Hornady Ammo
Hornady Manufacturing Company: In Depth
In the wake of World War II, when the American economy was transitioning back to peacetime, a bold entrepreneur named Joyce Hornady embarked on a journey that defied conventional wisdom. In 1949, Hornady, previously associated with a sporting goods company selling familiar items like bicycles and tennis rackets, ventured into the niche market of manufacturing bullets for reloaders. This move was met with skepticism from bankers who saw little potential in the bullet business. However, Hornady's vision was clear; he recognized a burgeoning demand among shooting enthusiasts for high-quality, reliable, and affordable bullets for reloading. His conviction in this underserved market led to the birth of the Hornady Manufacturing Company, underpinned by the motto “accurate, deadly, dependable,” a slogan that perfectly expressed the essence of his products.
Initially setting up shop in a former auto body shop in Grand Island, Nebraska , the company began producing its first bullets using surplus machine tools from the war. Despite a modest start, with only $10,000 in sales in the first year, Hornady's unwavering commitment to quality and innovation set the stage for growth. The company weathered challenges such as the Korean War, which temporarily shifted its focus to producing condenser cans and miscellaneous products. By 1958, Hornady Manufacturing had expanded into a larger facility, complete with a ballistics lab and an underground test range, marking a significant milestone in its journey.
Quality, continuous improvement, and innovation became the bedrock principles of Hornady Manufacturing. Early on, the company embraced total quality control, a concept that would only become mainstream in American industry two decades later. Joyce Hornady's commitment to excellence was encapsulated in his phrase, “ten bullets in the same hole,” emphasizing the importance of consistent performance and precision. These principles not only guided the company's internal processes but also resonated well with its customer base—knowledgeable and demanding shooters who expected nothing less than the best.
The 1960s heralded a new era of innovation for Hornady with the introduction of pioneering bullet designs and the expansion into the ammunition market with the Frontier Ammunition line . The company's growth trajectory continued, marked by diversification into reloading tools and a consistent focus on customer needs and employee welfare. J.W. Hornady's ethos of honesty, fair value, and responsiveness shaped the company's culture and business practices, earning it respect within the industry and among its customers.
However, the journey was not without its trials. In 1981, a tragic plane crash claimed the life of Joyce Hornady, posing a significant challenge to the company's future. The resilience of the Hornady family shone through as they rallied together, with Steve Hornady stepping up as president and Marval Hornady as chairman. The subsequent decades saw the company not only survive but thrive, expanding its footprint in the industry under the leadership of the Hornady family.
Today, Hornady Manufacturing stands as a testament to the power of vision, innovation, and resilience. From its humble beginnings in a small Nebraska town, it has grown into the largest independently owned maker of bullets, ammunition, and tools in the world. More than just a business, the company's involvement in community affairs and philanthropy reflects the Hornady family's commitment to the broader shooting community and society at large. The story of Hornady Manufacturing is not just about bullets and business; it's about a family's unwavering dedication to quality, innovation, and community, charting a path of success against all odds.
Hornady has a product line that includes ammunition, bullets for both modern and muzzleloading guns, reloading machines, and even a line of gun safes.
Hornady Ammunition
Hornady is a top producer of ammunition, with a huge array of products:
Rifle Ammunition: Product lines and sample loads
American Gunner®
This line of ammo provides target, hunting, or self-defense shooters with reliable loads made in the USA with top-quality components.
- 223 Remington 55g HP Match
- 6.5 Creedmoor 140g BTHP Match
- 300 Blackout 125g HP Match
- 308 Winchester 155g BTHP Match
- 7.62x39 123g HP Match
American Whitetail®
Loaded with Interlock bullets optimized for deer hunting, this product line helps hunters prepare for opening day. A combination of proven technology and reasonable pricing is a winning combination for the hunter.
- 243 Winchester 100g BTSP InterLock
- 6.5 Creedmoor 129g InterLock
- 7mm-08 139g SP InterLock
- 30-30 Winchester 150g RN Interlock
- 308 Winchester 165g SP InterLock
- 30-06 Springfield 180g SP InterLock
- 300 Winchester Magnum 180g SP Interlock
- And many more!
