Cartridge Production Up 40 Percent At Vista

by
posted on November 9, 2021
** When you buy products through the links on our site, we may earn a commission that supports NRA's mission to protect, preserve and defend the Second Amendment. **
Ammunition Crunch Easing

President of Vista Outdoor Ammunition Brands Jason Vanderbrink—in a video released by his company last week—said Federal, Speer and CCI factories are now producing 40 percent more cartridges than it did before the shortage. Bolstering that effort is the return to full production at the Remington plant he oversees in Lonoke, Ariz., which has more than doubled its staff in just the last year.

The Arkansas facility currently employs 1,050, but another 100 jobs are open. The campus covers nearly 1 million square feet, which makes it the third largest ammunition factory on the planet.

Vanderbrink emphasized the company is still shipping to the same customers and distributors it did before the shortage and—despite calls for de-funding—that list includes police departments. “Some of our ammunition goes to law enforcement, and it is our obligation to keep supporting law enforcement,” he said. “We are steadfast supporters. We will always back the Blue and we appreciate the service they give to keep our communities safe.”

Raw materials, including brass, resin and powder, are a constant concern, although he assured viewers his team continues to meet the challenge. This month he explained to newspaper NW Arkansas, that the competition for some of ammunition’s key ingredients originates from some places most gun owners would never suspect.

Among them is the U.S. Mint, which produced more than one billion coins in September—for the eighth month in a row. Over 605.6 million of them were copper-plated zinc discs most refer to as Lincoln pennies. The Federal Reserve website explains, “Since mid-June of 2020, the U.S. Mint has been operating at full production capacity. In 2020, the Mint produced 14.8 billion coins, a 24 percent increase from the 11.9 billion coins produced in 2019.” Another culprit in the shortages, according to the newspaper story, is the electric vehicle industry.

Latest

Gotw Wilson Combat Divison 77 Project 1 Web
Gotw Wilson Combat Divison 77 Project 1 Web

Gun Of The Week: Wilson Combat Division 77 Project 1

Join American Rifleman staff on the range in this video to get a closer look at Wilson Combat’s somewhat cryptically named “Division 77 Project 1.” 

The Armed Citizen® July 18, 2025

Read today's "The Armed Citizen" entry for real stories of law-abiding citizens, past and present, who used their firearms to save lives.

Review: POF-USA LMR BASE Rifle

The Patriot Ordnance Factory LMR Base offers a .308 Win. chambering in a lightweight, AR-15-size package, which makes it a capable platform for today's new gun owner. And it comes at a fair price.

2025 Accessory Of The Year: Wyoming Sight Drifter

For each of the past 23 years, the editors of American Rifleman have convened to select our top picks for the past year’s best and most innovative products. Here are the most recent winners.

Henry Donates Rifles To Support Young Leukemia Victim

Henry Repeating Arms has donated a limited run of 50 “Team Keane” Golden Boy .22 lever-action rifles to support 13-year-old Keane Rhodes of Universal City, Texas, who is currently undergoing aggressive treatment for ALL T-cell leukemia.

Rifleman Review: Springfield Armory Echelon

Springfield Armory introduced its Echelon in 2023, bringing a modernized, chassis-style, striker-fired handgun to the market that has since seen several notable line extensions.

Interests



Get the best of American Rifleman delivered to your inbox.