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

Taurus Expedition Rifleman Review 1
Taurus Expedition Rifleman Review 1

Rifleman Review: Taurus Expedition

Taurus entered the bolt-action rifle market with its Expedition, a Remington 700-pattern design that's built to be versatile and affordable.

New For 2025: Charter Arms Pathfinder II

Charter Arms updated one of the oldest models in its lineup with the new Pathfinder II, which features a lightweight 7075 aluminum frame, making it more well-balanced and easier to carry.

Review: Kimber 2K11

The 2011-style pistol was designed to address the capacity limitations of the single-stack M1911 platform, and Kimber's approach to the concept is its 2K11, a competition-ready offering with several notable features.

Favorite Firearms: A High-Flying Hi-Standard “A-D”

Manufactured in New Haven, Conn., in late 1940, this Hi-Standard pistol was shipped as a Model “A,” but a heavier Model “D” barrel was installed later to replace the original, light barrel, leading one American Rifleman reader to call it a Model “A-D.”

Ruger Helps Families In Need Through The Kids & Clays Foundation

In the effort to help tens of thousands of critically ill children and their families across the nation through local Ronald McDonald Houses, Ruger is among some of the industry’s foremost Platinum-level sponsors of The Kids & Clays Foundation.

Unlocking The Future: Smith & Wesson's "No Lock" Revolvers

The future is shaping up to be a good one for fans of Smith & Wesson revolvers. The iconic American company had released 14 new models thus far in 2025 at the time this was written mid-year. And, with one exception, they have all shared a common feature—no internal lock.

Interests



Get the best of American Rifleman delivered to your inbox.