It was overlooked by many in the One Big Beautiful Bill (OBBB) that this legislation created a huge investment in small-arms ammunition. The bill’s Title I I I section on defense spending reveals specific funding lines that could radically reshape the civilian ammo landscape.
$100 Million for Ammo Production:
The OBBB allocates $100 million to increase production of “small and medium ammunition,” a phrase widely understood to include standard calibers like .223 Remington, 5.56 x 45 mm NATO and 7.62 x 51 mm. Much of this funding will likely support facilities like the Lake City Army Ammunition Plant in Missouri—America’s largest producer of small arms ammo. Lake City already churns out over 1.4 billion rounds per year, with half sold to civilians through various brands.
$1 Billion for Next-Generation Ammo Factories:
The bill includes $1 billion for advanced, automated munitions factories, designed to bring American ammo manufacturing into the 21st century. While “munitions” can mean anything from tank shells to rifle rounds, the emphasis on automation and rapid output strongly suggests small arms will benefit.
$2 Billion for Bullet Materials:
What’s the point of faster production if you don’t have the raw materials? The OBBB devotes $2 billion to critical mineral stockpiles, including copper (bullet jackets), lead (cores) and antimony (hardening).
$10 Million for Ammunition Workforce Expansion:
A smaller but still essential line item sets aside $10 million to grow the Department of Defense armaments workforce.
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