Critical Defense®
Optimized for performance in short-range defense scenarios, this line uses FTX bullets with Flex Tips, resulting in reliable bullet expansion even at lower velocities.
- 223 Remington 55g FTX
- 223 Remington 73g FTX
- 30 M1 Carbone 110g FTX
- 308 Winchester 155g FTX
Custom International™
These are loads with the Hornady InterLock bullets, loaded in many popular European metric calibers. They provide effective hunting performance, using conventional powders at traditional velocities for reliable functioning and consistency without corrosion.
- 6.5 Creedmoor 140g SP
- 308 Winchester 180g SP InterLock
- 308 Winchester 330g RN InterLock
- 30-06 Springfield 220g RN InterLock
- 8x57 JS 195g SP Interlock
- 9.3x62 286g SP InterLock
- And several more!
Custom Lite®
Hornady puts the fun back into shooting, with this ammunition line designed to reduce recoil and muzzle blast. This is hunting ammunition that is deadly downrange while being more tame for the shooter.
- 243 Winchester 87g SST
- 7mm-08 120g SST
- 308 Winchester 125g SST
- 30-06 Springfield 125g SST
Custom™
Built for hunting, competition, and plinking, Custom is a versatile line of ammunition. Each round is hand-inspected to provide the benefits of handloads in a factory-loaded round.
- 218 Bee 45g HP Match
- 223 Remington 55 FMJ
- 250 Savage 100g SP InterLock
- 6.5 Grendel 123g SST
- 6.8 Remington SPC 120g SST
- 300 Blackout 110g CX copper allows expansion
- 300 Blackout 135g FTX
- 308 Winchester 150g SST
- 30-40 Krag 180g SP spire point
- 338 Lapua Magnum 240g CX
- And several more!
Dangerous Game™ Series
The finest components and strict attention to quality are combined with classic bullets to provide the knockdown power and reliability required for truly dangerous game.
- 9.3x74R 286g SP-RP InterLock
- 376 Steyr 270g SP-RP InterLock
- 375 Ruger 270g SP-RP InterLock
- 375 H&H 300g DGX Bonded
- 416 Ruger 400g DGX Bonded
- 416 Remington Magnum 300g DGX Bonded
- And several more!
Frontier®
Featuring Hornady bullets, these are versatile loads for everything from plinking to target shooting, hunting, law enforcement training, or self-defense.
- 223 Remington 55g HP Match
- 223 Remington 55g FMJ
- 223 Remington 68g BTHP Match
- 5.56 NATO 55g FMJ (M193)
- 5.56 NATO 55g HP Match
- 5.56 NATO 62g FMJ
- 5.56 NATO 68g BTHP Match
- 5.56 NATO 75g BTHP Match
- 6.5 Grendel 123g FMJ
- 300 Blackout 125g FMJ
Hornady BLACK®
Versatile loads using Hornady bullets are optimized for fit, feed, and function in everyone’s favorite black guns.
- 5.45x39 60g VMAX
- 223 Remington 62g FMJ
- 223 Remington 75g BTHP Match
- 5.56 NATO 62g FMJ
- 5.56 NATO 75g Interlock
- 22 ARC 75g ELD Match
- 224 Valkyrie 75g BTHP
- 6mm ARC 105g BTHP
- 6mm Creedmoor 105g BTHP
- 6.5 Grendel 123g ELD Match
- 6.8 Remington SPC 110g VMAX
- 300 Blackout 208g A-MAX
- 308 Winchester 155g A-Max
- 7.62x39 123g SST
- 350 Legend 150g InterLock
- 450 Bushmaster 250g FTX
Hornady International™
With a selection of internationally popular calibers, International is loaded in European chamberings and is only available for export.
