Re-post from The Ultimate Reloader
Hornady is celebrating 75 years in 2024. I took some time to talk to Steve Hornady at SHOT Show 2024 and hear about some of his experiences in the family business.
Steve Hornady
Steve has been coming to SHOT Show since its inaugural year in 1979. He noted that while he enjoys seeing and meeting the people and customers, it isn’t a vacation by any means. His father J.W. Hornady started the company in 1949, around the same time a number of other industry big names began (Sierra Bullets, Speer, RCBS, Hodgdon, etc.). J.W. Hornady and Bruce Hodgdon were both buying surplus powder after WWII, but J.W. decided to abandon the powder path and focus on bullets.
Steve remembers going through the factory as a child and claiming his own office. He didn’t get it then, but his dream was always to work in the family business. Steve has never worked for anyone but family. He encourages his kids and grandkids to spend some time outside the company before returning so they can learn what it means to work for people who don’t deeply care about you.
He explained that Hornady as a company has come further than his father could have imagined. The 7mm PRC, 22 ARC, 22 Creedmoor and continued new development are great examples of this. Watch the full video for Steve’s recollections and the people behind the brand!
