First Look: Federal Hammer Down .45 Colt Ammunition

Optimized for lever-action firearms.

by
posted on June 21, 2024
Hammer Down

Federal Premium has just introduced the .45 Colt cartridge to its line of “Hammer Down” performance ammunition, which is optimized for both smooth cycling and performance in lever-action firearms. The Hammer Down product line includes both rimmed, straight-wall cartridges like the .357 Mag., .44 Mag., .327 Mag. and .444 Marlin in addition to classic bottlenecked, rimmed cartridges like the .30-30 Win. and the .45-70 Govt. The new .45 Colt load consists of a 250-grain bonded hollowpoint bullet with a factory muzzle velocity of 1,025 fps. It’s suitable for hunting medium-size game.

“We are thrilled to add the .45 Colt, designed for lever-action rifles, to our Hammer Down lineup. This is another popular straight-wall cartridge that hunters and shooters are actively seeking out,” said Federal Ammunition Handgun Product Manager Chris Laack. “One of the enhanced design features found in all Hammer Down ammo is that we chamfered the front face of the case rim on all the nickel-plated cases. This removes any sharp edges to increase the reliability of feeding. All the benefits Hammer Down delivers will greatly enhance your shooting experience.”

The velocities of Hammer Down are customized to produce superior ballistics and terminal performance through lever-action barrel lengths. The construction of the molecularly bonded soft point bullets has also been adjusted for the best accuracy and expansion at those velocities. The geometry of each round’s case, bullet and cartridge ensures flawless cycling through tubular magazine and typical lever-action feeding systems.

Federal Premium Hammer Down cartridges come in boxes of 20 rounds and in the case of the new 250-grain .45 Colt loads, the box of 20 rounds retails for $39.99. To learn more about this new load, the rest of the Hammer Down product like or other ammunition sold by Federal Premium, please visit the company's website at federalpremium.com.

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