It's difficult to imagine, but there was a time when a hunter or soldier simply jammed gunpowder and almost any imaginable random projectile into a gun barrel. A prayer was said. A fuse was lit, or a trigger pulled. Bang. Hopefully the intended target was hit.

Today, we're far from picking up a rock and hoping for the best after sending it downrange. Instead, most of us go to a sporting goods store to choose from an endless variety of reliable, factory-produced ammunition. Our biggest concern now is finding the best ammo we can afford. Personally, I prefer "the good stuff"—premium ammo that will deliver pinpoint accuracy and consistently allow me to kill my quarry in one shot ... so long as I do my part on the butt end of the business. 

There are several companies that produce topnotch ammunition, and Hornady is among them. Behind Hornady ammo is a family-run operation that's filled with hard-working Americans. Does it sound like I'm regurgitating generic marketing bologna that was fed to me by a Hornady rep? Nope. I had the opportunity to visit the Hornady factory, and it's a seriously impressive operation.

As you'd expect, there's a pile of sophisticated machinery pumping out case after case, bullet after bullet, cartridge after cartridge of flawless ammo based on proprietary recipes. OK, no machine is foolproof—that's where the human touch comes in. Each and every round is hand inspected by men and women before finally getting packaged and sent out the door. Not even a scratch is acceptable. Of course, what would quality control for ammo be if none of it was fired? That's why random samples make their way from the factory floor to the underground range, complete with a comprehensive gun locker filled with a variety of guns that would make your local militia drool. 

Now's your chance to get a quick first-hand look at some of the impressive inner workings of the Hornady Ammunition factory in Grand Island, Nebraska.

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