WATCH: Behind The Scenes At The Winchester Rimfire Ammunition Plant

by
posted on February 20, 2020
** When you buy products through the links on our site, we may earn a commission that supports NRA's mission to protect, preserve and defend the Second Amendment. **

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

USPSA 40K Members 1A
USPSA 40K Members 1A

USPSA Membership Surges Past 40,000, Shattering All-Time Record

USPSA & Steel Challenge top 40,000 members for the first time, marking a major milestone and reflecting booming grassroots participation and competitive growth.

New: Laser Ammo Flash Bolt For AR Dry-Fire Training

Laser Ammo’s new Flash Bolt turns your AR into a dry-fire practice powerhouse.

Bunker Club Fuels 22 Junior Athletes With 2025 Grants

Bunker Club awards 22 junior shooting athletes $6,363 each to support their competitive journey in 2025.

4 Illinois Rifle Teams Set Sights On 2025 NRA F-Class Nationals

Four Illinois rifle teams set their sights on the 2025 NRA F-Class Nationals, ready to compete in Mid-Range and Long-Range events.

USPSA: Celebrating Growth, Fueling The Future

USPSA celebrates surpassing 40,000 members, with growing participation signaling a dynamic new chapter for the practical competition shooting community.

Competitors’ Corner: July 2025

Highlights from the July 2025 issue of Shooting Sports USA, the NRA’s competitive shooting journal.

Interests



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