Aguila Ammunition: While handgun (.25 to .45 ACP) and shotgun (.410 to 12-gauge) ammunition comprises a much bigger part of Aguila’s product line than its rifle ammo (.223, .30 Carbine, 5.56mm and 7.62mm NATO), the rimfire component has drawn the most interest. Aquila manufactures 19 types of rimfire ammo, including the Long Rifle Super Max, which fires 30-grain soft-point and solid bullets at 1,700 fps. The SSS Sniper Subsonic round launches a 60-grain bullet from a hull half as tall as a Long Rifle’s. Aguila’s rimfire list includes two 5mm Remington loads, as well as a 40-grain jacketed soft point offering in .22 WMR. And much more! For more information, visit aguilaammo.com
Alliant Powder: More than 30 powders, ranging in burn rate from Red Dot and Unique for shotguns to Reloder 25, 33 and 50 for rifles, make up the Alliant line. Moisture-resistant BlackMZ, a black powder substitute, has joined it. Powder Pro 1000 excels in rounds like the .30-30. AR-Comp is specific to the .223. Alliant’s Reloader’s Guide has data for cartridges from the .32-20 to the .458 Lott. For more information, visit alliantpowder.com or call 800-379-1732.
Barnes Bullets: Renowned for deep penetration and high weight retention in tough game, the TSX has spawned the Tipped TSX, with poly nose, and the “long-range” LRX, with a long tapered heel for higher ballistic coefficient. Barnes offers selected TSX bullets in its VOR-TX line of ammo. This year the VOR-TX rifle line has added 62- and 70-grain 5.56mm NATO loads. New Range AR loads include a 52-grain 5.56mm and 90-grain 300 Blackout. A new Precision Match line includes offerings in 5.56mm, .308, .300 Winchester and .338 Lapua. For more information, visit barnesbullets.com or call 435-856-1000.
Berry’s Manufacturing: This Utah-based company manufactures hard-cast and jacketed pistol (plus some rifle and muzzleloader) bullets from proprietary lead alloy. The jackets are of 99.9-percent copper. From 71-grain .32s to 405-grain .45-70s, the line includes a new HHP Hybrid Hollow Point for self-defense loads in 9mm, .40 S&W and .45 ACP. Other profiles: wad-cutter to flat-point, and round-shouldered to pointed. Berry’s produces also .50-caliber polymer-tipped bullets for muzzleloaders. For more information, visit berrysmfg.com.
Black Hills Ammunition: From .223 to .338 Lapua, the Black Hills line has grown to include cartridges like the .260 Remington and .300 Whisper. Choose from a dozen .223 loads with 36- to 77-grain bullets. The smokeless Cowboy Action series comprises 14 lead-bullet loads, from .32 H&R to .45-70, at black-powder velocities and modest pressures. Black Hills’ stable of new handgun ammo, from .380 to.45 ACP, hurls jacketed (and Barnes TAC-XP) bullets at threat-stopping speeds. The popular 9mm and .45 each boast six loads. For more information, visit black-hills.com or call 605-348-5150.
Brenneke USA: Brenneke’s current line includes the Magnum Crush, a 1.5-ounce lead slug that hurls 3,752 ft-lbs of energy from 3-inch 12-bore shells. Designed for rifled barrels, it has an integral tail and is coated to reduce fouling. Similar in form are the Green Lightning, Black Magic and Tactical Home Defense slug loads in 12 and 20 gauges. Brenneke also markets 0.63-ounce, 28-gauge and 0.25-ounce .410 slug loads. The company’s 12- and 20-gauge K.O. slugs are bargains. The SuperSabot, a lead-free, 1.13-ounce expanding slug, comes in 2¾- and 3-inch 12-gauge loads. For more information, visit brennekeusa.com or call 800-753-9733.
CCI Ammunition: CCI is a rimfire dynasty, with dozens of loads from the 16-grain .17 HMR Green load to the 27-grain .22 Short hollow point to the 32-grain .22 LR Stinger and the 40-grain .22 WMR MaxiMag JHP. The Quiet-22’s segmented hollow point breaks into three pieces on impact. There’s a dimpled-nose Gamepoint for the .17 HMR and the .22 WMR, a subsonic hollow-point load for the .22 LR. This 40-grain load clocks just 1,050 fps but is deadly on small game. CCI also offers Match, Suppressor and shot loads as well as Short and CB rounds. For more information, visit cci-ammunition.com or call 800-379-1732.