- 7.57 Mauser 150g ECX
- 7x64 Brenneke 150g ECX
- 8x57 JS 180g ECX
- 9.3x62 250g ECX
- And several more
LEVERevolution®
Lever gun shooters have always been saddled with using flat-point or round-nose bullets, to avoid setting off loads in the tubular magazine of lever action guns. Hornady came to the rescue with FlexTip bullets, which are bullets that have an elastomer tip durable enough to provide an aerodynamic bullet yet soft enough to avoid punching the primer of the load in front of it when in the magazine. This extends the range of a lever action by providing bullets with higher ballistic coefficients.
- 25035 Winchester 110g FTX
- 30-30 Winchester 140g MonoFlex
- 30-30 Winchester 160g FTX
- 308 Marlin Express 160g FTX
- 32 Winchester Special 165g FTX
- 35 Remington 200g FTX
- 44 Marlin 265g FTX
- 45-70 Govt 250g MonoFlex
- 45-70 Govt 325g FTX
- 450 Marlin 325g FTX
- And several more!
Match™
This is ammunition that is designed for accuracy to support the match competitor. These loads use Hornady A-MAX boat-tail hollow point (BTHP) bullets or ELD Match bullets that are even sleeker. Top quality control is used to ensure consistent pressures, velocities, and accuracy.
- 223 Remington 73g ELD Match
- 22 ARC 88g ELD Match
- 224 Valkyrie 88g ELD Match
- 6mm ARC 108g ELD Match
- 6.5 Creedmoor 147g ELD Match
- 7mm PRC 180g ELD Match
- 308 Winchester 178g ELD Match
- Plus several more!
Outfitter®
This ammunition is designed for the extreme conditions of backcountry hunting. Nickel-plated cases are sealed watertight and loaded with copper alloy expanding (CX) bullets for top performance.
- 243 Winchester 80g CX
- 257 Weatherby Magnum 90g CX
- 6.5 Creedmoor 120g CX
- 270 Winchester 130g CX
- 7mm Remington Magnum 150g CX
- 308 Winchester 165g CX
- 300 Winchester Magnum 180g CX
- 338 Winchester Magnum 225g CX
- 375 H&H Magnum 250g CX
- Plus several more!
Precision Hunter®
For the long-distance hunter who wants match accuracy in powerful hunting ammunition, Hornady delivers with Precision Hunter. Now you can hunt with match ammunition!
- 243 Winchester 90g ELD-X
- 25-06 110g ELD-X
- 257 Weatherby Magnum 110g ELD-X
- 6.5 Creedmoor 143g ELD-X
- 280 Ackley Improved 162g ELD-X
- 7mm Remington Magnum 162g ELD-X
- 7mm STW 162g ELD-X
- 300 Winchester Magnum 200g ELD-X
- 30-378 Weatherby Magnum 220g ELD-X
- 338 Lapua Magnum 270g ELD-X
- And several more!
Subsonic
Hornady now supports suppressor use by providing accurate subsonic loads that are optimized to provide expansion at lower velocities and cleaner burning powder to reduce suppressor fouling.
- 300 Blackout 190g Sub-X
- 30-30 Winchester 175g Sub-X
- 7.62x39 255g Sub-X
- 350 Legend 250g Sub-X
- 450 Bushmaster 395g Sub-X
- 45-70 Govt (Marlin 1895) 410g Sub-X
Superformance®
Hornady has hot-rodded your favorite calibers to provide up to 200 fps of extra velocity without increasing pressure, muzzle blast, or recoil. These use progressive-burning propellants to boost velocity beyond what competitive brands achieve.
- 223 Remington 50g CX
- 6mm Remington 95g SST
- 257 Roberts +P 117g SST
- 25-06 117g SST
- 6.5 Creedmoor 129g SST
- 7mm-08 139g CX
- 7mm Remington Magnum 154g SST
- 308 Winchester 165g SST
- 30-06 Springfield 165g SST
- 338 Winchester Magnum 225g SST
- 444 Marlin 265g FP InterLock
- Plus several more!
Superformance® Match™
Ammunition specifically loaded for Highpower competitors, which also works its magic for law enforcement uses or military snipers. Superformance is designed to maximize velocity and accuracy while reducing wind drift.
