Archive for the 'Ammunition' Category

Tim from MAC.

If velocity and muzzle energy are what you want, Underwood is hot ammo.

Well isn’t this special.  So after mandating that his employees take the shot, and then denying it in writing later when the gun community panned his decision, apparently now they’re on a tear to find the one who leaked the memo to the gun community.

The CFO is at the tip of the spear on the hunt.  He’s angry.  Furthermore, those who do not take the shot will have no access to their sick time.  This is punishment for not taking the shot.

So this has almost become unrecoverable for Steve Hornady.  It may be able to be salvaged.  Let’s assume for a moment that Steve isn’t the one doing this, that he is being led by his CFO and/or his HR department.

The immediate solution is to make an example of his CFO and HR department by firing them in front of the employees.  Forthwith unemployed, no returns, no questions asked, no discussion necessary.  Do it.  Fire them all.

Then write a letter to the gun community and beg for forgiveness and explain that you’re not just concerned about money, that you’re committed to liberty and that this message falls right in line with your production of ammunition for lovers of liberty.  Then get in front of your employees and beg for their forgiveness.  Explain that you surrounded yourself with awful people, and that mistake won’t happen again – ever.

Now let’s assume that this is all coming from Steve.  In that case, there is no recovery.  It’s a fait accompli.

So, they did, but not without some weasel words to be able to deny they ever made the mandate in the first place.  This isn’t a very good look for Hornady, but at least they backed down.

For what it’s worth, as of this writing, I still haven’t gotten a response to my note to Steve Hornady.

The post title is correct.  That’s good shooting by both of them.

Of course, she’s shooting a very nice 223 rifle (SAKO) with a very long barrel (24″) along with a heavy bullet (80.5 grain Berger).  But still, that’s good shooting and a great job of taking the 223 out that far.

Reader Ned sends this our way.

I’ve sent a note out to Steve Hornady and so far there has been no response to my questions.  I’ll post a new article if I get a response.

The American Prospect.

At a glance, Americans appear to have a variety of ammunition companies to choose from: Remington, Winchester, Speer, CCI (Cascade Cartridge, Inc.), Federal Premium. Winchester bills itself as “The American Legend” and has been in business for over 150 years, while Remington has been making guns and ammo for over 200 years and states that their company is as “boundless as the American spirit.” These companies associate their brands with freedom, independence, and toughness. What most customers do not know, however, is that they are all owned by the same two entities: Olin Corporation and Vista Outdoor.

This consolidation in the small arms ammunition market by corporations and private equity firms is hurting businesses, consumers, and workers. And it’s producing a massive shortage, just as demand for ammunition picks up. It looks like the problem could get worse, not only in the commercial shooting market, but where it really matters: for our national security.

He goes on to talk about the ability of the FBI, DHS and others to get ammunition, something I don’t care one whit about.  I’d prefer they have none.

But due to consolidation within the industry, only a couple of incumbent companies have that ability to make it through low-demand periods. When demand surges, they are no longer forced to produce, but can focus instead on “efficiencies.” They can raise prices and generate shortages, knowing that no one else exists to meet the demand that they cannot or will not fill.

Such refusals to invest in increased capacity can clearly be seen as Vista’s plan over the last few years. According to their annual reports, Vista is focused on “long-term shareholder value,” and when they have influxes of cash, they acquire more companies that “deliver top-line growth … within one year of purchase.” They do not build more plants, even though they project more long-term increased demand; building a plant to increase capacity is a long-term project, one that does not return a profit in a year, much less a quarter.

[ … ]

Remington’s story involves some twists and turns and financial engineering. In 2007, private equity firm Cerberus Capital Management bought the then-thriving Remington, using it as a piggy bank. To execute the buyout, Remington borrowed hundreds of millions of dollars it immediately handed over to Cerberus, which meant that Cerberus would make money on the deal no matter whether Remington succeeded.

Initially, Cerberus made “hundreds of millions of dollars” from Remington, due to high gun sales during the Obama years. But when demand decreased after Donald Trump’s election, Remington was forced to file for bankruptcy in 2018. The firm restructured its debt and continued operating under new creditors, but due to continued mismanagement and lawsuits, Remington filed for bankruptcy again in 2020. Vista Outdoors bought Remington’s ammunition brand later that year.

Winchester’s story is more straightforward. Chemical producer Olin Corporation bought Winchester in 1931 and is now “a leading U.S. manufacturer of ammunition.” Olin’s most recent annual report revealed that Winchester sales increased from $665.5 million in 2019 to $927.6 million in 2020. This increase is reportedly due to “higher commercial and military sales, which included ammunition produced at Lake City, and higher commercial ammunition pricing.” Olin won a $28.3 million, ten-year contract to operate the Department of Defense’s Lake City Army Ammunition Plant in September of 2019. It also won contracts with the Secret Service, Customs and Border Protection, and the FBI.

It’s certainly the case that the proliferation of law enforcement entities in America is one of the causes of ammunition prices.

On the whole, I think consolidation is a very bad thing.  I did when Cerberus bought Remington (they set their sights on others as well), and I do now.  I think it’s better to have many medium size and small companies.

This ensures competition and innovation, despite the fact that a large corporation can bring financial resources to bear on R&R.  Corporations rarely focus on their employees, R&D or building.  Rather, they focus on stock prices, dividends and returns.

BLUF: The results of the budget ammo are fairly impressive.

Ammoland.

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.

Ron Spomer does the 6.5 Grendel.

I’ve done the AR-10 scene and didn’t like it.  An AR-10 is heavy, unwieldy, and stiff recoiling – everything the AR-15 isn’t, negating the very advantages of the AR-15 platform.  I wasn’t all that pleased or impressed and sold what I had.

On the other hand, a 123 grain bullet travelling this fast in an AR-15 size package is very appealing.  Folks like Pat Hines may say “I told you so.”

Also, if you can make it past the two idiots to get to the knowledge of Ryan Muckenhirn, this is a good video on the virtues of the Grendel round, including out of a bolt action rifle.  Posted eight months ago.