{"id":627,"date":"2022-12-14T17:04:11","date_gmt":"2022-12-14T17:04:11","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/gunowner-news.com\/?p=627"},"modified":"2022-12-14T17:04:11","modified_gmt":"2022-12-14T17:04:11","slug":"the-story-behind-federals-custom-shop","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/gunowner-news.com\/?p=627","title":{"rendered":"The Story Behind Federal\u2019s Custom Shop"},"content":{"rendered":"


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By Wayne van Zwoll<\/a><\/p>\n

\u201cHere we serve customers who want what the factory doesn\u2019t make,\u201d said J.J. Reich, ushering me and a handful of other visitors into a big, brightly lit room. Its wide windows fronted a corridor broad as a country lane. Beyond that sprawled the main manufacturing floor of Federal Cartridge. The company opened its Custom Shop in the fall of 2019. If, upon entering you don\u2019t drool, you\u2019re not a handloader. It\u2019s a den of dreams, to which the faithful would promptly add a kitchen and a bed. Besides progressive presses and electronic gadgetry to weigh and measure and check component concentricity, its gleaming benches hold instruments to find the tiniest flaws in finished ammunition. Computers assist the talented engineers blessed to work here.<\/p>\n

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The Federal Custom Shop offers specialized cartridges and loads not offered in the broader Federal product\u00a0line.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

Depending on the projects at hand, explained Federal\u2019s J.J., the Custom Shop is run by three or four people.<\/p>\n

Federal\u2019s first crew wasn\u2019t much bigger.<\/p>\n

In September, 1916, on 31 Minnesota acres that would become Federal\u2019s hub, Harry and Lewis Sherman had established an ammunition factory. Federal Cartridge and Machine Co., crowed the\u00a0Anoka<\/em>\u00a0Union<\/em>\u00a0newspaper, would become a \u201cmassive\u201d plant, \u201cwhere all kinds of cartridges will be made.\u201d Soon after operations began in its 60\u00d7320-foot shop, FC&M was re-organized as the Federal Cartridge Co. But plans to produce 175,000 shotshells a week for military contracts died in November, 1918 \u2014 after conflicts with investors had driven the Shermans out. They landed in Kansas City, Missouri, where they founded American Cartridge Co, ironically later acquired by Federal!<\/p>\n

\"original\n<\/picture>
Federal, an ammo brand renowned with shooters today, has a history that spans back a\u00a0century.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

Few orders for 12-bore shells were filled by FCC before it closed its doors in 1920. Then in 1922, Minneapolis-based Charles Horn was urged \u2014 quite possibly by Federal\u2019s sole remaining stockholder \u2014 to resurrect the company. Horn, 34, was president of the American Ball Co., and he was seeking a source for paper tubes to package his company\u2019s BBs for air guns. The dormant Federal factory nearby had rolled paper shotshell hulls. On April 27, 1922, Horn founded what became Federal Cartridge Corp. It produced black-powder and smokeless shotshells. And BB tubes.<\/p>\n

Keen to grow his company, Horn decided to make rimfire cartridges, too. A risky venture. Federal would have to sell many millions of .22 rounds to justify the initial investment. He hired Maurice Swope from Western Cartridge to design and run the plant. By 1924, it was shipping .22 cartridges.<\/p>\n

\"charles\n<\/picture>
In 1922, Charles Horn took control of the Federal brand and helped build it into the company we know\u00a0today.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

New projects \u2014 with the optimism, effort and people to ensure their success \u2014 continued to mark Federal\u2019s progress. In March, 1942 Federal tapped an $87 million contract with the U.S. government to build the Twin Cities Ordnance Plant 10 miles from Anoka. During the war TCOP eventually employed 25,000 workers! Contracted to produce 100 million cartridges, it would ship more than five\u00a0billion\u00a0<\/em>by V-J day in August, 1945. While TCOP (renamed Twin Cities Arsenal) was deactivated in \u201946, the experience producing metallic ammunition wasn\u2019t lost on its staff. In 1951, Federal began manufacturing primers for handloaders. In \u201963 it announced a dozen centerfire rifle cartridges, and two for handguns.<\/p>\n

