A firearm is only as good as its ammunition. The selection of quality ammunition is paramount. When it comes to quality ammunition, Black Hills Ammunition stands at the pinnacle.
Black Hills Ammunition, a name that has become synonymous with precision and quality, is an American success story. Founded by Jeff and Kristi Hoffman, the company has grown from humble beginnings to become a trusted supplier for law enforcement, military, and civilian shooters alike.
Early Beginnings Of Black Hills
The story of Black Hills Ammunition begins in 1981 when Jeff, a former Rapid City Police Department officer, and his wife Kristi decided to venture into the ammunition business. Jeff had previously been handloading ammunition for his friends on the force. Initially, they were part of Black Hills Shooters Supply, but in 1988, they decided to split from the company and establish Black Hills Ammunition.
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Starting a new business is never easy, and the Hoffmans faced their share of challenges. Competing with established giants like Winchester, Remington, and Federal was daunting. However, their breakthrough came with a significant order from the Illinois State Police, which helped stabilize the fledgling company.
One of the pivotal moments in the company’s history was securing a contract with the Army Marksmanship Unit (AMU). This contract not only provided financial stability but also boosted the company’s credibility. By the late 1990s, nearly every branch of the US military was purchasing ammunition from Black Hills Ammunition.
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Jeff has brought 38 years of experience as a sworn law enforcement officer with the Rapid City Police and Pennington County Sheriff’s Office to Black Hills Ammunition. His service includes full-time, part-time, and reserve roles. He served on the Special Response Team (SRT) as a sniper for 28 years, including 11 years as Team Leader or Assistant Team Leader. Jeff retired from law enforcement in 2017. His extensive training and experience have significantly influenced his knowledge and skill in ammunition manufacturing.
Innovation & Expansion
Black Hills Ammunition is known for its innovative approach to ammunition manufacturing. The company has developed specialized loads for long-distance shooting and has been a favorite among Cowboy Action Shooting (CAS) shooters. CAS shooters approached Black Hills Ammunition and asked if they would create a series of period-correct ammunition. After consulting with history enthusiasts, they meticulously developed a range of thirteen authentic calibers.
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Today, Black Hills Ammunition operates out of a state-of-the-art facility in Rapid City, South Dakota. This modern facility spans 60,000 square feet and includes a 7,200 square foot warehouse on a 10-acre property. It is equipped with advanced manufacturing and quality control technologies to ensure the production of high-quality ammunition
The company continues to expand its product line and improve its manufacturing processes to meet the growing demand for high-quality ammunition. The company’s commitment to quality and precision has earned it a loyal customer base.
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MK262 Mod1-C Ammunition
In 1999, Black Hills Ammunition attracted the attention of US Special Operations Command (SOCOM). SOCOM invited Black Hills to collaborate on the development of the Mk12 Special Purpose Rifle (SPR) weapon system. The Mk12 SPR was developed by the Naval Surface Warfare Center Crane Division to meet the needs of US military special operations units. It was designed to bridge the gap between the M4 carbine and larger designated marksman rifles, offering a compact, semi-automatic sniper system. The Mk12 was designed for long-range engagements, with an effective range of up to 600 yards.
Black Hills Ammunition was assigned the task of developing the ammunition for the Mk12. They utilized the proven 77-grain open tip match (OTM) Sierra MatchKing® bullet, previously used by the Army Marksmanship Unit (AMU). By pairing it with a 5.56 NATO case, loading it to higher pressures, and using a low-flash powder blend, Black Hills Ammunition successfully created the first 5.56 NATO sniper cartridge. The effective range goal of 600 yards was easily exceeded.
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The Black Hills Ammunition MK262 Mod1-C commercial round maintains the same construction and performance specifications as the US Military version. Each batch undergoes rigorous testing to comply with stringent military specifications. At 300 yards, ten 10-shot groups must achieve a .64-MOA standard, which translates to 2-inch groups at that range.
HoneyBadger Ammunition
One of the standout examples of Black Hills Ammunition’s innovation is their HoneyBadger line of defensive ammunition. Named after the fearless and tenacious honey badger, this ammunition is designed to perform under the most demanding conditions.
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The HoneyBadger ammunition represents a paradigm shift in bullet design. It is the result of a collaboration between Black Hills Ammunition, led by Jeff Hoffman, and Dave Fricke, the former owner of Lehigh Defense. Their mission was to develop a bullet capable of penetrating barriers — such as glass, clothing, or automotive panels — without compromising terminal performance.
The HoneyBadger bullet, crafted from solid copper, overcomes penetration barriers and delivers environmentally friendly performance. Each bullet is precisely tailored for specific calibers and velocities, ensuring reliable performance in critical situations.
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Unlike conventional hollow point bullets, the HoneyBadger bullet is non-deforming and non-fragmenting. It remains unaffected when penetrating barriers like drywall or heavy clothing before reaching the intended target. It is completely barrier-blind and delivers impressive performance, inflicting massive tissue damage.
The Secret Sauce
The secret lies in the patented radial flutes of the HoneyBadger Fluid Transfer Monolithic (FTM) projectiles. These flutes are cut longitudinally into the bullet’s body, originating at the bullet’s nose. When the bullet impacts, these flutes act as lower regions of pressure that channel the hydraulic energy, forcing it to follow a curved path to be accelerated violently outward by the trailing edges of the flutes. This results in intense pressure spikes that severely damage surrounding tissue, causing significant trauma and tissue tearing.
Each round is meticulously engineered to provide consistent performance, with specific attention to velocity and energy. This level of performance ensures that the ammunition works reliably every time, regardless of the circumstances.
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By moving away from traditional hollow point designs and focusing on solid copper projectiles with advanced fluting, Black Hills has created a line of ammunition that is both reliable and highly effective. It’s also exceptionally accurate. I would trust my life to it.
Reputation for Quality
Black Hills Ammunition has built a reputation for producing some of the highest quality ammunition available. This reputation is largely due to their stringent quality control measures, which ensure that every round meets the highest standards of performance and reliability. Black Hills Ammunition sources only the best components for their products, using non-corrosive primers and reloadable brass cases to ensure each round is built to last.
Every round of ammunition produced by Black Hills Ammunition is hand-inspected by quality control specialists at each stage of the manufacturing process. This meticulous inspection process helps identify and reject any rounds that show even the smallest blemishes or defects. Black Hills Ammunition is known for its consistent shot-to-shot muzzle velocity and tight shot groups. This consistency is achieved through rigorous testing and quality control measures that ensure each round performs as expected.
Trusted by multiple Special Operations groups of the US Military and law enforcement agencies, Black Hills Ammunition is often used for testing by firearms manufacturers such as Beretta, Colt, LMT, Geissele, Ruger, and numerous others. This trust is a testament to Black Hills Ammunition’s commitment to quality, consistency, and reliability.
Final Thoughts
Black Hills Ammunition’s dedication to quality control is evident in every round they produce. Their meticulous inspection process, use of high-quality components, and commitment to consistency and accuracy have made them a trusted name in the ammunition industry.
From its humble beginnings in a small metal shed to becoming a trusted name in the ammunition industry, Black Hills Ammunition’s journey is a testament to the dedication and vision of Jeff and Kristi Hoffman. Their commitment to quality and innovation has ensured that Black Hills Ammunition remains a preferred choice for shooters around the world.
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