beginning in 1988
Rapid City, South Dakota
- Jeff Hoffman, was a police officer for over 35 years
- 1981 Jeff bought into an existing company called Black Hills Shooter Supply
- 1988 Jeff and his wife, Kristi, formed Black Hills Ammunition
– precision made ammunition - first big contract was with the Army Marksmanship Unit
- well-known for their .223 and 5.56 rifle ammo
– 75 grain heavy match .223 ammo - manufactures highly sought-after rifle and handgun ammunition
- Cowboy Action Loads
– more calibers in cowboy loads than any other company today
– authentic period correct ammo - 19990s US Military branch purchases match 5.56mm ammunition from Black Hills
Black Hills Ammunition
PO Box 3090
Rapid City, SD 57709
(605) 348-5150
www.black-hills.com
About Black Hills Ammunition
Black Hills Ammunition is a family-owned ammunition maker in Rapid City, South Dakota, run by Jeff and Kristi Hoffman. Jeff Hoffman was a working Rapid City police officer when the couple started a small handgun ammunition business in the early 1980s. American Rifleman writer Wiley Clapp recalled that the first boxes were labeled with a felt-tip pen. Jeff has served as president and Kristi as vice president for the company’s whole history. The company makes rifle and handgun loads, including period-correct cowboy action ammunition in unusual calibers such as .38-40 and .45 Auto Rim.
Black Hills built its reputation on precision .223 and 5.56mm NATO ammunition. In 1996 it won a U.S. Army Marksmanship Unit contract for 80-grain .223 match ammunition. In 1999 engineers at Naval Surface Warfare Center Crane asked the company to develop a load for the Mk 12 Special Purpose Rifle. The result was the 77-grain open-tip match Mk 262, adopted as Mod 0 in 2002 and Mod 1 in 2003. Black Hills sells a civilian version, which is why it is a familiar name to AR-15 owners who want match-grade 5.56 performance.
Key Facts
- 1981: Company roots established by Jeff and Kristi Hoffman in Rapid City, South Dakota
- 1996: Won a U.S. Army Marksmanship Unit contract for 80-grain .223 match ammunition
- 1999: Asked by NSWC Crane to develop a load for the Mk 12 rifle
- 2002: Mk 262 Mod 0 adopted
- 2003: Mk 262 Mod 1 adopted, with a cannelured bullet
Sources
- Black Hills Ammo: A Family Business (American Rifleman)
- Special Forces to Civilians: Black Hills Mk 262 Mod 1 Review (Shooting Times)
- Black Hills Ammunition (Wikipedia)
Across the Gun Websites Network
- Black Hills Ammunition Ammo Buyers Guide.com
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