About Underwood Ammo

About Underwood Ammo

Hey all, we here at True Shot Academy are going to talk about Underwood Ammo today. This American ammunition manufacturer has established a reputation for producing some of the highest-performing factory loads on the market. Today we will explore the company's background, examine their innovative product lines, and highlight what makes their ammunition stand out in terms of performance and reliability. Without further ado, let's dive into Underwood Ammo.

Who is Underwood Ammo?

Underwood Ammunition is an American manufacturer founded by Kevin Underwood in 2008 in Sparta, Illinois. The company began with a straightforward mission: to produce high-performance ammunition that pushes the boundaries of ballistic capability while maintaining reliability. Unlike many larger ammunition manufacturers, Underwood operates as a family-owned business that prioritizes quality and performance over mass production. From their inception, Underwood has focused on developing loads that maximize the potential of various calibers. The company gained early recognition for their +P and +P+ pistol ammunition that delivers significantly higher velocities than standard factory loads while maintaining safe pressure levels. This approach quickly earned them a following among defensive shooters, competitive shooters, and hunting enthusiasts seeking superior terminal performance. Underwood manufactures all their ammunition in the United States using premium components. The company sources high-quality brass cases, powders, and primers while utilizing projectiles from respected manufacturers like Hornady, Lehigh Defense, and Nosler. This commitment to quality components contributes to the consistent performance and reliability that defines Underwood's product lines.

What Makes Underwood Ammo Different?

Underwood distinguishes themselves through their unwavering focus on maximizing ballistic performance. Unlike many larger manufacturers who produce ammunition to meet minimum industry standards, Underwood develops loads that push calibers to their full potential. This philosophy results in ammunition that typically achieves significantly higher velocities than comparable factory loads from other brands. Their willingness to develop unique loadings sets Underwood apart from many competitors. The company regularly collaborates with innovative projectile manufacturers to create ammunition that serves specific purposes. Their partnerships with companies like Lehigh Defense have resulted in unique offerings that provide specialized terminal performance characteristics not found in conventional ammunition. Quality control represents another differentiating factor for Underwood. As a smaller manufacturer focused on premium ammunition, they maintain strict quality standards throughout their production process. Each lot undergoes rigorous testing to ensure consistent performance, reliable feeding, and proper pressure levels. This attention to detail allows Underwood to produce high-performance ammunition that remains safe in modern firearms. Purchase Underwood Ammo

Underwood Xtreme Defender Line

The Xtreme Defender line represents one of Underwood's most innovative product offerings. These loads utilize solid copper projectiles manufactured by Lehigh Defense featuring a unique fluted design. Unlike conventional hollow points that expand on impact, Xtreme Defender bullets create cavitation through fluid dynamics as the flutes redirect tissue and fluid outward during penetration. Xtreme Defender ammunition generates wound channels comparable to quality expanding ammunition without relying on bullet expansion. This design provides several advantages, including consistent terminal performance regardless of barriers, clothing, or intermediate obstacles. The solid copper construction ensures 100% weight retention during penetration, contributing to reliable terminal performance. Underwood offers Xtreme Defender loads in numerous calibers ranging from .380 ACP to .45-70 Government. Popular options include 9mm with a 90-grain projectile achieving velocities approaching 1,400 fps, and .45 ACP with a 120-grain projectile reaching nearly 1,200 fps. These loads provide excellent terminal performance while eliminating the risk of hollow point clogging or expansion failure.

Underwood Xtreme Penetrator Line

The Xtreme Penetrator line compliments Underwood's Xtreme Defender offerings with projectiles designed for maximum penetration while still creating substantial wound channels. These loads utilize solid copper projectiles with a unique nose geometry that forces tissue outward during penetration, creating a wound channel larger than the bullet's diameter without expansion. Xtreme Penetrator ammunition excels in situations requiring deep penetration through barriers or on large game animals. The solid copper construction prevents fragmentation or deformation even when encountering bone or other hard barriers. This characteristic makes Xtreme Penetrator loads particularly valuable for hunting applications where penetration to vital organs remains essential for ethical harvests. Underwood offers Xtreme Penetrator loads in calibers ranging from .380 ACP through major rifle cartridges. Popular options include 10mm Auto with a 140-grain projectile achieving over 1,500 fps, and .44 Magnum with a 180-grain projectile reaching nearly 1,700 fps. The rifle offerings in this line deliver exceptional penetration while maintaining accuracy at extended ranges.

