About Dave Emary

Dave Emary is a respected researcher with over 30 years in the ballistics field designing powders, bullets, and ammo. Many would recognize Dave from his work as Chief Ballistician at Hornady for a number of years. Dave earned a couple degrees, including a bachelor’s in physics and a second bachelor’s degree in aeronautical/astronomical engineering. He served in the Air Force for six years, rising to the rank of captain.

After the Air Force, Emary worked at the New Mexico Institute of Mining and Technology’s Energetic Materials Research and Testing Center (EMRTC), the largest ordnance-testing facility in the U.S. outside the government. “That’s where I really got into the ballistics side of things,” Emary said. Among other things, research by Emary and his colleagues led to the development of the electromagnetic railguns now being used by the U.S. Navy that launch projectiles at 4,500 mph!

“At the heart of me, I’m a tinkerer,” Emary said. “I’m not one willing to just go with the status quo.” Over his 24-year tenure with Hornady, Emary’s tinkering and envelope pushing helped accomplish some big breakthroughs at the company. These projects included designing cartridges like the 6.5 Creedmoor and 17 HMR, helping develop their 4 DOF Trajectory Program, integrating Doppler radar testing and drag models, helping design and produce Hornady’s ELD and A-Tip bullets, and a long list of other things. For his groundbreaking work, Emary was honored as one of Outdoor Life’s Top 25 for Innovation in 2007.

Dave retired from Hornady 2017, but told me he is now a “free agent” doing ballistic research once again at the New Mexico Institute of Mining and Technology’s Energetic Materials Research and Testing Center on 8 inch howitzers and 120mm guns. EMRTC is internationally recognized and has over 60 years’ experience in explosives research, and Dave now serves there in the role of Director of Engineering.

Dave Emary is clearly one of the leading minds in the industry, and his research and development has pushed the industry forward and advanced the knowledge and capabilities of the shooting community.

I have cited Dave’s work in a few articles, and he’s even helped with some of the content I’ve published over the years. View all of my articles related to Dave: https://precisionrifleblog.com/tag/dave-emary/