New Ammunition Production Capabilities, And Shutdown Of Old Capabilities
BY Herschel Smith
3 years, 2 months ago
Mr. Mann told me he is producing 35 million to 45 million rounds of ammo a month. The operation runs seven days a week for 21 of every 24 hours in a day. There is no margin for error and there is no wiggle room to make up production. It is that critical. If there is a two-day statewide electrical power outage causing Ammo Inc to shut down operations, there is a very limited possibility to make up those two days of missed manufacturing.
The article also focuses on primers and how they are the bottleneck of the production campaign, as well as in the comments it’s pointed out that the safety protocol is expensive to ensure during the process.
It’s a shame, I think, that the new manufacturing capability is located in Wisconsin. I wonder why the company chose that state, and why they didn’t choose North Carolina, South Carolina, Tennessee or Texas?
But there is also bad news for muzzle loading hunters.
Hodgdon Powder Company announced it would cease manufacturing operations at the GOEX blackpowder manufacturing facility in Camp Minden, La., effective immediately. The closure eliminates the only domestic source of blackpowder in the United States. According to a company press release, Hodgdon will evaluate “strategic options for the blackpowder business,” including a potential sale of the company.
The Camp Minden facility will wind down operations during the evaluation process. All affected employees will be retained through Dec. 31, 2021, to assist during the closure of the facility and will receive severance commensurate with their years of service. “The Hodgdon Powder Co., Inc has been honored to have been a part of the GOEX Powder legacy and sustains a fond appreciation for sporting customers who have enjoyed shooting GOEX Powders,” the release reads.
From the Hodgdon site.
Established in 1947 by Bruce and Amy Hodgdon, today, sons J.B. and Bob have grown Hodgdon Powder Company into the largest US supplier of smokeless, blackpowder and blackpowder substitute propellants. The company distributes gunpowder under the Hodgdon®, IMR®, Ramshot®, Acccurate®, Winchester®, Pyrodex®, Triple Seven®, Blackhorn 209® and GOEX® brands.
This is sad news. Tomorrow or some time this weekend, I intend to make a trip to load up on “white hots.” If you do the muzzle loader scene, I suggest you do the same thing.
On September 30, 2021 at 7:06 am, Wes said:
Sir, I think the 3rd paragraph of the article indicates why the choice of Wisconsin, given the acquisition of one of their existing suppliers and its facility. For what it’s worth, and often contrary to how pundits like to play with crayons (the only sharp object they should be permitted) and color maps of the US states red & blue, Wisconsin outside a couple major metro areas is pretty attractive to businesses of that size. Current governor notwithstanding, it has maintained a bi-cameral conservative legislature. Seems like the company just followed a progression in its growth.
On September 30, 2021 at 11:08 am, Matthew said:
What’s the issue with Wisconsin?
Wisconsin is something of a failed state, too, in that the legislature and state judiciary are solidly red and will likely remain so for a long time, whereas the governor is more or less up for grabs. And the republicans in Wisconsin are cutthroat, willing to do things few others are. The state was one of the first in the north to get rid of Covid restrictions last year because the state Supreme Court refused to allow the governor’s emergency decree to remain in place without legislative approval, and the legislature has a solid Republican majority.
I’d be as concerned about North Carolina as I am about Wisconsin. Few liberals are choosing to move into Wisconsin. It’s even a right-to-work state. The fact is, there are no really safe states in the south anymore, given the willingness of major corporations to place their headquarters for political reasons.
I’ve lived most of my life in or around Wisconsin and I continue to view it as a fall back option to escape the more solidly “blue state” policies (although it is not nearly as welcoming as places further south) of the state I currently live in.
On September 30, 2021 at 4:34 pm, Furminator said:
Wisconsin can have them. The only thing that sets them apart is that everything from Ammo, Inc has been grossly overpriced by 50-75% ever since it started showing up on the shelves. FWIW over the past 6 months I have seen gobs of (overpriced even by today’s standards) their bullets and brass showing up in cardboard bulk packaging. Leads me to believe they can’t put together enough complete rounds to sell and have to eat their seed corn.
On September 30, 2021 at 6:30 pm, X said:
Nothing beats Blackhorn 209 in a muzzleloader. Anyone who hasn’t tried it is missing out on the best thing ever for a muzzleloader. You can shoot fifty shots in a row without fouling, and clean it with Hoppe’s. No corrosion. Very accurate. Unfortunately that stuff has been unobtainium this year.