Black Hills Ammo: A Family Business

by
posted on August 16, 2016
** 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. **
wiley-clapp.jpg

During a recent trip to the range for gun evaluations, I fired several guns and among them was a 1911-style .45 automatic. Happily enough, this is not unusual for me. I fired the typical NRA protocol of five consecutive five-shot groups at 25 yards, using three different commercial loads. Black Hills 230-gr. JHP produced the best overall accuracy and that is not unusual for me, either. For decades, I have used Black Hills ammunition in virtually every handgun caliber they make and that includes such unusual ones as .38-40 and .45 Auto Rim. It is always high-quality ammunition and frequently the most accurate of the day. Part of the reason is simply that Black Hills ammo is a family business. 

Jeff Hoffman was a working cop in Rapid City, S.D., when he married his high school sweetheart, Kristi. They soon embarked on a new business—manufacturing handgun ammo. I well recall their first loads I ever fired. They came in small boxes with the description in felt tip pen on the end. From that humble beginning, Black Hills has grown to a million-dollar business. Throughout the 30-plus years of the company history they have had the same president (Jeff) and vice president (Kristi). The product line expanded wildly, as did the business volume, but this little ammo business proudly sells match ammo to our Armed Forces. Many of their employees have been with them for many years and the work ethic in that plant is one for the books.

These are great people—devotedly patriotic—who are worth the support of our entire industry. And their ammo shoots as good as anything made.

Usually a little better.

Latest

IHTOG French MAS49 1
IHTOG French MAS49 1

I Have This Old Gun: French MAS-49

Despite being early adopters of several semi-automatic rifles for military use, the French army took several decades to work out a standardized semi-automatic rifle for general service use. The rifle that finally came to being was the MAS-49.

Polite Society Industries Launches with Complete Suppressor Line

"An armed society is a polite society," goes the famous quote, which is also the inspiration behind Polite Society Industries, a new suppressor manufacturer that now has a complete line available to consumers.

NRA-ILA Names Smith & Wesson Official Partner of the 2026 NRA Gun Bus Battleground Tour

Iconic American firearms maker Smith & Wesson will join NRA-ILA on the road as nation's leading firearm group turns out voters ahead of the 2026 midterm.

A New Armed Citizen Survey That is Endlessly Fascinating—and Politically Incorrect

The 2026 National Firearms Survey conducted by William English of Georgetown University estimates that armed citizens in America use their guns 2.2 million to defend themselves or others.

Review: Heckler & Koch VP9CC

HK’s new VP9CC offers VP9 features in a micro-size pistol.

Former Barnes Bullets CEO Randy Brooks Passes Away

Randy Brooks, former president and CEO of Barnes Bullets, passed away on Aug. 27 peacefully in his Mona, Utah, home.

Interests



Get the best of American Rifleman delivered to your inbox.