Lake City Ammunition

[98Z5V]

This article is an awesome read.  Very well worth the time. 

https://www.tactical-life.com/gear/ammo/military-small-arms-ammunition/

[washguy]

Ive hoarded Lake city since 1992.....every once in a while ill open up some of the ammo cans...and have a nose feast of nitro coming off the 1k rounds....they are still shiny too!   Wash

[unforgiven]

Great link brother 👍 those numbers boggle the mind.

[bubbas4570]

That was COOL to read that,  the numbers and just thinking about working there.......awe inspiring.

[SimonSays]

I finally made time to read the article. In it, the author stated:

“In the end, production-wise, I should mention that there are currently six specific case lines in the world, and five of them are made at the LCAAP. The other is located in Israel.”

I don’t know what case line means? NATO specific cartridges? I’m lost. 

[Matt.Cross]

6 minutes ago, SimonSays said:

I don’t know what case line means? NATO specific cartridges? I’m lost. 

That's probably referring to the brass case component of loaded ammunition.

[SimonSays]

Matt.Cross, that was my initial thought, but that doesn’t make sense. Doesn’t Germany, Australia, Sweden, Russia, China well any country advanced out of mud huts and hunter/gather status make their own munitions from raw materials? I guess it could be cheaper to import ship loads of brass than making your own from copper and zinc, but only 6 production lines in the world? 

[Matt.Cross]

13 minutes ago, SimonSays said:

Matt.Cross, that was my initial thought, but that doesn’t make sense. Doesn’t Germany, Australia, Sweden, Russia, China well any country advanced out of mud huts and hunter/gather status make their own munitions from raw materials? I guess it could be cheaper to import ship loads of brass than making your own from copper and zinc, but only 6 production lines in the world? 

 

I haven't read the article, but I thought it concerned the scope of production for the US military.

[SimonSays]

That makes sense. You’re probably correct. 

[Belt Fed]

The Remington ammo plant is not far from me, I toured it years ago and it's unreal the amount of ammo they have in a warehouse in huge storage bins. of course this was before the ammo shortage and stupid politicians.

[98Z5V]

6 hours ago, SimonSays said:

I finally made time to read the article. In it, the author stated:

“In the end, production-wise, I should mention that there are currently six specific case lines in the world, and five of them are made at the LCAAP. The other is located in Israel.”

I don’t know what case line means? NATO specific cartridges? I’m lost. 

"Different calibers" is what that means.  Lake City is small-arms only now.  Of the 5 case lines that they make, I know of 4.  9mm, 5.56 NATO, 7.62 NATO, and 50 BMG.  Not sure what the 5th is, but it might be 30-06, since GWOT started, and it's back in use in some platforms.  Might be .45ACP, since it's back again, because of GWOT. They're gearing up for the new 6.8mm sniper round, though:

http://www.nationaldefensemagazine.org/articles/2019/4/4/lake-city-factory-readies-for-new-6-8-mm-round

Here's some 1996-based history on Lake City:

https://apps.dtic.mil/dtic/tr/fulltext/u2/a315683.pdf

[suzukiray]

I have a nephew that works at Lake City. The sales are IMPOSSIBLE to beat!!!!

[SimonSays]

After some research, I was able to confirm they make:

5.56, 7.62, .50 cal and 20 mm. 

98Z, I’ll take your word that they also make 9 mm. 

It looks like they are adding 6.8 as well. That should be up and running in 3 to 4 years. 

http://www.nationaldefensemagazine.org/articles/2019/4/4/lake-city-factory-readies-for-new-6-8-mm-round

[98Z5V]

I think they stopped the 20mm several years ago, and Quad Cities picked up it's manufacture. 

[Magwa]

Great article and My favorite ammo when I can get it...

[Boxorox]

I'm a press operator at a small(ish) ammunition manufacturer.  We have the capability to pump out around 100,000 rounds per day, which is a miniscule amount compared to those numbers. Very impressive.

[unforgiven]

Cool job brother

[392heminut]

Great article!

Back in my early days I lived close to the Kansas Army Ammunition Plant (KAAP) and had friends that worked there. They made ammo a little bit bigger than what any of us here shoot though!😲

Edited May 17, 2019 by 392heminut