CorBon: Best known for its Glaser Safety Slug (now in two lines for warm- and cold-climate carry), the CorBon stable now includes JHP, DPX (for deep penetration) and Pow’RBall bullets in its pistol ammo. For 2015 the Hunter series has added Swift A-Frames in six chamberings from the .357 to .500 S&W. Riflemen can get A-Frames in loads from .30-30 to .338 Lapua and .375 H&H, and Swift Sciroccos in others. Fast-stepping lead-core PDA loads for the .223, .243, 300 Blackout and .308 complement DPX tipped, copper, hollow-point rounds from the .223 to .45-70. The firm also makes .475 Turnbull and .400 CorBon ammo and is offering DPX bullets to handloaders. For more information, visit corbon.com or call 800-626-7266.
Cutting Edge Bullets: The ESP Raptor, a machined brass bullet with three driving bands, can be loaded either end down! The nose and tail tapers are the same. Load the solid tail first and you have an expanding hollow point, to which you can add a snap-in polymer tip. Flip the bullet around and you have a solid for dangerous game (diameters to .50), or one that limits damage to coyote pelts (in .22, .24 or .25). Cutting Edge also has lathe-turned copper Match Tactical Hunting bullets and FMJ Match Tactical bullets. The Cutting Edge SealTite band, slightly larger than the bore diameter, corks gas. For more information, visit cuttingedgebullets.com or call 814-345-6690.
DoubleTap Ammunition: With more than 300 loads and 50 bullet types, DoubleTap has shed its image as a small defense-ammunition concern. It serves long-range enthusiasts with loads for the likes of the .30-378 Weatherby. Handgun rounds include the .45 GAP and .45 Auto Rim, plus hunting loads for the .500 S&W. For more information, visit doubletapammo.com or call 866-357-1066.
Federal Premium: For 2015, the Vital-Shok Trophy Bonded Tip stable of Federal’s big-game ammo includes the .223, and the .30-30 has been added to the Trophy Copper line. Lead-free Trophy Copper hollow points have proliferated at Federal, from an 85-grain .243 load clocking 3,200 fps to a 225-grain .338 Winchester at 2,800 fps. High ballistic coefficients keep them lethal at long range. Unlike some lead-free loads, Federal’s Trophy Copper loads are stoked to lead-bullet velocities, so they trump the competition far from the muzzle. Federal has also added a .380 HST to make pocket-sized handguns suitable for self-defense. The American Eagle “value” brand unveiled its first .17 WSM load this year: a 20-grain bullet at 3,000 fps. You’ll also find a new American Eagle offering in .338 Lapua (a 250-grain JSP). For more information, visit federalpremium.com or call 800-379-1732.
Fiocchi: For 2015, Fiocchi is offering Defense shotshells with slugs (lead, rubber and frangible) or shot. All are 12-gauge, 2¾-inch cartridges. Fiocchi’s growing centerfire rifle stable has two new subsonic 300 Blackout offerings with 208-grain A-Max and 220-grain MatchKing bullets. Other cartridges range in size from the 4.6x30mm to the .300 Winchester. The Defense pistol and revolver line, from .25 to .45 ACP, features a range of bullet types. Cowboy Action ammo, .32 S&W to .45 Colt, is loaded to blackpowder pressures with lead bullets. Fiocchi’s Classic series features lesser-known rounds like the 7.63mm Mauser and 8mm Steyr-Roth,in jacketed-bullet loads for safe use in early firearms. Fiocchi still excels at making hunting and match-grade .22 rimfire ammo. For more information, visit fiocchiusa.com.
Garrett Cartridges: Shipped in compartmented red plastic boxes, Garrett ammunition is as carefully packaged as it is manufactured. Hammerhead bullets are hard-cast, using Hensley & Gibbs custom molds. You won’t see bullet failure; from 310 to 540 grains, these missiles drill wide, deep holes. Flat meplats help ensure straight-line penetration through thick bone and muscle. Garrett ammunition is uncomplicated, but it’s also tailored to specific firearms. You can get loads for an early 1886 Winchester, or a new Ruger No. 1. Labels show pressure levels as well as velocities. Even cartridge length is noted when it matters. For more information, visit garrettcartridges.com.
Goldbelt Wolf: Goldbelt Wolf customizes and delivers a full array of weapons systems, ammo, and accessories to federal and foreign law enforcement agencies and defense contractors. It’s recognized as a leading distributor of weapons and ammunition for several major American manufacturers. In addition, the company holds international representation agreements for weapons, ammunition and specialized demolition and explosives. For more information, visit goldbeltwolf.com or call 703-584-8889.
Gorilla Ammunition: For high-volume shooters, Gorilla delivers high-quality .223, 300 Blackout and .308 ammo with accurate Sierra MatchKing and BlitzKing and Hornady A-MAX bullets in a useful range of bullet weights. For more information, visit gorillaammo.com or call 772-766-5805.
