This weekly column features news stories and event announcements from around the American Redoubt region. (Idaho, Montana, eastern Oregon, eastern Washington, and Wyoming.) Much of the region is also more commonly known as The Inland Northwest. We also mention companies of interest to preppers and survivalists that are located in the American Redoubt region.
Today, a special edition of this column, with a listing of ammunition and ammo component manufacturing companies in the American Redoubt region. Note that most of these companies have been overwhelmed with orders since February of 2020, and they have built large order backlogs.
In addition to those listed below, there are also many Redoubt-based small companies that make cast or jacketed bullets listed at the Corbin web site. (Just search for the American Redoubt telephone area codes: 208, 509, 406, 307, 541, and 458. Yes, those six area codes cover the whole region –unlike some coastal states that have 10 area codes for just one state.)
I should also mention that if you have good mechanical aptitude, many of these companies are now aggressively hiring.
Idaho
Buffalo Arms. In addition to producing ammunition in many hard-to-find calibers, they also sell some blackpowder guns and accouterments. Their retail store — with no sign out front — is worth visiting. Once you find the correct door, you will soon learn that they are friendly folks.
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CCI in Lewiston, Idaho is the best-known and by far the largest ammo maker in The American Redoubt. In fact they are the world’s largest rimfire ammo maker. They produce small-caliber rimfire ammunition and primers by the billions, annually. Presently they are running around-the-clock, producing about 4 million rounds of .22 rimfire ammo per day. And although they are having difficulty keeping up with demand, their line of products just keeps growing.
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Also in Lewiston is the much smaller Freedom Munitions.
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PNW Arms (Potlach)
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Steele Components (a big “wholesale only” company with a low profile, in Lewiston)
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Xtreme Ammo And Brass (Caldwell)
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For shotgun shell reloaders: Ponsness/Warren (in Rathdrum.)
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Garnet Ammunition in Coeur d’Alene is worthy of mention, but hard to contact, since they only sell their ammo wholesale–mostly to gun shops and gun show dealers.
Montana
HSM Ammunition, in Stevensville, Montana, is best known for their Cowboy Action Shooting (CAS) loads. But they make a variety of precision rifle loads, all the way up to .50 BMG.
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Copper Creek Cartridge Company specializes in precision rifle loads.
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Black Dog Ammunition is a small company that I hadn’t heard of, until just recently.
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Mark X Presses (aka Ammo Load), in Lewiston, and been in business for more than 40 years.
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Rim Rock Bullets (in Polson)
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Also in Polson: Oregon Trail Bullets aka Laser Cast
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In Kalispell: Montana Gold Bullet
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Custom Cartridge, Inc., in Columbus
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In Bonner (just east of Missoula): Montana Bullet Works
Central & Eastern Oregon
This little company makes some great ammo: Pendleton Ammunition.
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In Bend: Nosler Bullets
Eastern Washington
In Dayton (near Walla Walla): Desperado Cowboy Bullets
Wyoming
Fine Ammo (The makers of Extremmuntion)
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Send Your News Tips
Please send your American Redoubt region news tips, event announcements, and American Redoubt-based companies worthy of a mention to JWR. You can do so either via e-mail or via our Contact form.