Federal Premium Ammunition
| Company type | Subsidiary |
|---|---|
| Industry | Ammunition manufacturing |
| Founded | 1916 in Anoka, Minnesota, United States |
| Founder | Harry Sherman, Louis Sherman |
| Headquarters | Anoka , United States |
Area served | Worldwide |
Key people | Charles L. Horn (revived company in 1922), William B. Horn (launched Premium line in 1977) |
| Products | Shotshell, centerfire and rimfire ammunition and components |
Number of employees | Approximately 1,500 |
| Parent | Czechoslovak Group |
| Website | www |
Federal Premium Ammunition operates as a fully owned branch of the Czechoslovak Group and is based in Anoka, Minnesota. With a workforce approaching 1,500 employees, the company specializes in manufacturing shotshell, centerfire, and rimfire ammunition along with their related components.
History
The origins of Federal trace back to World War I when brothers Harry and Louis Sherman established the Federal Cartridge and Machine Company, initially producing shotgun shells in Anoka, Minnesota. Due to disagreements with investors, the Sherman brothers exited the business in 1917, and the company ceased operations in 1920 after the war concluded.
On April 27, 1922, Charles L. Horn revived the enterprise under the name Federal Cartridge Corporation. He implemented an innovative distribution approach by placing products in venues such as grocery stores, barbershops, and service stations.
During the Second World War, Federal secured major government contracts, notably an $87 million agreement to construct and manage the Twin City Ordnance Plant. This achievement positioned the company as the 59th largest U.S. firm by military production value.
In 1977, William B. Horn launched Federal's Premium line, offering centerfire rifle and shotshell ammunition. Additionally, Federal owned Hoffman Engineering, a company specializing in electronic enclosure manufacturing.
In 1985, Federal was acquired by private investors including Kelso & Company and BancBoston Capital, resulting in a merger with Hoffman under the Federal-Hoffman, Inc. banner. Subsequently, in 1988, Pentair Inc. purchased FC Holdings Inc., the parent company of Federal-Hoffman, for $175 million plus debt assumption.
Federal later became part of Vista Outdoor Inc, which was established as a spin-off from Alliant Techsystems in February 2015. In 2024, ownership of Federal Premium Ammunition transferred to the Czechoslovak Group.
Products and marketing
Federal offers an extensive range of ammunition products designed to meet the needs of various customers and applications.
In response to Walmart discontinuing certain ammunition calibers, Federal expanded its business model in 2019 by launching a direct-to-consumer online retail platform. The company also introduced a custom hand-loaded ammunition service tailored to individual customer specifications.
HST 380 Auto Micro
The HST 380 Auto Micro is engineered for personal defense and compact pistols such as the Smith & Wesson Bodyguard. It features a nickel-plated case and a specially designed primer that improves reliability in semi-automatic handguns. This cartridge weighs 99 grains and incorporates a deep hollow-point for dependable expansion. While it does not fulfill FBI Ammunition Testing Protocol requirements, it achieves a muzzle velocity of 1,030 feet per second and delivers 235 foot-pounds of energy from a 3.75-inch barrel.
Hydra-Shok
The Hydra-Shok ammunition, developed by Federal Premium designer Tom Burczynski and introduced in 1988 after a request from the FBI, incorporates a unique center-post bullet design combined with a notched jacket and a non-bonded lead core. This configuration is intended to deliver controlled expansion and deeper penetration relative to conventional hollow point rounds. Although it demonstrates rapid expansion and creates larger wound cavities in ballistic gelatin tests, its effectiveness when passing through clothing or other obstacles has been subject to ongoing discussion.
Vital-Shok
Federal Premium expanded its Vital-Shok Trophy Copper lineup in August 2015 with the introduction of a .30-30 Winchester cartridge aimed at medium game hunting. These bullets utilize polymer tips to ensure swift expansion while maintaining 99% of their weight after impact, with only minimal mass loss attributed to the polymer tip shedding. The cartridge cases are nickel-plated, enhancing corrosion resistance and facilitating smooth extraction.
Under the Vital-Shok brand, Federal Premium also offers shotgun slugs based on the Foster (American) design. These slugs feature rifling grooves that allow them to pass through chokes more easily, along with hollow tails that improve flight stability, ensuring dependable performance for hunting purposes.
.327 Federal Magnum
The .327 Federal Magnum, developed by Federal Cartridge, delivers performance comparable to the .357 Magnum but in compact six-shot revolver platforms, appealing to shooters seeking powerful rounds in smaller firearms. It is also available for use in full-sized revolvers and Henry's Big Boy Steel carbine. Marketed as a super magnum cartridge, it outperforms the .32 H&R Magnum within its category, underscoring Federal's role in advancing revolver ammunition technology.
Black Cloud Snow Goose
Federal's Black Cloud Snow Goose ammunition is specifically designed for large waterfowl hunting and is offered in BB and size 2 shot options. With a reported muzzle velocity of 1,635 feet per second, these loads cater to specialized segments within the waterfowl hunting market.
Shorty Shotshells
Shorty Shotshells are compact 1.75-inch shotgun cartridges engineered to deliver performance on par with standard-length shells. Available in #8 shot, #4 buckshot, and rifled slug variants, these rounds are intended for users who require shorter ammunition; however, some pump-action and semi-automatic shotguns may need modifications to cycle them reliably.
.224 Valkyrie
Federal has significantly broadened its selection of .224 Valkyrie loads. The Varmint and Predator offerings utilize 60-grain Hornady V-MAX bullets, while the 80.5-grain Gold Medal Berger Match load is tailored for precision long-range shooting. Additionally, the 78-grain Barnes TSX copper hollow point is crafted for hunting larger game animals such as deer.
Syntech
In late 2015, Federal Premium introduced Syntech ("synthetic technology"), a series of polymer-jacketed pistol projectiles marketed under its American Eagle line for calibers including 9mm Luger, .40 S&W, and .45 ACP. The Total Polymer Jacket (TPJ) replaces conventional metal jackets with a polymer coating that reduces barrel wear and heat buildup by eliminating metal-to-metal contact. This advancement extends barrel longevity and decreases lead and copper fouling inside the firearm. Syntech cartridges also incorporate specialized primers and clean-burning powders designed to minimize carbon deposits.
Primarily targeted at indoor range shooters, Syntech ammunition provides a cleaner shooting experience by reducing splashback and fragmentation when striking hard targets. According to Federal's research, any bullet fragments remain close to the point of impact, contributing to enhanced safety during use.