For nearly 140 years, the Union Metallic Cartridge Company name has been synonymous with some of the finest ammunition made. Since its beginning in 1867, UMC has blazed a trail of innovation in cartridge-making excellence that continues to this day. UMC was the first ammunition company to produce centerfire ammunition, the .22 Long Rifle cartridge, and super-accurate “Palma Match” target ammunition. The UMC division makes only first-quality product, in a limited line of popular specifications, so they can bring you the benefit of manufacturing efficiencies that keep costs low. The rifle and handgun ammunition made today is the product of 140 years of design innovation and manufacturing excellence.

Reliable, affordable loads for the high-volume shooter. Whether for practice, target shooting or training exercises, UMC ammunition is a superb choice for high volume shooting and hunting. This ammunition is new production, non-corrosive, in boxer primed, reloadable brass cases.

Hornady Critical Defense Ammunition was purpose built for concealed carry guns and designed to deliver reliable and controlled expansion regardless of target every time.. Critical Defense Ammunition is loaded with Hornady’s  bullet which has a soft polymer insert that delivers superior controlled expansion and large, deep wound cavities over a wide range of velocities. Each round is loaded into a nickel case for increased visibility in low-light situations and premium low flash propellants that deliver proven performance, even in very short-barreled handguns that will not disrupt your vision. This ammunition was designed by Hornady to expand every single time. This ammunition is new production, non-corrosive, in boxer primed, reloadable brass cases.

Features

• Unaffected by thick and heavy clothing, including denim and leather
• Bullet delivers superior controlled expansion and large, deep wound cavities over a wide range of velocities
• Clean burning and efficient propellants reduce recoil in lightweight handguns, and perform consistently at all temperatures
• Minimal muzzle flash protect night vision
• Feeds reliably in pistols
• Bullets are custom designed for individual loads
• Effective, consistent, reliable self-defense ammunition

Notice From Hornady: Temporary suspension of nickel plated cartridge cases for Critical Defense® Handgun Ammunition 5/25/21

Unfortunately, everyone is faced with production bottlenecks and supply chains are stressed. In particular, the freight system is delayed longer than normal. Our current turnaround time on nickel plating cartridge cases is 4+ weeks. This delay has created a significant bottleneck in the production of ammunition.

Due to these issues, we will suspend nickel plating on all Critical Defense handgun ammunition to help reduce production time.

Please note, this is a temporary suspension. We will review in six months and plan to resume nickel plating when things return to normal.

For those wanting the deep-for-weight penetration of the all copper (lead free) Barnes XPB 140gr. bullet in a Tactical loading, here it is. We use low flash powder so the shooter will not be blinded by his own gunfire, as nearly all self defense shootings in America occur in low light when the criminal element is out and about.

Expect roughly 22+ inches of penetration in flesh and bone and a mushroom of roughly 55 caliber, with this load. These figures vary with differing impact velocities and amount of bone or heavy clothing encountered.

Our Tactical 357 mag. ammo generates less felt recoil and blast (flash and noise) than our Heavy 357 mag. load and as such is a better choice for those carrying light weight short barreled revolvers. This is still a full power 357 mag. load, (but not nearly as powerful as our Heavy 357 mag. ammunition)but allows for faster follow-up shots and greater shooting comfort.

This load is safe to use in any/all 357 mag. chambered firearms, as are all of our Tactical 357 mag. loads even those with light weight alloy cylinders and frames.

As always, Buffalo Bore refuses to get involved with the industry wide duplicitous practice of using extra long laboratory barrels to generate our published velocities. Doing so is dishonest to the customer as he/she will never be able to generate such velocities with real world firearms, in the real world, where it matters. Please note our real world velocities, fired from real world firearms:

• 1401 fps — Marlin 1894, 18 inch
• 1225 fps — S&W Mod 27, 5 inch
• 1246 fps — S&W MT. Gun, 4 inch
• 1199 fps — S&W Mod 66, 3 inch
• 1149 fps — S&W Mod 66, 2.5 inch

You’ll note that the more modern 4 inch S&W shoots faster velocities than the older 5 inch S&W. This is not a typo and is due to differing internal barrel dynamics of the two revolvers. GENREALLY speaking, newer S&W revolvers generate faster velocities than the older S&W’s, although we occasionally see an older S&W that shoots faster than a new one. Truth is that each firearm, no matter who made it or what model or date of manufacture, is a law unto itself.

Buffalo Bore loads their ammunition with the highest quality components available to maximize the performance of the ammunition. This ammunition is safe to use in all 357 Magnum chambered firearms with steel frames that are in proper working condition. This ammunition is new production, non-corrosive, in boxer primed, reloadable brass cases.

Owner of Buffalo Bore Tim Sundles on Buffalo Bore Heavy 357 Magnum Ammunition:

For those wanting/needing a lead-free, HEAVY 357 Magnum load, generating full power plus, here it is.

Below are real world velocities taken from my personal stock guns. The industry established use of long laboratory test barrels that give false high velocity readings is essentially misleading to the public who won’t be firing the ammo from a laboratory test barrel in the real world, where it matters.

• 2145 fps – Marlin mod 1894, 18 inch barrel
• 1583 fps – S&W mod 27, 5 inch barrel
• 1591 fps – S&W Mt. Gun, 4 inch barrel
• 1507 fps – S&W mod 66, 3 inch barrel
• 1448 fps – S&W mod 66, 2.5 inch barrel

You’ll notice the newer S&W 4 inch Mt. Gun, gave higher velocities than the older 5 inch mod 27 S&W. This is because of different internal barrel dynamics and chamber dimensions of the newer gun. In general, the newer S&W revolvers are made to tighter tolerances than those of 30+ years ago.

Due to the long-for-weight all copper bullet, the 357 does not have the case capacity to use a bulky flash retarded powder and thus there is a noticeable muzzle flash with this load in all the test revolvers, however the rifle shows no flash at all due to its longer barrel.

This load is the typical barn-burning, turbo charged, Buffalo Bore type HEAVY 357 Mag. load and as such, should only be used in revolvers made of all steel. It should not be fired in light weight, alloy framed or cylindered revolvers. Feel free to use it in ANY/ALL 357 mag. chambered rifles and all steel revolvers/handguns.

Black Hills produces factory new ammunition equal to some of the best handloads and is quickly becoming one of most popular manufacturers of ammunition. Used primarily by all branches of the United State military, this ammunition is also used by competitive shooters and hunters. This ammunition is new production, non-corrosive, in boxer primed, reloadable brass cases.

Black Hills produces factory new ammunition equal to some of the best handloads and is quickly becoming one of most popular manufacturers of ammunition. Used primarily by all branches of the United State military, this ammunition is also used by competitive shooters and hunters. This ammunition is new production, non-corrosive, in boxer primed, reloadable brass cases.