Haendler & Natermann Sport

What Haendler & Natermann Sport does

Haendler & Natermann Sport GmbH is a German manufacturer of high-precision air gun pellets, diabolos, and bullets, headquartered and operating from a single production facility in Hann. Münden, Germany. The company traces its origins to the 1840s when it began industrial production of laminated lead and lead sheets, and was formally established in 1847 when Carl Georg August Natermann acquired a fortified tower in Hann. Münden to manufacture split lead hunting ammunition. Since the 1950s, H&N Sport has produced muzzleloader balls, large-caliber bullets, and air gun pellets across a wide range of calibers (.177 through .50 and beyond), with all phases of production—from tool construction and wire semi-finished manufacturing to surface treatment—conducted exclusively in-house using self-designed machines and proprietary special lead alloys and grease coatings developed with suppliers. The product portfolio spans four categories: target shooting pellets (competition and training), air gun hunting pellets and slugs, action shooting pellets under the excite sub-brand, and reloading bullets for handloaders across calibers including hollow point, round nose, semi-wadcutter, and truncated cone profiles.

H&N Sport sells exclusively through an international network of authorized dealers and online resellers—not directly to end consumers—covering more than 40 countries across Europe, North America, South America, Asia, Africa, the Middle East, and Oceania, with a multilingual website in German, English, Russian, French, Italian, and Spanish. End customers are fragmented across four segments: competitive marksmen (precision shooting, field target, benchrest), air gun hunters (small to large game across multiple calibers), hobby shooters and plinkers (entry-level excite line), and reloaders/handloaders. Notable recent product introductions include the Precision Slug (ballistic coefficient 0.140), the Hornet and Hornet Pistol with brass-tipped hollow point design, and the Slug HP II developed in collaboration with Air Hunter Gerhard. Differentiated offerings include quantified ballistic testing (e.g., Hornet at 276 m/s with 14 cm ballistic-soap penetration) and proprietary process IP around barrel-cleaning alloys and shot-group uniformity.

The business model is straightforward unit-pricing on small tins distributed via dealers, with no public list pricing, no subscription or licensing, and no direct-to-consumer e-commerce. The company is privately held as a GmbH registered in Germany (Amtsgericht Göttingen, VAT DE811116168), employs 11–50 people, and operates without subsidiaries, parent company, or disclosed funding. Marketing relies on the company website, YouTube, Facebook, email newsletters, a ballistic calculator tool, and the international dealer store locator network.

Name

Haendler & Natermann Sport

Legal name

Haendler & Natermann Sport GmbH

Website

https://hn-sport.de

Company type

Private

Founded year

1847

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

Haendler & Natermann Sport GmbH is a German manufacturer of precision air gun pellets, diabolos, and reloading bullets, serving competitive marksmen, airgun hunters, hobby shooters, and reloaders through a global authorized dealer network from its single Hann. Münden facility.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Air gun pellets and ammunition manufacturing

NAICS

Small Arms Ammunition Manufacturing (332992), Ammunition (except Small Arms) Manufacturing (332993), Small Arms, Ordnance, and Ordnance Accessories Manufacturing (332994)

SIC

Ordnance & Accessories, (No Vehicles/Guided Missiles) (3480), Sporting & Athletic Goods, Nec (3949)

akta.pro primary industry

Ammunition Manufacturing (Small-, Medium- & Large-Caliber) (IMABAHAG)

akta.pro secondary industries

Firearms & Ammunition Retail (CRAMAKAA), Shooting Sports Equipment Retail (Targets, Clay, Range Gear, Hearing/Eye Protection) (CRAMAKAG)

Keywords

• Air gun pellets
• Hunting ammunition
• Reloading bullets
• Target shooting pellets
• Muzzleloader balls

Headquarters

HQ city

Münden

HQ country

Germany

HQ region

Europe

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Hardware or Manufacturing

Cost components

Supply Chain, Personnel, Operations, Technology or R&D, Marketing or Sales, Infrastructure

Revenue model

1. Air Gun Pellet and Bullet Sales: H&N Sport manufactures and sells air gun pellets (diabolos) and ammunition bullets across four product categories: Target Shooting (competition and training pellets), Air Gun Hunting (hunting pellets and slugs), Action Shooting (plinking and hobby pellets), and Reloading (bullets for reloading firearms). Products are sold through dealers, distributors, and online resellers in various calibers (.177, .22, .25, .30, etc.). Revenue is generated through one-time product sales priced per tin or package.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion2 records

Distribution channels3 records

Marketing channels5 records

Core offering

Haendler & Natermann Sport GmbH manufactures high-precision air gun pellets (diabolos), hunting pellets, bullet-shaped slugs, reloading bullets, and muzzleloader round balls at its single facility in Hann. Münden, Germany. Products are organized into four categories—Target Shooting, Air Gun Hunting, Reloading, and Action Shooting—spanning calibers from .177 to .50 for competitive shooters, air gun hunters, reloaders, and hobbyists.

