Reloading 101: Hornady's How-To & Handloading History

by
posted on May 13, 2020
** When you buy products through the links on our site, we may earn a commission that supports NRA's mission to protect, preserve and defend the Second Amendment. **
Watch our ARTV video above to learn about Hornday Manufacturing and reloading custom 6.5 Creedmoor ammunition.

Text on faded reloading press image stating "Hornady: Reloading Today"


Family-owned company Hornady was founded as a response to a flooded market of post-World War II ammunition unsuitable for hunting. Company founder Joyce W. Hornady worked tirelessly to create a bullet hunters and shooters could rely on.

Vintage image of man shooting wood-stocked rifle with scope at a shooting bench.

The first bullet to come from Hornady was a .30-cal. 150-gr. spire point, which continues today to be one of the most popular bullets available. For Hornady, sales continued to flourish advancing through the 1950s and '60s.

Shooters came to Hornady for its reliable bullets and it was at this point, in the early 1970s, that the company began to diversify into products outside its scope of current offerings. With the acquisition of Pacific Tool Company, the company found itself in an emerging market of hobbyists and professionals wanting the most accurate ammunition possible.

Two men at a reloading bench with tools adjusting a Hornady Iron Press.

Hornady Manufacturing offers advanced products driven by competitive shooters, reloaders, hunters and enthusiasts worldwide. Whether providing monolithic or swaged bullets designed for long-range competition use, hunting and personal defense, Hornady's specialty, today, extends past reloading components and tools.

Currently in its 10th Edition, Hornady presents its all inclusive reloading manual with over 1,000 pages of bullet information, data and techniques, of which encompasses over 200 chamberings covering the entire process from start to finish, a real value for the professional and up-and-coming reloader alike.

Reloading tools on bench with a gun powder scale.

In our American Rifleman TV video above, Joe Kurtenbach joins Hornday’s Seth Swerczek to learn about the reloading process for 6.5 Creedmoor ammunition using Hornady’s Iron Press, Match Grade dies and accessories. Watch our American Rifleman TV feature video for the details, and to learn more about Hornady Manufacturing and the products it has to offer, visit hornady.com.

Latest

Smith Wesson Academy Artv 1
Smith Wesson Academy Artv 1

The Smith & Wesson Academy Reopens

One of the latest expansions at S&W's new Maryville facility is the addition of an entirely new training ground, the new home of the legendary Smith & Wesson Academy.

New for 2026: EAA Balikli BLK Bolt-Action Rifles

This year, EAA Corp. expanded its catalog with a new hunting rifle, the Balikli BLK bolt-action, which has high-end features for its price, as well as compatibility with broad aftermarket.

HOUSTON 2026 | The 155th NRA Annual Meetings & Exhibits

Exuberance was the defining spirit of the 2026 NRA Annual Meetings. More than 73,000 attendees packed the George R. Brown Convention Center in Houston to celebrate 250 years of America, concurrent with 155 years of their NRA.

Shotshell Basics: Understanding Payloads, Pressures & Performance

A shotgun can be supremely versatile, depending on how it’s loaded. Understanding how shotshells work is difficult, but crucial.

Rock River Arms Celebrates 30 Years in Business

While the company's beginnings go back to 1994, the Rock River Arms story officially started in 1996, meaning that it is celebrating 30 years in business in 2026.

Review: Daniel Defense H9

Is the third time the charm? Daniel Defense has introduced a third version of the Hudson H9 pistol. Smaller, lighter and less radical, it could be “the one.”

Interests



Get the best of American Rifleman delivered to your inbox.