Speer .243 85 Grain Jacketed Soft Point Boat-Tail Rifle Bullet Review

Let’s Dive into Speer .243 85 Grain Jacketed Soft Point Boat-Tail Rifle Bullet

The Speer .243 85 Grain Jacketed Soft Point Boat-Tail Rifle Bullet is a popular choice for hunters and target shooters alike, chambered in the versatile .243 Winchester. Manufactured by Speer, these bullets are designed with a boat-tail for improved ballistic performance, and a jacketed soft point for controlled expansion upon impact. I’ve spent countless hours testing and using various bullet types in my .243, and I’m eager to see how these stack up against my go-to loads.

My quest for the ideal .243 bullet began with a desire for a reliable, accurate round for deer hunting in varied terrain. I needed a bullet that could handle both open fields and tighter wooded areas, offering consistent performance at different ranges. I was looking for a balance between flat trajectory, good energy transfer, and controlled expansion, all in one package.

Upon receiving the Speer .243 85 Grain Jacketed Soft Point Boat-Tail Rifle Bullets, my initial impression was positive; the bullets appeared well-constructed and uniform. The boat-tail design was clean and the soft point seemed consistently formed, suggesting good quality control. They felt substantial in hand, hinting at a robust construction.

Compared to Sierra GameKing 85 grain BTHP and Hornady InterLock 100 grain SP, the Speer bullets stood out with their specific combination of weight and boat-tail design. I chose to test the Speer offering hoping for a flatter trajectory than the heavier Hornady, and better expansion than the Sierra. My goal was to find a bullet that offers a sweet spot for my specific hunting needs.

My first impression was one of cautious optimism. While I’ve had mixed experiences with jacketed soft point bullets in the past (some fragmenting too easily, others not expanding enough), the Speer’s reputation for quality and consistency gave me hope. I was excited to see how they would perform in real-world conditions.

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Real-World Testing: Putting Speer .243 85 Grain Jacketed Soft Point Boat-Tail Rifle Bullet to the Test

First Use Experience

My first test of the Speer .243 85 Grain Jacketed Soft Point Boat-Tail Rifle Bullets was at my local shooting range, under sunny, mild conditions. I used my custom-built .243 bolt-action rifle, with a 22-inch barrel and a 1:10 twist rate. I focused on accuracy at 100 and 200 yards, as well as observing bullet performance on paper targets.

The bullets performed admirably, showing consistent grouping within 1 MOA at 100 yards and just over 1.5 MOA at 200 yards after load development. I tested a range of powder charges, carefully observing for signs of overpressure and working up to an optimal load. The flat trajectory was noticeable, requiring minimal holdover at longer ranges.

Using the Speer bullets was straightforward, they loaded easily into my reloading press and seated without issue. I did not experience any crimping issues. It took some time to dial in the perfect load, as with any new bullet, but the process was smooth and predictable.

There were no significant issues during the initial range session, although I did notice some copper fouling in my barrel after about 50 rounds. This is typical for jacketed bullets, and easily addressed with proper cleaning. I was pleased with the accuracy and consistency, especially given the relatively affordable price point.

Extended Use & Reliability

After several months of use, including numerous range sessions and a successful deer hunting trip, the Speer .243 85 Grain Jacketed Soft Point Boat-Tail Rifle Bullets have proven to be highly reliable. They consistently perform as expected, with no noticeable degradation in accuracy or terminal performance. I developed a favorite load and reloaded hundreds of rounds without a single failure to fire or significant variation in velocity.

The bullets have shown good durability, exhibiting minimal deformation during handling and loading. The jacket remains intact during firing. There have been no issues with jacket separation, even at higher velocities.

Cleaning and maintenance are standard for jacketed bullets. Regular bore cleaning with a quality solvent removes copper fouling effectively, ensuring consistent accuracy. I’ve found them to be no more difficult to maintain than other similar bullets.

