Herter's Ammo Review: Is It Any Good? That Depends...
Wondering about Herter’s ammo? We were too, to be honest, so we decided to take a deep dive into this historic brand.
We reviewed the ammo itself and looked into where and how it is made. We also found out some fascinating stuff about the original Herter’s brand (that I didn’t even know, and I’m supposed to be an expert on this stuff).
Here’s what we learned.
Is Herter’s Ammo Good?
The most obvious question is also the most difficult to answer, unfortunately. Is the ammo any good? Probably, yes.
See, Herter’s isn’t actually a company anymore; they went bankrupt in the 1980s. What happened after is a familiar story in the firearms industry: the brand name got bought out and is now used by another retailer. In this case, Cabela’s currently owns the Herter’s brand name and contracts out the actual production of the ammo to other companies.
Principally, we’ve found that most of Herter’s ammo is now produced by the Olin Corporation, aka Winchester. This is especially true of Herter’s handgun ammo and shotshells.
Winchester is, of course, great! They make excellent ammo that hunters, target shooters, and those looking to defend themselves can depend on.
There has only been one recall or major issue associated with Herter’s Winchester-produced ammo, and that was due to a powder issue that wasn’t really Winchester’s fault. Many people report getting Herter’s ammo with Winchester headstamps. Such ammo is likely to be great.
The problem is that Winchester isn’t the only manufacturer which produces Herter’s ammo – and since Herter’s is effectively a reseller label for other brands, it’s impossible to know what exactly you’re getting without checking the headstamp on the case (which you can’t do online, and often can’t do in-store, either).
What does this mean?
Unfortunately, without being able to verify any contract info (all of which is non-public) or being able to see where specific Herter’s ammo is coming from, it's impossible to say how good the ammo actually is. You’ll never know exactly what’s in the box until you shoot it – and even then, you might not be able to tell, depending on the headstamp.
All in all, some Herter’s ammo is likely to be made by Winchester, which means you’re getting good stuff. But with other ammo being made or imported by other mystery brands, in many cases from overseas, it’s difficult to confirm the quality of the ammo beforehand.
Pros and Cons of Herter’s Ammunition
There are some upsides to the Herter’s brand. There are some issues to look out for as well. Here’s the quick rundown.
Pros
- Much Herter’s brand ammo is made by Winchester (good quality)
- Brass is typically good for reloading
- Ammo is sometimes deeply discounted
- Reliable primers
- Handgun, shotgun, and rifle ammo are all available
- Great for plinking and training
- Shotgun slugs exhibited very consistent velocity in our testing, and matched closely to the fps rating on the box
Cons
- Quality of ammo varies hugely from lot to lot
- No way of knowing who manufactured or imported ammo
- Inconsistent velocities
- Supply shortages have a greater impact on resellers like Herter’s because brands typically focus on their own offerings before fulfilling contracted work
- Limited rimfire offerings
- Some steel case ammo is of dubious quality
- Only available from one retailer, so supply can be limited
- Primarily loaded with full metal jacket (FMJ) and soft point (SP) projectiles
Which Calibers Are Available?
The ammo offerings from Herter’s tend to vary, so it's difficult to say what is available or reliably find things in stock. If you’re looking for a specific loading that you or your gun especially like, we recommend trying Winchester ammo (Winchester USA specifically). It’s very likely the same stuff you’ll find in boxes of Herter’s.
This is especially true for more common calibers in the US, such as:
- 9mm Luger
- .45 Colt
- .45 ACP
- .223 Remington
- .308 Winchester
- .30-06 Springfield
- .243 Winchester
- .300 BLK
You can check out all of our Winchester ammo in stock if you’re looking for something else. or a bulk pack of target ammo for any of the above.
Herter’s Ammo History and Important Information
Herter’s has a fascinating history that goes back to the Great Depression when George Leonard Herter turned his father’s dry goods store into a mail-order operation similar to Sears & Roebuck, Montgomery Ward, and others during the era.
Herter, out of personal interest and experience, decided to focus on big-ticket hunting and fishing items in his catalog, and would go on to open retail locations that inspired some little-known names like Cabela’s and Bass Pro Shops.
Like many mail-order operations, Herter’s struggled through the 1970s. It went bankrupt in 1981. From there, the brand bounced around a bit until being bought out by Cabela’s. Thus the Herter’s name became a reseller brand featured in Cabela’s and Bass Pro Shop stores.
Today, Herter’s ammo is manufactured by a variety of different major companies and primarily sold in stores. Most of it marked with the “Made in the USA” label comes from Winchester, but foreign companies have been known to make “Herter’s” ammo as well.
Frequently Asked Questions About Herter’s Ammo
Where is Herter's ammo made?
Herter’s ammo is made in facilities owned and run by other manufacturers, though the brand’s headquarters is in Sidney, Nebraska.
Are Herter's shotgun shells any good?
Herter’s shotgun shells are primarily manufactured by Winchester – one of the most prolific and successful ammo manufacturers on the planet – and are thus typically very good.
Final Thoughts on Herter’s Ammo
Herter’s ammo is interesting, and one I reviewed without much prior knowledge of. I’ve found some of their ammo to be very high-quality, which is typically the USA-made stuff produced by Winchester. Some of their other ammo (particularly the imported stuff) has been inconsistent.
That’s really the only problem with the ammo. If you’re alright with one box of ammo not quite being up to the same standards as another, and you can get it for a decent price, go for it. We just can’t know who exactly made the ammo or where it's from, and that makes it hard to recommend for anyone who needs consistency from box to box.
If you enjoyed this Herter's ammo review, or you’d like to learn more about the company that makes a lot of Herter’s best stuff, you can read up on Winchester and their product offerings, or you can check out our review of Hornady ammunition.