Product overview

H&N Sport is a German manufacturer of air gun pellets and ammunition with a diversified product portfolio across four main categories: Target Shooting (competition and training pellets), Air Gun Hunting (hunting pellets and slugs), Reloading (bullets for cartridge reloading), and Action Shooting (entry-level excite brand pellets). The company produces specialized products including Hornet, Baracuda, Field Target Trophy, Precision Slug, Slug HP/HP II, and Heavy Slug variants. Manufacturing occurs exclusively at their Hann. Münden, Germany facility with in-house developed machines and rigorous quality control. Products span calibers from .177 (4.5mm) to .50 (12.7mm) and include both traditional diabolo pellets and bullet-shaped slugs for high-power airguns.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Target Shooting Pellets Precision air gun pellets designed for competition and training, distinguished by narrow shot groups and clean-cut bullet holes; intended for competitive shooters and marksmen in disciplines such as 10m Olympic shooting, field target, and benchrest.
• Air Gun Hunting Pellets and Slugs High-performance hunting pellets and slugs combining accuracy and target impact for air gun hunters across calibers from .177 to .30, including dedicated slug variants for long-range hunting.
• Reloading Bullets High-quality reloadable bullets for handguns, rifles, and muzzleloaders combining craftsmanship with state-of-the-art production technology; available in a wide range of calibers and configurations (HP, RN, SWC, TC, WC HB).
• excite Action Shooting Pellets Entry-level air gun pellets and BBs under the excite sub-brand for plinking, hobby shooting, and CO2 pistols offering "Made in Germany" quality at an entry-level price point.
• Precision Slug Bullet-shaped slug designed for long-range target shooting with high-power air guns, featuring optimized ogive shape, deep cavity, and a ballistic coefficient of 0.140 for stable flight and reduced wind susceptibility.
• Hornet Hunting Pellet Medium-weight, accurate hunting pellet for medium ranges with high impact and penetration, combining a brass tip and hollow point for aerodynamic flight and controlled deformation on impact.
• Hornet Pistol Pellet Lightweight, precise medium-range hunting and plinking pellet with brass tip and hollow point, designed for pistol platforms with easy penetration and controlled deformation.
• Slug HP II Long-range hunting and target shooting slug with new hollow point design, large meplat, and soft lead for maximum expansion and energy transfer after impact for a quick, humane kill.
• Heavy Slug Hollow point slug designed for long-range hunting and target shooting with high-power air guns, featuring a large meplat and soft lead for expansion and energy transfer.
• Muzzleloader Round Balls High-precision round bullets for muzzleloaders manufactured from top-grade refined lead, available across a wide range of calibers without burrs or flash.
• Slug HP Bullet-shaped airgun pellet for powerful rifles shooting precisely at targets at 50, 100, or 200 meters with a favorable ballistic coefficient for flat trajectory.
• excite Plinking Pellet Entry-level pellet for plinking, hobby shooting, and CO2 pistols meeting basic requirements of quality and precision at an unbeatable price-performance ratio.

Quantifiable outcome

• Precision Slug BC of 0.140 — significantly less susceptible to wind and maintains flatter trajectory compared to other H&N slugs
• +2 more outcomes

Segments4 records

Ideal customer profiles5 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature4 records

Scale indicators2 records

Recent moves5 records

Expansion highlights4 records

Direct peers

• Gamo: Spanish global air gun and pellet manufacturer with broad mass-market product range across target, hunting, and plinking segments. Comparable to H&N in product category, channel structure, and end-user segments, though with different price positioning.
• Diana (Mayer & Grammelspacher): German manufacturer of air rifles and related pellets/components. Comparable as a German Mittelstand player selling air gun shooting consumables and equipment to the same end customers through dealer networks.
• Umarex: German air gun, pellet, and accessory manufacturer and brand owner (incl. Walther air guns). Competes with H&N across air gun hunting and action shooting segments via proprietary pellet lines and broader portfolio.
• BSA Guns: British manufacturer of air rifles and associated pellets/accessories. Comparable as a legacy air gun maker with pellet offerings competing for European dealer real estate and similar shooter end-markets.
• RWS (RUAG Ammotec / Rheinmetall): German legacy manufacturer of rimfire, air gun pellets, and reloading bullets under the RWS brand, now part of Rheinmetall. Direct peer given German manufacturing origin, overlapping pellet and bullet SKUs, and shared reloader/shooter customer base.
• Crosman: US-based air gun, pellet, and BB manufacturer serving hunting, target, and plinking markets. Comparable to H&N's action shooting (excite) and air gun hunting lines and competes for the same North American dealer shelf space.
• JSB Match Diabolo: Czech Republic-based manufacturer of premium air gun pellets (diabolos), slugs, and match-grade pellets. Closest direct competitor to H&N in target, hunting, and field target segments, with comparable product breadth, caliber range, and reliance on dealer/distributor channels.
• Walther (by Umarex): Historic German firearms and air gun brand, with pellet and ammunition lines managed via Umarex. Overlaps with H&N in air gun pellets and target shooting consumables marketed under a premium German brand.

Broad incumbents

• Hornady: Large US-based ammunition and reloading components manufacturer. Comparable to H&N in the reloading bullet and precision ammunition categories, with overlapping handloader customers and similar emphasis on ballistic consistency, but at materially greater scale and breadth.
• Lapua: Finnish precision ammunition and component manufacturer owned by Beretta. Comparable to H&N in high-precision reloading bullets and competitive shooting consumables, with stronger position in centerfire precision but similar quality-driven brand positioning.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• YouTubeyoutube.com/channel/UCvcDxNuet4FftrBPLX3elaw
• Facebookfacebook.com/HNSportDE

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles1 record

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Haendler & Natermann Sport