Underwood Xtreme Hunter Line

The Xtreme Hunter line represents Underwood's primary hunting ammunition offering. These loads utilize monolithic copper projectiles with a unique nose geometry that creates controlled expansion while maintaining nearly 100% weight retention. The resulting terminal performance combines deep penetration with substantial wound channels, making these loads ideal for medium to large game. Xtreme Hunter projectiles feature CNC-machined cavities and external flutes that work together to create controlled expansion without fragmentation. This design ensures consistent terminal performance across varying impact velocities and through different tissue densities. The all-copper construction complies with lead-free hunting requirements in states with such regulations. Underwood offers Xtreme Hunter loads in numerous rifle calibers ranging from .223 to .45-70 Government. Popular options include .308 Winchester with a 152-grain projectile achieving over 2,850 fps, and 6.5 Creedmoor with a 127-grain projectile reaching approximately 2,950 fps. These loads deliver flatter trajectories and superior terminal performance compared to conventional hunting ammunition.

Underwood Maximum Expansion Line

The Maximum Expansion line focuses on creating the largest possible wound channel in defensive shooting scenarios. These loads utilize copper hollow point projectiles designed to expand dramatically upon impact, sometimes reaching twice their original diameter. This expansion creates substantial tissue disruption while still providing adequate penetration for defensive purposes. Maximum Expansion ammunition excels in situations where immediate energy transfer and rapid incapacitation are priorities. The controlled expansion of these projectiles delivers substantial terminal performance while minimizing the risk of overpenetration in defensive scenarios. Like other Underwood offerings, these loads utilize solid copper construction that ensures reliable performance through barriers. Underwood offers Maximum Expansion loads primarily in handgun calibers ranging from .380 ACP to .500 S&W Magnum. Notable options include 9mm with a 90-grain projectile achieving nearly 1,400 fps, and .40 S&W with a 140-grain projectile reaching approximately 1,200 fps. These loads provide exceptional terminal performance for personal defense while maintaining manageable recoil in most firearms.

Underwood +P and +P+ Ammunition

Underwood's +P and +P+ ammunition represents some of their most popular offerings. These loads operate at higher pressure levels than standard ammunition, resulting in increased velocities and energy. While staying within safe pressure limits for modern firearms, Underwood's +P and +P+ loads deliver ballistic performance that approaches or exceeds that of more powerful calibers. These high-pressure loads utilize premium brass cases and carefully selected powders to achieve increased performance while maintaining reliable function and safe pressure levels. The velocity advantage translates to flatter trajectories, increased energy transfer, and often improved terminal performance compared to standard-pressure ammunition. Underwood clearly marks all +P and +P+ ammunition to ensure users understand they're using higher-pressure loads. Underwood offers +P and +P+ options across numerous calibers including 9mm, .38 Special, .357 Magnum, .45 ACP, and 10mm Auto. Their 9mm +P+ loads with 124-grain projectiles often achieve velocities exceeding 1,300 fps from service-length barrels, significantly outperforming standard pressure ammunition. These high-performance options provide enhanced ballistic capabilities for defensive, competitive, and hunting applications. Purchase Underwood Ammo

