Ammo Production Segment--NPR

[El Tejon]

FYI, National Public Radio (NPR) will be running a feature on ammunition production for the militree this morning (Thursday, Feb. 5th) on "All Things Considered."

Check local listings for NPR agit-prop facility near you.

 

[BryanP]

I heard the story on the way home today. Not bad. There wasn't anything negative about it.

You can listen to the story online here.

 

[Chuck Jennings]

Forgive me if I sound paranoid, (I have worn a fitted tin foil cap for quite some time now.) but doesn't it seem scary that there is only one ammo factory for the military? The lack of redundancy in in the supply of such an important resource is startling.


***EDITED FOR SPELLING****

 

[DMK]

.. doesn't it seem scary that there is only one ammo factory for the military? The lack of redundancy in in the supply of such an important resource is startling.

That doesn't make a lot on sense, does it. It seems that a well placed bomb or some other sabotage could put military logistics in a world of hurt.

 

[BryanP]

If you listen to the story those aspects are discussed, including the possibility of the Lake City plant being a prime terrorist target.

 

[del4]

Doesn't Winchester and IMI make ammo for the military as well? I would like to think that Remington, Federal and other smaller companies would chip in if they were needed.

 

[VaughnT]

I wish I had been able to listen. Sometimes NPR makes a long drive to work interesting.

As to terrorists hitting the plant, while I wouldn't want anything to happen to the plant or employees, it wouldn't impact the bullet supply like some might think.

As soon as the facility was hit, ALL of the other ammo-makers in CONUS would be conscripted, as it were. There'd probably be even more bullets coming off the assembly line!

 

[ponyexpress]

I thought I remember reading an article lately that said the Lake City plant couldn't meet the military demand and so some of the commerical manufacturers were being contracted to pick up the slack. Of course, I do get confused at times...

 

[BryanP]

Ponyexpress, that is correct. Follow the link and listen to the NPR story. The Pentagon has contracted with civilian mfgrs for 70,000,000 rounds of 5.56mm per month according to that story. That's above and beyond what the Lake City facility is supplying by running 3 shifts per day.

 

[Jeff White]

The proposed FY05 (starts 1 OCT 04) lists $173.6 million for 5.56mm ammo of all types....Last I checked M855 was about $.26 a round....

Jeff