Looking Forward<\/h2>\n

That was big news six decades ago; but now Federal\u2019s catalog lists more than 230 centerfire rifle loads in its Premium stable alone \u2014 with roughly 150 more in three other lines. Its five handgun categories comprise more than 120 loads; shotshells add at least that many to the total produced by 1,400 employees in three daily shifts at the 700,000-square-foot Anoka plant. So: \u201cWith that selection,\u201d I asked innocently, \u201cwhy does Federal need a Custom Shop?\u201d<\/p>\n

\"federal\n<\/picture>
Federal\u2019s custom ammo features the finest components, all of which undergo detailed\u00a0inspection.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

J.J. could have replied, \u201cThere\u2019s no need. If you can\u2019t find a Federal factory load that you like as well as any handload you dream up, a pox upon you!\u201d But J.J. is both patient and courteous. And Federal has long had its finger on the pulse of shooters difficult to please. \u201cCustom Shop ammo offers cartridges and loads not available in Federal\u2019s catalog,\u201d said my host. \u201cIt also features the best of components, all of which undergo close inspection. There are additional steps in loading, more checks along the way. Each order is assembled by Federal\u2019s most knowledgeable technicians, under chief R&D engineer Paul Furrier. They have tooling you won\u2019t find on home benches, and almost unlimited access to top-shelf components from companies industry-wide. Final tests ensure every completed order meets the highest standards for function and accuracy.\u201d<\/p>\n

When the Custom Shop announced operations, Federal Ammunition President Jason Vanderbrink answered the \u201cwhy\u201d this way: \u201cIf it\u2019s not in Federal\u2019s catalog as factory-loaded ammo, we may have it on our website as a load we\u2019ll custom handload for you. For instance, Barnes 120-gr. Tipped TSX bullets in 6.5\/284 Norma and 28-gauge TSS turkey loads aren\u2019t [standard offerings], but you can order both from our Custom Shop.\u201d<\/p>\n

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The ammo from the Federal Custom Shop is sold in batches of 20 rounds, packed in extremely high-quality\u00a0packaging.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

Okay. But how much flexibility do shooters have in specifying components? What tests are run for pressures, velocities, accuracy? How do I place an order? What\u2019s the cost? The turn-around time?<\/p>\n

I must have put these questions to J.J. in machine-gun cadence, because he raised his hands as if to deflect more of them. \u201cGood questions,\u201d he said charitably. \u201cLet me explain.\u201d And he did. I spoke too with Trevor Alt and Dave Dellapaolera, who work in the Custom Shop.<\/p>\n

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The Federal Custom Shop has developed a special-edition line of ammo for the Springfield Armory Model 2020 Waypoint, tuned to maximize performance from that extremely accurate\u00a0rifle.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

First, the process: A page on the website, federalpremium.com\/custom-shop.html<\/a>, takes you to an order form where you choose cartridge and component options. You can add notes for the technician assembling the load. Next, pre-pay with a credit card. That\u2019s all there is to it, save for the wait. Figure a few weeks for most orders. Large quantities and orders just before hunting season can extend that lead time. I\u2019m told orders are not accepted by phone, though Dave said \u201ce-mails and phone chats can help answer questions and prevent misunderstandings. We\u2019re shooters, too. Each order matters to us.\u201d<\/p>\n

Understanding the Parameters<\/h2>\n

The Custom Shop won\u2019t fill orders for wildcat ammunition. And at this writing, it doesn\u2019t deal in handgun rounds. But you\u00a0can<\/em>\u00a0specify SAAMI-approved rifle cartridges that don\u2019t show up in Federal\u2019s catalog. Examples include 26 Nosler, .264 Winchester, .284 Winchester and .300 PRC. Of course, you can tailor your own loads for cartridges Federal lists in its \u201cfactory\u201d lines. Bullet options also include those not offered by Federal elsewhere. Besides the company\u2019s own Trophy Bonded, Trophy Copper and Terminal Ascent, the Custom Shop has bullets by Barnes, Berger, Hornady, Nosler, Speer and Sierra, among common brands.<\/p>\n

