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
