NRA Gun Gear of the Week: Hornady Wins FBI 9 mm Contract

by
posted on May 12, 2018

For a company that often bills itself as a small ammunition maker, Hornady of Grand Island, Neb., is making big waves by landing perhaps the most important ammunition contract in the United States, outside of military procurement. Cutting to the chase, Hornady’s 135-gr. +P Critical Duty 9 mm Luger ammunition has been selected by the FBI for an Indefinite Delivery/Indefinite Quantity contract to become the new duty ammunition of the country’s premier law enforcement agency. Competition for this contract is fierce, for one, because the testing protocol is so difficult, and includes barrier penetration tests which require not only ample and consistent penetration, but also expansion—no mean feat, especially against the surprisingly formidable auto glass barrier. The other reason this contract is so hotly contested is because many, many other law enforcement agencies—especially those without the resources to conduct thorough internal testing—rely on the FBI’s ballistic findings, and follow the Bureau’s lead when it comes to procurement. The downstream effects are massive.  

During NRA’s 2018 Annual Meeting and Exhibits, American Rifleman’s Joe Kurtenbach caught up with Jason Hornady and Neal Emery to talk about the FBI contract and the top-performing Critical Duty ammunition.

Additional Reading:
Understanding Hornady's Critical Defense and Critical Duty Ammo  
Hornady Awarded FBI 9 mm Plus P Ammunition Contract   
FBI Selects Hornady Critical Duty Ammo






Latest

heavy machine gun crew with DShK on tripod pointing in air above trees
heavy machine gun crew with DShK on tripod pointing in air above trees

Red Fifty: The Soviet 12.7 mm DShK Heavy Machine Gun

While the Browning .50-cal. M2 machine gun has been unequaled for more than a century, John Moses Browning’s genius design has had one significant 12.7 mm competitor: the Soviet DShK.

Support The NRA Youth Education Summit (YES) On Giving Tuesday

With more than 1,200 students having graduated from the program and over $700,000 in scholarships awarded since 1996, NRA's YES is an immersive leadership program for high school students eager to learn about the foundations of our nation, the importance of civic engagement and the role of the Second Amendment.

Rifleman Review: Remington 360 Buckhammer

Remington Ammunition's 360 Buckhammer is a straight-wall hunting cartridge that's designed to give deer hunters an ideal round for their Midwestern hunt.

New For 2025: EAA Girsan Witness2311 Brat, Match and MatchX

European American Armory Corp. (EAA) introduced an affordable variation of the double-stack 1911 design with their Girsan Witness2311 in 2023, continually adding additional chamberings and slide length options. New for 2025, the company is adding three new versions of the Witness2311 with the Match, MatchX and Brat models.

Review: Citadel Trakr

At less than 4 lbs., this repeating rifle is easy on the back while also being extraordinarily easy on the budget.

Freedom Munitions To Move Ammo Component Production To Idaho

Freedom Munitions has announced it will be consolidating its projectile component production from X-Treme Bullets out of Nevada into its Lewiston, Idaho, facilities.

Interests



Get the best of American Rifleman delivered to your inbox.