The Ultimate Hornady Ammo Review: Tested & Approved
Interested in learning more about Hornady Manufacturing Company and its ammo offerings? Get on in here!
As one of the older American ammo brands, has Hornady been keeping up with advances in ammunition technology? Or have they been resting on their laurels? Let’s take a look at this titan of industry and give you a good sense of where they rank in the world of ammunition producers.
We’re going to look at the overall quality of the brand, how they stack up against some competitors, what exactly they produce, and how they produce it in this deep-dive ammo review.
Is Hornady a Good Brand for Ammo?
Is Hornady a good ammo brand? In a word: yes.
I would go so far as to say that Hornady is one of the best in terms of available ammo choices, new caliber development, and product line innovation. There’s a Hornady round out there for every purpose and nearly every caliber.
Hornady’s ammo is consistently high-quality and a great value for the money. Whether you’re looking for handgun, rifle, or shotgun ammo, Hornady has got something for you. Their vast range of products makes Hornady a great choice if you’re looking for consistent results by sticking to one brand.
Hornady especially excels at designing hollow point self-defense rounds (e.g. Hornady Critical Defense or Hornady Critical Duty), as well as hunting and long-range ammo. Their American Gunner line of ammunition and other budget lines are also very consistent: a great value for plinking, or even competition.
Pros and Cons of Hornady Ammo
Let's take a look at some of the upsides and downsides of Hornady’s ammo lineup.
Pros of Hornady Ammo
- Industry-leading projectiles for defensive handguns, lever actions, and long-range precision rifles
- Excellent defensive and hunting ammo
- High-quality brass and nickel-plated brass cases
- Consistent velocities across batches of ammo
- Suppressor-friendly subsonic options available
- Readily available with high output, so you won’t struggle to find your favorite product in stock.
Cons of Hornady Ammo
- More expensive than many other brands
- Limited choice of shotgun ammo (other than defensive or medium-large game hunting rounds)
In our testing, Hornady had some of the most consistent velocities of any brand, with very little variance between velocities from the same batch of ammo and even across batches.
This is one of the primary indicators of quality when you’re comparing factory ammo. The box may say 2,700 fps muzzle velocity, but actually getting that always come down to the gun and surrounding conditions. That’s why we measure for shot-to-shot consistency, which is far more important for tight shot groups.
Hornady’s offerings are normally very readily available. If you find something you like, you won’t have to worry about running out of it. This accessibility is especially important for long-range shooters and hunters who zero their optics precisely.
Hornady produces a vast variety of cartridges: from 22 LR up to 50 BMG and basically everything in between, with various bullet weights available for each. You can save a little money by buying bulk 300 AAC Blackout or nearly every other round they manufacture.
I personally use their 300 Winchester Magnum, 6.5 PRC, 300 PRC 45 ACP, 5.56 NATO, and 9mm Luger ammo almost exclusively when I’m not shooting something else for work.
Hornady offers shooters some of the best ballistics with their self and home defense lines, several of which are used by law enforcement because of their proven track record. Hornady’s standard FMJ loads also perform well, but their bread and butter are their rounds featuring proprietary, purpose-built projectiles.
Quite a lot of Hornady ammunition, especially the stuff for the concealed carry or law enforcement markets, features high-quality hollow points. Their FTX and XTP projectiles are both popular choices for defense owing to their consistently deep and wide terminal ballistics..
This commitment to excellent projectiles also applies to their long-range rifle ammo: an area in which they are at the industry’s forefront. Many of the most successful new cartridges in recent years have started in Hornady’s test facilities, like 6.5 and .300 PRC.
Their LEVERevolution line is now the gold standard for lever-action carbines of all calibers, as it offers a safe polymer-tipped bullet that won’t ignite the primer of the round in front of it. This gives lever gun shooters the greatest degree of safety possible and the vastly improved ballistics of a spitzer projectile.
Hornady also has some very high-quality subsonic ammo which is great for those of us who shoot with suppressors. I use their Subsonic series 45 ACP exclusively in one of my home-defense guns. If you want to buy it, make sure you buy 45 ACP in bulk - you get excellent quality for a better price that way. Also make sure also to read our full Hornady Subsonic ammo review to learn more about this exceptional self-defense and hunting ammo.
Hornady’s cartridge cases are also excellent, which makes the brand that much more popular in the reloading community.
Which Calibers Are Available From Hornady?
- Hornady 10mm
- Hornady 12 Gauge
- Hornady 17 HM2
- Hornady 17 HMR
- Hornady 20 Gauge
- Hornady 22 WMR
- Hornady 223 Rem
- Hornady 243 Win
- Hornady 270 Win
- Hornady 300 Blackout
- Hornady 300 PRC
- Hornady 30-06
- Hornady 30-30
- Hornady 308 Win
- Hornady 32 ACP
- Hornady 338 Win Mag
- Hornady 357 Mag
- Hornady 38 Special
- Hornady 380 ACP
- Hornady 40 S&W
- Hornady 44 Magnum
- Hornady 44 S&W Special
- Hornady 45 ACP
- Hornady 45 Long Colt
- Hornady 45-70 Govt
- Hornady 5.56x45
- Hornady 50 BMG
- Hornady 500 S&W Magnum
- Hornady 6mm Creedmoor
- Hornady 6.5 Creedmoor
- Hornady 6.5 Grendel
- Hornady 6.5 PRC
- Hornady 7mm Rem Magnum
- Hornady 7mm-08 Rem
- Hornady 9.3x62mm
- Hornady 9mm
Hornady Ammo History and Important Information
Hornady Manufacturing Company was founded in a rented garage by Joyce Hornady in 1949. The first thing Mr. Hornady produced was a .30 caliber 150 grain spire point bullet – just the ticket for handloading 30-06 Springfield. It was produced on a WWII surplus press.
Though the company has remained in the small Nebraska town where it started out, Hornady has grown to become one of the largest ammo manufacturers on the planet.
The company is still primarily run by the Hornady family these days. Hornady is consistently pushing the development of ammunition forward, and has been doing so from the moment Joyce Hornady sold his first bullet over 75 years ago.
Where Is Hornady Ammo Made?
Hornady ammo is made in Grand Island, Nebraska, where the company is headquartered. They produce hundreds of thousands of rounds a day, and recently opened a new facility to help meet growing demand for their ammo.
Frequently Asked Questions About Hornady Ammo
What is the most accurate Hornady ammo?
The most accurate Hornady ammo is their Superformance Match line, which is designed to excel in precision-shooting events like a Precision Rifle Series and NRA High Power Rifle Competition.
Who makes Hornady ammo?
Hornady Ammunition is an independent ammunition manufacturer. A team of hundreds of employees makes Hornady ammo led by members of the original Hornady family, including Steve Hornady, son of founder Joyce Hornady.
Does the FBI use Hornady ammo?
Yes, the FBI uses Hornady Critical Duty 9mm +P 135 gr FlexLock ammunition is in all issued duty sidearms.
Final Thoughts on Hornady Ammo
Hornady has earned its position as one of the top ammo manufacturers. They are committed to cartridge and projectile development, and actively pushing the industry forward instead of merely sticking to what has worked in the past.
If you’d like to know more, you can check out our full list of Hornady ammo offerings or read our more in-depth look at the history of Hornady!
