Hornady Ammo & Reloading

Hornady Manufacturing has been producing ammunition and reloading components in Grand Island, Nebraska since 1949. What sets them apart is their focus on bullet design innovation; they were early adopters of modern tipped-bullet technology and continue developing projectiles that address specific ballistic challenges rather than just copying what is already on the market.

Hornady Bullets for Sale

Their component bullet selection covers most common reloading needs. The ELD Match line uses heat resistant tips that maintain their shape during flight, solving issues seen with older polymer tip designs whose shape could change under aerodynamic heating. Hornady 9 mm bullets include the XTP (Extreme Terminal Performance) in several popular weights, widely used for both training and defensive handloads. Hornady rifle bullets for reloading include the ELD-X for hunting, which combines high ballistic coefficients with controlled expansion across practical hunting distances. The Hornady ECX bullets are monolithic copper alloy designs that provide lead free performance, aimed in particular at markets and jurisdictions that restrict traditional lead-core projectiles. Hornady pistol bullet lines cover everything from economical FMJ options for practice to premium defensive hollow points.

Hornady Ammunition

Factory loaded Hornady ammo spans much of their bullet catalog, with rifle ammunition offered in match, hunting, defensive, and general training lines. Hornady .308 Winchester options, for example, include loads built around ELD Match bullets for precision work and ELD-X or similar designs for hunting, along with more economical training ammunition in selected product families, including steel cased loads in some calibers. The Critical Defense line uses a polymer insert in the hollow point cavity to help prevent clothing and other light barriers from clogging the bullet, so expansion is more consistent in typical personal defense scenarios. Hornady ammunition aimed at precision rifle shooters is well regarded for consistency, which is why their match loads are frequently seen in competition and long range training.

Hornady Reloading Products

Beyond bullets and loaded ammunition, Hornady reloading tools include their Lock N Load progressive presses, single stage presses and kits, and a range of powder measures. Their case preparation tools, powder funnels, headspace and OAL comparator sets, and similar accessories are common on reloading benches for users who want to fine tune handloads. The Hornady catalog lists dies for a wide range of commercially available cartridges, including many less common and older calibers that interest collectors and enthusiasts.

FAQs

Is Hornady a good brand?

Hornady produces consistent ammunition and reloading components that perform well across their product range, and they have a long standing reputation among hunters, competitors, and law enforcement users. Their bullet designs are built to solve specific ballistic problems, such as tip deformation at long range or controlled expansion over wide impact speed windows, rather than simply repackaging older technology. Many reloaders find that quality control on component bullets is good enough that only minor adjustments are needed when changing lots, although serious precision shooters still verify performance whenever components change.

Does the FBI use Hornady ammo?

The FBI has formally selected and contracted specific Hornady loads for duty use, most notably a 9 mm +P 135 grain Critical Duty cartridge that was awarded the bureau’s full size service ammunition contract in recent years after extensive testing under FBI protocols. Agency ammunition contracts can and do change over time based on new testing and procurement cycles. For civilian buyers, the important point is that Hornady’s defensive lines such as Critical Duty and Critical Defense are engineered around the same penetration and expansion standards used in FBI style barrier testing, which provides a useful benchmark when evaluating performance.

What company owns Hornady?

Hornady remains a privately held, family owned business headquartered in Grand Island, Nebraska, founded by Joyce Hornady in 1949 and currently operated by later generation family members. This independent ownership structure allows the company to prioritize long term product development and capital investment instead of responding to short term public market pressures. The company has not been absorbed into a larger firearms conglomerate, which is relatively uncommon among major U.S. ammunition brands of similar size.

Is Hornady better than Federal ammo?

Both Hornady and Federal produce high quality ammunition, and which is “better” depends on the specific load and intended use. Hornady tends to emphasize high BC projectiles and polymer tip technology across many centerfire rifle and handgun lines, while Federal offers a very broad catalog that includes extensive law enforcement and military contract loads, shotshells, and rimfire options. A practical approach is to compare individual loads from each brand in your firearm, looking at reliability, accuracy, and terminal performance rather than assuming one label is universally superior.