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Each cartridge receives individual attention from experienced craftsmen at\u00a0Federal.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

Brass for rifle cartridges is sourced from top names in the industry, including Lapua and Norma. Nickel-plated in loads from the Custom Shop, it is fitted with Federal\u2019s Gold Medal primers: GM210M for standard loads, GM215M for magnums.<\/p>\n

Each load starts with component inspections, performed by hand. The flaw-free cases selected are then checked to ensure dimensional uniformity and concentricity.<\/p>\n

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\u201cWe don\u2019t accept orders that specify powders,\u201d J.J. told me. \u201cOur technicians typically start with a propellant that has a proven track record in the cartridge. As you\u2019d suspect, we have a huge data bank to draw from. When warranted, we\u2019ll run tests with other powders too. The load you get will be one that best meets velocity and pressure targets and prints the smallest groups we expect from that cartridge. Our test barrels wring the potential from each load.\u201d<\/p>\n

To ensure each cartridge functions safely and performs at a high level in any firearm chambered for it, the Custom Shop staff determines such variables as seating depth and crimping. Finished cartridges are measured with a micrometer and checked for concentricity.<\/p>\n

\"loading\n<\/picture>
All of the custom shop cartridges are hand loaded on presses like this\u00a0one.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

Firing tests for accuracy are conducted at 200 yards. Said Dave: \u201cWe work hard to achieve half-minute precision. Some loads print closer to a minute of angle. The most effective big game bullets won\u2019t always nip the tiny knots competitive shooters demand from match bullets.\u201d<\/p>\n

While you\u2019ll know the bullet, case and primer of your Custom Shop load, Federal does not notify you of the propellant or its charge weight. \u201cYou\u00a0will<\/em>\u00a0get a ballistic chart for the load,\u201d Dave assured me. It\u2019s on the black, hard-cardboard cartridge box, distinctive for its full-coverage slip-over lid and Custom Shop label. Cartridges are individually held in hard foam inside.<\/p>\n

If you create an online account, added J.J., \u201cFederal will keep the load data for your order, so you can re-order more cartridges with the same specifications.\u201d<\/p>\n

\"custom\n<\/picture>
Each cartridge is precisely checked to ensure maximum accuracy and precision when shooting your\u00a0rifle.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

Price? Custom Shop ammo for popular rifle cartridges lists from $100 to $110 a box. Figure $35 more, on average, than Federal Premium loads. Minimum order: one 20-round box, which explains in part the cost. Besides cartridge assembly, it must cover load development work, inspections and tests.<\/p>\n

And, the offerings are not limited to rifle cartridges \u2014 the Custom Shop also loads shotshells in 10, 12, 16, 20 and 28 gauges, and .410, in lengths from 2\u00be\u201d to 3\u00bd\u201d. The minimum Custom Shop order for shotshells is one box of 10. It\u2019s pricy ammo \u2014 from $80 to $120 a box. But you\u2019re getting the best. And in this inflationary time, a C-note shouldn\u2019t trigger domestic strife. You\u2019ll emphasize, of course, that you bought just one box, and that Trevor remembers an order that totaled $20,000. You\u2019ll be congratulated for your prudence.<\/p>\n

Finding Your Waypoint<\/h2>\n

If you own a Springfield Armory 2020 Waypoint<\/a>, you know of its .75 MOA accuracy guarantee for a three-shot group at 100 yards with match-level factory ammunition. What if you could have a load or loads designed specifically for this rifle, to get its very best performance? My experience with the 2020 Waypoint has shown it capable of wringing all the accuracy built into the very best ammunition!<\/p>\n

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All custom ammunition loaded by Federal is delivered in 20-round boxes designed to maintain the cartridges in the same condition they were\u00a0loaded.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

For Waypoint shooters, Federal\u2019s Custom Shop has developed a special edition line of ammo for the rifle, in its four current chamberings: 6mm Creedmoor, 6.5 Creedmoor, .308 Win. and 6.5 PRC. Engineers in the Custom Shop worked directly with Springfield Armory to develop loads tailored to that action and barrel, each component chosen, and each step in the loading process targeted to deliver the very tightest groups from the 2020 Waypoint. As with all Federal Custom shop offerings, this ammunition is handloaded to your order. Herewith, your options:<\/p>\n

