Underwood Ammo Review: The New Kid on the Block
When it comes to American ammunition manufacturers, Underwood is the new kid on the block. It’s an ammo company that proudly wears its Red, White, and Blue colors, born from founder Kevin Underwood mission to provide high-quality and affordable ammunition to anyone who needs it.
With a wide variety of calibers and bullet types and weights, you’re likely to find the ammunition you need coming out of the Underwood plant in Illinois. The company is still relatively new, however, so it may be challenging to find Underwood ammo in stock.
We like Underwood, and do everything we’re able to keep an expansive list of ammunition in stock. If you’d like to know more about Underwood before you buy, keep reading!
Is Underwood Ammo Any Good?
Underwood produces high-quality self-defense and hunting cartridges. For its size, Underwood’s comparable quality to big names like Winchester and Speer is impressive.
You can get jacketed hollow point (JHP) cartridges for personal defense, solid sopper rounds for hunting on protected land, and full metal jacket (FMJ) rifle and handgun ammo for target practice and stockpiling.
Underwood’s ammunition has decent ballistic performance and other key features you’d expect from high-end ammunition. With everything from Ballistic Tip bullets, bonded bullets, and coated hard cast projectiles (for woods defense), there isn’t much you won’t find.
Underwood Ammo for Personal Defense
If you’re wondering whether Underwood ammo will suffice as your everyday carry (EDC) ammo, the answer is, absolutely.
The company easily competes with our top personal defense brands like Hornady Critical Defense and Speer Gold Dot. Whether you’re carrying a Glock 17, 1911, or a little .380 ACP, Underwood will keep you in rich supply of trustworthy ammo.
If you’re looking for effective ammo for your 9mm, 10mm, or other pistol, you’ll love Underwood’s solid copper TAC-XP or Xtreme Defender ammo. The nickel-plated brass case offers multiple performance benefits, and it’s packed with flash-suppressed powder to help you conserve your vision in low light.
One thing that separates Underwood from many other defense ammo manufacturers is that they aren't afraid to push the limits of new technology. Take the Xtreme Penetrator bullets by Lehigh Defense Underwood loads, for example. These projectiles use groves to channel, pressurize, and eject soft tissue in lateral directions, potentially at velocities higher than the bullet itself is traveling. The result is massive hydrostatic shock and a huge temporary wound cavity, without the need for a hollow point nose cavity that could clog with debris on impact.
Underwood Ammo for Hunting
If you’re like me, you’re always on the hunt for good hunting ammo. I love a good bullet design when it comes time to hit the woods. Underwood loads everything from the Hornady eXtreme Terminal Performance (XTP) to monolithic bullets by Barnes, as well as Nosler’s celebrated AccuBond.
If you’re like me and you like to test new ammo, don’t worry. Underwood won’t break the bank. You can find this high-quality ammo for reasonable prices, and it’s great for reloading. It’s basically guilt-free ammo that performs really well.
While you do need a good expanding bullet for any hunting or defense, you can go a little cheaper when it comes to your target practice ammunition. If this is the ammunition you’re looking for, you can get a few cases of Underwood FMJ rounds, too.
Pros & Cons
We wouldn’t give you all of the information above without telling you the pros and cons of Underwood ammunition. Fortunately, there are more pros
Pros
- Great quality
- Wide selection of high-quality ammo
- Made in America
- Excellent personal defense options
- Brilliant hunting ammo designs
Cons
- Slightly costlier than many other ammo brands
- Online availability isn’t always great
As you can see, Underwood produces some great ammo, and it’s certainly worth the price.
Which Calibers Are Available?
There’s no point in searching for good ammo if the company doesn’t produce your caliber. I compiled this list to help you see if Underwood makes what you want.
Rifle
- .22-250 Remington
- .25-06 Remington
- .30 Carbine
- .30-06 Springfield
- .30-30 Winchester
- .45 Raptor
- .45-70 Government
- .223 Remington
- .224 Valkyrie
- .243 Winchester
- .270 Winchester
- .300 AAC Blackout (7.62x35mm)
- .300 Rem Ultra Mag
- .300 Winchester Magnum
Handgun
- .32 ACP (& +P)
- .32 ACP +P
- .38 Special
- .38 Special +P
- .38 Super +P
- .40 S&W
- .40 Super
- .41 Remington Magnum
- .44 Magnum
- .44 Remington Magnum +P+
- .44 Special
- .45 ACP
- .45 ACP +P
- .45 Colt (Long Colt)
- .45 Colt (Long Colt) +P
- .45 GAP
- .45 Super
- .45 Winchester Magnum
- .327 Federal Magnum
- .356 TSW
- .357 Mag
- .357 Sig
- .380 ACP
- .380 ACP +P
- .400 Cor Bon
- .454 Casull
- .460 Rowland
- .460 S&W Magnum
- .475 Linebaugh
- .480 Ruger
- .500 S&W Magnum
- 9mm Luger
- 9mm Luger +P
- 9mm Luger +P+
- 9x18mm (9mm Makarov)
- 9x25mm Dillon
- 10mm Auto
We carry Underwood ammo because we like it. We’re apparently not the only ones, because it tends to go quickly. If you can’t find the Underwood ammo you want, then Speer, Winchester, Federal, and many other great American brands all make superb understudies.
Underwood Ammo History & Important Information
The Underwood ammo company opened its doors in 2013 with the goal of supplying high-quality ammunition at affordable prices. With Kevin Underwood at the helm, Underwood now supplies many calibers and ammo types to people all over the U.S.
The company’s culture makes a point of supporting the defenders of our country and our freedom. They offer military discounts, and support deserving nonprofit organizations.
Where Is Underwood Ammo Made?
Underwood Ammo is produced in Sparta, Illinois. The facility produces ammo for nearly any application you can imagine, from hunting and self-defense to target practice.
FAQ
I receive a lot of questions about ammo manufacturers. If you still have questions about Underwood ammo, keep reading!
Is Underwood ammo safe for a Glock 9mm?
Yes. Underwood 9mm ammo is safe for Glock firearms. It is loaded to industry standard pressures and with high-quality components.
Is it safe to shoot hard cast bullets in a Glock?
Sure! Underwood’s hard cast projectiles are safe for the polygonal rifling in a Glock thanks to their special polymer coating. This coating prevents leading in a Glock barrel’s polygonal rifling.
Is Underwood ammo accurate?
Underwood ammo is extremely accurate, with most shooters reporting MOA levels of accuracy or better.
What does +P mean in ammo?
When you see +P on ammunition, it means that it has a higher pressure than standard rounds. +P rounds are often preferred for self-defense because they increase the muzzle velocity and transfer more kinetic energy to their target.
What is the difference between .45-70 and .45-70 Government
The .45-70 is the same exact thing as .45-70 Government. There are no differences.
Parting Shots
We think pretty highly of Underwood ammo. The rounds are excellent, the pricing isn’t too bad, and the company is reputable and respectable. If you’re an ammo connoisseur, definitely order a few boxes of Underwood for your arsenal today!
