WATCH: Behind The Scenes At The Winchester Rimfire Ammunition Plant

by
posted on February 20, 2020

The folks at American Rifleman Television recently had the chance to tour the Winchester Ammunition rimfire factory in Oxford, MS. A large portion of the billions (yes billions) of rimfire rounds produced every year in the U.S. are made at Winchester's Oxford plant. Watch the video above for a behind the scenes look with American Rifleman magazine Editor-in-Chief Mark Keefe.

The Winchester plant in Oxford runs three shifts, 24 hours a day. Since rimfire shooters have an enormous appetite for .22 LR ammunition, having enough volume from a manufacturing standpoint to supply consumer demand is something that Winchester take very seriously. As such, the company is building as much quality rimfire ammunition as it can.

To build a rimfire cartridge is not your typical assembly-line process. Different components (some explosive) come from different parts of the factory to facilitate assembly in what's more accurately described as a batch process.

One major challenge in rimfire cartridge manufacture: building the cartridge rim to the right dimensions so the proper amount of priming mix can be added for consistent ignition.

Going beyond .22 LR, Winchester has been a key player in the rimfire game for decades with innovations like the first magnum rimfire, the .22 Win. Mag., and the improved .17 Win. Super Mag.—the fastest rimfire load available.

With companies like Winchester working hard to produce rimfire ammunition in the amounts needed to satisfy shooter needs, it looks like we are safe from any shortages in the near future. 


See more: Rimfire Ammunition Reliability

Latest

2014 Nra World Shooting Champ 1
2014 Nra World Shooting Champ 1

Classic SSUSA: The Inaugural NRA World Shooting Championship

Begin with 159 world champions, run them through 11 shooting stages, all with standard guns provided by the match sponsors, and you end up with a new trophy and $50,000 awarded to the inaugural NRA World Shooting Champion.

Legends: Sue Ann Sandusky 1952-2024

The shooting sports community mourns the loss of Sue Ann Sandusky, a three-time NRA All-American, Army veteran and Distinguished service rifle shooter, who sadly passed away on Tuesday, Oct. 29, 2024.

Gunwerks Spike Feet Set Designed To Improve Grip And Add Stability In Uneven Terrain

This new set of spike feet for the Gunwerks Elevate 2.0 bipod promises to maintain a solid grip in tough terrain.

XS Sights Expands DXT2 Pro Series, R3D 2.0 Lineup For SIG Sauer, Smith & Wesson, Springfield Armory And FN Pistols

XS Sights adds models to the DXT2 Pro Series and R3D 2.0 lineups that will fit SIG Sauer, Smith & Wesson, Springfield Armory and FN pistols.

Modern Technology Implemented To Surmount Logistical Hurdles: 1958 National Matches

The more than 4,000 shooters at the 1958 NRA National Matches were greeted by advanced technology used to speed up administrative tasks during the most populous period in National Match history.

Looking Back At The 2009 NRA National High Power Championship

With a single X-shot determining the winner of a 300-yard shoot-off and a surprise at the awards ceremony, the 2009 NRA High Power Rifle matches held everyone’s attention right to the end.

Interests



Get the best of Shooting Sports USA delivered to your inbox.