- 223 Remington 75g BTHP Match
- 5.56 NATO 75g BTHP Match
- 308 Winchester 168g ELD Match
Superformance® VarmintV-Match™
Boost your velocity 200 feet per second while benefitting from a flatter trajectory, better accuracy, and terminal bullet performance. This line brings the precision of Superformance to varmint hunting.
- 17 Hornet 20g V-MAX
- 204 Ruger 40g V-MAX
- 223 Remington 35g NTX
- 22-250 35g NTX
- 243 Winchester 75g V-MAX
- Plus, several more!
V-Match
Suitable for competition or varmints, this ammunition is match-accurate and built with high-quality components.
- 22 ARC 62g ELD-VT
- 6mm ARC 80g ELD-VT
- 6mm Creedmoor 80g ELD-VT
- 6.5 Grendel 100g ELD-VT
- 6.5 Creedmoor 100g ELD-VT
Varmint Express
These loads use the Hornady V-MAX bullet to combine match accuracy with explosive expansion. Match accuracy perfected for varmint hunting!
- 223 Remington 55g V-MAX
- 224 Valkyrie 60g V-MAX
- 22-250 Remington 55g V-MAX
- 220 Swift 55g V-Max
- 6.5 Creedmoor 95g V-MAX
- Plus several more!
Vintage Match™
Optimized for classic service rifles, this ammunition line is intended for CMP Vintage rifle and Sniper matches and shooters using classic Swedish Mauser, Lee-Enfields and similar vintage rifles.
- 30-06 Springfield 168g ELD Match
- 8x57 JS 196g BTHP Match
Handgun Ammunition: Product lines and sample loads
American Gunner
All-around classic loads that serve the needs for hunting, target competition, and self-defense needs. American Gunner is made in the USA and leverages Hornady’s decades of experience and today’s manufacturing technology to serve your shooting needs.
- 10mm Auto 155g XTP
- 380 ACP 90g XTP
- 9mm Luger 115g XTP
- 38 Special 125g XTP
- 45 ACP 185g XTP
- And several more
Critical Duty
When barrier penetration and consistent expansion is absolutely essential, Critical Duty is your round. It’s loaded with FlexLock bullets with great penetration ability yet reliable expansion. Nickle-plated cases and low-flash propellants combine to create reliable, FBI-tested ammunition.
- 9mm Luger 124g FlexLock
- 357 Sig 135g FlexLock
- 357 Magnum 135g FlexLock
- 10mm Automatic 175g FlexLock
- 45 ACP +P 220g FlexLock
- Plus several more!
Custom
With a great combination of excellent accuracy and stopping power, Custom is hand-inspected to ensure the best quality control with the benefits of handloading in a factory load.
- 25 ACP 35g XTP
- 32 ACP 60g XTP
- 9mm Luger 147g XTP
- 357 Magnum 158g XTP
- 10mm Automatic 180g XTP
- 44 Remington Magnum 240g XTP
- 45 ACP 200g XTP
- And several more!
Handgun Hunter
This ammunition is built around the MonoFlex bullet, made of copper alloy with an elastomer filling the hollow point. Made with premium components, these loads are optimized for hunting.
- 9mm Luger +P 115g MonoFlex
- 10mm Automatic 135g MonoFlex
- 44 Remington Magnum 200g MonoFlex
- 454 Casull 200g MonoFlex
- 460 S&W 200g MonoFlex
- 500 S&W 300g MonoFlex
- Plus several more!
Hornady Black
Versatile loads in everyone’s favorite calibers Hornady Black is high-quality and versatile ammunition.
- 4.6x30 38g VMAX
- 5.7x28 40g V-MAX
- 9mm Luger 124g XTP
- 45 ACP 185g XTP
- Plus several more!
Leverevolution
Modern ammunition to bring lever action rifles and revolvers into the modern age. These loads leverage the elastomer Flex Tip technology used in FTX and MonoFlex bullets. The result is a load that is safe for use in a tubular magazine and revolver yet has better ballistic performance at longer distances than these calibers are usually capable of.
