The spitzer bullet, also commonly referred to as a spire point bullet, is primarily a small arms ballistics development of the late 19th and early 20th century, driven by military desire for aerodynamic bullet designs that will give a higher degree of accuracy and kinetic efficiency, especially at extended ranges. To achieve this the projectile must minimize air resistance in flight.
Bullets with a lower drag coefficient (Cd) decelerate less rapidly. A low drag coefficient flattens the projectile's trajectory somewhat at long ranges and also markedly decreases the lateral drift caused by crosswinds. The higher impact velocity of bullets with high ballistic coefficients means they retain more kinetic energy.
The name 'spitzer' is an anglicized form of the German word Spitzgeschoss, literally meaning "pointy bullet".
The development of spitzer bullets made military doctrines possible which expected rifle volleys at area targets at ranges up to 800 to 1,000 m (900 to 1,100 yd). Combined with machine guns equipped with clinometers that could deliver plunging fire or indirect fire at more than 2,000 m (2,200 yd), spitzer bullets greatly increased the lethality of the battlefield during World War I.
Most spitzer bullets are loaded in intermediate and high-powered rifle cartridges.