built for the demands of hunting medium to large game. When you ask, "What are the best bullets for deer hunting in heavy cover?" or "Which bullets offer reliable expansion on black bear or wild hogs?", the Hot-Cor 180 gr answers with confidence.

Ideal Game Species:

• Whitetail and Mule Deer: Its controlled expansion and excellent penetration ensure that even larger bucks are taken cleanly, especially when shot placement is precise. The 180-grain weight carries ample energy for these animals.
• Black Bear: The robust construction and deep penetration of the Hot-Cor are crucial for reaching vitals on black bears, known for their dense bone structure and thick hides.
• Wild Hogs: Hogs, with their tough gristle plate, demand a bullet that won't fragment prematurely. The Hot-Cor's bonded core drives through tough hide and bone, ensuring lethal performance.
• Elk (with appropriate cartridge selection): While often considered for larger calibers, in powerful .35s like the .35 Whelen or .358 Winchester, the 180-grain Hot-Cor can be an effective choice for elk at moderate ranges, provided shot placement is precise and velocities are appropriate for expansion.

Terminal Performance Excellence:

Upon impact, the exposed lead tip of the Spitzer Soft Point initiates rapid, yet controlled, expansion. The molecular bond between the lead core and copper jacket prevents separation, ensuring that the bullet retains the majority of its weight as it penetrates. This weight retention, combined with the expanded frontal area, creates a wide, devastating wound channel, leading to significant tissue damage and rapid energy transfer. The result is typically a quick, humane, and ethical harvest.

For handloaders, this means tailoring loads for specific hunting scenarios. For instance, developing a .35 Remington load with these 180-grain bullets provides ample power for northeastern deer woods, while a .35 Whelen load will extend the effective range and power for larger game in open country. The consistency of Speer Hot-Cor bullets ensures that once you find your ideal load, you can trust its performance shot after shot.

The Handloader's Advantage: Reloading with Speer Hot-Cor

Choosing Speer Hot-Cor 180 grain Spitzer Soft Point bullets for your reloading bench offers significant advantages. Handloaders gain unparalleled control over their ammunition's performance, tailoring loads to specific rifles and hunting conditions. These bullets are sold in quantities ideal for active reloaders, with 100 bullets per box and 5 boxes per case, making bulk purchasing efficient.

When reloading, proper component selection is paramount. For these .358 diameter bullets, consider suitable powders that provide optimal velocity and pressure within your chosen .35 caliber rifle cartridge (e.g., IMR 3031, H4895 for .35 Rem; Varget, RL-15 for .358 Win/Whelen). Consult reputable reloading manuals, such as the Speer Reloading Manual itself, for safe and effective load data. Speer provides comprehensive data, often developed using their own bullets, ensuring compatibility and peak performance.

Key Considerations for Reloaders:

• Powder Selection: Match powder burn rate to your cartridge and desired velocity.
• Primer Choice: Standard large rifle primers are typically appropriate for .35 caliber rifle cartridges.
• Case Preparation: Proper case sizing, trimming, and priming are essential for consistent results.
• Seating Depth: Pay close attention to the .860" OAL when determining seating depth to ensure proper fit in your rifle's chamber and safe pressures. Crimp appropriately to ensure bullet retention under recoil.
• Consistency: The inherent consistency of Speer Hot-Cor bullets means that once you dial in your load, you can expect repeatable accuracy and terminal performance, shot after shot.

Why Choose Speer Hot-Cor? A Legacy of Trust and Performance

Speer has been a trusted name in bullet manufacturing for decades, earning a reputation for innovation, quality, and reliability. The Hot-Cor line is a testament to this legacy, offering a bullet that consistently performs above its price point.

• Proven Technology: The Hot-Cor process has been field-proven over many years and countless successful hunts. It’s a technology hunters and reloaders rely on.
• Exceptional Value: By maximizing consistency while minimizing cost, Speer ensures that high-performance hunting ammunition is accessible to more shooters. This makes the 180 grain Hot-Cor an outstanding value proposition for serious hunters and reloaders.
• Consistent Accuracy: The precise manufacturing and bonded core contribute to superb accuracy, allowing hunters to place shots exactly where they need to be for ethical kills.
• Reliable Expansion: The Spitzer Soft Point design, combined with the bonded core, delivers dependable expansion and deep penetration, even on tough game.

When you're searching for "high-quality .358 rifle bullets for reloading," "best bullets for .35 Remington deer hunting," or "reliable 180 grain hunting bullets," the Speer Hot-Cor 180 gr Spitzer Soft Point emerges as a top contender. It addresses common hunter questions: "How can I achieve reliable terminal performance without breaking the bank?" and "What bullet ensures maximum energy transfer and deep penetration for medium-large game?" The answer lies in the meticulously engineered design and manufacturing of the Speer Hot-Cor.

Embrace the confidence that comes with loading your own ammunition using components renowned for their performance. The Speer Hot-Cor 180 grain Spitzer Soft Point bullets (UPC: 076683024350) are available now at DEGuns, your trusted source for premium shooting and reloading supplies. Equip yourself with the bullets designed for success in the field, hunt after hunt.

Detailed Product Specifications: Speer Hot-Cor 180 gr Spitzer Soft Point

Attribute	Value
Brand	Speer
Model	Hot-Cor
Caliber	35 Caliber
Bullet Diameter	.358 inches
Bullet Weight	180 grains
Bullet Type	Spitzer Soft Point
Core Material	Lead (Molten Bonded)
Jacket Material	Copper
Overall Length (OAL)	.860 inches
Ballistic Coefficient (G1)	.245
Sectional Density (SD)	.201
Rounds Per Box	100
Boxes Per Case	5
Application	Medium-Large Game Hunting
SKU (Manufacturer Part No.)	2435
UPC	076683024350