\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n
Caliber<\/th>\nBullet Weight<\/th>\nBullet Style<\/th>\nMuzzle Velocity<\/th>\nMuzzle Energy<\/th>\n<\/tr>\n<\/thead>\n
6.5 PRC<\/td>\n130 gr.<\/td>\nTerminal Ascent<\/td>\n3,025 fps<\/td>\n2641 J<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
.308 Win.<\/td>\n175 gr.<\/td>\nTerminal Ascent<\/td>\n2,520 fps<\/td>\n2467 J<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
6mm Creedmoor<\/td>\n90 gr.<\/td>\nTerminal Ascent<\/td>\n3,120 fps<\/td>\n1945 J<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
6.5 Creedmdoor<\/td>\n130 gr.<\/td>\nNosler AccuBond<\/td>\n2,800 fps<\/td>\n2263 J<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>
Bullet weights measured in grains (gr.), and velocity in feet per second (fps).<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

All four of these loads are available at the Springfield Armory Store. Price: $109.99 for 20 rounds.<\/p>\n

Conclusion<\/h2>\n

Have I used Custom Shop ammunition? Not shotshells. I\u2019m due a session with Blue Rocks and a hand trap first. But a box of 6.5 PRC rifle loads arrived just before my South Dakota deer hunt last month. Its 130-gr. Terminal Ascent bullets shot well from my rifle. On the third day of a cold, windy week, a fine whitetail buck jetted from a cedar copse. He was gone in a wink. As luck would have it, I spied him farther along in my still-hunt, across a broad valley threaded by a sinuous stream. With no cover but no other prospects, I eased toward him through ankle-high grass, trying to keep the county\u2019s lone, leafless tree between us. By the time I scrambled down a steep bank to wade the icy creek, he was lost in the wooded background beyond. I crawled to ravine\u2019s lip and, despairing, glassed from my elbows.<\/p>\n

\"hunter\n<\/picture>
Missing that \u201cbuck of a lifetime\u201d due to cheap ammunition is no bargain. Custom ammo from Federal designed for the Model 2020 Waypoint means the bullet will be delivered precisely where you\u00a0aim.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

Some distance off, a pair of ears appeared above the grass. A doe. She climbed a knob 100 yards off and stared at my orange cap. Then, below her: antlers! Only his back-line showed in the Leupold. But with his companion alert, tail at half-mast, I dared not rise to give the bullet a clear path. The rifle\u2019s clap brought a most welcome\u00a0\u201cthwuck!\u201d<\/em><\/p>\n

Would another load also have felled that buck at 80 yards? Probably. But I wasn\u2019t using another load. The cartridge of the moment \u2014 the one that counted \u2014 was from Federal\u2019s Custom Shop!<\/p>\n

Editor\u2019s Note: Please be sure to check out The Armory Life Forum, where you can comment about our daily articles, as well as just talk guns and gear. Click the \u201cGo To Forum Thread\u201d link below to jump in and discuss this article and much more!<\/em><\/p>\n

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Featured in this article<\/span><\/h5>\n

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Federal Custom Shop Centerfire Rifle Ammunition for Model 2020<\/span><\/h3>\n


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Model 2020 Waypoint Series<\/span><\/h3>\n


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Federal Custom Shop<\/span><\/h3>\n


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Source link <\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

By Wayne van Zwoll \u201cHere we serve customers who want what the factory doesn\u2019t make,\u201d said J.J. Reich, ushering me and a handful of other visitors into a big, brightly lit room. Its wide windows fronted a corridor broad as a country lane. Beyond that sprawled the main manufacturing floor of Federal Cartridge. The company […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":628,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[1],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-627","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-uncategorized"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/gunowner-news.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/627","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/gunowner-news.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/gunowner-news.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/gunowner-news.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/gunowner-news.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcomments&post=627"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/gunowner-news.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/627\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/gunowner-news.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/media\/628"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/gunowner-news.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fmedia&parent=627"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/gunowner-news.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcategories&post=627"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/gunowner-news.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Ftags&post=627"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}