Lee Jurras

Lee E. Jurras (born July 27, 1934 in Plant City, Florida) 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. In the 1950s, he experimented with lathing rifle bullets to create jacketed handgun ammunition, inspired by Jim Harvey. In 1963, Jurras founded Super Vel ammunition company in Shelbyville, Indiana. Jurras' ammo utilized lightweight bullets pushed at high velocities to cause bullet expansion, but at low enough pressure for typical firearms. The Super Vel line was an outstanding success, selling massive amounts of hollow-point ammunition to law enforcement and civilian buyers. However, the rapid growth of the company and its reliance on outsourcing of cartridge cases left it vulnerable, and it was overtaken by competitors and closed its doors in 1974.

Jurras continued his efforts in cartridge development, using as his base the powerful AutoMag pistol, and later the Thompson Center Arms single-shot rifle-calibre pistol.

Jurras co-authored several books on firearms with George C. Nonte.