Jan 27, 2025
Ammo Makers: Garett Stoddard, Speer, Tags Out With Speer’s Impact Bullet
Garett Stoddard, Senior Design Engineer – Research & Development at Speer, knows plenty about Speer’s Impact bullet. He was the engineer tasked with developing the most recent SKU in the Impact product line: the 30 cal 215-gr Impact bullet – the same ammunition he used just months later to harvest a caribou on an incredible dream hunt in the Brooks Range in Alaska’s Arctic region.
Garett, a five-year employee at Speer, was joined by two others on the trip: Cole Zacha, and Brandon Vandevender. Both have been friends of Garett’s since junior and high school days and have family ties to the CCI/Speer facility.
The crew had previously attempted the Alaska hunt in 2021, but weather hindered their trip.
“We made it to Alaksa but got stuck in a small town, waiting for the weather to calm so we could fly into where we wanted to hunt,” Garett said. “The weather never subsided, and we had to go home short of our experience.”
But Garett, Cole and Brandon stepped into their redemption trip in the fall of 2024 with high hopes, steady hands and plenty of rounds of Speer’s Impact ammunition. This time, the result was far better than the trio could have ever planned.
Garett Stoddard, Senior Design Engineer – Research & Development at Speer, tags out on a "dream hunt" to Alaska's Arctic region using a new SKU from Speer's Impact line, which he helped design
“It was textbook. Exactly how a hunter wants the harvesting of an animal to go,” Garett said. “The first two bulls were dropped – absolutely flatlined – with the cleanest harvest you could imagine. The third was less than 10 seconds from impact to incapacitation. Ideal performance from the bullets.”
The group tripled on three caribou bulls on their first legal hunt day. That’s a rare hunt – but it’s not even the most unique part of this hunt.
“We shot all three caribou in one minute or less,” Garett said, explaining each bull was in the same herd, walking perpendicular into an opening. “The first two ended up lying 10 yards apart from each other, the third maybe another 50 yards away.”
"While I was developing, I was thinking, ‘this is a product I’ll use myself.' Speer’s Impact line is a phenomenal product for any hunting scenario. I just happened to have the opportunity in the books that correlated perfectly with finishing the SKU so I could use it in-field for a successful dream trip of mine.”
-Garett Stoddard, Speer
Two of the hunters – Garett included – used the Impact bullet that Garett and his team at Speer had just launched. The two spoke highly of the ammunition, describing its performance as “incredible.”
“It went through both shoulders and the chest cavity, with almost three times caliber expansion and 75 percent retention. That’s incredible,” Garett said. “The weight retention and expanded diameter were impressive.”
A clean shot on a dream hunt with ammo he developed was a trifecta in the book of this self-proclaimed “bullet nerd.”
Though Speer’s Impact line launched in 2022, Garett began working on this SKU in the summer of 2024 with a launch date aligned with his Alaskan caribou hunt.
“Santa’s Sleigh” – Left to Right: Garett, Cole, Brandon with their bulls
“While I was developing, I was thinking, ‘this is a product I’ll use myself,’” Garett said. “Speer’s Impact line is a phenomenal product for any hunting scenario. I just happened to have the opportunity in the books that correlated perfectly with finishing the SKU so I could use it in-field for a successful dream trip of mine.”
As an ammo maker and an avid hunter his entire adult life, Garett understands the thrill of a hunt. But for a man who has tested plenty of product, this hunting trip was more than a thrill. It was a culmination of an obsession, a marriage of science and Earth. He had designed a bullet that performed flawlessly – and he was the end-user.
That day in the Brooks Range was the pinnacle: a moment where passion for his work aligned perfectly with his personal interests, where he found undeniable success and fortune in the field – an adventure that could only be described as incredible.
.308-215gr Impact Upset - Recovered from Garett's Caribou
| Impact Velocity | Weight Retention (grs) | Weight Retention (%) | Penetration (in) | Expanded Dia (in) | Expanded Dia (cal) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2360 fps | 162.1 | 0.754 | Both Shoulders | 0.881 | 2.86 |
FAST FACTS FROM GARETT
What activities do you enjoy outside of work?
I am a competitive rifle shooter and compete in the Precision Rifle Series. I hunt as much as I can in the fall and love camping and fishing.
Life accomplishments you’re most proud of?
In my personal life, I have a 16-month-old daughter named River. Bringing her into the world, being a part of her life and parenting her with my wife, Deanna, has been extraordinary. Certainly, the accomplishment I am most proud of so far.
In terms of my career, I am proud of the opportunities to develop bullets and ammunition products used by the U.S. Military and Law Enforcement agencies. Any chance to help the home team is exciting and fulfilling.
Bucket list item that’s brewing?
There are still plenty of things I want to go back to Alaska for. My biggest bucket list item is a big horn sheep hunt, any variety. I apply annually for six different tags in five different states but have never gotten drawn.
Your greatest adventure?
The Alaska trip. It was incredible to get there after dreaming about it most of my life. I hope I’ll be back, maybe multiple times. I loved the vastness, the size of the area and how remote it is. Weather and conditions are unpredictable. You’re in an environment you’ve never been in, and there is nobody around to rely on. It’s all on your shoulders, so you must stay focused to be successful. The aspect of that challenge is probably what the biggest part was for me.
Your current/most recent read?
I enjoy research and podcasts, but I’m not much of a book guy. My favorite podcast is “The Hunt Backcountry Podcast” by Exo Mtn Gear (a pack company out of Boise, Idaho).
FUN FACT: Garett was featured in Episode 225 a few years ago! Listen here!