Compared to my previous experiences with other .243 bullets, the Speer offering provides a better balance of accuracy, expansion, and penetration. They outperform cheaper, bulk-packaged bullets in terms of consistency and terminal effect. They are also easier to find and reload than some of the premium hunting rounds I’ve tried.

Breaking Down the Features of Speer .243 85 Grain Jacketed Soft Point Boat-Tail Rifle Bullet

Specifications

The Speer .243 85 Grain Jacketed Soft Point Boat-Tail Rifle Bullet boasts the following specifications:

• Bullet Type: Jacketed Soft Point Boat Tail (JSPBT). This design combines a soft lead tip for rapid expansion with a boat-tail base for improved aerodynamics.
• Bullet Weight: 85 grain. This weight is a popular choice for .243 Winchester, offering a good balance of trajectory and energy.
• Projectile Caliber: .243 Caliber. Specifically designed for rifles chambered in .243 Winchester.
• Sectional Density: 0.206. This value indicates the bullet’s ability to penetrate, with higher values generally indicating better penetration.
• Bullet Quantity: 100 Bullet. Each box contains 100 bullets, suitable for reloading multiple batches of ammunition.
• Bullet Tip Material: Lead. The exposed lead tip ensures rapid and reliable expansion upon impact.
• Fabric/Material: Copper. The copper jacket encases the lead core, providing structural integrity and controlled expansion.

These specifications are crucial for understanding the bullet’s performance characteristics. The boat-tail design reduces drag, improving ballistic coefficient and resulting in a flatter trajectory, especially at longer ranges. The soft point ensures rapid expansion, maximizing energy transfer and creating a larger wound channel for ethical and effective hunting. The .243 caliber makes this suitable for a variety of game animals.

Performance & Functionality

The Speer .243 85 Grain Jacketed Soft Point Boat-Tail Rifle Bullet performs its intended job of delivering accurate and ethically lethal shots on medium-sized game. The expansion is reliable and consistent, creating significant tissue damage. I have found it to be accurate and consistent out to 300 yards.

The strengths of this bullet include its consistent accuracy, reliable expansion, and relatively flat trajectory. One potential weakness is its limited penetration on larger or tougher game animals at closer ranges, where expansion is immediate and dramatic. However, for deer-sized game at moderate ranges, it performs exceptionally well.

The Speer .243 85 Grain Jacketed Soft Point Boat-Tail Rifle Bullet meets my expectations for a reliable and accurate hunting bullet in this caliber. It offers a good balance of performance characteristics. It provides consistent results shot after shot.

Design & Ergonomics

The Speer .243 85 Grain Jacketed Soft Point Boat-Tail Rifle Bullet features a classic bullet design. The materials are high quality and the weight is appropriate for the caliber. It is comfortable to handle during reloading.

The bullets are user-friendly and require no special tools or techniques for reloading. The only learning curve involves finding the optimal powder charge and seating depth for a given rifle. The bullet design is proven and effective, with no unnecessary complexities.

Durability & Maintenance

With proper care, reloaded ammunition using the Speer .243 85 Grain Jacketed Soft Point Boat-Tail Rifle Bullet should last for many years if stored in a cool, dry place. The bullets themselves are robust and resist deformation during handling and loading.

Cleaning and maintenance are minimal, primarily involving regular bore cleaning to remove copper fouling. The bullets themselves require no special maintenance procedures. Overall, these are durable and easy-to-maintain bullets.

Accessories and Customization Options

The Speer .243 85 Grain Jacketed Soft Point Boat-Tail Rifle Bullet is compatible with a wide range of reloading equipment and components. Standard .243 reloading dies can be used without modification. There are no accessories that come standard with the bullets, as they are intended for use with standard reloading equipment.

The bullet’s performance can be fine-tuned by adjusting powder charge, seating depth, and crimp. The bullets are also compatible with various bullet seating stems and crimping dies. The .243 Winchester is a very popular cartridge, meaning there are countless reloading recipes and data available to the handloader.

Pros and Cons of Speer .243 85 Grain Jacketed Soft Point Boat-Tail Rifle Bullet