Hodgdon: Hodgdon lists more than 80 types of powder, including Extreme powders that perform well across a wide temperature range. Top choices for mid-capacity hulls include Varget and CFE 223 (for Copper Fouling Eraser, a perfect match for lead-free bullets). Retumbo and US869 have joined H1000 and H4831 (also in Short Cut form) as the best in big cases with small bores, like the .26 Nosler. The IMR line boasts the 8208 XBR, perhaps “the least sensitive powder to temperature change in the universe!” It’s ideal in small rifle cartridges. For 2015, three new extruded Enduron propellants span a wide range in burn rate: 4166 in .308-sized hulls; 4451 for the .30-06, .270 and .300 WSM; and 7977 for full-length magnums. Hodgdon also offers Superformance and LeverEvolution fuels pioneered by Hornady. For more information, visit hodgdon.com or call 913-362-9455.
Hornady: New in 2015 for Hornady is the Full Boar line of rifle ammo in eight chamberings from .223 to .300 Winchester. All feature mid-weight GMX bullets. For small game, there’s a 20-grain .17 WSM load and a Superformance 75-grain V-MAX load for the .243. Hornady has also added a 285-grain A-MAX .338 Lapua offering to its Match series and a 1-ounce rifed slug to its stable of shotgun loads. Handgunners will notice a new Critical Duty 135-grain FlexLock load for the .357 Magnum and a 100-grain FTX Critical Defense Lite option in 9mm. A new American Gunner series comprises six XTP loads for popular pistol rounds from .380 to .45 ACP. New for handloaders in 2015 are 155-grain .308 BTHP and 100-grain .277 GMX rifle bullets. For more information, visit hornady.com or call 800-338-3220.
Howell Machine: Howell Machine specializes in custom building new ammunition manufacturing equipment, repairing and refurbishing existing equipment, fabricating custom machine components and providing process improvement expertise. By utilizing the philosophies of high quality, advanced techniques and superior customer service, Howell Machine has built an industry-wide reputation for manufacturing reliable, functional and quality-oriented machines and components. Since 1989, Howell Machine has been a premier supplier of custom equipment and technical expertise to the ammo industry. For more information, visit howellmachine.com or call 208-743-7418.
HPR Ammunition: A new HPR line of Emcon cartridges in 9mm, .40 S&W and .45 ACP was designed for use with suppressors. It employs quieter but also cleaner loads for extended baffle life. Black Ops ammo for these cartridges, plus .223, boasts HyperExpansion bullets. HPR offers dozens of handgun loads, from .380 to .45 Colt, and .222, .308 and 300 Blackout (supersonic) ammo for rifles.. There are 18 options for the .223 alone! For more information, visit hprammo.com or call 928-468-0223.
Lapua: Lapua has expanded its selection of brass cases, adding the .300 Blackout, 8x57IS and the 7mm-08 in 2015. A new polymer-tipped Naturalis bullet, in .308, .323 and .366, appears in Lapua’s hunting cartridges as well as in its list of components. There’s also a new 300-grain FMJBT Lock Base for long shooting with the .338 Lapua. There’s also a new 90-grain offering in 6mm BR. Lapua features a dozen loads for the 6.5x55mm and four more for its own 6.5x47mm. For more information, visit lapua.com.
Magtech/Sellier & Bellot: The Czech firm of Sellier & Bellot appeared 190 years ago with a five-year license to manufacture primers, granted by the Austro-Hungarian Emperor Franz I. Production soon rose to 700 million primers per year, and Louis Sellier and Nikolaus Bellot looked for new horizons. Recently on this timeline, Magtech joined S&B, with comprehensive lines of rifle, pistol and shotgun ammo from South America. Magtech’s list includes hollow point and Cowboy Action loads, plus ball and CleanRange lead-free ammo. S&B offers a wide range of LRN, FMJ and JHP bullets in 9mm, .38 Special and .45 Colt, with high-performance FMJ and JHP loads in .357 SIG, .40 S&W and .45 ACP. Its JHP and SP ammo in .357 and .44 Magnum and .45 Colt are potent enough for big game. For more information, visit magtechammunition.com or call 800-466-7191.
Norma: The Swedish ammo firm has long been known for superior brass cases and powders, and for the .308 and .358 Norma Magnum cartridges. But until recently, distribution hurdles have kept these products and loaded Norma ammo from many U.S. shooters. But NormaUSA is changing that picture with dozens of loads for popular American rounds from the .243 to .300 Winchester—and improved access to them. The deep-driving Oryx bullet delivers the upset you get from Trophy Bonded and Swift A-Frame soft points. Sleek lead-free Kalahari hollow points fly flat and open violently in deer-