Leading the way in centrefire ammunition, Remington are famous for their Core-Lokt bullets – but their centrefire ammo proposition is uniformly strong, with Remington 9 mm Luger FMJ rounds outselling all other ranges 20:1.
Remington produced all its ammunition in Bridgeport, Connecticut until its huge Lonoke, Arkansas facility opened in 1969, aimed at fast, cost-effective ammo manufacturing – the reason why they remain efficient. “The plant was optimised to bring raw material in one side, working towards the centre: each step has stayed fairly true to the original processes,” said Jared Kutney, Senior Director of Engineering. Remington wisely retained their original manufacturing processes and time-tested machinery, doubling down on R&D to capitalise on the market, future proof and stay ahead of the competition.
Making bullets
“The type of bullet determines how many steps it takes – there’s a lot of noise and pounding to shape it and put in that shell,” said Director of Product Affairs Kris Carson. Recycled lead ingots are melted down in the plant, extruded into long wires that are cut into slug projectile cores. Long copper sheets are stamped into hollow jackets for the slugs, which are inserted under ultra-high pressure. Primers are made onsite, including lead-free configurations. Once shells are shaped and primer pockets inserted, a bunter stamps a cartridge type into the metal. Then, an extractor groove is created – the final step for pistol shells. Rifle shells feature a shoulder that is softened by additional processes to avoid weakening the brass. Finally, the shell is pierced and the primer inserted simultaneously, before sending the round for testing.Download our Ultimate Guide to the Merkel Rifle Range