Underwood Handgun Hunting Ammunition

Underwood produces specialized handgun hunting ammunition designed to deliver rifle-like performance from pistol platforms. These loads maximize the ballistic potential of handgun calibers to provide the velocity, energy, and terminal performance necessary for ethical hunting of various game species. Underwood's handgun hunting ammunition enables hunters to pursue game with revolvers and pistols where regulations permit. These hunting-focused handgun loads utilize carefully selected projectiles that balance penetration with expansion to ensure ethical harvests. Underwood offers hard-cast lead options for maximum penetration on large, tough game, and controlled-expansion copper options for medium game where expansion and energy transfer become more important. Both options deliver superior terminal performance compared to standard handgun ammunition. Underwood's handgun hunting lineup includes loads for calibers ranging from 9mm through large revolver cartridges like .454 Casull and .500 S&W Magnum. Notable offerings include their 10mm Auto loads with 200-grain hard-cast bullets achieving velocities over 1,250 fps, and .44 Magnum loads with 305-grain projectiles reaching nearly 1,300 fps. These loads enable ethical harvests at ranges typically reserved for rifle cartridges.

Underwood Defensive Ammunition

Underwood's defensive ammunition focuses on providing maximum stopping power for personal protection scenarios. These loads utilize various projectile types including jacketed hollow points, controlled expansion copper hollow points, and the innovative fluted solid copper designs mentioned earlier. All options deliver superior velocity and energy compared to standard defensive ammunition. These defensive loads prioritize consistent expansion, adequate penetration, and reliable function across various firearms. Underwood carefully tests their defensive ammunition in common carry pistols to ensure reliable cycling and consistent performance from shorter barrels. This attention to detail results in defensive loads that perform as intended when needed most. Underwood offers defensive ammunition in calibers ranging from .380 ACP through major handgun calibers. Their 9mm defensive loads typically drive 124-grain jacketed hollow points to velocities exceeding 1,250 fps, while their .45 ACP offerings push 230-grain projectiles beyond 950 fps. These substantial velocity increases translate to improved terminal performance compared to standard-pressure defensive loads.

Underwood Rifle Ammunition

Underwood's rifle ammunition applies the same performance-focused philosophy to long gun cartridges. These loads utilize premium components to achieve velocities and energy levels that often exceed factory ammunition from major manufacturers. Underwood's rifle offerings span from varmint cartridges through large-bore hunting calibers, providing options for various shooting applications. Their rifle ammunition features carefully selected projectiles that match the intended use case, from highly expandable varmint bullets to tough controlled-expansion hunting projectiles and monolithic solid copper options. Underwood tests their rifle ammunition extensively to ensure accuracy, consistent velocities, and reliable feeding across various firearm platforms. Popular Underwood rifle offerings include their .223 loads with 55-grain projectiles achieving over 3,300 fps, .308 Winchester with 165-grain projectiles exceeding 2,700 fps, and 6.5 Creedmoor with 127-grain projectiles reaching nearly 3,000 fps. These loads deliver flatter trajectories and enhanced terminal performance compared to standard factory ammunition, providing advantages for hunting, competition, and precision shooting.

Conclusion

Underwood Ammunition represents American manufacturing excellence applied to modern ammunition development. Through their commitment to maximizing performance, utilizing premium components, and maintaining strict quality control, Underwood produces some of the highest-performing factory ammunition available today. Their innovative product lines provide shooters with options that deliver ballistic advantages across numerous applications. Whether selecting their defensive loads with proprietary projectiles, hunting ammunition designed for ethical harvests, or standard hollow points driven to exceptional velocities, Underwood users invest in ammunition built without compromise. The company's focus on performance rather than mass production results in loads that often redefine expectations for factory ammunition performance. All in all, Underwood Ammo delivers exceptional ballistic performance for shooters who demand the absolute best from their ammunition. Whether for hunting, self-defense, or competition, Underwood offers loads tailored to maximize the potential of various calibers. We here at True Shot Ammo carry Underwood ammunition in addition to our range of ammo for sale. Our inventory of ammunition for sale encompasses popular calibers and gauges like 9mm, 5.56, 12 gauge, and .22 LR. Whether you want to buy Underwood Ammo or buy bulk ammo, we have got you covered. As always, happy shooting.