Super Vel Ammunition

[Dee]

Back in the day law enforcement sought this high performance ammo out, and in my part of Texas, it wasn't easy to find. A few days ago I was going through some 45acp brass I'd acquired and found some old nickel SuperVel brass. Hadn't seen any in decades and assumed that they had long since gone out of business.
When I did a search on them I found that they're still very much in business, and still selling premium ammunition.
My edc ammo is Hornadys' Critical Defense. I like the 220 grain bullet, and the 990fps loading, but in checking out Super Vels 45acp loading they have some interesting loads.
Anybody shoot SUPER-VEL ammo?

[Graybeard]

No I don't think I ever shot any. Over the years I picked up some of their brass where others had shot and left it. The brass worked as well as any.

I never bought any as it was loaded with very light for caliber bullets and velocity was their primary selling point. For instance in .38 and .357 as best as I recall they only loaded 110 grain bullets.

I think they went out of business. Lee Jurras the founder sold out or died, don't recall. Recently someone has brought back the old company name and began making ammo again. I guess using same basic formula of light bullets and high velocity.

Lee E. Jurras was an American firearm cartridge designer, known for creation of the Super Vel line of cartridges, and groundbreaking developments in hollow-point ammunition. Jurras began handloading cartridges for profit at age 12 and enlisted in the United States Marine Corps Reserve at age 17. Wikipedia
Born: July 27, 1934, Plant City, FL
Died: 2017 (age 83 years), Columbus, IN

[Dee]

Well I learned something, and your right about the light fast bullets, I remember other officers bragging on their carry ammo. I never got ahold of any, but looked for it occasionally. I had already settled on the 125 grain sjhp Remington was putting out.

[AtlLaw]

Back when I was policing in Atlanta we were required to carry factory loaded, 158 gr., lead RN bullets in our service revolvers.  We called them "Reggie Pellets" after the then police commissioner Reginald Eves, a buddy of the mayor, Maynard Jackson; and then mayor Andy Young.

We were finally allowed to use decent ammunition when we went to the 9mm shortly before I retired.

[Dee]

Sounds like Reggie was an FBI fan. That's what they carried When I toted a badge.

[AtlLaw]

Sounds like Reggie was an FBI fan. That's what they carried When I toted a badge.

Really? I didn't know (or maybe don't remember) that...    I do remember that almost everybody thought it was pretty worthless stuff.
But normally when the FBI came up with some training, etc. hint the APD went along with it.

[Bob Riebe]

    I have zero love for so called AI but some times it comes in handy:

     The transfers of the Super Vel brand were as follows:

    Original Company Closure (1975): The original Super Vel company, founded by Lee Jurras in 1963, was seized and sold at auction by the IRS in January 1975 due to unpaid excise taxes.

    Bought by W. Robert Hamilton: The auction winner was W. Robert Hamilton, a realtor from Indiana. He renamed the company H&H Cartridge Co. but continued to use the Super Vel brand name.

    Sold to FPC Inc.: Hamilton later sold Super Vel's assets to FPC Inc. in Wisconsin. FPC Inc. used the brand for police training ammunition until going out of business around 1981, and the Super Vel trademark expired in 2006.
 
  Resurrected by Cameron Hopkins (2015): In 2015, firearms writer and former American Handgunner editor Cameron Hopkins purchased the trademark for Super Vel with the blessing of Lee Jurras. Hopkins then relaunched the company and began producing modern, high-performance ammunition under the historic brand.

     Twenty years ago I used to talk to Jurras internet/phone on occasion , due to a Linebaugh connection, and one time I asked him if he still shot any Super Vel ammunition  He said no, so, I told him I had a box of .45 ACP  and asked if he would like to buy it.
      He pretty much said-- Hell NO.

[Dee]

Back in the 70s a lotta police officers were wanting the hottest loads available for their 38s, and 357 magnums. During that time I was switching back and forth between the Smith Model 19 Combat Magnum, and the Colt Series 70s in 45acp.
Fast forward to a few months ago to a gun store browsing through the ammo section when I started reading bullet weights, and velocities in 45acp. I couldn't believe what the newer powders were puttin out. I had for the umpteenth time quit the 9mms, borrowed and shot some of this newer 45acp stuff, couldn't believe the improvements in velocities, and built weights and improved designs.
This Hornady Critical Duty stuff is amazing. 220 grain hp at 990fps. Sold both my Sig 9s, and went back to the 1911 i always missed as an edc.
After I retired from law enforcement I had built quite a few 1911s but seldom carried one. This new and improved ammo is light-years ahead of the 70s stuff, and reminded me of the SuperVel days.

[Drilling Man]

  I still have some Super Vel ammo...

  DM

[Dee]

I never bought any, but a few friends did. It was hard to find back then, and I couldn't afford it anyway back then.