RWS (Rheinisch-Westfälische Sprengstoff-Actiengesellschaft) is one of the oldest and most prestigious manufacturers of hunting and sporting ammunition in the world, with a history dating back to 1856. Headquartered in Fürth, Germany, RWS ranks among the top European ammunition producers, and its cartridges have earned the trust of hunters and sport shooters worldwide for generations — recognized for exceptional quality, accuracy, and reliability. Today, RWS operates under the RWS GmbH group and is the European market leader in rimfire and small-caliber ammunition.
History — Over 165 Years of Tradition
The RWS story begins in 1856, when Heinrich Uttendoerffer established a primer manufacturing laboratory in Nuremberg. Three decades later, in 1886, the operation was acquired by the newly founded Rheinisch-Westfälische Sprengstoff-Actiengesellschaft in Cologne — the origin of the RWS initials that remain to this day. The company later merged with Dynamit Actien-Gesellschaft (formerly Alfred Nobel & Co.), yet the RWS brand retained its identity and continued to develop as a benchmark for premium ammunition.
Over the following decades, RWS consistently pushed the technology forward. In the 1970s, the company developed heavy-metal-free ammunition under the Sintox brand — a pioneering solution for indoor ranges where lead contamination had become a serious occupational health concern. Today, RWS holds over 300 patents, employs approximately 1,400 people across two production facilities in Germany, and generates annual revenues exceeding 300 million euros.
Technology and Hunting Ammunition
RWS is best known for its hunting ammunition — rifle cartridges designed for both big and small game. The iconic H-Mantel series represents decades of ballistic engineering: a hard metal jacket combined with an expanding lead core retains mass and shape on impact, delivering maximum terminal performance with minimal meat damage. The Speed Tip Professional, Evolution, HIT, and other series address the full range of hunting demands — from dense woodland shots to long-range field hunting.
Each RWS rifle cartridge requires over 100 manufacturing steps, including up to 26 manual quality checks. This commitment to precision has made RWS brass highly sought after by handloaders, who regard it as some of the most dimensionally consistent and durable casings available. The lineup is complemented by shotgun ammunition (under the Rottweil brand) and a dedicated range of sporting ammunition.
Who RWS Is For
RWS ammunition is built for hunters pursuing big and small game across Europe and beyond, for sport shooters competing in long-range disciplines and other precision-focused events, and for handloaders seeking premium-quality brass for reloading. Hunters in Poland particularly value RWS for the broad selection of bullet types suited to local game species and hunting conditions.
RWS at Militaria.pl
Militaria.pl stocks the full RWS range of hunting and sporting ammunition — over 165 years of German ammunition craftsmanship at the service of today's hunters and shooters. Choose RWS cartridges for your rifle and experience the precision that hunters have trusted for generations. For those who demand the same quality from their ammunition as they do from their firearm.
