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.
The Federal Custom Shop offers specialized cartridges and loads not offered in the broader Federal product line.
If, upon entering you dont drool, youre not a handloader.
Its a den of dreams, to which the faithful would promptly add a kitchen and a bed.
Computers assist the talented engineers blessed to work here.
Federal, an ammo brand renowned with shooters today, has a history that spans back a century.
Federals first crew wasnt much bigger.
Soon after operations began in its 60320-foot shop, FC&M was re-organized as the Federal Cartridge Co. Few orders for 12-bore shells were filled by FCC before it closed its doors in 1920.
The dormant Federal factory nearby had rolled paper shotshell hulls.
In 1922, Charles Horn took control of the Federal brand and helped build it into the company we know today.
On April 27, 1922, Horn founded what became Federal Cartridge Corp.
It produced black-powder and smokeless shotshells.
Keen to grow his company, Horn decided to make rimfire cartridges, too.
Federal’s custom ammo features the finest components, all of which undergo detailed inspection.
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 launch the plant.
By 1924, it was shipping .22 cartridges.
The ammo from the Federal Custom Shop is sold in batches of 20 rounds, packed in extremely high-quality packaging.
New projects with the optimism, effort and people to ensure their success continued to mark Federals progress.
During the war TCOP eventually employed 25,000 workers!
Contracted to produce 100 million cartridges, it would ship more than fivebillionby V-J day in August, 1945.
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 rifle.
In 1951, Federal began manufacturing primers for handloaders.
In 63 it announced a dozen centerfire rifle cartridges, and two for handguns.
So: With that selection, I asked innocently, why does Federal need a Custom Shop?
Each cartridge receives individual attention from experienced craftsmen at Federal.
J.J. could have replied, Theres no need.
But J.J. is both patient and courteous.
And Federal has long had its finger on the pulse of shooters difficult to just.
All of the custom shop cartridges are hand loaded on presses like this one.
Custom Shop ammo offers cartridges and loads not available in Federals catalog, said my host.
It also features the best of components, all of which undergo close inspection.
There are additional steps in loading, more checks along the way.
Each cartridge is precisely checked to ensure maximum accuracy and precision when shooting your rifle.
Each order is assembled by Federals most knowledgeable technicians, under chief R&D engineer Paul Furrier.
Final tests ensure every completed order meets the highest standards for function and accuracy.
For instance, Barnes 120-gr.
All custom ammunition loaded by Federal is delivered in 20-round boxes designed to maintain the cartridges in the same condition they were loaded.
But how much flexibility do shooters have in specifying components?
What tests are run for pressures, velocities, accuracy?
How do I place an order?
Missing that “buck of a lifetime” 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 aim.
Good questions, he said charitably.
I spoke too with Trevor Alt and Dave Dellapaolera, who work in the Custom Shop.
you’re free to add notes for the technician assembling the load.
Next, pre-pay with a credit card.
Thats 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.
Were shooters, too.
Each order matters to us.
Understanding the Parameters
The Custom Shop wont fill orders for wildcat ammunition.
And at this writing, it doesnt deal in handgun rounds.
But youcanspecify SAAMI-approved rifle cartridges that dont show up in Federals catalog.
Examples include 26 Nosler, .264 Winchester, .284 Winchester and .300 PRC.
Bullet options also include those not offered by Federal elsewhere.
Brass for rifle cartridges is sourced from top names in the industry, including Lapua and Norma.
Each load starts with component inspections, performed by hand.
The flaw-free cases selected are then checked to ensure dimensional uniformity and concentricity.
We dont accept orders that specify powders, J.J. told me.
Our technicians typically start with a propellant that has a proven track record in the cartridge.
As youd suspect, we have a huge data bank to draw from.
When warranted, well run tests with other powders too.
Our test barrels wring the potential from each load.
Finished cartridges are measured with a micrometer and checked for concentricity.
Firing tests for accuracy are conducted at 200 yards.
Said Dave: We work hard to achieve half-minute precision.
Some loads print closer to a minute of angle.
The most effective big game bullets wont always nip the tiny knots competitive shooters demand from match bullets.
Youwillget a ballistic chart for the load, Dave assured me.
Its 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.
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.
The minimum Custom Shop order for shotshells is one box of 10.
Its pricy ammo from $80 to $120 a box.
But youre getting the best.
And in this inflationary time, a C-note shouldnt trigger domestic strife.
Youll be congratulated for your prudence.
As with all Federal Custom shop offerings, this ammunition is handloaded to your order.
Herewith, your options:
All four of these loads are available at the Springfield Armory Store.
Price: $109.99 for 20 rounds.
Conclusion
Have I used Custom Shop ammunition?
Im 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.
Terminal Ascent bullets shot well from my rifle.
He was gone in a wink.
I crawled to ravines lip and, despairing, glassed from my elbows.
Some distance off, a pair of ears appeared above the grass.
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.
The rifles clap brought a most welcomethwuck!
Would another load also have felled that buck at 80 yards?
But I wasnt using another load.
The cartridge of the moment the one that counted was from Federals Custom Shop!
