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

CZ vz.27
CZ vz.27

I Have This Old Gun: CZ vz.27

Pressed into Nazi service, the Czech-produced CZ vz.27 pistol was a popular GI bring-back from World War II.

Federal & Remington Awarded All Four Categories of FBI Rifle Ammunition Contract

The FBI recently awarded Federal Premium and Remington Ammunition—both members of The Kinetic Group family of firms—one of the largest law-enforcement contracts in TKG history.

Book Review: Darkhorse: Harnessing Hidden Potential in War and Life by Amatangelo “AJ” Pasciuti with Neil McGinness

Darkhorse: Harnessing Hidden Potential in War and Life by Amatangelo “AJ” Pasciuti (with Neil McGinness) is a powerful, unflinching memoir. It delivers raw combat accounts alongside thoughtful reflections on leadership, resilience, masculinity, and service.

Selling Short: Fiocchi's Hyperformance SBR Enhanced Ammunition

Fiocchi’s new Hyperformance SBR Enhanced line of ammunition isn’t a mere marketing gimmick. It’s designed for top performance out of short-barreled rifles, and it delivers.

New For 2026: Yankee Hill Machine Victra-20 Shotgun Suppressor

Yankee Hill Machine introduced its VICTRA-12, a modular 12-ga. shotgun suppressor, last year. This year, the company is bringing out a 20-ga. version with the VICTRA-20.

The Armed Citizen® June 22, 2026

Read today's "The Armed Citizen" entry for real stories of law-abiding citizens, past and present, who used their firearms to save lives.

Interests



Get the best of American Rifleman delivered to your inbox.