- 357 Magnum 140g FTX
- 41 Remington Magnum 190g FTX
- 44 Remington Magnum 225g FTX
- 45 Colt 225g FTX
Subsonic
This loading delivers both accuracy and bullet performance below the speed of sound. Powders are chosen for best performance in a suppressed firearm.
- 9mm Luger 147g XTP
- 40 S&W 180g XTP
- 45 ACP 230g XTP
Rimfire: Critical Defense
With FTX polymer-tipped hollow points loaded into nickel-plated cases using low-flash propellants, these loads are optimized for defense.
- 22 WMR 45g FTX
Varmint Express Rimfire
Prarie dogs and coyotes beware, because these loads pack V-MAX or NTX bullets, combining accuracy and superb expansion.
- 17 Mach2 17g V-MAX
- 17 HMR 17g V-MAX
- 17 HMR 20g HP Varmint
- 22 WMR 30g V-MAX
Shotgun Ammunition: Product lines and sample loads
American Gunner®
These are your go-to classic and versatile loads for targets, hunting, or self-defense. Proudly made in the USA with modern technology.
- 12 gauge Reduced Recoil 1 oz Rifled Slug
- 12 gauge 00 Buckshot Reduced Recoil
- 12 gauge 2 ¾ #4 Buck
American Whitetail®
This is your friend on opening day. Loaded with Interlock bullets for rifled shotguns and rifled slugs or buckshot for smoothbores to get the job done when that long-awaited opportunity arrives.
- 12 gauge 2 ¾ 325g Interlock, lethal out to 200 yards
- 12 gauge 1 oz Rifled Slug
- 12 gauge 2 ¾ #4 Buck
Critical Defense®
When it’s a matter of life and death, this is the ammunition you can count on.
- 12 gauge 00 Buckshot
Custom Lite®
Minimizing recoil without compromising on how effective the load is, Custom Lite uses an SST bullet in a shotgun shell.
- 20 gauge 2 ¾ 250g FTX
- 12 gauge 2 ¾ 300g FTX
Heavy Magnum® Coyote
These loads are designed to be bad news for Mr. Coyote, while limiting pelt damage. Effective to 50 yards and using a 3-inch shell for maximum payload, these are effective predator rounds.
- 12 gauge 3” 00 Buck
- 12 gauge 3” 3 BB
Hornady BLACK®
Black provides you with versatile buckshot loads that can serve your needs.
- 12 gauge 00 buck
SST® Slugs
Shotgun shells loaded with Hornady SST Flex Tip bullets can transform your rifled shotgun so that it may be a better choice than a rifle. These loads are capable of under 2” groups at 100 yards.
- 20 gauge 2 ¾ 250g SST
- 12 gauge 2 ¾ 300g SST
Superformance®
This shotshell uses the MonoFlex bullet, providing one of the highest ballistic coefficients of any projectile fired from a rifled shotgun. This round achieves almost 2000 feet per second in a 24” barrel.
- 12 gauge 2 ¾ 300g MonoFlex
Varmint Express®
These are loaded to function in both semi-auto and pump shotguns, delivering a dose of #4 buckshot in a tight pattern that is effective for varmint use.
- 12 gauge 2 ¾ #4 Buck
Hornady Reloading
Hornady also manufactures and offers reloading components, reloading dies, instruction books, reloading presses (both single-stage and progressive), and all necessary accessories for case care, powder measuring, or case measuring and trimming.
Hornady Security
Hornady also manufactures and sells gun safes, vaults, lock boxes, cabinets, and other security accessories.
Hornady Contact Information:
Hornady® Manufacturing3625 West Old Potash Hwy
Grand Island, NE 68803 USA
Phone: 1-800-338-3220
Phone: 1-308-382-1390
Fax: 1-308-382-5761
Call Center Hours
Monday - Thursday 8:30 AM – 4:30 PM Central
Friday 8:30 AM to 4:00 PM Central