A cryogenic hydraulic reciprocating piston pump includes a casing which defines a piston chamber. The sidewall of the piston chamber includes a retraction spill port as well as a pumping spill port. At the end of a retraction stroke, a retraction spill passageway that extends through the piston becomes aligned with the retraction spill port and fluid is communicated from the pressurized side of the piston to the unpressurized side of the piston to stop the retraction stroke before the piston “bottoms out”. Similarly, at the end of a pumping stroke, a pumping spill passageway that extends through the piston becomes aligned with the pumping spill port which provides communication between the pressurized side of the piston and the unpressurized side of the piston thereby stopping movement of the piston before it “bottoms out”.