Federal Premium Ammunition history

On April 27, 1922, Charles L. Horn took control of a small plant in Anoka,Minnesota and refounded Federal Cartridge Corporation.

1924- Began production of .22 rimfire ammunition

1925- Franklin W. Olin, founder of Western Cartridge Company, became a primary stockholder at Federal.

1932- Franklin Olin gains control of Federal Cartridge Company but Charles Horn remains president.

1935- Charles L. Horn secured a contract with the United States government to build and operate the Twin Cities Ordnance Plant in New Brighton, Minnesota with Robert B. Ehlen managing the plant.

The first military order was by the British, who purchased 1.4 million mortar ignition cartridges in 1940.

1941- Construction of the Twin Cities Ordnanace Plant began in August.

1945- The government contract was terminated after having produced more than 5 Billion rounds of ammunition compared to the 100 million rounds initially requested in the contract.

1950- The Twin Cities Ordnance Plant is reactivated for the Korean War, providing Federal with the opportunity gain knowledge on the production of handgun and rifle ammunition.

Federal began offering primers to reloaders in 1951.

Federal was the first manufacturer to color code its shotshells by gauge in 1960.

Some MONARK brand match ammo has been seen in .38 with 1962 lot numbers.

Federal advertised and produced there first commercial ammunition in 1963.

1965- The TCOP was reactivated once again for the Vietnam War and Federal introduces the first colored plastic shotgun shell hulls.

In 1971, Federal centerfire cartridges began being offered in plastic cartridge carriers.

Federal was the first manufacturer to introduce a steel load in 1973.

You may have noticed my interest in pre-1974 Federal Cartridge ammunition lot numbers.

That all changed in 1978 when the Federal Premium line was introduced.

In 1985, Federal was sold to a group of private investors including Kelso & Company, BancBoston Capital, and members of management.

November 15, 1988. http://www.nytimes.com/1988/11/15/business/company-news-sale-to-pentair.html?scp=9&sq=federal%20cartridge%20company&st=cse.

In 1990, Federal launched Gold Medal UltraMatch ammo, which was directly marketed toward the top shooters in the world.

Federal's UltraMatch Rimfire ammunition helped American shooters win gold and silver medals in the 1992 Olympics Games.

In the 1996 Olympic Games, shooters brought home gold, silver and bronze medals shooting Federal's Gold Medal International paper shells.

1997- Federal was sold again to Blount Industries for 112 million dollars.

1999- For the fifth time in its history Federal was sold, this time to Lehman Brothers.

2001- Federal was purchased by a Minnesota-based aerospace and defense company Alliant Techsystems (ATK).

Early in 2003, Federal ceased production of UltraMatch rimfire ammunition.

In 2005, the Federal Fusion was released.

The first rifle cartridge with Federal in its name rolled out in 2006.

Vista Outdoor, formerly the outdoor and sporting goods division of Alliant Techsystems; was spun off in February 2015.

2018- Jason Vanderbrink appointed ammunition president of Vista Outdoor and innovation contiued to roll out the most new products in the company’s history.