St. Marks Powder is a subsidiary of General Dynamics Ordnance and Tactical Systems manufacturing ball propellant[1] in Crawfordville, Florida. The company is a member of the Sporting Arms and Ammunition Manufacturers' Institute (SAAMI).[2]
 | |
| Industry | Manufacturer of ammunition components |
|---|---|
| Founded | 1998 |
| Headquarters | 7121 Coastal Hwy, Crawfordville, Fla. 32327 |
| Products | ball propellants |
| Parent | General Dynamics |
| Website | https://www.gd-ots.com/commercial_powder.html |
History
editLarge-scale ball propellant manufacture began during World War II at the Olin Corporation plant in East Alton, Illinois. Population growth of the St. Louis, Missouri, metropolitan area encouraged finding a more remote location for a modern production plant. The St. Marks manufacturing facility was built in 1969 on a large plot of undeveloped swampland south of Tallahassee, Florida, at near sea-level elevation between the St. Marks River and the Gulf Coast.[3] Plant operation was transferred to St. Marks Powder in 1998.[4]
Products
editThe facility manufactures over 95 percent of propellants used in United States military small arms ammunition.[5] Similar propellants are sold to commercial manufacturers of rimfire and centerfire ammunition[1] or marketed by Winchester and Hodgdon Powder Company for civilian handloading.[6] Other propellants are used for military mortar rounds,[7] rocket-assisted projectiles,[8] or dispersing non-lethal agents used for crowd control, marking, or area denial.[9]
Sources
edit- ^ a b "Commercial Powder Applications". General Dynamics. Retrieved 16 November 2017.
- ^ "Member Companies". SAAMI. Retrieved 16 November 2017.
- ^ "A Brief History of Winchester Smokeless Propellants". Winchester. Archived from the original on 2016-10-05. Retrieved 16 November 2017.
- ^ "St Marks Powder Inc". Manta. Retrieved 16 November 2017.
- ^ "NDIA Small Caliber Presentation" (PDF). General Dynamics. Retrieved 16 November 2017.
- ^ Marbut, Gary. "Loss of Smokeless Powder: The Greatest Threat to the Right to Keep and Bear Arms in the United States Today". Ammoland. Retrieved 16 November 2017.
- ^ "Mortar Increments Propellant". General Dynamics. Retrieved 16 November 2017.
- ^ "155MM M203A1". General Dynamics. Retrieved 16 November 2017.
- ^ "Non-Lethal Agent Dispensing". General Dynamics. Retrieved 16 November 2017.